Commission boosts Belgian-Dutch technological cooperation

Brussels, 14 May 2002

Technological cooperation will be one of the areas to benefit from 84.2 million euro of EU funds granted under the Interreg III programme in order to aid cross-border cooperation between Belgium and the Netherlands.

Some 23.6 million euro will be used to promote both networking between small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) and access to innovation.

The funds will also be used to develop infrastructure, improve the environment, support qualification and labour market affairs and social integration and to support economic and technological cooperation.

The money will go to the Vlaanderen-Nederland border region, and will attract a further 67.9 million euro in investment from the public sector and 22.6 million euro from the private sector, bringing funds to the total of 174.8 million euro.

The Vlaanderen-Nederland region is characterised by SMEs. The Commission hopes that the funds will tackle obstacles to cross-border economic cooperation and stimulate cooperation between SMEs.

For further information, please contact:
Mrs Ita Joosten
Tel: +32 14 71 11 40
Fax: +32 14 71 11 49
E-mail: itajoosten@euregiobmg.com

CORDIS RTD-NEWS/© European Communities, 2001