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1. TERRITORIAL CO-OPERATION OBJECTIVE

The Territorial Co-operation (TC) Objective replaces the INTERREG Community Initiative (2000-2006) in the new EU programming period (2007-2013), giving Territorial Co-operation the same status as Convergence and Competitiveness, as one of the three overarching objectives of the new EU Cohesion Policy for this period. This is a significant change in approach, as it represents a higher level of strategic importance has been given to "co-operation" in regional policy than under previous programming periods. 
 
As with the Convergence and Competitiveness Objectives, the overarching aim of TC is to further economic and social cohesion across the EU, to reduce the gap between the development levels of the various EU regions. In particular for 2007-2013 there is a strong emphasis on the contribution that Cohesion Policy can make to delivering the overarching Lisbon and Gothenburg priorities, to ensure EU regions have competitive, innovative and sustainable economies, and that Europe as a whole can compete with the US, Japan and 'emerging' economies such as China. The TC Objective focuses on supporting co-operation between regions in the different Member States, aimed at overcoming the physical barriers of borders as potential obstacles to development between regions, and enabling regions from different countries to find solutions to common issues and challenges. 
 
The structure of the TC Objective for 2007-2013 is very similar to the INTERREG Programmes of 2000-2006, with three strands, and a series of programmes within each of these strands. (More information: SWUKBO briefing note on the TC objective (Microsoft Word Document - 938.49kb)) :  
- (i) the Cross-Border programmes (see section 1.1 below),  
- (ii) the Trans-national programmes (see section 1.2 below),  
- (iii) the Inter-regional programmes (see section 1.3 below).

1.1 Cross-border programmes

There are two programmes of relevance to the South West of England:  
- (i) France (Manche) - England programme, including English coastal NUTS III areas from Cornwall around to Norfolk inclusive, with French coastal NUTS III areas from Brest to Somme inclusive; and 
- (ii) France/England/Flanders/Netherlands programme, including English coastal NUTS III areas from Cornwall around to Norfolk inclusive, with coastal NUTS III areas in Nord-Pas de Calais in France, Flanders and the Netherlands.  
 
For both programmes the following local authority (or NUTS III) areas are eligible in the South West of England: Cornwall & Isles of Scilley, Devon, Plymouth, Torbay, Dorset, Bournemouth and Poole. A final decision is expected in September as to whether Somerset and Wiltshire will also be eligible as "adjacent areas". 
 
**12 November 2007** - The Operational programmes for the two cross-border programmes have been submitted to the Euroopean Commission for approval. Their response is expected for the beginning of next year. The OPs are availble to downlaod here: 
- CB North Programme OP 12.11.2007 (Microsoft Word Document - 6175.74kb)  
- CB South Programme OP 12.11.2007 (Zip File (compressed) - 780.91kb) 
 
**30 November 2007** - The South West Territorial Co-operation Group (see section 2 below) has finalised its comments on the draft Operational Programmes for the two programmes. These have been sent to the Department for Communities and Local Covernement (CLG) and copied to the consultants: SW-TCG response to 'South' OP (Microsoft Word Document - 203.26kb) and SW-TCG response to 'North' OP (Microsoft Word Document - 55.29kb).

1.2 Trans-national cooperation

There are two programmes relevant to the South West under the Transnational Strand. The whole of the South West is eligible to participate under both of these programmes: 
 
1. Atlantic Area programme - More information available from Atlantic Area programme website 
 
2. North West Europe programme - More information available from North West Europe programme website

1.3 Inter-regional cooperation

For each of these programmes the whole of the South West would once again potentially be eligible, although for the URBACT II programme participation is restricted to "urban areas" and the INTERACT II programme is akin to "technical assistance" for all of the various Territorial Co-operation Programmes, and therefore, of indirect interest to partners in the South West. 
 
1. INTERREG 4 C: More information available on the INTERREG 4 C programme website 
2. URBACT 2: More information available on the URBACT 2 programme website 
3. ESPON 2013: More information available on ESPON programme website 
4. INTERACT 2: More information available on INTERACT 2 programme website

2. South West Territorial Cooperation Group (SW-TCG)

The SW-TCG task and finish group was set up in February 2005. Its objective is to prepare the region for the future EU Co-operation programme in the context of the current regional, national and European work on the reformed European Cohesion Policy. Terms of reference of the Group are available from Matthieu Havard. 
 
Current members are: Matthieu Havard, SWRDA (Chair) - Maria Ioannou, SWRDA - John Saunders, GOSW - Gregg Jones, South West UK Brussels Office - Paul Stephens and Carina Palin, Environment Agency - Robin Bower, HERDA-SW - Peter Brown, SW-RA - Carolyn Worfolk, Natural England - Brian Shipman, Cornwall CC - Ian Hutchcroft, Devon CC - Rupert Owen, Plymouth CC - Alan Denby, Torbay DA - Lesley Williams, Somerset CC - Ann Minto, Dorset CC - Peter Weelhouse, Poole BC - Alistair Cunningham, Wiltshire CC - Mark Biffen, Bristol CC - Sue Stoner, Gloucestershire CC.

3. SW COOPERATION NEWSLETTER

Territorial Co-operation Newsletter - Issue 5 (Microsoft Word Document - 199.68kb)  
Territorial Co-operation Newsletter - Issue 4 (Adobe Acrobat Reader Document - 260.36kb) 
Territorial Co-operation Newsletter - Issue 3 (Adobe Acrobat Reader Document - 202.83kb)  
Territorial Co-operation Newsletter - Issue 2 (Adobe Acrobat Reader Document - 180.03kb)  
Territorial Co-operation Newsletter - Issue 1 (Adobe Acrobat Reader Document - 118.52kb)

4. EVENTS, PRESENTATIONS & REPORTS

**20 November 2007** -- SWUKBO roadshow on TC Cross-Border programmes (co-hosted by the South West RDA and Plymouth CC) - 20 November, Plymouth. More information on SWUKBO website. 
 
**22 June 2007** -- SWUKBO roadshow on the TC programmes (co-hosted by the South West RDA and Somerset CC), Taunton. More info available on: Link to SWUKBO TC Roadshow (22 June 2007) 
 
**15 March 2006** -- "Cohesion Through Co-operation" - the South West UK Brussels Office and SWRDA organised a regional seminar on Territorial Co-operation in Taunton on 15th March 2006. Copies of some of the presentations are available: Jo Talbot presentation on impact of INTERREG III in the SW (Microsoft PowerPoint Presentation - 908.28kb), Presentation Wioletta Dunin-Majewska on EU perspective (Microsoft PowerPoint Presentation - 2119.68kb), Presentation Phil McVey on national perspective (Microsoft PowerPoint Presentation - 275.96kb). 
 
**November 2005** -- The South West Territorial Cooperation group (SW-TCG) commissioned a study on the impact of the current INTERREG programme in the SW. This research assesses the impact of the current programme in the SW and makes a number of recommendations to make best use of the future programme. These recommendations will be used to strengthen the transnational/ territorial co-operation angle of Regional Framework. The Final Report (Adobe Acrobat Reader Document - 654.66kb) is now available.