ISO Strategic operations - POCTEP

SIM4UE: clinical simulation to train more than 3,500 emergency care professionals

SC POCTEP — Tue, 29 Sep 2026 13:06:15 +0000

Press release:

The Regional Ministry of the Presidency, Health and Emergencies of the Government of Andalusia, through IAVANTE of the Fundación Progreso y Salud, today presented the European SIM4UE project in Seville. This cross-border cooperation initiative involves six organisations from Andalusia, Galicia and Portugal and will run from 2026 to 2028.

SIM4UE has a total budget of €4.72 million and is co-financed by the European Union through the Interreg VI-A Spain-Portugal Programme (POCTEP 2021-2027). The presentation event brought together representatives of the European Commission, the Spanish Coordination Unit of the programme, the Government of Andalusia and the Spanish and Portuguese organisations involved in the project.

María José Sánchez, Director-General for Research, Innovation and Training at the Regional Ministry, highlighted that “clinical simulation and joint training will enable us to prepare healthcare professionals and move towards a more coordinated and consistent cross-border response to urgent and emergency situations. Through this project, we aim to strengthen patient safety and improve the quality of healthcare”.

During the event, the activity ‘SIM4UE in action’ demonstrated in practical terms how the clinical simulation methodology works. IAVANTE brought its mobile simulation unit and recreated three adult, paediatric and obstetric-gynaecological emergency scenarios using clinical simulators and healthcare equipment.

The Fundación Pública Andaluza Progreso y Salud coordinates SIM4UE as the lead beneficiary. The project also involves the University of Santiago de Compostela, Hospital Universitario Virgen del Rocío, the Fundación Pública Andaluza para la Gestión de la Investigación en Salud de Sevilla (FISEVI), Centro Hospitalar de Trás-os-Montes e Alto Douro and Centro Hospitalar e Universitário de Coimbra.

**Delia Bonsignore, programme manager at the European Commission’s DG REGIO, addresses the participants via videoconference.**

Shared training for critical situations

Cross-border cooperation is one of the key values of SIM4UE. As part of the project, Spanish and Portuguese partners will share clinical scenarios, methodologies, teaching resources and best practices in order to develop a common training model that can be applied in different centres and territories.

The participation of the Portuguese partners will enable the project to incorporate the clinical and training experience of Centro Hospitalar de Trás-os-Montes e Alto Douro in pre-hospital emergency and urgent care, as well as that of Centro Hospitalar e Universitário de Coimbra in the hospital setting.

On the Spanish side, Hospital Universitario Virgen del Rocío and FISEVI will be responsible for training in obstetric emergencies. The University of Santiago de Compostela will contribute its expertise in the management of paediatric emergencies, as well as in assessing the impact of the training. In addition, the two Portuguese organisations, together with IAVANTE of the Fundación Progreso y Salud, will deliver training aimed at instructors.

This joint work will enable healthcare professionals from both countries to access clinical simulation and train using shared criteria and methodologies, allowing them to respond in a coordinated manner to critical situations, particularly in areas with more limited access to this type of training or where such cases occur infrequently.

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FIREPOCTEP+ Featured on the Interreg Website: “What Europe Can Learn from the Iberian Peninsula’s Megafires”

SC POCTEP — Tue, 30 Jun 2026 10:36:00 +0000

The following article is a publication on Interreg.eu highlighting the FIREPOCTEP+ project and can be read in its original version via this link.
FIREPOCTEP+ is an operation of strategic importance co-financed by the European Union through the Interreg Spain–Portugal (POCTEP) cooperation programme.

“We’re Already in the First Minute of the Next Fire”: What Europe Can Learn from the Iberian Peninsula’s Megafires

As Europe experiences yet another summer of extreme heat, memories of last year’s devastating wildfires on the Iberian Peninsula serve as a warning. For forestry expert Juan Picos, those fires were never just an isolated crisis—they were a preview of what could become Europe’s new normal.

