Gelderland and Europe

Gelderland lies at the very heart of Europe. As a province on the border with Germany, Gelderland not only works closely with its direct neighbour, German Bundesland North Rhine-Westphalia, but also with other European regions and networks and maintains close contact with the European Union.

This can entail collaboration in projects, together following up on or influencing significant developments in ‘Brussels’, or making use of European funds.

House of the Dutch Provinces
Thus the province is taking part in the Huis der Nederlandse Provincies (House of the Dutch Provinces) in Brussels. In this way it keeps abreast of important European developments. From a wide range of topics the province selects those issues that directly affect its interests. In the coming years these will primarily be the future of the European Structural Funds (including the European Regional Development Fund) and the future of the Common Agricultural Policy.

European networks
Due to the fact that as a relatively small region Gelderland itself does not have much clout within Europe, it seeks partnerships with other regions through membership of European networks like the Association of European Regions, the Association of European Border Regions and Partenalia.

GO
Europe also plays a significant role in Gelderland’s economic development. Through the GO programme in conjunction with the province of Overijssel, Gelderland is investing 164 million euros of European money in the regional economy between 2007 and 2013.

Euregio and Interreg
The cross-border collaboration – together with Euregio and Euregio Rhine-Waal – is being supported by Europe through the Interreg A programme Germany-Netherlands. The province of Gelderland is implementing specific projects with programmes like Interreg B and Interreg C, relating to matters such as climate (Park Lingezegen), energy (CAPEM), tourism (Demarrage) and ageing population.

Lublin
The province of Gelderland has a special relationship with the Lubelskie voivodeship (region) in eastern Poland. We have maintained close contact with this partner region since 1993, and as of 2008 the regions have been twinned.

Gelderland is active in Europe and Europe is active in Gelderland. One cannot exist without the other.