Spain and Portugal boost the development of border areas through their local authorities

The Minister for Territorial Policy and Democratic Memory, Ángel Víctor Torres, and the Portuguese Minister for Territorial Cohesion, Manuel Castro, during the meeting they held at the XXXV Spanish-Portuguese Summit

In addition to the cohesion of both territories through energy and transport interconnections, with the signing of the agreements for the construction of the bridges over the River Sever and the River Guadiana, inter-territorial cooperation on the border was another important aspect of this Summit, which reaffirmed the commitment to the implementation of the Cross-Border Cooperation Network (REDCOT), established in February 2023 and which aims to promote the development of these areas through cooperation between the local entities of the two countries.

During the Summit, a meeting was held between the Minister for Territorial Policy and Democratic Memory, Ángel Víctor Torres, and the Portuguese Minister for Territorial Cohesion, Manuel Castro, in which the Secretaries of State, Arcadi España and Hélder Reis, also took part.

Torres has committed to promoting agreements between municipalities on both sides of the border within the framework of REDCOT and has valued the Cross-Border Cooperation Agreements and European Groupings of Territorial Cooperation (AECT) as effective instruments for promoting collaboration between regions of the two countries, facing common challenges and taking advantage of opportunities for joint growth, which are fundamental for territorial cohesion and sustainable development.

In the same way, collaboration between neighbouring countries is strengthened to promote sustainable development and improve the quality of life and well-being of the populations in border regions, through tools such as the Common Cross-Border Development Strategy or the Spain-Portugal Cross-Border Cooperation Operational Programme (POCTEP) 2021-2027.

Both countries agree that territorial cohesion policy has shown a great capacity for adaptation, aligning European priorities with the challenges and potential of each Member State and region. Taking into account territorial specificities, this policy is mobilising resources in all territories, ensuring that all benefit from the European model.

Positive experiences

Minister Torres shared initiatives aimed at decentralisation and co-governance with the different territories and successful experiences in Spain with his Portuguese counterpart, such as the La Administración Cerca de Ti (Administration Close to You) programme, through which the General State Administration brings teams of civil servants to population centres of fewer than 8,000 inhabitants so that inhabitants with mobility difficulties can carry out administrative procedures.

Non official translation