The development of cross-border regionalism in Europe has given rise to a multitude of academic works focussing on the pattern, signification and evolution of cross-border cooperation. Most previous studies have, however, focused on individual crossborder cooperation initiatives as units of analysis and neglected their spatial relation to other initiatives. By mapping the perimeter, activity, geographical type, scale and spatial relations of 209 initiatives, the current paper provides an updated and more nuanced overview of the geography of cross-border cooperation in Europe. The cartographic exploration from a rescaling perspective reveals the varying accumulation, scalar focus and activity of cross-border cooperation across Europe and leads to the identification of different forms and evolutions of scalar arrangements constituted by their overlapping perimeters of action. The distinction between nested, overlapping and complex arrangements suggests that different scalar processes are involved in the ongoing structuration of cross-border cooperation, and calls for better consideration of these multiscalar dynamics in future research.

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Abstract:The aim of the ESPON Programme is to produce and disseminate scientific information concerning the European space in terms of economy, society, environment, and governance, which is practical for policy and decision makers at the European, national and regional levels. Under the Detecting Territorial Potentials and Challenges project (ESPON DeTeC) materials on the selected methods, which appeared to be most useful for policy makers, have been collected and subsequently verified within regional laboratories conducted in six European regions. The paper presents the process of selecting and validating the methods, as well as the results of regional laboratories and best practices .