Interreg.eu, 30/06/2026

When devastating wildfires swept across the Iberian Peninsula in August 2025, forestry expert Juan Picos saw something he had long feared become a reality. In just 20 days, more than 500,000 hectares of forest and agricultural land burned. Thousands of people were forced to leave their homes. For Picos, Professor of Forest Engineering at the University of Vigo (Spain), it was not simply another fire season.

“I didn’t just know those places by name—I also knew the people behind them.”

For years, Picos has worked on wildfire prevention on both sides of the Spain–Portugal border through projects such as FIREPOCTEP and FIREPOCTEP+, funded by the Interreg Spain–Portugal Programme. These projects help communities, researchers and public authorities prepare for increasingly extreme wildfires.

Despite everything he has experienced, he still describes himself with characteristic simplicity: “A forester is always an optimist. We plant trees that we may never live to see fully grown.”

When the fires broke out, he cancelled his holiday. From home, he monitored the advance of the flames almost in real time, using satellite tools to map fire perimeters and simulation models to understand where they were likely to spread next. At the same time, his Forest Engineering students and former students working on the ground were sending him photographs.

He also remained in close contact with farmers and forest landowners he had worked with through the project, providing them with information, context and, sometimes, simply reassurance.

“It was important to provide information that was as accurate and calm as possible because, in situations like this, the closer you are, the less you can actually see.”

At the same time, he spoke regularly to the media to help explain what was happening and counter misinformation. And while the fires were still burning, it also became clear that some of the tools and approaches developed through FIREPOCTEP were proving their value, even if they could not, on their own, prevent the disaster.

‘I wish I had been wrong’

For years, Picos and his team had been mapping fuel loads and identifying strategic areas where preventive work would matter most. During the fires, they watched the flames move into exactly those places.

‘On one hand, there is the satisfaction of saying: I was right. On the other, I wish I had been wrong.’

Some of the project’s preventive work proved its value. In Alto Minho, Portugal, Portuguese forestry firefighters managed to defend Natura 2000 areas where FIREPOCTEP had already demonstrated preventive measures.This meant the ideas generated and tested during the project worked under real pressure.

Sadly, though, in one community in Monterrei, where forest owners had spent years managing their land carefully, the forest still burned. The fires were simply too big. That is one of the hardest things to explain to people who had done everything right.

‘The first thing they tell you is: you see? It made no difference. It burned anyway.’

It is, he says, like having the best parachute on a plane that crashes. The parachute is still the best one. But if the plane never gives you the chance to jump, it cannot save you. Despite all the preparation, the fire was bigger than what one person or one community could stop.

.Fire management operations around Corno do Bico Area (Portugal) as part of a FIREPOCTEP+ pilot. Photo: Emanuel Oliveira.

‘Today’s big fires become the parents of tomorrow’s big fires’

The emergency, in Picos’ view, does not end when the flames are gone. Large fires leave behind risks that can shape the next one. Some people abandon the land because they no longer have the means or the strength to start again. Forests often grow back in a more uniform way, making future fires harder to control. And in the most damaged areas, the soil loses its ability to retain water, making drought worse.Together, these create the conditions for another crisis. ‘Today’s big fires become the parents of tomorrow’s big fires’.

‘We cannot waste time, because even if it sounds catastrophist, the next fire has already started. We’re already in the first minute of the next fire and it is in our hand to prevent the same situation from happening again’.

The first step is stabilisation: identifying the most damaged areas and preventing rain from carrying soil and ash into rivers and wetlands. Then comes restoration. But restoration does not always mean rebuilding exactly what was there before. Sometimes, Picos says, it is a chance to build something more resilient.

‘We are dealing with two huge energies: the atmosphere and the territory’

Fires in Galicia are far less frequent than they used to be, Picos says, with only about 10% as many in 2024 as in 1994. But the ones that do happen are now far larger.

In 2022, the region saw its first fires larger than 10 000 hectares. In 2025, there were fires above 30 000 hectares. Part of the reason is climate change. Another part is what experts call “fuel load”: the build-up of vegetation and combustible material in abandoned rural areas.

