Brussels, 10/11/2011 (Agence Europe) - On Wednesday 9 November, the enlargement commissioner spoke of how important the role of local and regional authorities was in the Eastern Partnership (see EUROPE 10492). Speaking at a conference on this, he said it is in the EU's growing interest to cooperate with the partner countries at local and regional level. The expertise of regional and local authorities through the conference of local and regional powers for the Eastern Partnership, he explained, can potentially provide strong added value for the Partnership.
Stefan Füle said the local and regional authorities have a “particularly important role” to play in promoting regional development and in supporting cross-border cooperation. He pointed out that six EU cross-border cooperation policies are geared to the EU border regions and eastern partners, or between those partners.
The commissioner underlined that the EU is developing, in cooperation with the partner authorities, pilot programmes for regional development, with a budget of €70 million for 2012-2013 to cover the Eastern Partnership regions. The Commission is also preparing a European Neighbourhood Programme for Agriculture and Rural Development (ENPARD). The general objective of these programmes is to support the socio-economic development of local authorities. However, he said, they also aim to facilitate contacts between persons and to exchange ideas across borders. (CG/transl.jl)