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The European Union (EU) wishes to stimulate a harmonious and sustainable spatial development in the European countries, as well as the improvement of spatial quality. For that purpose the EU has created INTERREG, a programme that grants European subsidies annually to creative, innovative ideas and projects in the field of European spatial development.
INTERREG II
INTERREG II ran from 1994 through 1999. IIA en IIB have now been concluded, IIC (1997-1999) is in its final stage. At present, however, all eyes are on INTERREG III, which was started in 2000 and will run through 2008. The objective of this new phase in INTERREG is to strengthen the economic and social cohesion within the European Union by fostering cross-border, transnational and interregional co-operation.
INTERREG III
INTERREG III consists of 3 strands.
- IIIA: cross-border co-operation between adjacent regions. Along the internal borders of EU member states, Euregions have been created. These Euregions are partnerships that can subsidise cross-border projects with INTERREG funds. The EU wishes to use this INTERREG IIIA programme to break down internal borders where they still exist as far as possible.
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- IIIB: transnational co-operation between national, regional and local authorities for a stronger spatial integration of large groups of European regions, in order to reach a sustainable and balanced development of the EU. This programme will try to increase the integration of the present and future member states and neighbouring countries, and to tackle common problems. IIIB consists of several programmes, one of which is the IIIB North-West Europe programme.
- IIIC: interregional co-operation between regional authorities and other public parties throughout the EU. In this partnership, European territory is divided into four zones (North, East, South and West). The aim is the exchange of experience and knowledge between regions in different zones. This strand also calls special attention to co-operation with candidate members states and regions outside the EU.
OPTIMUM² is part of IIIB. For 2000 - 2006, 330 million euros have been made available for projects within the INTERREG IIIB programme. Mobility management is one of five fields of priority.
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