Regional governance and Interreg cooperation – the case of the European Alps

Against the backdrop of the closing Interreg VI period, this paper examines the implementation patterns of the European Territorial Cooperation in the Alpine region. Using near-complete Interreg V (2014–2020) data, we analyze thematic foci, budgets, and spatial dimension across Interreg A programs and the Interreg B Alpine Space Programme. Our findings reveal a “soft” thematic orientation: Interreg A prioritizes projects in tourism, culture, and health and social services, while Interreg B targets more structural fields such as spatial planning and transport and mobility. Three drivers explain these patterns: (a) the spatial structure of the involved territories (e.g., urban corridors, tourism flows, and freight axes), (b) path dependencies and institutionalization, and (c) territorial diversity requiring place-based strategies. Furthermore, cooperation hotspots are concentrated in highly urbanized border regions (e.g., Geneva, Basel, Brenner, Lake Constance). Policy implications for 2028+ include safeguarding continuity, strengthening regional assets, and orienting cooperation towards resilience and strategic objectives while retaining the benefits of soft instruments.