Commission to provide ECU 101 million to cross-border cooperation between Spain and Morocco
Under the Community INTERREG II initiative, the European Commission is to support cross-border cooperation between Spain and Morocco with ECU 101.37 million from the Structural Funds. It is aimed at socio-economic development, improving the environment, safeguarding the architectural heritage, and improving cross-border communication. The main aim of the aid programme is to accelerate the rate of adjustment and integration of the regional economy into the Community's single internal market by: - Promoting the development of cross-border cooperation via increased economic cooperation, by creating joint services for business and the public services in the fields of trade, research, design and telecommunications networks and databases; - Increasing competitiveness within the productive system, by developing a diversified, modern and competitive economy which can mobilize initiative potentials and local and rural development; - Accelerating the convergence with more developed economies, by endowing the area with infrastructures which will contribute to the development of entrepreneurial activities and job creation. Among the specific projects to benefit will be the electricity interconnection between Spain and Morocco by underwater cable under the Straits of Gibraltar, the improvement of port installations in Cadiz, Melilla, Ceuta and Algeciras, and the improvement of cross-border telecommunications with the installation of optical fibre loops between Medina and Los Barrios.
Countries
Spain, Morocco