ECOS-OUVERTURE Programme
The European Commission has issued a call for proposals for projects under the ECOS-OUVERTURE initiative for inter-regional cooperation with areas outside the EU. The initiative will receive a total budget of ECU 45 million from the European Regional Development Fund and the PHARE programme for the period 1998-2000, and will finance projects promoting cooperation and providing mutual benefits to EU regions and cities and their counterparts in PHARE countries. Four areas of cooperation have been selected for this call: - Improving the working methods and tools used by local or regional authorities; - Improving services promoting the modernization and development of SMEs; - Protecting and improving the environment within a context of sustainable development; - Promoting the economic deployment of urban and/or rural communities in order to maintain and create long-term employment. Between three and six partners may submit proposals for projects and should be from at least two EU Member States and at least one PHARE country. At least half of these partners must be from zones eligible for Community Structural Funds. In order to facilitate partnership formation for the submission of proposals under this call, the European Commission, DG 1A, will organize the ECOS-OUVERTURE Partenariat to be held in Budapest, Hungary, from 22 to 24 June 1998. The aim of the event is bring together authorities from the countries of Central and Eastern Europe and the EU to discuss the preparation of projects. The event will comprise a series of meetings for potential partners and workshops to provide local authorities with information on the content, aims and implementation of the programme. The workshop will also provide information on how to prepare, structure, submit and manage interregional cooperation projects. For further information, please contact: ECOS OUVERTURE Partenariat 71 rue des Tilleuls F-92771 Boulogne Cedex Tel. +33-1-41864186; Fax +33-1-46045761 E-mail: adhesfr@calva.net
Countries
Greece