European territorial cooperation and cross border integration in the EU

This chapter examines the evolution and significance of Euro- pean Territorial Cooperation (ETC) and cross-border integration within the European Union (EU). It traces the historical development of cross-border cooperation from its origins in the 1950s, to the objectives and frameworks of the 2021-2027 programming period, which aims to address persistent legal and administrative barriers to cross-border cooperation and empha- sizes integrated territorial strategies. It includes a reference to the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on CBC. Finally, it summarizes the ongoing chal- lenges and opportunities for ETC, particularly in light of future program- ming beyond 2027.