The role of actors in environmental-oriented cross-border and transnational cooperation in the Adriatic Ionian region
Year: 2026
Type: article
Abstract: Cooperation plays a vital role in solving environmental problems especially when it comes to fragmented regions such as the Adriatic Ionian region. This paper examines the impact of transnational and cross-border cooperation on environmental projects in the 2014–2020 programming period of the European Union. Actor-network analysis helps understand the dynamics among 127 actors across four major EU programmes (Interreg strands A and B). In the results, regional authorities emerge as ‘leader’ and ‘broker’ actors, playing a special role in promoting cross-border cooperation. However, the limited involvement of smaller non-EU actors points to opportunities for growth. The development of this network would lead to a stronger resilience of the region, facilitate the solving of environmental problems, and thus contribute holistically to the promotion of sustainable development.
Source: Europa XXI
Authors: Ilijana Radaković, Erblin Berisha
Institutions: Marche Polytechnic University, Politecnico di Torino
Language: English
Field: Social Sciences
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: diamond
Funders: Dipartimento della Protezione Civile, Presidenza del Consiglio dei Ministri, Università di Macerata, Slovenska Akademija Znanosti in Umetnosti, Centro Euro-Mediterraneo sui Cambiamenti Climatici, Ministère de l’Agriculture, de l’Agroalimentaire et de la Forêt, Rural Development Administration, Università di Bologna, Institut Ruđer Bošković, Regione Abruzzo, Regione Autonoma Friuli Venezia Giulia, Regione del Veneto, Regione Emilia-Romagna, Regione Marche, Regione Molise, Regione Puglia, Fond za Zaštitu Okoliša i Energetsku Učinkovitost, Interreg
Awards: G75198927, G8937893370
OpenAlex ID: W7127643060