First of all, the availability of European grants adds value to the local regeneration effort and helps to release scarce national public and private finance. Combined resources are more effective in addressing significant economic issues such as tackling unemployment and building sustainable local wealth.

Secondly, European grants are administered by local bodies working together to ensure that support is given to projects which are based on a sound and realistic appreciation of local circumstances. Being close to the communities benefiting from European funds, these local partnerships are able to make sure that the money is spent in the most efficient and effective way.

The Eastern Scotland European Partnership is essentially a network of local organisations working together to achieve the best use of European grants. It was formed in 1994 to implement the Eastern Scotland Regional Plan (1994 - 1996), a strategic document setting out how European funds would be used in the area.

The Partnership includes representatives from local councils, Scottish Enterprise, local enterprise companies, universities, further education colleges, voluntary organisations and government departments. The Scottish Office and the European Comission are also partners although they have special roles and responsibilities. Through a number of committees, the Eastern Scotland European Partnership agrees and monitors strategy and oversees the management of funding programmes.

Regional development partnerships in Scotland like the Eastern Scotland European Partnership are viewed by the European Commission as being amongst the best examples of effective partnerships across the European Union. Indeed the EU is seeking to strengthen the role of partnerships as part of the current reform of the Structural Funds.

The Programme Executive of the Partnership was established in January 1995 to support Partnership committees and implement their decisions. It also manages and, with the help of a number of expert advisory groups, assesses applications for grants. In addition, the Executive monitors the progress of individual projects.

The Partnership has now established a company limited by guarantee, ESEP Ltd, with a Board of Directors drawn from the key partnership sectors; local authorities, Scottish Enterprise network, higher education, the voluntary sector and The Scottish Office. This new and independent status ensures that the important functions involved in managing and administering the Programmes are fully accountable, transparent and professionally supervised.