The Four Motors for Europe and Associates are four major European Regions: Baden-Württemberg (Germany), Catalunya (Spain), Lombardia (Italy) and Rhône-Alpes (France), and their Associates: Flanders (Belgium) and Wales (United Kingdom). The association was established by their Presidents in 1988. 

The two-fold aim is to bring an international dimension to these regions and their citizens while promoting the role of Europe’s region within a fledgling European Union.  

Unhampered by a shared border or a permanent bureaucratic structure, the Four Motors and Associates is a flexible alliance, ahead of its time in terms of decentralized cooperation, which has proved capable of perpetuating its actions and forging solid links between the member regions.  

The Economy Group is operational since 1991 and meets regularly twice a year in order to discuss potential actions to undertake in common as well as to monitor those being undertaken.  

One of the distinctive actions regularly undertaken by the Economy Group are the Joint Missions Abroad, developed since 2002: Beijing (China), Atlanta (USA), Prague (Czech Republic), Skhirat (Morocco), New Delhi (India), Ekaterinburg (Russia) and Iguassu, Curitiba and Belo Horizonte (Brazil). 

 The Group has received inputs from the Ministers Responsible for the Productive Economy of the different territories in two occasions, being the last one in Sitges (Catalunya) 2009.