The purpose of the EXLINEA project is to analyse relationships between regional "problematiques" and opportunity structures for dialogue and cooperation in a range of borderlands, especially after enlargement when new border regions are created.
It is providing context sensitive insights into possible regional development and governance strategies for regions on the European external borders.
To carry out this task it is important to find out what the ideas and longer term visions within the European Union are, because the European Union is a major player in the whole development. A first round of interviews is held to reflect on a number of enlargement issues related to the European Union's external border regime. In a few weeks a new series of interviews will be held.
Interviewees are involved in EU-policymaking of border regions and enlargement. Respondents are for example in the Council of the European Union, DG external relations, DG regional policies, DG enlargement and DG justice and home affairs.

The questions prepared were structured following the core models of the EXLINEA research framework.
The interviewees were asked what they thought the future of the European Union will be. What will the social, economic and political impacts be of the enlargement?
There are questions about the future borders of the European Union. How far eastward can it expand? The free trade ideology and on the other hand the restrictions of Schengen towards open borders with non-Schengen countries. This might seem paradoxical, the more interesting it is how people tend to solve it and what their optimal goal is. They are asked how the new borders will develop, how the transition process will look like and what the impacts will be for the regions involved but also for the rest of the European Union. Will the European Union be Fortress Europe and divide Europe or will the old spirit of one Europe triumph?
Another point of interest in the interviews is the cross-border cooperation between the member states, the newcomers and the outsiders, the interviewees expect to come about. Will there be cooperation between public services like fire brigades? Will the people start/keep interacting with their neighbours across the border? Will there be economic interaction? Must this interaction on the economical, cultural and social areas come from the society or will the different levels of governments also have a role in the realisation of an integrated region?
Public opinion is important for policies and policymakers. If people do not agree with measures taken, it will be harder or even impossible to implement them. The current migration discourse plays a large role for the Western countries. Western countries are afraid of large inflows from the new member states and also from the countries behind the new borders. In policy documents emphasis is put on the closure of the future external borders of the European Union. So another question for the interviewees is whether they expect large migration flows within and from outside the European Union. If so, what kind of migration do they think it is? Migration can take many forms. People can come for different periods of time, years or just a few weeks. They can also just cross the border every day only to work abroad but live in the country of origin. Migration can be legal or illegal. These differences are important for making policy. But for public opinion it is the phenomenon of mass immigration in itself and the fear for losing jobs and social security to immigrants that sets the tone.
Another concern, which is alive in many countries, is the fear to lose national identity. People are afraid that in the growing dependency on Brussels traditions and cultures will disappear. The opinions of the interviewees are also asked in this respect. Are the fears grounded or will countries keep their own identity? Moreover can the fear for that loss strengthen feelings of nationalism that might jeopardise the position of minorities?
Because all the people interviewed come from a country within the EU or accessing it, their opinion about the consequences and impacts in their own country is also asked.
In brief these interviews are held to get more insight in the vision of people working on the future of the European Union and especially the future in relation with enlargement and border regions.