This paper by Jordi Baltà Portolés, deals with the analysis of Euroregions and cross-border cooperation within the European Union, with particular emphasis on their relevance to nations which have their territory divided across two or more EU Member States.
The aim of the document is to analyse how existing tools of cross-border cooperation, including Euroregions and European Groupings of Territorial Cooperation (EGTC) among others, could contribute to strengthening relations among peoples sharing a language or culture or identifying themselves as part of the same nation, but which live in different EU Member States. In order to do so, the paper examines the general context of cross-border cooperation in Europe and a diverse range of case studies, which could illustrate opportunities for communities sharing a language or culture. Focusing in particular on the public policy implications of these developments, the study analyses the motivations and areas of impact which can be observed within cross-border cooperation (socio-economic development, improved service provision, community cohesion, cultural cooperation, European integration, etc.) and provides recommendations for stakeholders at different levels.
