European Straits at the heart of cross-border maritime cooperation

Published the 19 May 2024

A study examining cross-border maritime initiatives has confirmed one of the core principles of the ESI, as they strive to represent the interests of the local communities living in the vicinity of the 3 maritime basins included in the study. One of the Initiative's key objectives is to encourage the emergence of cross-border maritime cooperation initiatives as they relate to the straits represented by the organisation.

The study was carried out by the INTERACT group, and looked at 14 cross-border maritime initiatives in the 2007-2013 period in basins around the Mediterranean, the Baltic, the North-East Atlantic coast, around which the ESI's 19 partner groups are situated. The maritime and marine projects examined in the study, around 200 in total, garnered €315.7m in European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), or around 25% of overall funding for the projects examined in the study. The study aims to highlight the contribution made by cross-border projects in terms of the most important aspects of maritime policy, as well as the way in which they support the implementation of international agreements signed between representatives of the marine basins in question.

With the increasing importance of the EU's maritime policy, cross-border cooperation projects have the potential to make significant contributions to its successful implementation. The ESI has always insisted upon the importance of viewing the sea as a space for cooperation, not only between countries but also local authorities, all of whom have a role to play in maritime policy.

This report signals the potential of cross-border maritime projects, both internally and beyond their respective cross-border zones, to contribute to development policies and strategies, as well as the broader Europe 2020 strategy. The study is aimed at programme managers, as well as project candidates seeking guidance and inspiration from existing projects whose funding has already been secured.

The study is certain to be useful for ESI members, as well as all parties attending the local stake-holders meetings organised by the NOSTRA project within each partners territories but which also gather members in a cross-border context.