Collaboration in Boundary Zones
Strengthening Cross-Border Cooperation: A Focus on Europe's Border Regions
Europe is witnessing a growing integration, particularly in border regions, where the flow of people, goods, and ideas is fostering a sense of unity. This development is evident in the ease of movement across borders, facilitated by the Schengen area, and the increasing cooperation between neighbouring countries.
One such example is the establishment of the German-Czech Regional Forum and the German-Danish Working Group for Strengthened Cooperation in the Border Region, both initiated in 2023 and 2022 respectively. These groups aim to improve cross-border cooperation and address the challenges that arise from shared borders.
The German-Danish Working Group identified 54 specific mobility obstacles in the areas of "Education and Culture", "Social Security and Digitalization", and "Taxes and Entrepreneurship". These findings led to the planning of a pilot test for a Border Area Check based on the study's recommendations.
To address these challenges, the government of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern founded an interministerial working group (IMAG) on March 26, 2024, to coordinate cross-ministerial cooperation, particularly focused on connecting students with companies for securing skilled labor.
Good neighborly relations and cross-border cooperation are essential for life in border regions. Recognizing this, the Federal Foreign Office commissioned three studies in 2022 to improve cross-border cooperation: "Experimental clauses in cross-border cooperation," "Stocktaking and potential analysis of regional councils," and "Stocktaking and potential analysis of border scouts."
The study on the use of experiment and opt-out clauses for border regions was completed in 2022, and the findings led to the drafting of the "Real Labs Act" by the Federal Ministry of Economics and Climate in 2024, aiming to define general legal framework conditions for the use of experiment clauses.
Similarly, a study on the impact of new legal provisions on border regions was commissioned by the Federal Foreign Office in September 2022, with the aim of preventing potential negative effects from the outset.
The importance of structured processes and the involvement of multiple political levels in effective cross-border cooperation is evident in the launch of the "Interministerial Working Group on Cross-Border Cooperation" in the summer of 2024. This group aims to better consider the concerns of border regions at the federal level.
Moreover, the Funding Guidelines for Border Scouts were published in 2024, with an annual funding volume of €200,000 for the years 2024 to 2026. These guidelines aim to support individuals and organisations working on cross-border projects.
Germany, with its nine neighbouring countries, is home to many people who live, work, and learn on both sides of the border. The efforts to improve cross-border cooperation are essential in fostering a sense of unity and promoting economic and social development in these regions.
