Portugal Spain Research Articles

Hydrogeological studies in the São Torcato Zone -Tabuaço with aim of optimizing the location of a special groundwater abstraction to plan a new Medical Spa in Portugal

The present work presents a case study, to evaluate the possibility that in an area of the territory of the interior of Portugal, there is potential for capturing special groundwater that allows its classification as natural mineral water for thermalism. In this sense, after an initial part, with the framing of the theme and the presentation of the work methodology, the geomorphological and geological elements are shown, giving more development to the hydrogeological aspects, highlighting the results of the monthly sequential hydrological balance, namely its annual surplus, crossing it with the groundwater sampling sites, and still, the existing aquifer systems and the characteristics of their waters are identified. As a main result, the conceptual geohydraulic model of the region is presented, to show that in the São Torcato zone, and particularly in the Qta do Plácido zone, there is the possibility of exploiting groundwater in an aquifer system of granitic rocks, from fissural type, which is supplied from relatively distant areas, in hydrographical basins other than São Torcato basin, provided relatively deep boreholes are to be drilled. Finally, the main conclusions are synthesized, pointing out the most favorable area to carry out groundwater abstraction with the potential to have stability and quality suitable for a medical spa. It should be noted that these elements are only previous studies, which should be considered as initial contributions, and that further work should be carried out in the future, including geophysical studies and mechanical drilling, flow tests, as well as, among others, isotopic studies in the waters of the region to assess the recharge areas and available reserves.

Prevalence and demographic characteristics of Hodgkin lymphoma in Colombia, according to the Ministry of Health data

Introduction: Hodgkin lymphoma accounts for approximately 10% of lymphoma cases. The epidemiology of Hodgkin lymphoma has always been a source of fascination to researchers due to its heterogeneous characteristics. Since 1993 in Colombia, the coverage of health services has been extended, and there is an extensive registry of health care processes through the Social Protection Comprehensive Information System. Objectives was To calculate the prevalence and describe the demographic characteristics of Hodgkin lymphoma in Colombia. Materials and methods: Descriptive cross-sectional study with data from the Comprehensive Social Protection Information System of the Ministry of Health of Colombia between 2015 and 2019. Results: 4,396 cases were identified, and a prevalence of 8.9 per 100,000 inhabitants; of these, 55% are men, with a male:female ratio of 1.2:1, with a higher prevalence in the 75-79 years age group. The departments with the highest prevalence are Risaralda (13.33), Bogotá D.C. (13.30), Boyacá (11.9), Quindío (11.49) and Santander (11.44). Conclusions: The prevalence is higher than that reported in the population-based cancer registries in Brazil (5.2), Colombia (5.4), Argentina (8.4), Portugal (8.4) Spain (11.1), France (12.4), United Kingdom (13.9), Italy (13.9), per 100,000 inhabitants between 2016 and 2020. The possibility is proposed that the differences found are due to the lack of population-based cancer registries in Colombian cities in which there is a higher prevalence of this entity and greater aging of the population.

Interpretation of the Reflectance Spectra of Lithium (Li) Minerals and Pegmatites: A Case Study for Mineralogical and Lithological Identification in the Fregeneda-Almendra Area

Reflectance spectroscopy has been used to identify several deposit types. However, applications concerning lithium (Li)-pegmatites are still scarce. Reflectance spectroscopic studies complemented by microscopic and geochemical studies were employed in the Fregeneda–Almendra (Spain–Portugal) pegmatite field to analyze the spectral behavior of Li-minerals and field lithologies. The spectral similarity of the target class (Li-pegmatites) with other elements was also evaluated. Lepidolite was discriminated from other white micas and the remaining Li-minerals. No diagnostic feature of petalite and spodumene was identified, since their spectral curves are dominated by clays. Their presence was corroborated (by complementary techniques) in petalite relics and completely replaced crystals, although the clay-related absorption depths decrease with Li content. This implies that clays can be used as pathfinders only in areas where argillic alteration is not prevalent. All sampled lithologies present similar water and/or hydroxide features. The overall mineral assemblage is very distinct, with lepidolite, cookeite, and orthoclase exclusively identified in Li-pegmatite (being these minerals crucial targets for Li-pegmatite discrimination in real-life applications), while chlorite and biotite can occur in the remaining lithologies. Satellite data can be used to discriminate Li-pegmatites due to distinct reflectance magnitude and mineral assemblages, higher absorptions depths, and distinct Al–OH wavelength position. The potential use of multi- and hyperspectral data was evaluated; the main limitations and advantages were discussed. These new insights on the spectral behavior of Li-minerals and pegmatites may aid in new Li-pegmatite discoveries around the world.

