IP/07/1466

Brussels, 10 October 2007

Commissioner Danuta Hübner meets with Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands and German President Köhler to celebrate cross-border cooperation

Regional policy Commissioner Danuta Hübner is visiting the "Euro-region" Enschede-Gronau on the Dutch-German border together with her Majesty Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands and German President Horst Köhler. This meeting, hosted by G.J. Jansen, Queen's Commisioner in the Province of Overijssel and attended by the key stakeholders (mayors, academics entrepreneurs and partners of the euro-region) of territorial cooperation between Germany and the Netherlands, marks 50 years of cross-border cooperation in the area, one of the oldest in Europe.

"Your euro-region has been a pioneer in cross-border co-operation and we count on you to continue to show the way. I encourage you to make full use of the opportunities provided by European Regional Policy for 2007-2013" said Danuta Hübner.

At the University of Twente (near the Dutch town of Enschede), together with Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands and German President Köhler, Commissioner Hübner attended a round-table discussion around the four following themes:

• Security and risk management: it is important to share information and resources to prevent potential industrial and environmental risks and to organise effective response to disasters, following the experience of the fireworks disaster which took place in Enschede in 2000.
• Healthcare: ever changing technologies are being developed in medical care, but higher costs are associated with these new technologies. Sharing research, development and high-tech infrastructure, especially across borders therefore makes sense.
• Economic cooperation among businesses: this is an absolute necessity in this era of globalisation. Joint business development centres, joint facilities for Research and Development (R&D), joint actions on the international markets will benefit all businesses.
• Culture and tourism: the Commissioner will underline culture's contribution to economic growth and wealth in Europe.

In parallel to the debates, an exhibition has been set up to present to the public the cross-border achievements of recent years. The first "euro-regions" (also called "euregios") started on the Dutch-German border in the fifties at the initiative of local politicians, under the umbrella of the Council of Europe.

Project example

The project called "T.E.A.M" is supported by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) with €1.1 million: about 8.000 Dutch and German pupils from the age of 10 make experiments in areas related to natural sciences and engineering at the University of Twente. It is hoped that this will stimulate new career interests and increase the number of engineers for business on both sides of the border.

Cooperation in the future

For the period 2007-2013, the Euro-region Enschede-Gronau is part of the larger Dutch-German cross-border programme "4 EUREGIOs" which extends along the entire border between the two countries. The programme will receive €139 million from the ERDF, which will be supplemented by €155 million of national contributions. This programme will be approved by the Commission in the coming weeks and the selection of projects will soon be able to start.
Have your say - Online consultation on the future of regional policy: The Commission has launched a debate on the future of regional policy until the end of January 2008 and invites all citizens to take part via the following website:

http://ec.europa.eu/regional_policy/consultation/index_en.htm