Cross-Border Cooperation in European Civil Society: Insights from Interreg Microprojects
Findings indicate that the desire to address common social issues, promote cultural exchange, and stimulate regional development drives cross-border partnerships. Participants emphasize the importance of personal relationships and trust-building in facilitating cooperation, often overcoming linguistic and cultural differences. However, challenges such as varying bureaucratic processes and differing organizational cultures can hinder collaboration.
The presentation also highlights innovative strategies employed by civil society actors to navigate these obstacles. Informal networks, digital communication tools, and the establishment of shared goals emerge as crucial elements that enable cooperation and project success. By shedding light on the lived experiences of participants, this research contributes to a deeper understanding of how European civil society can thrive in an era of globalization and regional “EUropean” integration.
The used qualitative interviews have been collected since 2023 (ongoing) in the Greater Region, a cross-border region between France, Luxembourg, Germany and Belgium. The interviews were held with people who helped organize and implement an Interreg microproject in the addressed region.
By analyzing the interviews, the presentation contributes to the discourse on space as mentioned in the call for papers for the session. The Interreg microprojects demonstrate, how space is not merely a physical distance but a complex interplay of relations and shared experiences. The study highlights how “third spaces” emerge in collaborative settings, fostering environments where organizations and partners can engage in meaningful interaction. Furthermore, it explores how these in-between spaces facilitate trust-building and collaborative practices, revealing the motivations involved in interaction.