The Oldest Report of a 1537 Mexico Tsunami Based on Japanese Literature Is Erroneous

Abstract According to the Global Historical Database by the National Centers for Environmental Information, the oldest historical tsunami record in Central America is the earthquake tsunami that occurred in Mexico in 1537; however, this record is doubtful because this tsunami is reported by no authority outside Japan. Here, I examined earthquake and tsunami catalogs and found the source of this suspicious data. Imamura (1925) compiled the first part of the chronological table of major earthquakes in the world from the earthquake catalog of the world by Milne (1912). During this compilation, information on the tsunami caused by the 1531 Spain–Portugal earthquake was not copied. The chronological table was published almost annually until 1962; during this time the table was revised in 1958 by Kawasumi, who was the author in charge at the time. The remarks for the 1531 Spain–Portugal earthquake tsunami should have been added during the revision, but the text “tsunami existence” was erroneously added to the next entry for the 1537 Mexico earthquake. The source of the 1537 tsunami report was this miscopy.

Successful Use of Geochemical Tools to Trace the Geographic Origin of Long-Snouted Seahorse Hippocampus guttulatus Raised in Captivity.

Simple SummarySeahorses (Hippocampus spp.) are currently exposed to a multitude of anthropogenic pressures worldwide. The illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fisheries and trade of these flagship species undermine the efforts to manage and protect their wild populations. Here we aim to validate a forensic tool to identify the geographic origin of seahorses and contribute to the ongoing fight against the illegal capture and trade of these organisms. The elemental fingerprints of long-snouted seahorse (Hippocampus guttulatus) bony structures, including the subdermal bony plates that cover their body, revealed that they can be successfully employed to confirm their geographic origin. The results of this first study using seahorses raised in captivity indicate that this tool may also allow to discriminate between different populations of wild specimens and enhance the traceability of traded specimens.The global market of dried seahorses mainly supplies Traditional Chinese Medicine and still relies on blurry trade chains that often cover less sustainable practices targeting these pricey and endangered fish. As such, reliable tools that allow the enforcement of traceability, namely to confirm the geographic origin of traded seahorses, are urgently needed. The present study evaluated the use of elemental fingerprints (EF) in the bony structures of long-snouted seahorses Hippocampus guttulatus raised in captivity in two different locations (southern Portugal and Northern Spain) to discriminate their geographic origin. The EF of different body parts of H. guttulatus were also evaluated as potential proxies for the EF of the whole body, in order to allow the analysis of damaged specimens and avoid the use of whole specimens for analysis. The contrasting EF of H. guttulatus raised in the two locations allowed their reliable discrimination. Although no single body part exactly mimicked the EF of the whole body, seahorse trunks, as well as damaged specimens, could still be correctly allocated to their geographic origin. This promising forensic approach to discriminate the geographic origin of seahorses raised in captivity should now be validated for wild conspecifics originating from different locations, as well as for other species within genus Hippocampus.

Tools for Remote Exploration: A Lithium (Li) Dedicated Spectral Library of the Fregeneda–Almendra Aplite–Pegmatite Field

The existence of diagnostic features in the visible and infrared regions makes it possible to use reflectance spectra not only to identify mineral assemblages but also for calibration and classification of satellite images, considering lithological and/or mineral mapping. For this purpose, a consistent spectral library with the target spectra of minerals and rocks is needed. Currently, there is big market pressure for raw materials including lithium (Li) that has driven new satellite image applications for Li exploration. However, there are no reference spectra for petalite (a Li mineral) in large, open spectral datasets. In this work, a spectral library was built exclusively dedicated to Li minerals and Li pegmatite exploration through satellite remote sensing. The database includes field and laboratory spectra collected in the Fregeneda–Almendra region (Spain–Portugal) from (i) distinct Li minerals (spodumene, petalite, lepidolite); (ii) several Li pegmatites and other outcropping lithologies to allow satellite-based lithological mapping; (iii) areas previously misclassified as Li pegmatites using machine learning algorithms to allow comparisons between these regions and the target areas. Ancillary data include (i) sample location and coordinates, (ii) sample conditions, (iii) sample color, (iv) type of face measured, (v) equipment used, and for the laboratory spectra, (vi) sample photographs, (vii) continuum removed spectra files, and (viii) statistics on the main absorption features automatically extracted. The potential future uses of this spectral library are reinforced by its major advantages: (i) data is provided in a universal file format; (ii) it allows users to compare field and laboratory spectra; (iii) a large number of complementary data allow the comparison of shape, asymmetry, and depth of the absorption features of the distinct Li minerals.

