Brussels, 31/07/2002 (Agence Europe) - The European Commission has adopted a programme for cooperation between the French territories of the Caribbean (Martinique, Guadeloupe and Guyana) and the neighbouring countries. European Commissioner for Regional Policy Michel Barnier said he hoped the programme would "act as a catalyst for cooperation in this area, since it is aimed at the development of mutual knowledge and of the institutional ability to cooperate and develop innovative action together, the exchange of best practices and experience, the transfer of knowledge and know-how, the identification of problems and, above all, the placing of the zone's potential in common". The Interreg programme has a budget of EUR 24 million until 2006, half of which is financed by the Community budget.