Strategy and Public Policy, Cooperation and Partnerships

Ministry for the Ecological Transition and the Demographic Challenge (Spain) – Spain–Portugal Cross-Border Strategy (2022)

Involved organizations

Ministry for the Ecological Transition and the Demographic Challenge (MITECO)

Year

2022

City, country

Portugal, Spain

Lines of work

Analysis and intelligence, Analysis and intelligence

About the project

The project supported the revision of the Spain–Portugal Common Cross-Border Development Strategy, an initiative aimed at strengthening cooperation between the two countries to address shared challenges in border regions. The process covered key areas including mobility, transport, climate change, the conservation of protected natural areas, culture, local economic development, depopulation, and demographic change. Adopting a territorial perspective, the strategy helped define shared priorities and advance a cross-border cooperation agenda capable of connecting public policies, institutional capacities, and local development opportunities.

Challenge

Border regions face challenges that cannot be fully addressed through a purely national administrative approach. Daily mobility, connectivity, access to services, environmental conservation, economic activity, and depopulation all transcend national boundaries and require coordinated responses. Along the Spain–Portugal border, there was a need to update the common strategy to address these challenges through a shared vision for territorial development.

Approach

The project contributed to the revision of a common cross-border development strategy by incorporating an integrated assessment of the main challenges and opportunities facing the Spain–Portugal border region, in collaboration with the key stakeholders involved, particularly local governments and existing cross-border cooperation governance mechanisms. The approach brought together multiple policy areas—including mobility, transport, climate, environmental conservation, culture, local economic development, and demographic change—within a shared strategic framework designed to strengthen cooperation between institutions and territories on both sides of the border.

Impact

The strategy strengthened cross-border cooperation as a tool for territorial development and for addressing shared challenges through joint action. The process helped define common priorities, identify shared opportunities, and reinforce a collaborative agenda between Spain and Portugal focused on mobility, sustainability, local economic development, environmental conservation, and tackling depopulation in border regions.
Return

Cooperation and alliances

Solutions we offer

Networking and alliance building:

Engagement with networks, platforms, and strategic partners to advance shared agendas and strengthen territorial cooperation.

International cooperation and resources:

Identifying and managing cooperation, funding, and other support mechanisms to strengthen territorial initiatives.

Project design and implementation:

Formulation, management, and support of international projects and initiatives.

ATTRACTIVENESS AND PROJECTION

Solutions we offer

Territorial positioning:

Designing territorial positioning strategies and tools to strengthen the identity and projection of cities and regions.

Attractiveness and identity:

Building narratives, city branding, destination vision, and territorial promotion strategies.

Projecting opportunities:

Attracting investment, cooperation, tourism, culture, and talent.

Strategy and Public policies

Solutions we offer

Territorial strategy and planning:

Designing strategies and tools to strengthen territorial development and consolidate international engagement as public policy.

Public agendas and governance:

Participatory methodologies, policy labs, and collaborative processes for building public agendas.

Technical assistance:

Technical support for implementing territorial development and international engagement strategies.

KNOWLEDGE AND innovation

Solutions we offer

Knowledge and analysis:

Diagnostics, studies, applied research, and forward-looking analysis of international trends.

Training and capacity building:

Training programs, workshops, and tools to strengthen institutional and technical capacities.

Exchange and learning across territories:

Peer-to-peer learning spaces, experience-sharing, and collective knowledge building.