Varna Free University "Chernorizets Hrabar" (VFU), as a lead beneficiary of the project Knowing Circular Economy in Black Sea Basin - BSB CIRCLECON (BSB1021), is seeking members for the European Group for Territorial Cooperation in the Black Sea Basin Region.
The main objectives of the European Grouping of Territorial Cooperation include:
1-Promoting and supporting special provisions for the adoption of the Circular Economy Model in BSB countries
2-The adaptation in the new programming period of national/regional and local strategies in the BSB area to the EU CE action plan
Moreover, the EGTC aims to contribute to the following:
- EU Green Agenda & Green Deal
- EU Blue Economy
- Black Sea Synergy (BSS)
- Common Maritime Agenda for the Black Sea (CMA)
- EU Strategy for the Danube Region (EUSDR)
- A Smarter cooperation area
- Promoting climate change adaptation
- To the 17 UN Sustainable Development Goals
Possible members of an EGTC are:
- Member States or authorities at the national level
- Regional authorities
- Local authorities
- Public undertakings within the meaning of point (b) of Art. 2(1) of Directive 2004/17/EC
- Bodies governed by public law following Art. 1(9), 2nd sub§ of Directive 2004/18/EC
- Undertakings entrusted with operations of services of general economic interest (SGEI) in compliance with applicable Union and national law (NEW!)
- National, regional or local authorities, or bodies or public undertakings equivalent to the defined above coming from the neighboring third countries as defined in the revised Art 3a EGTC Regulation.
As a general rule, an EGTC must be composed of at least two members coming from at least two EU Member States. The Revised EGTC Regulation (new Art. 3a) allows accession of members from third countries or overseas countries of territories under certain conditions.
Invitation to potential members is available here.
For more information, please get in touch with the project partners at:
What is an EGTC? |
EGTC (European Grouping of Territorial Cooperation) Framework
The EGTC Regulation (EC) No 1082/2006 applied on 1 August 2006 and on 17 December 2013 in the Official Journal of the EU the Revised EGTC Regulation (EU) No 1302/2013 of the European Parliament that applies from 22 June 2014.
Objective and tasks
The EGTC is the first European cooperation structure with a legal personality defined by European Law, designed to facilitate and promote territorial cooperation (cross-border, transnational and interregional cooperation) in view of strengthening the Union’s economic, social, and territorial cohesion. An EGTC may carry out actions of territorial cooperation, with or without a financial contribution from the EU (Art. 7 of the EGTC Regulation).
Legal personality
The EGTC has a legal personality and capacity recognised by EU law: it can acquire property, hire personnel, and be party to legal proceedings (Art.1). Legal personality is acquired on the day of the registration and/or publication (whatever is first) of its convention and the statutes (Art.5).
Implementation aspects
- The EGTC may be given the possibility to act on behalf of its members;
- In any case, it shall act within the tasks’ confines. It is not authorised to exercise powers conferred by public law to safeguard the general interests of the State: police, regulatory powers, justice, foreign policy;
- One member may be empowered to execute the EGTC’s tasks.