In the context of cross-border, transnational or inter-regional cooperation, territorial authorities, their groupings and, after authorisation from their supervisory authority, bodies governed by public law within the meaning of Directive 2004/18/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 31 March 2004 on the coordination of procedures for the award of public works contracts, public supply contracts and public service contracts may, within the limits of their competences and in compliance with France’s international commitments, create with the territorial authorities, groupings of territorial authorities and bodies governed by public law of the Member States of the European Union, as well as with the Member States of the European Union or border States that are members of the Council of Europe, a European Grouping of Territorial Cooperation under French law, with legal personality and financial autonomy.
This creation is authorised by order of the State representative in the region where the European grouping of territorial cooperation has its headquarters. It is granted legal personality under public law from the date on which the decision to create it comes into force. The provisions of the Title II of Book VII of Part Five which are not contrary to the Community regulations in force shall apply to it.
A European grouping of territorial cooperation under French law may be dissolved by reasoned decree adopted in the Council of Ministers and published in the Journal officiel.
Territorial authorities, their groupings and, after authorisation from their supervisory authority, bodies governed by public law within the meaning of the aforementioned Directive 2004/18/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 31 March 2004, may, within the limits of their powers, in compliance with France’s international commitments and subject to prior authorisation from the State representative in the region, join a European grouping of territorial cooperation governed by foreign law.