Geopolitics of transport infrastructures in the cross-border Catalan-French space. Criticalities and challenges of the European project

Abstract

Around 30 % of the European Union’s population lives in internal border regions between states. It is common knowledge that a transport system is a powerful instrument with which to structure space, and in cross-border regions this is even more pronounced, given that a good transport system between bor­derlands can help reduce negative externalities. This argument in favour of such a system runs in par­allel to another: good services (rail services, in this case) would enable climate change to be more effec­tively combated and would help to decarbonise transport in Europe. In this regard, the process of European construction is laying the groundwork for more intense cooperation in some of these spheres, specifically cross-border transport between Catalonia and France. New processes reveal encouraging or at least hopeful prospects for the future.