Fewer people living and working on the land means less day-to-day management and more vegetation accumulating over time. When extreme weather and accumulated fuel meet, the result can become impossible to control.

‘We are dealing with two huge energies: the atmosphere and the territory.’ And when they connect, he says, human capacity can be overwhelmed.

‘No trapeze artist puts the net in place while falling’

Cross-border cooperation, he argues, matters most in the time before a fire. FIREPOCTEP brings together partners from across the Spain-Portugal border, one of Europe’s biggest wildfire hotspots.

Over time, that cooperation has built relationships between researchers, local authorities, firefighters and communities. And when the fires came, those relationships activated immediately and in a natural way, as well-oiled personal connections usually do.

Partners shared data, exchanged expertise and helped each other understand what was happening. For Picos, it works like a trapeze artist’s safety net. ‘No trapeze artist puts the net in place while falling. The network needs to be there already’.

That, for him, is one of Interreg’s biggest strengths. Beyond project deliverables, it creates something less visible but equally important: trust. And trust moves fast in an emergency.

‘We are not fighting the fires of next year’

Wildfire prevention, Picos insists, is not about next summer but about the next decade. It means working on the landscape, supporting the people who still manage it, and preparing professionals for a new kind of fire reality. It also means staying the course.

‘We are not fighting the fires of next year. We are fighting the fires of the next decade’. Because what happened in Iberia in 2025 may not stay in Iberia. And if there is one thing these fires showed, it is that Europe cannot wait until the next emergency to prepare for it.

Picos knows the work is far from over. But when he looks back at those days, and ahead to what comes next, he holds on to one simple thought: ‘In some years, someone may ask me: when this happened, what were you doing?’

His answer is already clear: ‘I was there. I was trying’..Fire managemnt Fire management operations around Corno do Bico Area (Portugal) as part of a FIREPOCTEP+ pilot. Photo: Emanuel Oliveira.operations around Corno do Bico Area (Portugal) as part of a FIREPOCTEP+ pilot. Photo: Emanuel Oliveira.

How Interreg POCTEP Supports Wildfire Resilience Along the Spain–Portugal Border

Wildfires are one of the greatest shared challenges on both sides of the Spain–Portugal border. Through Interreg POCTEP, cooperation goes beyond emergency response by supporting wildfire prevention, preparedness and post-fire recovery.

Projects such as FIREPOCTEP+, PAISACTIVO and REFLORESTA help communities reduce risks, restore affected areas and prepare for increasingly severe wildfire seasons.

The post FIREPOCTEP+ Featured on the Interreg Website: “What Europe Can Learn from the Iberian Peninsula’s Megafires” first appeared on POCTEP.

Streaming: presentation of NEW HEALTH, patient-focused care

SC POCTEP — Mon, 13 Apr 2026 11:56:39 +0000

With the participation of the European Commission and the Directorate-General for European Funds of the Ministry of Finance, Managing Authority of POCTEP
This strategic importance operation is co-financed by the European Union through the Interreg Spain–Portugal (POCTEP) programme

On 14 April 2026, the presentation event for the POCTEP project NEW HEALTH will take place at the Cidade da Cultura de Galicia. This POCTEP strategic importance operation aims to transform healthcare through innovation, technology, and institutional collaboration, and is led by the Santiago Health Research Institute Foundation – FIDIS.

The event, which will be held in Auditorium 2 of the CINC Building, will bring together public officials, clinical leaders, researchers, and stakeholders from the health ecosystem to present the project’s objectives, workstreams, and main activities.

“Person-centred” care

NEW HEALTH was created with the aim of promoting a more efficient, innovative, and person-centred healthcare model, strengthening cooperation between Galicia and Northern Portugal in key areas such as personalised medicine, digital health, and clinical data integration.

Within this context, the project promotes the creation of a cross-border health innovation platform connecting hospitals, research centres, and universities, enabling the development of advanced solutions that improve care quality and access to healthcare services.

