The Mediterranean region faces complex challenges, from climate change and digital transformation to social inclusion, all impacting economic, social, and territorial cohesion. MedCoopNet aims to provide a clear, evidence-based understanding of how projects and organisations collaborate across the Mediterranean to address these issues. Understanding who is working together, what they are working on, and where is essential. 

The geographical focus of this targeted analysis is on three rural and industrialised regions, i.e. Västernorrland and Västerbotten in Sweden and Österbotten in Finland. In a European context, the three regions are sparsely populated areas with an aging population and relatively high outflows of skilled young individuals. Similarly to many other rural and industrialised regions in Europe with middle to high income levels, the three regions have experienced development traps over a substantial period of time due to underperformance in, for example, development of income and productivity.

In the Bordeaux metropolitan area and the city of Brussels digital divide has been pinpointed as an alarming consequence of the digital transition processes, affecting, for instance, access to basic public and private services which are increasingly being dematerialised. For several years, both cities have been taking proactive public action by financing and coordinating digital trainers and social workers, to address the lack of digital skills or obstacles in using digital technologies.

The objective of this European research project is to analyze the regional effects arising from scenarios related to Open Strategic Autonomy (OSA). This includes assessing the impact of diversification benchmarks for strategic raw materials outlined in the European Union’s Critical Raw Materials Act (ECRMA). Additionally, the project evaluates the regional consequences of trade concessions in Free Trade Agreements (FTAs), particularly those that contribute to diversification targets for strategic raw materials.

The targeted analysis URDICO aims to analyse and compare the implementation of the urban dimension of Cohesion Policy as well as some crisis response mechanisms (e.g. Recovery and Resilience Facility) in stakeholder territories, representing a diverse group of cities and urban areas. The comparative analysis shall build on data and evidence on how stakeholder cities and urban areas use EU funds, allowing to benchmark different approaches to sustainable urban development.