The Southern European Atlantic Diet and all-cause mortality in older adults

BackgroundThe Southern European Atlantic Diet (SEAD) is the traditional diet of Northern Portugal and North-Western Spain. Higher adherence to the SEAD has been associated with lower levels of some cardiovascular risk factors and reduced risk for myocardial infarction, but whether this translates into lower all-cause mortality is uncertain. We hence examined the association between adherence to the SEAD and all-cause mortality in older adults.MethodsData were taken from the Seniors-ENRICA-1 cohort, which included 3165 individuals representative of the non-institutionalized population aged ≥ 60 years in Spain. Food consumption was assessed with a validated diet history, and adherence to the SEAD was measured with an index comprising 9 food components: fresh fish, cod, red meat and pork products, dairy products, legumes and vegetables, vegetable soup, potatoes, whole-grain bread, and wine. Vital status was ascertained with the National Death Index of Spain. Statistical analyses were performed with Cox regression models and adjusted for the main confounders.ResultsDuring a median follow-up of 10.9 years, 646 deaths occurred. Higher adherence to the SEAD was associated with lower all-cause mortality (fully adjusted hazard ratio [95% confidence interval] per 1-SD increment in the SEAD score 0.86 [0.79, 0.94]; p-trend < 0.001). Most food components of the SEAD showed some tendency to lower all-cause mortality, especially moderate wine consumption (hazard ratio [95% confidence interval] 0.71 [0.59, 0.86]). The results were robust in several sensitivity analyses. The protective association between SEAD and all-cause death was of similar magnitude to that found for the Mediterranean Diet Adherence Screener (hazard ratio [95% confidence interval] per 1-SD increment 0.89 [0.80, 0.98]) and the Alternate Healthy Eating Index (0.83 [0.76, 0.92]).ConclusionsAdherence to the SEAD is associated with a lower risk of all-cause death among older adults in Spain.

Quality of an Underground Hydro Resource in Order to Classify it as Natural Mineral Water for Thermalism: The Case of the New Resource “Termas de São Tiago”

A Medical Spa in Portugal to work legally needs to be supplied by a groundwater that is classified as natural mineral water. After the referred classification, that water is considered as a geological resource and of the public domain, that is, protected by the Portuguese State. Among several studies, mainly hydrogeological, the quality of that natural resource and its physicochemical and microbiological stability, over a hydrological year, is absolutely crucial to obtain the official classification of the resource. Thus, the main objective of this paper is to present the fundamental elements of that domain, in the sense of presenting a case study, which serves as an example to other situations. The results of physicochemical and microbiological analysis, performed monthly, for 12 consecutive months, as well as, the results of a very complete analysis with trace chemical elements, gases, radiological parameters, mineral oils and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, are presented, analysed and discussed. Finally, the main hydrogeochemical classifications of that natural resource are presented, which led to the new mineral water called as “Termas de São Tiago”, and which was responsible for the fact that Portugal can currently count on a new medical spa in operation.

203 - FAMILY QUALITY OF LIFE IN NEURODEGENERATIVE DISEASES: EXPLORING NEEDS AND SUPPORTS IN THE CROSS-BORDER AREA SPAIN-PORTUGAL

Neurodegenerative diseases often have an impact on both patients and their family caregivers. Given that families are an important support resource for people with neurodegenerative diseases, it is important to ensure their own quality of life. This symposium aim to present the NEUROQUALYFAM project funded by Cross Border Cooperation Programme Spain–Portugal 2014–2020 (POCTEP). The main objective of this project is to improve the quality of life of family caregivers who care people with neurodegenerative disease at home through the assessment of their needs and support resources, and the subsequent design and optimization of high-quality resources and services that are family-centered.