Its main areas of activity include the application of emerging technologies — such as artificial intelligence —, research in oncology and cardiovascular diseases, as well as the promotion of collaborative governance models.

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A cross-border alliance for health innovation

The project is led by the Galician Public Foundation for Health Research of Santiago de Compostela (FIDIS) and involves a consortium of organisations recognised in the healthcare, academic, and research fields across Spain and Portugal.

This collaboration reinforces the role of the Galicia–Northern Portugal Euroregion as a strategic space for healthcare innovation, fostering knowledge transfer, technological development, and the improvement of health services.

Presentation event: innovation, technology and cooperation

The NEW HEALTH launch event will serve as an institutional, scientific, and strategic meeting point addressing the main challenges of today’s healthcare system, with a particular focus on innovation, artificial intelligence, and cross-border cooperation.

The project will then be presented under the title “Innovation and transformation of the healthcare system through New Health”, outlining its objectives, scope, and relevance in the European context.

This will be followed by a session focused on technology, data, and personalised medicine, addressing the role of artificial intelligence, medical imaging, and advanced data use in the transition towards more personalised healthcare, as well as advances in translational oncology.

The event will conclude with institutional interventions, featuring representatives from the Xunta de Galicia, the European Commission, and the Ministry of Finance, highlighting the European cooperation framework underpinning the project.

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VÍDEO: Taller FIREPOCTEP+ sobre zonas estratégicas contra incendios forestales

SC POCTEP — Fri, 24 Oct 2025 08:49:15 +0000

FIREPOCTEP+ is a Strategic Importance Operation co-financed by the European Union through the Interreg Spain-Portugal Program (POCTEP) 2021-2027

Source: FIREPOCTEP+ project

The Andalusia Agency for Security and Integrated Emergency Management is responsible for organizing, with the aim of providing visibility, transparency, and communication for the FIREPOCTEP+ Project, the International Workshop on Strategic Management Zones (ZEG), which will take place from October 22 to 24 at the Rector’s Office of the University of Córdoba.

This initiative continues the previous experience of the Council of Sustainability and the Environment (CSMA) of the Government of Andalusia, which previously promoted the 1st Congress within the framework of the FIREPOCTEP project.

The workshop marks a milestone of particular importance, as it is configured as a space for dissemination, validation, and methodological strengthening around strategic land management in response to the risk of forest fires. In addition to serving as a platform for showcasing results and actions, it becomes an instrument for regional and international positioning for Andalusia in the areas of prevention, mitigation, and response to environmental emergencies.

In this regard, the International Workshop on ZEG aims to achieve the following strategic objectives:

Validate the methodology for identifying ZEGs across the territory within the Project Areas (PA), strengthening the technical criteria for prioritizing preventive actions.
Validate and extend to the entire border the key monitoring indicators, both for early warning and fire behavior, promoting a harmonized system for control and evaluation.
Analyze the current regulations to integrate ZEGs into sectoral planning, as well as identify local agents and gather best practices that strengthen management in each territory.
Transfer ZEG proposals and priority actions into the landscape and local identity, promoting participatory strategies that enhance local governance and the creation of sustainable economic activities.
Strengthen the interoperability of emergency response, not only by improving equipment but also through the adoption of common operational standards and joint protocols, in alignment with existing governance.
Improve training and capacity-building for cross-border operational personnel, while strengthening the role of local agents, equipping them with the skills to intervene effectively in risk prevention and management.
Complete actions with the promotion of innovative and sustainable solutions, ensuring long-term financial viability for the proposals and transferring results to public policies.

Thus, the Workshop not only consolidates cross-border cooperation within FIREPOCTEP, but also contributes to:

Strengthening territorial preventive planning in response to the risk of forest fires.
Fostering innovation, applied research, and knowledge transfer.
Integrating environmental management into the socio-economic dynamics of rural areas, promoting sustainability and social cohesion.

Positioning Andalusia as a benchmark in the application of advanced methodologies for the prevention and response to environmental emergencies.

