On 10 June 2009 the European Commission adopted a Communication on the EU Strategy for the Baltic Sea Region following a request from EU Member States. It is the first time that a comprehensive strategy, covering several Community policies, is targeted on a 'macro-region'. These developments have instigated a substantial interest in the macro-region concept. At the last European council meeting on 19 June 2009 EU Member states invited the European Commission to develop a strategy for the Danue area.
Since 1st August 2007, the new legal instrument for a "European Grouping of Territorial Co-operation" (EGTC) has entered into force. It intends to facilitate the implementation of co-operation programmes by allowing for Member States, regional authorities, local authorities and/or bodies governed by public law from at least two Member States to associate under a joint convention. Plese follow this link in order to read more about AER's contribution to the designing of the EGTC.
AER response to the European Commission's proposal for a Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council on the European Regional Development Fund (COM(2004)495 final, Brussels, 14 June 2004).