Memo: Cross-border Territorial Cooperation: Spain – Portugal

The European Commission approved on 25 October 2007 a European territorial cooperation programme for cross-border cooperation between Spain and Portugal for the period 2007-2013 ('Operational Programme for Cross-border Cooperation: Spain – Portugal, 2007-2013').

This programme involves Community support for the 17 NUTS III border areas in both countries, plus 16 NUTS III adjacent areas, within the framework of the European territorial cooperation objective. The total budget for the programme is worth some € 354 million, with Community funding through the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) amounting to around € 267 million.

The programme involves 1 234 km of border between the two countries. The original eligible area for the programme -- the 17 NUTS III areas -- accounts for 23.5% of the Iberian Peninsula, 10.6% of its total population and 9.6% of employment. Area GNP amounts to 7.5% of Iberian GNP.