Sustaining cross-border cooperation : a cross-sectoral case study approach

Abstract

This paper is based on a set of case studies of cross-border co-operation, and focuses in particular on four of these: youth training, health, economic development and electricity generation. While each sector raises specific issues of its own, our aim has been to identify the generic factors which shape cross-border co-operation. One such factor is the question of sustainability—an issue which is now looming large for many practitioners as funding sources decline and the political momentum engendered by the Good Friday Agreement has diminished, if not stalled. The threat to the EU funding of cross-border co-operation is not specific to Ireland and is being experienced even in some advanced cross-border regions in western Europe. The paper highlights some key dimensions of sustainability in this context.