Abstract
The experiences of cross-border cooperation (CBC), undertaken not only in Europe but throughout the world, have enabled areas to gain greater importance in recent decades at an international level, showing potential for integrative functions and joint development as exemplified by several CBC projects. The present paper assesses the impact of CBC projects by analyzing a protocol established in 2013 between the cities of Elvas and Badajoz, which induced the creation of the Eurocity Elvas-Badajoz. The paper kicks off with a critical review on territorial factors for success in CBC areas, considering the analysis of several case studies throughout Europe. The lessons learned, taken from the analyzed case studies, and the identified territorial success factors were used as assessment points for the investigation of the target study area, the Eurocity ElvasBadajoz. The investigation explores public participation perceptions towards the identification of what changes with respect to standards of life with the CBC project, providing the current state of affairs and identifying where to place efforts in order to reach sustainable development for the region. While being a transition area, it presents several opportunities for growth. These opportunities have not yet been object of analysis and debate with respect to lasting, sustainable successful growth. The present research enables the identification of several territorial factors for success in the study area, such as the connectivity/movement between cities and strong political commitment. From the identified critical factors, it was possible to highlight the importance of public transportation as a priority for achieving success in this CBC project.
Highlights
Border areas have attained a status of special interest, with respect to national sovereignty and with regard to cooperation between populations [1,2,3]
cross-border cooperation (CBC) is especially relevant in Europe since this continent has a saturation of countries larger than any other when its small area is taken into account, resulting in a third of the European population living in border areas [18,19,20]
CBC is a topic increasingly gaining momentum; this scenario is obvious, especially considering that in recent years increasing studies based on similar issues, such as in the present research, have been developed
Summary
Border areas have attained a status of special interest, with respect to national sovereignty and with regard to cooperation between populations [1,2,3]. Cross-border cooperation (CBC) processes at the Iberian level, despite their undeniable dynamism, are not progressing and developing as fast as in other regions of Europe [4,5,6,7,8]. CBC projects seek to cover a large range of issues, such as for example: integration activities and stimulating development of border areas [11,12,13,14], among many others. CBC is especially relevant in Europe since this continent has a saturation of countries larger than any other when its small area is taken into account, resulting in a third of the European population living in border areas [18,19,20] The definition of CBC was provided for the first time in the European Charter for Border and Cross-Border Regions (1981) [1,15], in the European Outline Convention on Transfrontier Cooperation between Territorial Communities or Authorities (1980) [1,16], and in the European Charter of Regional Self-Government (1997) [1,17].
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