Brussels, 13/02/2002 (Agence Europe) - On Tuesday the European Commission approved a cross-border co-operation programme for the North Sea area under the INTERREG III initiative. It will cover the different coastal regions of Belgium, Denmark, Germany, the Netherlands, Sweden, the United Kingdom and Norway and will run until 2006. It is financed by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) to the tune of EUR 129.2 million. Each of the countries will provide the same amount from the national and regional budgets. The Norwegian authorities will provide an additional amount of EUR 20 million. The programme priorities are as follows: - transnational spatial development strategy and actions for urban, rural and maritime systems in the North Sea Region (Community contribution EUR 29.2 million); - Efficient and sustainable transport and communications and improved access to information society (Community contribution: EUR 27 million); - Sustainable management and development of the environment, natural resources and cultural heritage (Community contribution EUR 29.5 million); - Measures for further developing and implementing strategies and action plans for water management and integrating them into spatial planning in North Sea region (Community contribution EUR 37.1 million). Another EUR 6.5 million contribution will be funded by the Community for technical assistance.