The South West UK Brussels Office was established on 1st April 2001.  The office is supported by a regional partnership comprising the South West Regional Development Agency and the county and unitary local authorities in the South West.

Its main objectives are to:

• support the European dimension of the work of the partners
• improve the South West's regional representation in Brussels
• ensure that the European institutions fully understand the needs and opportunities of the South West
• provide early information and intelligence to the partners
• develop transnational links with other EU regions

Following a high profile launch event in October 2001, the South West UK Brussels Office has already made its mark in EU-level negotiations.  A significant achievement in its first year, the office helped to secure an extension of the Objective 5b and Leader funding programmes so that projects which had been delayed by the outbreak of Foot & Mouth Disease in the region could be completed.  Other key areas of activity include taking a lead in negotiations with the European Commission on environmental issues and preparing for a visit to the South West in autumn 2002 from the European Commissioner for Regional Policy.

Photographs: courtesy of the Central Audiovisual Library of the European Commission.