NETWORKS & COOPERATION

1. The Larnaca District Development Agency is a member of Conference of Peripheral Maritime Regions (CPMR). Members of the CPMR are 159 regions which represent 29 states (member-states of the E.U. and candidate states to enter the E.U.). The population represented in the network is about 200.000.000 citizens. The CPMR is independent from E.U. institutions. It aims at:
- Tackling the disadvantages encountered by Europe’s periphery
- Promoting Europe’s maritime dimension
- Exploiting the benefits of being close to Europe’s citizens
- Making the voice of the regions heard in a global world

2. The Agency participates as a founding member and shareholder with other 14 Local Action Groups (LAGs) in the Euro Consulting Group – GEIE. The Network operates within the framework of EU Initiative LEADER+ and it was founded in July 2005 at Vibo Valentia, Italy. Euro Consulting Group - GEIE has been created under the European Guidelines for the incorporation of a European Economic Interest Group (EEIG), as a strong operating instrument enabling partner LAGs to effectively implement common actions according to their set objectives. Aiming to represent the interests of the partner LAGs, to facilitate and develop their activities, to improve and optimise the project results, GEIE operates towards the following tasks:
- To establish a firm transnational cooperation and empower links in the technical, marketing and financial sectors;
- To promote innovation and support the adoption of quality assurance schemes,
- To improve marketing techniques and develop novel approaches in commercialisation of local products,
- To establish links with tour operators worldwide and promote rural tourism activities undertaking joint actions for broader dissemination

3. The Larnaca District Development Agency participates in the European Trans-regional Network for Social Inclusion (RETIS). RETIS or European Transregional Network for Social Inclusion is a political institution made up of European regional and local authorities which want to add their contribution to the construction of social Europe. RETIS is recognized by the European Commission within the framework of the Community action programme to combat social exclusion. The ambition of the members of RETIS is to reflect and act together for:
- eradicate deprivation, poverty and exclusion
- work towards liberty and equality as a matter of dignity, principle and practice, as well as towards social emancipation for all men and women

4. The Agency has signed a Protocol for cooperation with Provincia Regionale di Palermo of Italy. The objective of this cooperation is to collaborate in the framework of E.U. funded projects and the exchange of experience and best practices for the sustainable development of the regions represented by the two organizations.

5. The Agency participates in the European transnational network ‘FEDARENE’. FEDARENE is the premier European network of regional and local organisations which implement, co-ordinate and facilitate energy and environment policies. Regional and local agencies, ministries and departments working in these fields, are represented in FEDARENE, which is a non-profit association set up in 1990 at the initiative of six European regions, now has member regions from seventeen different European Union countries. FEDARENE is:
- A leading partner for actors involved in local supply and demand of energy
- Initiator of proposals
- Forum for promoting co-operation and exchange of experience
- Centre for information and advice
FEDARENE has published the declaration “European Regions for Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Sources”, which has been signed by 86 organizations, including the Larnaca District Development Agency.

6. The Agency participated in the meeting of the ‘Network of the Local and Regional Authorities for the Social and Fair Tourism” which was conducted in Crete. The aim of the meeting was the improvement and development of tourism in the member-states of the E.U. (June 2007).

7. For the promotion of its objectives, the Larnaca District Development Agency has signed (14 November 2003) a Protocol of Cooperation with the Development Agency of Heraklion (Crete), one of the largest Development Agencies in Greece.