Ultimately, this workshop serves as a space for technical validation, international cooperation, and institutional strengthening, which will lay the foundations for strategic and sustainable land management in response to the risk of forest fires.

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24/10: “Plazas de Europa” showcase POCTEP projects in Ayamonte

SC POCTEP — Tue, 21 Oct 2025 13:28:32 +0000

The national tour “Plazas de Europa” arrives in Ayamonte (Huelva). The European Commission invites everyone to enjoy a very special afternoon at Plaza de la Laguna (Ayamonte) on 24 October, starting at 17:00 (Spain) / 16:00 (Portugal).

The European Commission invites all citizens to take part and discover how Europe has changed our lives and continues to build bridges across the border — because “Europe is all of us.”

The event will feature beneficiary entities from POCTEP projects, presenting the following initiatives:

EUROGUADIANA_2020 – European laboratory for cross-border governance: Eurocity of Guadiana 2020
FIREPOCTEP+, Resilient landscapes against large forest fires: response, interoperability, and operational and social capacity building in the face of climate change
GEOTRANS – Transnational cross-border geopark Huelva–Alentejo
EXPORTPLUS: Cross-border system supporting the internationalisation of artisanal agri-food SMEs in Spain and Portugal

🗣️ The event will be attended by representatives from the European Commission in Spain and Portugal, mayors from the Eurocity, and leaders of projects that are transforming our border region — from wildfire prevention to SME development and sustainable growth.

💬 Attendees will also enjoy a Citizens’ Dialogue celebrating 40 years of the European Union along “La Raya” — an open, participatory, and engaging space to share experiences, challenges, and visions for the future.

🍷 And to end on a delicious note… a Euro-Aperitif featuring local DOP and IGP products! A perfect opportunity to chat informally with the speakers.

📍 Where: Plaza de la Laguna, Ayamonte
🗓️ When: 24 October – 17:00 (Spain) / 16:00 (Portugal)
🎤 Hosted by: Norberto Javier, Director of Canal Sur Huelva
🔗 Register (optional but helpful):
https://ec.europa.eu/eusurvey/runner/Plaza-Europa-Ayamonte

SEE PROGRAMME Plazas de Europa – Eurocity Guadiana

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📺 #POCTEPInTheMedia: FIREPOCTEP+ explains the wave of wildfires in Spain and Portugal

SC POCTEP — Fri, 15 Aug 2025 10:49:37 +0000

The project FIREPOCTEP+, one of the operations of strategic importance of the POCTEP 2021-2027 program, is having a particularly prominent presence this summer, amid the wave of wildfires affecting the border region between Spain and Portugal. Juan Picos, the project’s principal beneficiary and a professor at the University of Vigo, has explained in prominent media outlets such as TVE and Cuatro the factors contributing to the scale and spread of these large fires.

SEE REPORTS:

Why has this wave of wildfires erupted in Spain?

https://www.cuatro.com/noticias/sociedad/20250813/experto-gestion-forestal-explica-incendios-espana_18_016358659.html?s=08

https://x.com/HoyPorHoy/status/1955167740462862338

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VIDEO: Presentation of the Lower Guadiana Strategy and the 8th POCTEP Call in Mértola

SC POCTEP — Sat, 10 May 2025 08:19:43 +0000

On 8 May 2025, in Mértola, the Framework Strategy for Cross-Border Action to Promote the Socioeconomic Development of the Guadiana River Strip – Lower Guadiana was officially presented. This important planning tool, developed through a participatory process within the framework of the Interreg POCTEP OP5 BAJO GUADIANA project under the coordination of the Regional Government of Andalusia and the Regional Coordination and Development Commissions of Alentejo and Algarve, aims to boost cross-border socioeconomic development in this key area of the Guadiana River.

