Vigtigheden af dette transeuropæiske samarbejde, med dets opdeling i grænseoverskridende, transnationalt og interregionalt samarbejde, Interregs værdiforøgelse af Fællesskabet, programmets synlighed i forhold til strukturfondenes aktiviteter i almindelighed, og styrkelsen af de egentligt grænseoverskridende og transnationale programmer og støtteberettigede aktiviteter. Vigtigheden af fælles strukturer, det jeg i forbindelse med en anden forhandling, der starter i dag, nemlig regeringskonferencen, har kaldt den europæiske fællesånd, som må styrkes, netop ved hjælp af Interreg, og hvordan vi takket være Interreg kan styrke den fælles ånd gennem fælles strukturer for med en ægte økonomisk solidaritet at kunne iværksætte programmerne.
He stressed a number of points, with which we may indicate our agreement, as many of you did too - the importance of this trans-European cooperation, with its three strands, cross-border, transnational, interregional; the added value to the Community provided by INTERREG, its clarity in relation to the general framework of the structural funds, and the truly cross-border and transnational strengthening of eligible programmes and operations; the importance of common structures and what, in discussing another debate which begins today, the Intergovernmental Conference, I termed the common European spirit which we have to strengthen, and here, with INTERREG, thanks to INTERREG, is a way to strengthen common spirit through common structures for the implementation of programmes with real financial solidarity; the importance of partnership in guaranteeing the active participation of all the local and regional authorities concerned as well as private sector associations and economic and social partners.