This Strategy represents the fulfilment of the commitment of the Government of the Kingdom of Spain and the Government of the Portuguese Republic, set out in the Memorandum of Understanding signed in 2018 at the XXX Luso-Spanish Summit, to define a Common Cross-Border Development Strategy.
The entities responsible and the working group have geared their actions towards achieving the objective defined in the Memorandum, which is to guarantee the future sustainability of the territories, making them more attractive places to live, work and invest.
The Strategy is a flexible tool that defines the general guidelines for providing an inclusive response aimed at territorial development, creating opportunities and developing personal, professional and family projects, especially for women and young people, and guaranteeing the quality of life of people living in the cross-border area, both in urban areas and in their rural centres.
It aims to ensure equal opportunities and the adequate provision of basic services to all people; eliminate barriers and contextual costs; promote the attractiveness of border territories; and favour the settlement of people in cross-border areas. One of the areas of focus of the Strategy is titled “Environment, Energy, Urban Centres and Culture”. This line of action includes measures such as the valorisation of urban centres, the protection of their cultural values, and the development of cross-border cultural projects linked to tangible and intangible cultural heritage.
