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gateway cities

"Gateway cities are key entry points to Europe, typically based on major ports and/or airports, but also trade fair and exhibition cities and cultural centres likely to be the first point of call of international tourists.
The removal of national boundaries within the European Union and the EU enlargements have created new possibilities. Cities and metropolitan regions that were once on national peripheries or mainly connected to non-EU countries can grow a new role as gateway cities in polycentric networks. To achieve this potential they must be connected to Trans- European Networks. Global gateways are majorurban conglomerations, often split across more than a single city, that have the potential to offer goods and services at an international scale. They rely on the combination of scale, excellent communications (focused around the conjunction of international air and rail terminals), high-quality ICT networks that create the context for a ‘knowledge-rich’ environment, and high quality R&D facilities (usually in the form of universities and research centres) which help to create the potential for cutting-edge research and the production of a highly skilled labour force. Given such assets, global gateways provide the means of attracting international inward investment and significant international export of goods and services."

CEMAT Glossary of key expressions used in spatial development policies in Europe; 14 CEMAT (2006) 6, Strasbourg 24 January 2007, p. 8

CEMAT Glossary Jan 24th 2007.pdf

http://www.coe.int