The Role of Autonomous Communities in Euro-Regions and European Grouping of Territorial Cooperation Development (with Particular Reference to the Galician Case)

Abstract

One of the fields in which Spanish Autonomous Communities could play a new role is that of the development of new forms of transnational cooperation under EU Law. Some of the recent Spanish Statutory Law reforms have included certain mandatory rules concerning this reality, not yet sufficiently experienced. Autonomous Communities can play an important role in cross-border and interregional cooperation: first, in regard to the direct action of their Governments within them and, second, because recognition by the Statutes of Autonomy may result in the enhancement of the development (economic, social, and cultural) of cross-border cooperation, which has already demonstrated its interest and is able to multiply its power as a result of the creation of new EGTCs. In the case of Galicia, not merely the Galicia-Norte de Portugal Euro-Region but more especially the EGTC (endowed with legal personality) call for a legislative recognition that may also confer, although under certain circumstances, a relevant subject to change the political-territorial organization both inside and outside it.