The European Union (EU) sets the commercial and business framework for its 27 member states with their population of 493 million. The West Midlands is an important part of the EU and its economy. It has a population larger than that of eight EU member states, and approximately half of its exports are within the Single Market. In order to maximise benefits from the EU membership and increase the region’s engagement with European activity, the West Midlands Regional European Strategy has been launched in 2008. It focuses on what our priorities should be and how we intend to make a success of them.
The strategy has four priorities:
Priority 1: Engaging with the Single Market
Focus - Exports, inward investment and enhancing skills and knowledge of the single market.
Priority 2: Engaging with Europe's Research and Innovation Agenda
Focus - European research and development awards and small grants for travel and subsistence.
Priority 3: Tackling Climate Change and Ensuring Environmental Protection
Focus - Regional participation in climate change and environmental programmes and initiatives.
Priority 4: The Social Cohesion Dimension
Focus - EU policies and programmes to provide jobs, fight poverty and promote equal opportunities.
In each of these areas it sets out the policy, funding and people issues and lays down a limited number of priorities for action.
Advantage West Midlands works with a broad range of partners across the region and the EU to contribute to successful delivery of all four priorities of the European strategy. For each priority a number of European and other funding programmes are available and one of our key tasks is to make sure they are used as much as possible.
We also work to influence European policies and programmes which will have a direct effect on our regional economic performance.
To read more on how Advantage West Midlands is working on European issues, select the sections from the left hand menu.
All financial support offered through Advantage West Midlands is provided in accordance with State Aid rules.