Semi-Automatization of Support Vector Machines to Map Lithium (Li) Bearing Pegmatites

Machine learning (ML) algorithms have shown great performance in geological remote sensing applications. The study area of this work was the Fregeneda–Almendra region (Spain–Portugal) where the support vector machine (SVM) was employed. Lithium (Li)-pegmatite exploration using satellite data presents some challenges since pegmatites are, by nature, small, narrow bodies. Consequently, the following objectives were defined: (i) train several SVM’s on Sentinel-2 images with different parameters to find the optimal model; (ii) assess the impact of imbalanced data; (iii) develop a successful methodological approach to delineate target areas for Li-exploration. Parameter optimization and model evaluation was accomplished by a two-staged grid-search with cross-validation. Several new methodological advances were proposed, including a region of interest (ROI)-based splitting strategy to create the training and test subsets, a semi-automatization of the classification process, and the application of a more innovative and adequate metric score to choose the best model. The proposed methodology obtained good results, identifying known Li-pegmatite occurrences as well as other target areas for Li-exploration. Also, the results showed that the class imbalance had a negative impact on the SVM performance since known Li-pegmatite occurrences were not identified. The potentials and limitations of the methodology proposed are highlighted and its applicability to other case studies is discussed.

Calculated Potential Bedload Versus Real Transported Sands along the Guadiana River Estuary (Spain–Portugal)

The Guadiana estuary is a coastal system located in the southwest of the Iberian Peninsula and is the natural border between Portugal and Spain. It is a rock-bounded estuary which extends along more than 40 km and is characterized by a semidiurnal mesotidal regime. This paper represents an approach to the bedload transport across two flow sections located in the fluvial and marine domains. In the fluvial profile, the most frequent bedform is the plane bed. In the marine area the bed of the deep channel is composed of well-sorted sand, while a lateral bar displays partially cohesive sediments with dominant fine sands in a matrix of clayey silts. Data were acquired during spring and neap tides. Near-bottom water velocities were registered by an acoustic Doppler current profiler (ADCP). Density and bed rugosity were determined in sediment samples. These data were employed using Bagnold’s equation (1963) to quantify the potential bedload (Qb). Further, real bedload values (Sb) were obtained by using Poliakoff traps. The comparison of the results of Qb under both ebb and flood conditions demonstrated a clear river-to-sea net transport in both sectors. The values of Sb were lower than those of Qb in every condition. The sand input across the fluvial estuary cannot supply the potential bedload in the lower domain of the channel, thereby causing a deficit that explains this lack of agreement between potential and real transport.

A method to estimate the longshore sediment transport at ebb‐tidal deltas based on their volumetric growth: Application to the Guadiana (Spain–Portugal border)

AbstractCurrent techniques assessing longshore sediment transport rates have large uncertainties, pleading for the development of alternative and complementary approaches. The present study proposes a method to estimate the decadal average rate of longshore transport at modern ebb‐tidal deltas based on a sediment budget analysis of the outer shoal growth. This transport is obtained as the balance of the other contributions to the shoal with the total sediment input rate obtained from an inverse application of the inlet reservoir model. The method is applied to the Guadiana ebb‐tidal delta, yielding an average longshore sediment transport rate (~85 000 m3 year−1) in good agreement with expectations for the region. It is exemplified that this decadal averaged rate can be used to improve longshore sediment transport expressions in order to study its variability over shorter time scales. At the Guadiana, the yearly longshore sediment transport from the improved formula ranges from ~25 000 m3 (westward) to ~245 000 m3 (eastward) and is related to the North Atlantic Oscillation index. Overall, the proposed method constitutes an alternative tool to constrain the average longshore sediment transport rate over decades in the vicinity of tidal inlets. It is applicable to ebb‐tidal deltas where the outer shoal growth (from an early to a mature stage) is well documented by bathymetric maps, and where the main transport pathways towards the outer shoal can be specified. © 2019 John Wiley &amp; Sons, Ltd. © 2019 John Wiley &amp; Sons, Ltd.

Promoting sustainable tourism in rural and natural areas through small business innovation: the case of Atenor village (Northeast, Portugal)

Douro International is a cross-border mountainous region located between northeast Portugal and northwest Spain (see Figure 1). The Portuguese side is one of the most remote regions of the country....

