The EGTC offers the option of establishing groupings of regional and local authorities from different EU Member states without requiring a prior international agreement to be signed and ratified by national parliaments. However, Member states must approve EGTC participation of territory members.

The European legal framework is governed by Regulation (EC) No. 1082/2006 of the EP and of the Council as amended by Regulation (EU) No. 1302/2013 of the EP and of the Council from 17 December, 2013 amending Regulation (EC) No. 1082/2006 on the EGTC according to the clarification, simplification and improvement of the establishment and functioning of such groupings (“Regulation E”).

Its goal is to establish a European legal framework for the creation and operation of the instrument for EU-level cooperation with a legal entity which may act on behalf of its members, especially regional and local authorities. The purpose of the EGTC is to facilitate and support cross-border, transnational and interregional cooperation among its members with the prior aim of strengthening economic and social cohesion. Such groupings may associate members located in at least two EU Member states and may include states, regional and local authorities and public entities.

Act No. 248/2000 on Support to Regional Development, Art.18a – 18h as amended, regulates the conditions for the functioning of the EGTC in the Czech Republic on a national level. The Act on Support to Regional Development entrusts EGTC registration and approval of the participation of members of such groupings to the Ministry of Regional Development. The Ministry shall evaluate registration requests in accordance with the legal system. The final text of the Convention and Statutes of particular groupings are published on the Ministry of Regional Development website after groupings are registered.

In October 2015, the Act on Support to Regional Development (under No. 298/2015 Coll.) specified a condition for member participation which states that they must have adequate insurance or another form of security during the entire operation, according to Article 12 of the EU Regulation.
 
Grouping member participation approval
A future grouping member, if its legal entity is established or registered under the laws of the Czech Republic, shall submit an application for approval of participation in a grouping with its seat in the Czech Republic or in another EU Member State, to the Ministry of Regional Development, International Relations Department, Staroměstské náměstí 6, 110 15 Praha 1, in accordance with Article 4(2) b) of the EU Regulation.

Grouping registration
A grouping with its official seat in the Czech Republic is the legal entity, as at the date of registration in the Ministry of Regional Development grouping register. The applicant shall be asked to submit its application for entry in the register, the complete wording of its Convention, and Statutes to the International Relations Department.
 
Contacts (International Relations Department)
Mgr. Alice Chapman
tel.: +420 224 861 1799
e-mail: alice.chapman@mmr.cz

RNDr. Katarína Husárová
Tel.: +420 224 861 907
E-mail: katarina.husarova@mmr.cz