Policy and tools

Final publication of the CROSSGOV project: 85 cross-border functional areas, ten case studies and an interactive hub!

March 2026

The CROSSGOV project – Governance mechanisms for Cross-Border Functional Areas, carried out as part of the ESPON programme between July 2024 and January 2026, sheds new light on how cross-border regions are organised and cooperate on a day-to-day basis. Often described as ‘laboratories of European integration’, cross-border territories remain characterised by an overlap of administrative levels, national legal frameworks and highly diverse territorial dynamics. Their cross-border integration rests on two main dimensions: the intensity of cross-border interactions (mobility, economic exchanges, services) and the degree of territorial convergence between neighbouring regions. These dynamics vary significantly from one territory to another.

85 cross-border functional areas identified

One of the project’s key contributions is the standardised delineation of 85 Cross-Border Functional Areas (CBFAs) at European level, a mapping exercise designed to address the lack of detailed data in border regions. The methodology combines several territorial indicators within 25 km corridors along the borders (population density, cross-border travel times, mobility zones, social connectivity indices and exposure to natural risks). The analysis thus makes it possible to identify areas of cross-border functional intensity, with urban centres that are highly integrated with surrounding rural areas.

Governance and local realities: a common disconnect

The study highlights a frequent mismatch between functional dynamics and existing governance structures. The areas where people live, work or commute daily across a border do not always correspond to the institutional frameworks for cooperation. An analysis of 199 cross-border cooperation initiatives also reveals the diversity of existing models, ranging from informal networks to institutionalised structures such as European Groupings of Territorial Cooperation (EGTCs), Eurodistricts or Euroregions. The results indicate that the most sustainable forms of cooperation are generally based on robust legal structures capable of sustaining cooperation beyond funding cycles.

Persistent barriers to integration

Regulatory disparities between countries continue to pose significant obstacles. Differences in taxation, healthcare systems, spatial planning and environmental regulations can hinder integration, even in highly connected areas. These challenges highlight the limitations of one-size-fits-all approaches and the need for solutions tailored to specific regional contexts.

Ten case studies illustrating the diversity of situations

To provide a more in-depth analysis, the CROSSGOV project draws on ten case studies:
• Espace Mont-Blanc (CH/FR/IT)
• Eurocity EUROBEC (ES/PT)
• Fehmarnbelt (DE/DK)
• Gmünd – České Velenice (AT/CZ)
• Greater Region (LU/BE/DE/FR)
• Helsinki – Tallinn (FI/EE)
• Komárno – Komárom (SK/HU)
• Kras-Carso / Trieste (IT/SI)
• Newry – Dundalk (UK/IE)
• Trinational Eurodistrict Basel (CH/DE/FR)

An interactive hub to support public policy

The project provides a range of tools for decision-makers, researchers and local stakeholders, including an interactive atlas, thematic fact sheets and regional analyses.

The MOT's contribution

The final report (p. 63) features comments from Jean Peyrony, Director General of the MOT, who was a member of the study’s steering committee, on the report’s implications for public policy and the issues that should be the focus of future research (full contribution from the MOT).