Towards a new generation in European cross-border cooperation

Abstract

The thesis ‘Towards a new generation in European cross-border cooperation’ is about the European Grouping of Territorial Cooperation (EGTC) and how this new legislative tool helps shape cross-border cooperation (CBC) in the European Union. Through studying the ESPON EGTC case, the EGTC has been researched. The methodoloy is a single case study with in-depth interviews. The research concludes that the EGTC structure for ESPON has contributed towards the goals of ESPON and of the European Union. But the new structure has a downside, which is reduced international cooperation. Though, as argued, ESPON EGTC has inderectly created a platform for sub-national authorities through which national governments are bypassed, increasing the diffusion of power in the European Union. Through EGTC, sub-national authorities are acting in the supranational policy arena. With Perkmann’s writings on cross-border cooperation and multilevel governance theory, the cooperation processes within ESPON EGTC have been researched.