In a statement sent to the Lusa news agency, the CIMBB explained that the two institutions have committed to drawing up a letter of commitment by the beginning of August, which will be the first step towards formalising the EGTC.

‘The two entities agreed on the importance of creating a European Grouping of Territorial Cooperation in the region’.

EGTCs were created by the European Parliament in 2006 with the aim of facilitating cross-border, transnational and interregional cooperation between Member States or between their regional and local authorities.

According to the European Parliament, EGTCs enable these partners to carry out joint projects, share experiences and improve coordination in the field of spatial planning.

The president of CIMBB, João Lobo, and his counterpart from the Provincial Council of Cáceres, Miguel Ángel Sanchez, highlighted the difficulties faced by the two regions due to their distance from political decision-making centres and stressed the importance of working together.

‘Common concerns have already been identified, such as territorial development, the road network (more specifically the completion of the IC31) and the settlement of the population in cross-border territories’.

The Beira Baixa Intermunicipal Council met on Tuesday with the President of the Provincial Council of Cáceres, Miguel Ángel Sanchez, during the body's regular monthly meeting, which was held in the Noble Hall of the Oleiros Town Hall.

The CIMBB is a territorial association that aims to promote the common interests of its member municipalities, namely through the promotion of social, economic and cultural development, which strengthens the identity of the territory and the sense of belonging of its community.