The two Iberian countries joined the European Union in 1986. In 2016, therefore, we celebrate 30 years of European integration and cross-border cooperation.
The INTERREG program was launched in 1992 and the relationships that Alentejo, Algarve and Andalusia have maintained since then allowed the formation of collaborative networks that ended up being the cornerstone of the AAA Euroregion, created on May 5, 2010 through the tripartite signature of a cooperation protocol.
After these years, the question makes perfect sense: create a Southwest Peninsular Euroregion, involving Alentejo, Algarve and Andalusia, for what?
Let us try to understand the problem to its fullest extent, since all reasons seem to point to inertia and status quo of cross-border relationships that we could characterize as low-cost, low-intensity relationships.
We know that Andalusia has 7,5 million inhabitants, Alentejo and Algarve together just one million. We know that there is a clear political-institutional inequality between the two Portuguese regions and the autonomous Spanish community.
We know that the economic dynamics of Andalusia cannot be compared to Alentejo and Algarve. We know that in 30 years of integration, Portugal has had 15 years of convergence and 15 years of economic divergence.
We know that the period between 2011 and 2015 was an atypical period conditioned by the Troika program that put all cross-border cooperation on hold. We know that, at this moment, there is no thought, doctrine and strategy for a three-way adventure in the southwest of the peninsular.
Finally, we know that “a triple A” for the Alentejo, Algarve and Andalusia regions is a “great illusion” and manifestly exaggerated as a proposal for this young territorial community !!!
And yet.
We know that proximity cooperation is a relatively cheap and abundant resource that can be used intelligently and collaboratively by neighbors.
We know that intensive tourism in the south of the peninsula deserves more and better joint attention and preventive action to avoid negative external effects on the regions.
We know that Alentejo and Algarve are also transition regions between the metropolitan area of Lisbon and the metropolitan area of Seville, which needs to be conceived and organized in a more imaginative way.
We also know that the three regions form a community of collective security, internal and external, which, in the near future, will very likely prevail over everything else.
Despite its great geopolitical and geoeconomic relevance for the AAA Euroregion, this time I will not reflect on the external impacts arising from the great transoceanic treaties (TPE and TTIP), Brexit, the Arab springs or the CPLP turmoil.
This time, and for reasons of space, I limit myself to enunciating a simple work proposal, with a view to creating collective intelligence, identity and a collaborative network economy between the three AAA regions.
Only a work program composed of projects of merit and reputation can promote this intelligence, this identity and this collaboration. Here is my contribution.
1. One IGP-AAA
A geographical indication of provenance for the AAA territory and for products from niche agricultures produced in the natural parks of the three regions and certified by the Euroregion;
2. A AAA Enterprise Extension Network
A business extension network for business parks in the cross-border region and a professional internship unit to place young graduates in companies on both sides of the border.
3. A AAA Graduate Inter-university Platform
The creation of a postgraduate and master's degree program between the universities of Évora, Algarve and Huelva, extending to Seville and Extremadura, with joint degrees and certification by the Euroregion.
4. A AAA accessibility and mobility program (green way) for patients at risk
A technological platform for collaboration between health units can facilitate the mobility and access of patients at risk with a view to substantially reducing waiting times for these patients.
5. A AAA Program for Major Risk Prevention and Training
In the case of climate change, in particular, I believe that the creation of a special cross-border unit for the prevention and training of major risks is justified.
6. A AAA program of prestigious international events
Merely indicative, and in the most emblematic context of Baixo Guadiana, I believe it makes sense to propose: a triathlon event, a canoeing event and a mountain biking event.
7. A AAA Program for the Rehabilitation of the Landscape Ecology of the Guadiana River
Given the state of disrepair in which it finds itself, it makes sense, in my opinion, to create a "permanent residence" for landscape ecology and the landscape arts, which will support the holding of a Biennial of Landscape Arts in the Lower Guadiana.
8. A AAA Internal and External Security Community
The creation of a collaborative technological platform that supports the operational functioning of the police and security forces in a network and the courts in the prevention and combat in matters of internal and external security.
9. The AAA identity in schools and in the Euroregional community
The creation of a collaborative technological platform for schools in the euroregion with thematic programs for dissemination and recreation and a program of cultural and artistic events with the participation of local artists from the three regions.
10. One AAA Greenway
The creation of an AAA greenway, a universal card for access and mobility and with different types of multipurpose functions.
Author Antonio Covas
Full Professor at the University of Algarve
Doctorate in European Affairs from the Free University of Brussels
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