Abstract
Abstract. The presentation subject results from my experience in working with the European Commission in assessing European Territorial Cooperation related programmes, and the need to identify the optimal cross-border area for the INTERREG-A programmes. Hence, it proposes a conceptual approach to delimit these areas, which can be applied not only in Europe, but also internationally. In essence, the presentation will discuss the concept of border area by identifying a number of factors which should be considered when delimiting cross-border areas for policy implementation (CBAPI). These include historical, spatial, demographic, cultural, data, institutional, economic, infrastructural and environmental factors. The relevance of this debate for the border studies is twofold. Firstly, it covers a void in existing literatures, thus adding a valuable conceptual contribution to the delimitation of cross-border areas. Secondly, it provides a concrete theoretical platform for interested entities such as the European Commission to appropriately delimit CBAPI, for programmes like the INTERREG-A. A concrete example on how to implement the proposed methodology will be presented.
Eduardo Medeiros is a Geography Professor and an Integrated Research Fellow in DINÂMIA'CET-IUL, Instituto Universitário de Lisboa, Portugal. He has a Ph.D. in Geography - Regional and Urban Planning, and has more than 150 publications, including more than 30 published papers in international journals, 10 books and 13 book chapters. His research interests are focused on Territorial Impact Assessment, Territorial Cohesion, Territorial Development, Territorial Cooperation and Spatial Planning. He is a DG REGIO (European Commission) and URBACT III expert, and a Horizon 2020 evaluator. He is also a Regional Studies Association fellow, and belongs to its Cohesion Policy Research Network. He has coordinated several international policy evaluation projects and was a member of DG REGIO and ESPON projects. He was invited as a project adviser and to write reports and position papers by DG REGIO. He was already invited to be a keynote speaker by several International Universities and EU institutions (European Commission and Committee of the Regions). He is a member of the editing board of the EStIF Review on the European Structural and Investment Funds as well as a member of the scientific and editorial committee of several journals and a peer reviewer of more than 35 international journals.
Light lunch provided for registered participants; please register by September 20, 10:00 a.m. (registration link below seminar title)
