Memo: Operational Programme Netherlands-Germany 2007-2013

On 3 December 2007, the European Commission approved a Cross-border Cooperation Operational Programme between the Netherlands and Germany for the period 2007-2013. The Programme involves providing Community support as part of the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) for the following regions along the Dutch-German border:

Achterhoek, Arnhem/Nijmegen, Delfzijl en omgeving, Midden Limburg, Noord Friesland, Noord Limburg, Noord Overijssel, Noordoost, Noord Brabant, Oost Groningen, Overig Groningen, Twente and Zuidoost Drenthe in the Netherlands;

Landkreis Aurich, Kreis Borken, Kreisfreie Stadt Emden, Landkreis Emsland, Landkreis Grafschaft Bentheim, Kreis Kleve, Kreisfreie Stadt Krefeld, Landkreis Leer, Kreisfreie Stadt Mönchengladbach, Kreis Steinfurt, Kreis Viersen and Kreis Wesel in Germany.

The areas Landkreis Ammerland, Landkreis Cloppenburg, Kreis Coesfeld, Kreisfreie Stadt Duisburg, Landkreis Friesland, Kreisfreie Stadt Münster, Landkreis Osnabrück, Kreisfreie Stadt Osnabrück, Rhein Kreis Neuss, Kreis Warendorf and Landkreis Wittmund in Germany and Flevoland, Noord Drenthe, Veluwe, Zuidwest Drenthe, Zuidoost Friesland, Zuidwest Gelderland as well as Zuidwest Overijssel in the Netherlands can participate in the projects as adjacent areas receiving a maximum of 20% of the ERDF funding allocated to the Programme.

The Operational Programme falls within the framework laid out for the European Territorial Cooperation Objective and has a total budget of around €294 million. Community funding through the European Regional Development Fund amounts to some €139 million, which represents approximately 1.6% of the total EU investment earmarked for the European Territorial Cooperation Objective under the Cohesion Policy 2007-2013.