Commission to provide ECU 72 million to French-Belgian cross-border cooperation
The European Commission has decided to grant ECU 72 million for cross-border cooperation projects between France and Belgium. The money will come from the Structural Funds, and will be provided under the INTERREG Community initiative. The funds, which will be in addition to money from the national authorities, will go to projects in three main priority areas: - Supporting and reviving economic activity, including projects developing RTD potential, communications training courses and the adaptation of workers to industrial and technological changes; - Rehabilitation of the region and attractiveness of the area, including environmental improvements and promotion of tourism; - "Re-skilling" and making better use of human capital by improving training systems and encouraging inter-regional occupational mobility. The funding will go to the districts of Tournai, Ath, Mons and Thuin in Belgium, and Lille, Roubaix, Tourcoing, Douai, Valenciennes, Avesnes and Cambrai in France. In particular it should create around 500 new jobs, as well as supporting the development of cross-border partnerships and training.
Countries
Belgium, France