EGTC TRITIA - Basic information

The European Grouping of Territorial Cooperation TRITIA limited (EGTC TRITIA) was established on February 25, 2013 on the date of its entry into the Register of EGTCs administered by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Poland based on its decision N° 1/2013.

The legal basis for EGTC TRITIA is the REGULATION (EC) No 1082/2006 OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL of 5 July 2006 on a European grouping of territorial cooperation (EGTC) transposed in the Polish legislation by the Law of November 7, 2008 on a European grouping of territorial cooperation.

The decision to establish EGTC TRITIA was made by the leaders of the four regional governments of Moravian – Silesian Region (CZ), Opole Voivodeship (PL), Silesian Voivodeship (PL) and Žilina Self – governing Region (SK) in 2009, who subsequently made steps leading towards its establishment. The leaders’ decision was based on the positive experience of the regions in their mutual cross – border cooperation as well as the impacts of this cooperation on the improvement of wellbeing of the people in cross - border area.

EGTC TRITIA has an area of 24 566,09 km2 and a population of 6,5 mln people. There are two cities with more than 300 thousand inhabitants - Katowice (PL) and Ostrava (CZ). These conurbations together with other important city of Žilina (SK) is tied by intensive socio - economic relations. A Baltic - Adriatic Transport Corridor leads across the TRITIA territory. With a strong business ground, seven public universities, large number of tertiary education providers and research and development entities the TRITIA territory is an interesting area for research and innovation. Thanks to these relations among various entities on the EGTC TRITIA territory, as well as thanks to common challenges that this area faces, the EGTC TRITIA has an enormous potential for a continuous increase of intensity and systematization of a joint multilateral cooperation.

The Grouping has been established to facilitate and spread the cross – border, transnational, and interregional cooperation of its members with an objective to strengthen economic and social cohesion, particularly through implementation of territorial cooperation projects or programmes with the following objectives:

1. making the grouping’s inhabitants everyday life easier,
2. creating cross-border cohesion in the framework of the whole grouping,
3. implementation of projects with the purpose of common strategic development.

To achieve these objectives the Grouping carries out the following tasks:

identification, promotion and implementation of programmes, projects and joint actions in the framework of territorial cooperation in the following main areas:

1. transport,
2. economy,
3. tourism,
4. energy with a focus on renewable energy sources;

identification, promotion and implementation of programmes, projects and joint actions in the framework of territorial cooperation in the following additional areas:

identification, promotion and implementation of programmes, projects and joint actions in the framework of territorial cooperation in the areas referred to in Regulation 1082/2006, i.e.:

What is EGTC

European Grouping of Territorial Cooperation (EGTC): a tool to facilitate cross-border, trans-national or inter-regional cooperation.

EGTCs were established in 2006 by the European Parliament and the Council with the political support of the Committee of the Regions. They enable regional and local authorities from different member states to cooperate more effectively, for example by allowing them to directly apply for and manage European funds.

Role of EGTC

To organise and manage cross-border, trans-national or interregional cooperation measures with or without EU financial support.

Who can set up an EGTC?

EGTCs must include partners from at least two EU member states, including:.

- regional or local authorities,

- central governments,

- bodies governed by public law,

- associations.

Examples of EGTC activities

Running cross-border transport or health services, managing cross-border or inter-regional sustainable development projects (innovation and technology, environmental protection, etc.), strengthening economic and social cohesion across borders.

Legislation

The EGTC is governed by the Regulation (EC) 1082/2006 of the European Parliament and of the Council. This Regulation is complemented by national provisions adopted by each Member State of the EU.

- The Regulation (EU) No 1302/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council amending Regulation (EC) No 1082/2006 on a European grouping of territorial cooperation (EGTC) as regards the clarification, simplification and improvement of the establishment and functioning of such groupings was adopted on 17 December 2013 and applies from 22 June 2014.

- Polish provision of 7th November 2008

- Slovak act of 15th February 2008 on the European groupinf of territorial cooperation and on the amendment of Act No 540/2001 Coll. on state statistics, as amended

- Czech act no. 298/2015 dated 22. 9. 2015, amending Act no. 248/2000 Coll., on regional development support, as amended, and certain other laws

For further information about EGTC: https://portal.cor.europa.eu/egtc/Pages/welcome.aspx

Administrative structure

The realization of the project "Strategy of systematic cooperation of public institutions of the Moravian-Silesian region, Silesian and Opole voivodship" CZ.3.22/3.1.00/09.01507, which was co-financed by the European Union under the Operational Program of Cross-border cooperation Czech Republic - Republic of Poland 2007 - 2013 and the state budget of Czech Rep., contributed to the establishment of EGTC TRITIA limited.