European Groupings of Territorial Cooperation (EGTC)
Cross-border cooperations were given a new impetus by the European Union’s adoption of 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) (amended by: regulation (EU) No 1302/2013). The EGTCs enable partners to implement joint projects, share expertise and improve coordination of territorial development (regional development). A European Groupings of Territorial Cooperation (EGTC) may be established by partners located in at least two Member States (or one Member State and one or more non-EU States) and belonging to one or more of the following categories: Member States or authorities at national level; regional authorities; local authorities; public undertakings or bodies governed by public law; undertakings entrusted with the operation of services of general economic interest; national, regional or local authorities, bodies or undertakings in third countries (subject to certain conditions); associations of organisations belonging to at least one of these categories. The European Groupings of Territorial Cooperation (EGTC)s have legal personality and their operation is governed by an agreement concluded unanimously by their members. They act on behalf of their members. The members adopt the statutes by separate agreement, which sets out in detail the organisational structure and activities of the European Groupings of Territorial Cooperation (EGTC). As a minimum requirement, the European Groupings of Territorial Cooperation (EGTC) should have two organs: a general assembly of the representatives of the members and a director. Its powers are limited by the members’ own responsibilities and competences. The register of EGTCs is kept by the Committee of the Regions. Act LXXV of 2014 on European territorial cooperation changed the name of European Groupings of Territorial Cooperation (EGTC) to European Territorial Cooperation (ETC). In 2020 Hungary was part of 16 such European Territorial Cooperations along its state borders.