Brussels, 22/02/2002 (Agence Europe) - On Friday, the European Commission approved an Interreg III cross-border cooperation programme between Germany, France and Switzerland for the regions of the south central Upper Rhine with a total budget of EUR 70.6 million for 2000-2006, EUR 31.6 mil from the EU budget. Furthermore, the sum of EUR 31.6 million will be provided by the national and regional budgets as well as the private sector. Switzerland will participate with EUR 7.5 million.
Four priorities were identified: - crossborder cooperation to the service of citizens and institutions (EUR 1.6 million from Community funds); - balanced and sustainable territorial development (EUR 7.9 million); - economic integration of human resources (EUR 12.6 million mainly for research and echnology and integration of the employment market); - tourist and cultural promotion (EU contribution of EUR 7.9 million). The Community has earmarked EUR 1.6 million under technical assistance.