European Grouping of Territorial Cooperation
22.11.2007
ORAL QUESTION WITH DEBATE O-0076/07/rev.1
pursuant to Rule 108 of the Rules of Procedure
by Gerardo Galeote, on behalf of the Committee on Regional Development
to the Commission
The European Grouping of Territorial Cooperation was approved by Regulation (CE) nr. 1082/2006[1] of 5 July 2006. This new legal framework of Community law constitutes a tool intended to promote cross-border, transnational and/or interregional cooperation between EU members, with the exclusive aim of strengthening economic and social cohesion, that is to say, one of the fundamental principles of the Treaties.
Member States, regional and local authorities and bodies governed by public law can take part equally in these groupings, as set out in the non-exhaustive list in Annex III of Directive 2004/18/CE[2] of 31 March 2004. This means a huge number of potential European groupings in very different fields.
The main new characteristic of this regulation is that it gives this type of grouping a legal personality, which has an implicit value and makes cooperation easier within the EU from both an operational and a development point of view. Moreover, this form of cooperation will not necessarily be co-financed by the EU, which opens up the possibilities for joining it.
In order for implementation of this regulation to begin, the Member States should have made such provisions as are appropriate to ensure its effective implementation by 1 August 2007 at the latest.
We unfortunately note that the Member States have not yet adapted their legislation or taken the relevant measures to allow the regulation to be implemented and, as a consequence, this regulation could not possibly have come into force in all the Member States by 1 August 2007.
In view of this situation of flagrant breach of Community law by the Member States, with the consequent economic damage to those affected:
What actions are being taken by the Commission to correct this situation?
Given that it is the responsibility and the duty of the Commission to enforce compliance with obligations derived from the Treaties, will the Commission be initiating the relevant procedure?
Tabled: 22.11.2007
Forwarded: 26.11.2007
Deadline for reply: 03.12.2007