5 million euro community funding is approved for Azorean partners involved in cooperation projects with the regions of Macaronesia
The management entity of the Transnational Cooperation Programme (TCP) MAC 2007-2013, which substitutes the previous INTERREG III B 200-2007 Programme under the current Community Framework, has approved four dozens projects in a total investment of five million Euros, which corresponds to a 4.1 million euro subsidy by FEDER.
The projects were approved under the 2nd PCT MAC 2007-2013 Management Committee which met in Funchal and in which the Regional Director for Planning and Structural Funds, Rui Amann, took part.
At the committees which were celebrated under INTERREG III B – MAC, the Azores stood out as the Region with the highest execution rate regarding this programme, having also presented “a large number of proposals that have surpassed all expectations of other partners” under the current PCT MAC, underlined Rui Amann.
The applications which were now approved comprise the areas of investigation, technological development, innovation and information society, environment and risk prevention, among others.
According to the Regional Director for Planning and Structural Funds, the Azorean proposals in this transnational cooperation programme involve several sectors of the Azorean society, mainly governmental departments, local councils, business associations, the University of the Azores, among others, which “demonstrates the Region’s dynamic and the proper use of the available community funds.”
In addition to the execution analysis and the project approval, the 2nd PCT MAC 2007-2013 Management Committee has decided to start the launching process to present cooperation projects with Senegal, Mauritania and Cape Verde.
It is a new intervention area that represents “new opportunities of collaboration with Cape Verde that will have in the Azores a privilege partner,” said Rui Amann.