Regions in France, Spain, and Portugal are seeking to diversify their financing approaches and "enhance cooperation" with other European Union (EU) territories to bolster their influence in

decision-making centers.

The conclusions of the 2nd Grouping Meeting of the Iberian European Territorial Cooperation (AECT) held in Vigo, Spain, stress the importance of "strengthening collaboration with other EU territories to broaden horizons and collectively gain influence in national and European decision-making bodies."

The document, accessed by Lusa, underscores the necessity for the EGTCs (European Groupings of Territorial Cooperation) of Portugal, Spain, and France to "actively explore additional funding avenues through various national and EU programs" in addition to Interreg, which has played a pivotal role in the activities of Iberian EGTCs.

The conclusions of the meeting emphasize that this approach is vital to ensure the ongoing and coherent implementation of their initiatives, expanding the scope of areas and projects in which they can contribute. Representatives from AECT Aquitaine/Euskadi/Navarra, AECT Pyrenees Mediterranean, AECT Rio Minho, AECT Galiza - North of Portugal (GNP), and AECT Chaves-Veríne AECT Duero-Douro participated in the meeting.

The participants also note that the COVID-19 pandemic has served as a reminder that "Brussels, Madrid, Lisbon, or Paris may legislate, but it is the EU's border regions and their 150 million residents who embody the true essence of the EU on a daily basis."