Transfrontier cooperation

The Council of Europe has been paying special attention to the promotion of effective local democracy through inter alia facilitated co-operation between local and regional authorities across political and geographical boundaries.
Four conventions, several recommendations and a handful of practical tools embody this work aimed at making cooperation between neighbouring or non-adjacent territorial communities/ authorities legally feasible and practically sustainable.
Photo © Valerio Vincenzo

- CM/Rec(2007)5E / 31 January 2007
Recommendation of the Committee of Ministers to member states on the conclusion of transfrontier co-operation agreements in South-Eastern Europe - Rec(2005)2E / 19 January 2005
Recommendation of the Committee of Ministers to member states on good practices in and reducing obstacles to transfrontier and interterritorial cooperation between territorial communities or authorities - Rec(2004)12E / 20 October 2004
Recommendation of the Committee of Ministers to member states on the processes of reform of boundaries and/or structure of local and regional authorities

International Conference "Cross-Border Cooperation In Europe: Decentralisation, legal frameworks, and practice"
The Croatian Chairmanship of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe (18 May - 21 November 2018) has set support to decentralisation as one of its key priorities. In this context, and in cooperation with the Centre of Expertise for local government reform, the Croatian Government...

The Conventions are intended to encourage and to facilitate the conclusion of transfrontier agreements between local and regional authorities within the scope of their respective powers.
- CETS 106 - European Outline Convention on Transfrontier Co-operation between Territorial Communities or Authorities
- CETS 159 - Additional Protocol to the European Outline Convention on Transfrontier Co-operation between Territorial Communities or Authorities
- CETS 169 - Protocol No. 2 to the European Outline Convention on Transfrontier Co-operation between Territorial Communities or Authorities concerning interterritorial co-operation
- CETS 206 - Protocol No. 3 to the European Outline Convention on Transfrontier Co-operation between Territorial Communities or Authorities concerning Euroregional Co-operation Groupings (ECGs) and its Appendix


Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats to Transfrontier Co-operation