The ‘Making work of euregional broad prosperity’ project is part of the North Limburg Region Deal. This project aims to promote broad prosperity in the euregio rhine-maas-north, with a focus on cross-border cooperation between the Netherlands and Germany. In promoting broad prosperity, a region-specific approach is appropriate because people’s broad welfare depends largely on the conditions in the region where they live. Moreover, the valuation of different aspects of broad prosperity may vary regionally, and the regional context influences what works in promoting broad prosperity.
Whereas attention to interregional influences is limited in the debate on broad prosperity, it is even more so for the context of regions along the national borders of the Netherlands. Within this project, we ask ourselves how this border context affects both regional broad prosperity and the way in which policymakers (collaborate) on the region’s broad prosperity.
Aims of the project
✔️ Broad prosperity in the euregio
We examine what broad prosperity means within the context of the Euroregion and identify relevant indicators. In doing so, we look at how they are interpreted and applied in the Netherlands and Germany.
✔️ Improve cooperation
The project looks at the impact of cultural and system differences on cooperation between Dutch and German organisations. The results provide policymakers with concrete tools to overcome barriers and strengthen cooperation.
The role of ITEM
In the Cross-Border Impact Assessment 2023, ITEM and NEIMED released a joint dossier on broad prosperity in an euregional context. In het rapport duiden de onderzoekers een aantal elementen voor brede welvaart in grensregio’s die extra aandacht en onderzoek behoeven. This includes the effect of the border and the interaction of systems and cultures across the border (interaction between ‘here’ and ‘elsewhere’), the availability of (relevant) data and a cross-border trade-off consideration. This project builds on this.
Cooperation partners
The project is executed in the cooperation of Cross-border Business Development/Fontys Venlo, NEIMED, Brede Welvaart Limburg, ITEM of Maastricht University and the euregio rhein-maas-nord.
