[COREIB] - Collecting and analysing data for the post-27 INTERREG

Setting the strategic objectives for cross-border cooperation in the post-2027 period is of key importance. As the 9th cohesion report highlights: "border regions account for more than 40 % of the EU’s landmass, 30 % of its GDP and 30 % of its population, some 150 million people. Almost 2 million people live in one country in the Schengen area and work in another, and some 3.5 million people cross one of the 38 internal borders of the EU every day. Many border regions are peripheral, distant from metropolitan centres, with more limited access to healthcare and other essential services than others. Border regions can also face specific challenges in times of crises, whether linked to restrictions on cross-border movement during pandemics or a sudden influx of refugees from a conflict zone on the other side of the border. Disaster prevention and precautionary action tend to be more difficult because of differences in governance, and administrative and legal systems."

In 2023, the European Commission (DG Regio) launched the debate with the relevant stakeholders on the future of the European territorial cooperation (Interreg) as one of the instruments in the future EU cohesion policy and for the new programming period.

To properly frame the discussions on the direction and scope of the next generation of Interreg, it is necessary to collect and analyse relevant cross-border data, identifying and focussing on the issues and priorities in cross-border areas where Interreg would bring the biggest added value. Thus, this specific ERP is expected to provide an important input to this process, in line with the overall EU priorities and the upcoming/future regulatory framework, and always containing a place-based approach.

The evidence to be collected aims to capture the development dynamics of the cross-border cooperation areas, and to the extent possible the flows, linkages and interrelations as shaped by many natural, institutional and market forces, including (where relevant) the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic and of the Russian war against Ukraine, as well as other geopolitical events that can impact the described borders. Given the diversity of borders and problems to be solved, for each cross-border cooperation area substantial evidence shall be gathered, providing for, inter alia:

The key characteristics of its socio-economic and territorial development and its evolution over the years;
The cross-border interdependencies, interactions and associated challenges regarding internal market and provision of public services. e.g., labour market, public transport, healthcare, civil protection, management of cross-border natural areas, etc.
The assessment of common needs on both sides of the border that are better addressed jointly for a harmonious development, and areas with the biggest potential to serve the development, well-being and integration of the cross-border region as a whole and/or parts of it, where relevant, e.g. eliminating missing transport or energy links, enhancing capacity-building, stimulating cross-border public services and cross-border multi-level governance, creating concurrent or cross-border regulation to address specific needs or situations.
The mapping of cross-border territorial instruments and associated governance structures and their administrative and human capacities to develop an integrated cross-border functional area.
The mapping of cross-border obstacles and solutions brought by different instruments such as B-solutions.
The mapping of existing functional areas on different EU borders.
The cultural aspects as an agent for spatial interaction, i.e. historical ties, common identity, linguistic commonalties, etc.

Policy questions

The project should support EU, national, regional policies in answering the following key policy questions:

What are the key geographical and economic characteristics of the cross-border regions, their level of interactions and interdependencies across various thematic dimensions? How did these evolve over the years?
What are the strengths and potentials to build on, to create a more harmonious development of the cross-border territories?
What are the needs of cross-border population(s) to enhance the provision of public services and improve the quality of life?
What are the conditions and what enables/drives cross-border cooperation to foster further harmonious development? Which interventions proved efficient so far?
What barriers appear to stall the common regional development and/or the provision of public services within cross-border areas? Which are the valuable lessons learnt?
What type of interventions may support lifting the obstacles to cross-border cooperation, and improve results on the ground? Which interventions have already demonstrated positive results in eliminating obstacles and bottlenecks?
Which thematic sectors are particularly relevant for Interreg programmes considering their intervention fields and budget available?

The project will cover all EU internal cross-border regions across the entire ESPON Programme area – which also includes the regions on land borders with Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland (as currently defined in the 2021-2027 INTERREG Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2022/75 of 17 January 2022). The evidence-based analyses will be delivered via the 48 border profiles - 40 land borders and 8 maritime borders.