Galicia and Northern Portugal leaders call for deeper cross-border integration

Political leaders from Spain and Portugal are advocating for deeper integration between Galicia and northern Portugal to boost economic and social mobility. During a conference in Valença titled ‘Rota pelo Interior e Cooperação Transfronteiriça’, organized by the Portuguese Socialist Party, participants discussed territorial cohesion and cross-border cooperation.

Abel Caballero, the Mayor of Vigo, called for ‘erasing borders’ to facilitate better labor, entrepreneurial, and economic relations between the two regions. He emphasized the need to move beyond dynamics tied strictly to individual nation-states and highlighted the importance of shared infrastructure, such as high-speed rail and improved airport connectivity, to create a true cross-border economic area.

José Luís Carneiro, Secretary-General of the Portuguese Socialist Party, launched a strategic tour to develop a new agenda for the interior. The initiative aims to diagnose regional needs and gather proposals from local authorities, businesses, and academic institutions to strengthen cooperation with Spain and attract investment and qualified employment to border territories.