[COREIB] - Collecting and analysing data for the post-27 INTERREG

In 2023, the European Commission (DG REGIO) launched a structured debate on the future orientation of European Territorial Cooperation (Interreg) as part of the post-2027 Cohesion Policy. This dialogue emphasises the importance of strengthening the spatial evidence base and ensuring that Interreg projects target those areas where cooperation can generate the greatest European added value. Setting strategic objectives for cross-border cooperation beyond 2027 is therefore a crucial step in shaping the future of European spatial development.

The ESPON Core-IB project contributes to this policy debate by directly supporting the preparation of the next generation of Interreg programmes. Its main objective is to deliver comprehensive, harmonised data, maps and analyses for 48 internal cross-border regions within the EU and EFTA, thereby informing post-2027 Interreg programming.

In a nutshell, the project has developed 48 border profiles (approximately 90 pages each), providing high-quality visual and analytical content. These profiles focus on high-resolution data at NUTS3 level or finer (in selected cases).

Overall approach and methodology: The project combines standardised visualisations with place-based analysis, ensuring comparability while also highlighting regional specificity. Indicators are based on the most recent European-scale datasets, including some developed in complementary ESPON projects such as CROSSGOV.

Core set of indicators for cross-border analysis: A comprehensive, harmonized set of indicators was developed, drawing on European datasets provided by Eurostat, ARDECO, and other ESPON projects. Indicators were selected based on European coverage, thematic balance, and minimum spatial resolution at NUTS3 level. The indicator set covers location, geographical features, population, mobility, employment, competitiveness, infrastructure, environment, climate risks, energy, resources, tourism, services, border controls, cooperation, and public services.

Structure of the border profiles: The 48 border profiles follow a standardised structure organised across six thematic dimensions to ensure comparability and comprehensive analysis. These dimensions are territorial, economic, green, socio-economic, border security, and governance.

Stakeholder engagement and review process: The project benefited from iterative feedback loops organised in four stages to ensure the quality, consistency, and relevance of the analyses and conclusions. Each border profile was reviewed multiple times, by ESPON Monitoring Committee members, DG REGIO desk officers, Managing Authorities and ESPON.

Role in the policy process: The Core-IB border profiles represent a key input into the ongoing policy dialogue leading to the post-27 Interreg funding period. These are designed to provide a comprehensive analytical foundation that supports subsequent interpretation within regional and national policymaking contexts. The border profiles should be understood as one component within a broader process towards the next Interreg A funding period, which will include dialogues, participatory procedures, feedback loops, thematic orientations, and the formulation and implementation of specific objectives. In this context, regional expertise, national studies, and internal data sources may also be considered.
Against this background, it is important to note that the conclusions presented at the end of each border profile are intentionally kept open and framed as policy options. This approach ensures sufficient flexibility for further specification and political decision-making at regional and local levels.

Methodological limitations: The project faced inherent limitations as it had to be based on harmonised and comparative European datasets, available for all border profiles. The limitations include the restricted availability of flow indicators capturing mobility and that some of the standardised maps show ‘empty spaces’ as European wide thresholds had to be applied.

Service Provider

Contractor: Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU)

Joint Partners:

Austrian Institute for Spatial Planning (ÖIR)
European Policies Research Centre (EPRC)
Palacký University Olomouc (UPOL)

All the visual outputs (maps and graphs) delivered for this project are accessible (at a high resolution) through the ESPON portal, via the dedicated project page.

How to cite

ESPON (2026). Collecting and analysing data for the post-27 INTERREG (Core-IB). Retrieved from https://www.espon.eu/projects/coreib-collecting-and-analysing-data-post-27-interreg