Indium distribution in metalliferous mine wastes of the Iberian Pyrite Belt, Spain–Portugal

Indium is a rare, post-transition metal that is widely used in modern technological applications. However, despite its known toxicity the environmental processes of this element are poorly understood. This study reports on the abundance, mineralogical siting and mobility of indium in waste rock at six selected historic mine sites (Angostura, La Zarza, Rio Tinto, San Telmo, Sao Domingos, Tharsis) of the Iberian Pyrite Belt (IPB), Spain–Portugal. Sulfidic waste rock samples are invariably enriched in indium (mean 6 mg/kg In), with concentrations well above average crustal abundances (50 µg/kg In). Indium is largely present as cation substitutions in the crystal lattices of sulfide minerals, in particular kesterite (max. 0.5 wt% In), sphalerite (max. 0.27 wt% In) and chalcopyrite (max. 0.05 wt% In). The sulfidic wastes have undergone extensive oxidation prior to and after mining, with partially oxidized sulfidic waste rocks invariably enriched in indium (mean 1.5 mg/kg In). At the toe of waste dumps, oxygenation of acid rock drainage (ARD) waters leads to the development of abundant secondary metal and/or alkali (hydrous) sulfates and the formation of Fe-rich precipitates and evaporative salts (mean 1.5 mg/kg In). Consequently, indium is significantly enriched in sulfidic mine wastes of the IPB and displays mobility in ARD environments, with its mobility somewhat constrained by oxygenation of ARD waters and subsequent iron precipitation.

Hydrogeochemical Studies of a Groundwater with a View to its Classification as Mineral Water for a New Medical Spa in Portugal

Natural mineral waters are a high quality underground water resource and are becoming increasingly scarce. According to Portuguese legislation this resource is organized into two main types: bottled water and thermal waters. There are some cases where the same water due to its singularities is used in both situations. It is important to stress that groundwater to be considered a natural mineral has to comply with very demanding technical requirements and only after a considerable number of studies and procedures can it be proposed superior to the state to recognize this resource as mineral water. The present work corresponds to a recently licensed natural mineral water, with application in thermal activity, in classic thermalism and wellness thermalism, and that after its licensing it was designated “Termas de São Miguel”, in the municipality of Fornos of Algodres, in the district of Guarda, in Portugal. It should also be pointed out that there was no pre-existence of thermal baths, neither from Roman times, nor from any other period. It was all done from scratch. Thus, in this paper, the main aspects that lead to the licensing of the new natural mineral water are summarized, giving greater emphasis to the hydrogeochemical studies that were absolutely central in the whole process. Thus, in a first phase the geomorphological, geological, hydrogeo-environmental and hydrogeological aspects are presented and, in the whole, led to the elaboration of the geohydraulic model of the resource. In a second phase, the elements on the stability of the quality in terms of hydrogeochemicals, the respective classifications in chemical terms, are presented in detail, and their characteristics are compared with mineral waters of other Portuguese Medial Spas. Finally, some final considerations are made on the potential applications of the water under study, and the main conclusions are presented.

Frictional interactions between tidal constituents in tide-dominated estuaries

Abstract. When different tidal constituents propagate along an estuary, they interact because of the presence of nonlinear terms in the hydrodynamic equations. In particular, due to the quadratic velocity in the friction term, the effective friction experienced by both the predominant and the minor tidal constituents is enhanced. We explore the underlying mechanism with a simple conceptual model by utilizing Chebyshev polynomials, enabling the effect of the velocities of the tidal constituents to be summed in the friction term and, hence, the linearized hydrodynamic equations to be solved analytically in a closed form. An analytical model is adopted for each single tidal constituent with a correction factor to adjust the linearized friction term, accounting for the mutual interactions between the different tidal constituents by means of an iterative procedure. The proposed method is applied to the Guadiana (southern Portugal–Spain border) and Guadalquivir (Spain) estuaries for different tidal constituents (M2, S2, N2, O1, K1) imposed independently at the estuary mouth. The analytical results appear to agree very well with the observed tidal amplitudes and phases of the different tidal constituents. The proposed method could be applicable to other alluvial estuaries with a small tidal amplitude-to-depth ratio and negligible river discharge.

