Functional Areas and Cross-Border Governance of the Ecological Transition: Insights from the Øresund Region

The ecological transition necessitates governance structures that transcend administrative boundaries and coordinate evidence, funding, and accountability mechanisms within multi-level and cross-border systems. The Øresund cross-border region exemplifies how Functional Areas (FAs) can function not merely as an additional tier of government but as adaptable interfaces for policy implementation that reconcile asymmetric planning traditions. Through shared procedures, interoperable datasets, fiscal alignment, and robust accountability safeguards, Øresund effectively translates EU transition mandates into localised delivery. The analysis indicates that what is transferable is not a fixed model but a set of reproducible principles for designing institutional interfaces, adaptable to diverse territorial contexts. Flexibility is essential: functional boundaries should remain adjustable to shifting risks, flows, and ecosystem dynamics, ensuring effective cooperation without entrenchment in rigid administrative layers.