The strategy, co-financed by the European Union through the Interreg Spain-Portugal (POCTEP) 2021–2027 Programme, falls within the scope of cross-border cooperation in the Alentejo-Algarve-Andalusia (AAA) Euroregion. This territory shares a natural border and common geographical, economic, social, historical, and cultural characteristics, which favour cooperation. The AAA Euroregion seeks to foster knowledge and mutual understanding among its populations, promote joint initiatives, encourage dialogue and cooperation between public and private entities, strengthen international competitiveness, and support sustainable development in a region with great potential, but also significant challenges.

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This strategy serves as the starting point for the 8th POCTEP project call, the key (still provisional) points of which were also presented at the event.

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What the Lower Guadiana Strategy Involves

The strategy’s area of influence covers 4,251 km², including municipalities in Huelva (47.5%), the municipality of Mértola in Baixo Alentejo (30.4%), and the municipalities of Alcoutim, Castro Marim, and Vila Real de Santo António in the Algarve (22.0%). This region presents a marked duality between the coastal areas, where most economic activity and population are concentrated, and the rural inland areas, which face challenges such as depopulation and ageing.

The strategy was developed through a participatory process conducted in March and April 2023, involving key stakeholders from across the territory (social, economic, and environmental) to gather their insights and knowledge. This process led to the definition of six Strategic Axes, which form the basis of the action plan.

The Six Strategic Axes of the Lower Guadiana Strategy:

1. Navigability of the River Guadiana
Aims to revitalise the river as a driving force by improving infrastructure and extending the navigable stretch, especially up to Mértola. This aligns with Challenge 15 (blue economy) and Challenge 17 (river-related infrastructure) of the AAA Euroregion Strategy.

2. Sustainable River-Linked Economy
Focuses on improving business competitiveness, encouraging entrepreneurship, diversifying the tourism offer beyond sun and beach (e.g. nautical, sports, and nature tourism), strengthening fisheries inspection and sustainable aquaculture, enhancing traditional salt production, and exploring the mining potential of the Iberian Pyrite Belt. It directly contributes to Challenges 1 (business dimension), 3 (economic recovery), and 15 (blue economy) of the AAA Euroregion.

3. Biodiversity Conservation and Rural Space Valorisation
Prioritises the protection of areas like the Natura 2000 Network, which covers almost 40% of the Lower Guadiana. Includes actions such as land stewardship, conservation of vulnerable species and habitats (e.g. the lesser kestrel), environmental awareness, sustainable land management, support for local agri-food products, and protection of traditional species’ genetic heritage, such as the olive tree. Contributes to Challenges 14 (biodiversity) and 11 (climate change) of the AAA Euroregion.

4.Risk Management, Climate Change, and Desertification
Addresses the expected impacts of climate change, such as rising temperatures, droughts, heavy rainfall, and increased wildfire risk. Proposes mechanisms to implement adaptation strategies, promote renewable energy, and encourage urban green infrastructure. Aims to foster knowledge and prevention regarding climate risks. This axis aligns with Challenges 11 (climate change) and 12 (emissions and energy efficiency) of the AAA Euroregion.

5.Culture and Heritage
Focuses on the preservation, rehabilitation, and promotion of the rich historical and cultural heritage of the Lower Guadiana. Actions include the creation of new cultural and heritage routes, the promotion of intangible heritage (crafts, festivals, music, dance, gastronomy, such as the smuggling route and its associated festival), and the encouragement of cross-border gatherings. Contributes to Challenge 10 (heritage and culture) of the AAA Euroregion.

6.Quality of Life and Cooperation Between Citizens and Institutions
Aims to improve cross-border accessibility (roads, public transport, pedestrian and cycle mobility), strengthen institutional capacity, and promote multilingualism. Encourages cooperation in social services and support for vulnerable groups, including seasonal migration. It particularly builds on existing cooperation structures such as the Guadiana Eurocity (Ayamonte, Castro Marim, Vila Real de Santo António). It aligns with Challenges 4 (bilingual education), 16 (transport infrastructure), 18 (quality of life and social services), and 20 (cross-border governance) of the AAA Euroregion.

