Interreg benefits south-east England and northern France
Interreg benefits south-east England and northern France
The European Commission has approved a co-operation programme between the UK and France to be financed by Interreg III, which focuses on increased cross-border co-operation and sustainable development of the regional economy. Training will be among the areas to benefit.
The European Union will contribute e108.2 million (£66.9 million). Another e98.7 million (£61 million) will come from national and regional budgets, with a further e36.3 million (£22.5 million) from private funding, creating total resources of e243.2 million (£150.4 million).
The area of co-operation includes the counties of East Sussex and Kent, the authorities of Brighton and Hove and the Medway towns and, on the French side,the departments of Pas-de-Calais, Nord, Somme and Seine-Maritime. The population living in the area totals 8.1 million, of whom 2.4 million live in the British areas and 5.7 million in the French regions.
Michel Barnier, European commissioner responsible for regional policy, said:"This programme makes a substantial contribution to the development of co-operation in this maritime border region. I consider it important that these areas, which have proved their cross-border spirit already under previous Interreg programmes, have decided to work together under one programme, which will create an added value through the economic, social and cultural integration of the region."