Disentangling the importance of international border effects. Some evidence from Portugal–Spain based on diesel retailers

This paper takes into consideration that, in the presence of cross-region heterogeneity in the distribution of within-region price differentials, the impact of borders can be much smaller than those suggested by the empirical strategy typically employed in the literature. By exploiting a large dataset on petrol stations, it is shown that the impact resulting from a standard method can be significant even from an imaginary border. This meaningless outcome is straight forwardly corrected by basing the work on a quasi-experimental design intended to disentangle the impacts of heterogeneity and border. An application to know to what extent the political boundary between Portugal and Spain affects price dispersion in terms of driving time is carried out. We found an irrelevant border effect for the intra-national regions, which contrasts with a significant although moderate impact for the international border. That is, the Portugal–Spain border is at most equivalent to an additional driving time between petrol stations of about five minutes.

The Spanish support for the Third Reich in the Second World War: New considerations about the Etappenorganisation

The goal of this article is to study the great Spain–Portugal supply area as part of the international deployment of the Etappenorganisation before and during the Second World War. To accomplish this objective, the records of the German Naval War Command are analysed to demonstrate three hypotheses: Spain was part of the Etappenorganisation long before the beginning of the war; she played an important role in the preparation of supply vessels and blockade runners, supported by Spanish non-belligerence; the dismantling of the Etappenorganisation in Spain provisionally began in 1942 and continued in the following years.

Evaluation of geographic distribution of high-molecular-weight glutenin subunits (HMW-GS) in wild and cultivated Triticum species

Variation of high-molecular-weight glutenin subunit (HMW-GS) in 632 wild and cultivated Triticum accessions was investigated by sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. A total of 11 alleles of HMW-GS in diploid species, 22 in tetraploid species, and 15 in hexaploid species were detected. Diploid species on Glu-1A locus and tetraploid species Glu-1B locus showed the highest diversity, respectively. Tetraploid species had the highest level of diversity on three Glu-1 loci, followed by hexaploid and diploid, based on Shannon’s information index, Nei’s genetic diversity, and percentage of polymorphic loci. Molecular variance analysis confirmed main variance of HMW-GS within species, regions, and locations, respectively. Variance among species and regions was enhanced gradually with the increase of ploidy. Significant non-random distributions between the phylogenic trees of HMW-GS and the locations of accessions were tested by GenGIS software, indicated that geographic factors played an important role along the different orientations in the spread of Triticum species. We found one original diversified center in diploid what located around Elazig, Malatya, Gaziantep, Urfa, and Kiziltepe in Turkey, and three diversified centers in tetraploid wheat, including Turkey–Armenia–Georgia–Iran, Portugal–Spain, and Ethiopia, respectively, and two diversified adjacent areas between Turkey and Switzerland and around Turkey, Georgia, and Armenia. The original center of diploid species located in southeast Turkey, where the unexpressed 1Ay subunit was mainly distributed in T. urartu, could be one of the candidate regions of polyploidization of Triticum L. The regional distribution of HMW-GS and species also provided geographic evidences for the existence of founder effect on the spread of Triticum species. The present study suggests that integrating genetic diversity with geographic characterization in Triticum could very useful for collection, conservation, and utilization, as well as for research microevolution and domestication.

Reporting a bottom-up political process: Local perceptions of cross-border cooperation in the southern Portugal–Spain region

Beyond the national political-territorial borders in Europe, the cross-regional dimension maintains an experimental democratic character. Entities developed to foster cross-border cooperation, such as working communities and Euroregions, are conceived as mechanisms of democratisation through the decentralisation of regional or/and local governmental bodies. However, scholarly debate suggests that the top-down policy-making process that is characteristic of cross-border programmes seems to cast doubt on the fulfilment of a European participatory democracy. In this respect, the cross-border cooperation process seems to contribute an added value to the dilemma of the European democratic deficit. The objective of this paper is to present a regional contribution to this debate through a study of local experts’ perspectives on the implementation and impact of cross-border cooperation policies in the southern Portugal–Spain border region and the possibilities for local and social participation. This paper utilises data from two related investigations in the southern cross-border area between Portugal and Spain, including qualitative interviews, focus groups and content analysis of secondary data. The results reveal a positive attitude towards the recent regional top-down initiatives of European integration, although local experts question the potential for the inclusion of local perspectives in cross-border initiatives. In addition, during this period of economic crisis, political contradictions may be observed, and political initiatives related to the Spanish–Portuguese border may hamper the existing cross-border flows and dynamics of progressive integration. In this sense, local authorities play an important role as the nexus between transnational institutions of cross-border cooperation and the inhabitants of border regions.