Tees Valley Joint Strategy Unit European Policy Team

The Tees Valley is the recipient of quite large sums of European grant aid. This aid is secured through multi annual programmes for the North East of England as a whole. It is the role of the European Policy Team to participate in the development of each programme generation to ensure that the particular interests of the Tees Valley are taken into account and ensure that the draft programmes are available for consultation. During the implementation of each programme, the European Policy Team provides the local secretariat and administration function to the member organisations of the local partnership. These organisations, include the voluntary sector and local authorities (Darlington, Middlesbrough, Stockton, Redcar & Cleveland, and Hartlepool) who apply for the European aid.

The Group also represents the interests of the five Tees Valley local authorities on a range of regional, national and international bodies related to European initiatives. It is the role of the European Policy Team to look at potential policy developments, to assess the potential impact on local organisations and commerce and to advise politicians on a response to the initiatives. In addition, the European Policy Team provides expert advice to the local authorities on a wide range of European issues related to local business and commerce and is the centre for Tees Valley business search facilities operated through the European Commission. In order to be able to help local companies with complex legal issues, the European Policy Team has its own legal expert.

The European Policy Team has basic liaison mechanisms with the five Borough Councils, the District Liaison Group, Tees Valley p4 Exec Group and the Heads of Economic Development Group. In addition, the European Policy Team normally reports to the Strategic Economic Development (Sub) Committee of the Tees Valley Joint Strategy Committee, which meets monthly.