Jesús Gamallo, the director general of Foreign Relations and the EU, participated in the XVII Meeting of the Hispano-Portuguese Joint Commission for Cross-Border Cooperation, held in Tordesillas, Valladolid, to prepare for the upcoming Iberian Summit. The meeting included representatives from both the Spanish and Portuguese governments, as well as regional communities and coordination commissions for regional development along the border.
As is customary in this Commission, the document of requests sent to the relevant ministries was agreed upon with the CCDR-Norte, aiming to identify key issues of interest for the Galicia-North Portugal Euroregion that should be addressed at the subsequent summit between the central governments.
Gamallo emphasised the need for better coordination among various levels of government and the more effective implementation of decisions, particularly regarding competencies exercised directly or jointly by the regions. He reiterated the importance of integrating border region governments into the Iberian Summits.
In his address, Gamallo advocated for strengthening the role of regions in the upcoming European Multiannual Financial Framework 2028-2034, a matter Galicia has been actively promoting in coordination with other autonomous communities. This effort has recently yielded results with the European Commission's commitment to maintain a multi-level perspective in the design, management, and monitoring of the budget, proposing the implementation of National and Regional Collaboration Plans.
Another goal for the Xunta is to improve the lives of border residents, for which they requested a more decisive commitment and action to approve the Cross-Border Worker Statute. Gamallo highlighted recent European advancements in this area, including the establishment of a working group to analyse this issue linked to the Committee of the Regions.
He also advocated for the creation of a Cross-Border Citizen Statute, recognising specific rights for cross-border populations and mitigating the “border effect,” particularly in the five existing Eurocities along the Galician-Portuguese border and in the Foz do Miño area, which is expected to include the municipalities of A Guarda, O Rosal, and Caminha.
Additionally, Gamallo underscored the cross-border approach to tourism, particularly in institutional coordination to promote the Portuguese routes of the Camino de Santiago as a unifying element for culture and shared economic development, especially in light of the upcoming Xacobeo 2027.
As a key infrastructure demand for Galicia, he presented the Atlantic Corridor project as an integrative and developmental intermodal axis, specifically the high-speed rail link between Vigo and Porto, which should extend the Atlantic Axis to connect Ferrol and A Coruña with Lisbon. This communication system is critical for the future of the Galicia-North Portugal Euroregion, recognised as a priority in recent Iberian Summits.
Gamallo stressed the importance of adhering to agreed timelines, as any delays could severely impact competitiveness, territorial cohesion, and the European integration of the Euroregion. He also highlighted other infrastructure priorities, including improving the current rail service between Vigo and Porto (Celta Train), the new bridge between Salvaterra de Miño and Monção, the road connection between Macedo and Vinhais with A Gudiña, and the soft mobility network along the International Miño.
The Xunta presented the border as an opportunity to bring communities closer together. In terms of telecommunications interconnectivity, they advocated for the coordinated use of the radio spectrum to enable the reception of public television from the neighbouring country through shared infrastructure by operators from both countries.
On environmental and emergency cooperation, Gamallo highlighted the need for greater coordination in combating forest fires, which are becoming increasingly frequent and intense in border areas. He presented projects developed with the support of POCTEP, such as Interlumes, Firepoctep, Fireprotect, and Atempo, which focus on emergency prevention.
