Region-building in the Baltic Sea Region: territoriality vs. functionality

Covering state-to-state, transnational, cross-border as well as people-to people relations multidimensionality is a core aspect of co-operation in the Baltic Sea Region. Yet, one of the main characteristics for regional co-operation is the gap between territoriality, in the sense of geographical conditions and functional orientation of the Baltic Sea States. Conceptualising the region from an urban perspective, this article concentrates on the infrastructure project of the fixed Fehmarnbelt link, connecting primarily the two metropolitan regions of Hamburg and Oresund in the south-western Baltic Sea Region. The analysis will show that the decision-making process leading to the decision to build the fixed link across the Fehmarnbelt reflects the asymmetry of territoriality and functionality clearly.