The European Commission approved on 20 September 2007 a European territorial cooperation programme for transnational cooperation between Ireland, Spain, France, Portugal and the United Kingdom for the period 2007-2013.
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"Atlantic Area 2007-2013" programme is the fourth transnational cooperation programme in the area following the INTERREG Community Initiatives in the periods 1990-1993, 1994-1999 and 2000-2006. Within the priorities set by the European territorial cooperation objective, the main goal of the Operational Programme is to contribute to the territorial cohesion of the Atlantic Area through the reinforcement of the cooperation between the participating Member States. In order to consolidate existing cooperation structures and to achieve tangible results in terms of development of the knowledge economy the "Atlantic Area 007-2013" programme seeks to:
- enhance the Atlantic maritime heritage;
- valorise the maritime resources of the Atlantic area;
- contribute to the emergence of new economic activity clusters;
- promote accessibility and logistic conditions;
- contribute to the balanced and sustainable development of the Atlantic area.
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This implies a substantial change in the overall programme objectives in comparison to the previous programmes, in which many projects were limited to studies or exchange of information. The new type of transnational cooperation in the framework of the "Atlantic Area 2007-2013" programme focuses on concrete achievements, a long term strategic approach, the exchange of experience as well as the transfer of know how and cross fertilisation between projects that address similar issues.
The "Atlantic Area 2007-2013" programme contains four thematic fields of intervention for the transnational strand of the European territorial cooperation objective:
- innovation (including knowledge economy) (1);
- environment (including maritime heritage) (2);
- accessibility (3);
- sustainable urban development (including intensification of interregional exchanges) (4).
The Operational Programme "Atlantic Area 2007-2013" is structured along the following priorities:
For more information about the programme see
For more information about the results of the 1st Call see
Source: Atlantic Area Transnational Program
(04-02-09)