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VIDEO: FIREPOCTEP+ discusses Wildfires on World Forests Day

SC POCTEP — Thu, 20 Mar 2025 13:53:05 +0000

The project beneficiary organizations had the opportunity to visit the actions carried out within the framework of this strategic importance operation, as well as others carried out by CIM Alto Minho.
The conference can be viewed in full on the FIREPOCTEP+ YouTube Channel.

Every year, 10 million hectares of forests disappear due to deforestation, and another 70 million are devastated by wildfires, according to the United Nations. To address this issue, and in celebration of International Day of Forests (March 21), the strategic importance operation Interreg POCTEP FIREPOCTEP+ organized a cross-border event on March 24 and 25 in Pampilhosa (Coimbra Region).

The event included in-person sessions and an online broadcast to facilitate the participation of experts, policymakers, and representatives from various entities in Spain and Portugal. Among the participants were Carmen Hernández, Managing Authority of the Programme, Delia Bonsignore, Desk Officer of the European Commission, and Isabel Gonçalves, Portuguese National Authority of POCTEP.

Furthermore, the beneficiary organizations of the project had the opportunity to visit actions carried out by the beneficiary entity CIM Alto Minho under the FIREPOCTEP+ project, as well as other initiatives, aiming to capitalize on results and share best practices.

Esta semana tuvimos dos intensos días
🔥 #Firepoctep+ en Pampilhosa da Serra #CIMCoimbra
Uno de esos sitios donde puede sentirse la fuerza del territorio y la de las personas que lo pueblan
@poctep.bsky.social

[image or embed]

— Juan Picos 🌲🌳 (@jpicos13.bsky.social) 27 de marzo de 2025, 9:39

Highlighted Agenda

Round table on the challenges and objectives of the European Forest Strategy.
Presentation of the cross-border results of the FIREPOCTEP+ project.
Expert panel on the issue of wildfires in the Iberian Peninsula.
Networking spaces to promote synergies between projects and local entities.

Agenda here

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POCTEP approves new operations of strategic importance

SC POCTEP — Sun, 12 Jan 2025 15:21:11 +0000

Under the POCTEP 2021-2027 framework, strategic projects are being developed in the areas of the Common Strategy for Cross-Border Development (ECDT) and the agreements of the XXXII Hispano-Portuguese Summit. These projects aim to achieve the specific objectives of the programme, which include several topics of interest for the border regions.

Specific Objectives of POCTEP:

OE 1.1: Pilot projects for the development of cross-border knowledge networks, creation of technological centres, and the preparation of unique statistical and cartographic information.

OE 2.4: Projects to consolidate cooperation in adapting to climate change and environmental risk management, particularly in protected areas and cross-border water bodies.

OE 4.5: Innovation projects and the exchange of good practices in health services and active ageing, focusing on areas at risk of depopulation.

OE 4.6: Promotion and continuation of cross-border tourism routes, such as cultural, nature, or gastronomic routes.

ISO1, Action C: Projects to strengthen mutual trust between institutions and people in cross-border cooperation, with a Small Projects Fund.

To date, 7 operations of strategic importance have been approved (4 in the 3rd call and 3 in the 4th), including 1 operation over 5 million euros, which is also subject to special communication measures.

Characteristics of Strategic Importance Projects:

Selection: Through calls for proposals.
Impact: They impact more than one area of cooperation (multiregional projects).
Partnerships: With competent entities to carry out the actions.
Contribution to the SDGs: They have a significant impact on one or more of the 8 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) identified in the ECDT.

The 8 SDGs Identified in the ECDT:

SDG 1 – No Poverty
SDG 5 – Gender Equality
SDG 8 – Decent Work and Economic Growth
SDG 9 – Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure
SDG 10 – Reduced Inequalities
SDG 11 – Sustainable Cities and Communities
SDG 15 – Life on Land
SDG 17 – Partnerships for the Goals

These SDGs are fundamental for defining territorial development strategies, with an emphasis on sustainability and social inclusion in the long term, being crucial for cross-border cooperation and regional development areas.

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