Martin Guillermo Ramirez
Secretary General
Association of European Border Regions
Germany

Biography
Martin Guillermo Ramirez, Bachelor of Medicine and Surgery by the University of Alicante and Master in Humanitarian Medicine by the University "Miguel Hernandez", was born on July, the 6th, 1964 in Hell?n (Albacete). He made his primary school in Alicante and Seville; secondary and university studies in Alicante, and post-graduate studies at the Carlos III, Miguel Hern?ndez and Extremadura universities. After finishing his medical studies, he was elected International and Cooperation Secretary of the Socialist Youth of Spain in 1990, representing the organization in various international events and projects until 1995. He took active part in the foundation and launching in 1992 of ECOSY (European Young Socialists), being member of its Bureau until 1995. From 1995 to 2006 he worked at the Regional Government of Extremadura, especially in the scopes of cooperation for development, international relations and health and welfare policies. He has been Chief of the Cabinet at the Regional Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, Advisor in the Cabinet of the President, and Regional Secretary for International Co-operation, having represented the regional government in different events and national and international organizations.

Since October 2006 is the Secretary General of the Association of European Border Regions, with its headquarters in Gronau (Federal Republic of Germany). The AEBR is the oldest regional Association in Europe (founded in 1971), with almost one hundred member regions (border and cross-border regions) in Europe. It represents the interest of European border regions towards the EU institutions, the Members States and the Council of Europe.

Abstract
Cross-border Spatial Planning and Data - Still a Challenge after 25 Years of Interreg

Spatial planning in cross-border regions is a process involving cross-border socio-economic analyses and assessment of the whole region, preparation of joint development plans, and elaboration of programmes and projects. Here there are two basic levels of cooperation: state/regional and regional/local, and they often cannot be clearly distinguished from each other due to the different competences in more or less decentralized countries, or in federal ones.

National or regional planning commissions or study groups, found in many border areas, operate on the basis of government agreements and treaties, but usually lack decision-making authority. Regional and local level regional planning bodies often operate without any formal authority. This is also true for euroregions, cross-border working communities, EGTCs and other cross-border cooperation structures, though they closely cooperate in practice with the national level, and may develop their own spatial development concepts.

Legal measures (e.g. inter-state agreements, harmonization of legislation on spatial planning) coordination of spatial planning) and organisational measures (coordination and development of spatial planning commissions) are designed to intensify cross-border regional development planning. But the elaboration of European frameworks to make possible their sustainable development has been determinant (the European Spatial Development Perspective or the Territorial Agenda), as well as the programmes and initiatives to guarantee the multiannual co-financing of actions to consolidate many cross-border dynamics. With all of this the European Territorial Cooperation Policy has been consolidated, and the number of programmes, projects and players involved in cross-border cooperation has increased. The publication of the Inspire Directive in 2007 meant a very important development of European territorial information infrastructure with the aim to coordinate and support the sustainability of many EU policies.

During the 25 years of Interreg, a logic for the planning of cross-border territories has been built, from early recommendations about joint planning till current complex models (integrated geographical units), up to the elaboration of joint smart specialization strategies. Various practical actions have also been implemented to enhance cross-border development of a growing number of European regions (German-Dutch euroregions, the border region Austria-Italy-Slovenia, Spain and Portugal, the Upper Rhine, spatial planning perspectives).

The breakthrough of new technologies offers more and more opportunities to modernize and innovate procedures, methodologies, etc., in many fields. Nevertheless, the harmonization, combination, analysis and management of data at cross-border level still are a main hobbyhorse in the management of cross-border programmes and projects. The need to measure territorial impact in territories belonging to more than one nation-state still clashes with the old ?national? logic, prevailing in many state agencies (national statistic institutes). On the other hand, initiatives such as ESPON or EURISY facilitate the development of new methods and tools, and models like the Oresund?s (Orestat) or several innovative projects in different parts of Europe offer some clues for the future.