Brussels, 24/09/2001 (Agence Europe) - The European Commission has continued adopting 2000-2006 cross-border cooperation programmes (Interreg III) with a programme for cooperation between Italy and Switzerland. With a budget of EUR 74 million, including EUR 25.6 million financed by the Community budget, the cooperation programme is mainly aimed at sustainable development of the economy and the safeguarding of natural and cultural heritage. It will be implemented around three priorities: 1) development of the economy of the border area, mainly with common projects for rural areas and tourism; 2) cooperation for territorial and heritage management; 3) cooperation in the fields of culture and social affairs. The Commission stresses that the programme concerns around 4 million people, of whom 81% live in Italy.
The Commission has still to adopt eleven other Interreg III programmes involving Italy, for an overall EUR 426 million.