Coordination Point Border Obstacles Flanders-Netherlands

The Coordination Point Border Obstacles Flanders-Netherlands supports governments and organisations in the border region in the search for possible solutions to border obstacles. This three-year project identifies and analyses border obstacles in cooperation with local, regional and central authorities and international organisations. The results and proposed approaches to solutions are then presented to the appropriate authorities. The project is committed to intensifying cooperation between all levels of government and knowledge institutions in Flanders and the Netherlands, aiming at tackling practical border obstacles in the Flemish-Dutch border regions. This includes acting as an essential link, aligning processes and improving cross-border connectivity.

Sustainable cooperation between governments and knowledge institutions

For the next three years, the coordination point will operate as a pilot with a focus on developing a methodology to tackle border obstacles. This project is a collaboration between the Dutch Ministry of the Interior and Kingdom Relations, the Flemish government, the province of Zeeland, the ITEM Maastricht expertise centre and Hasselt University. The project partners pursue a strengthened and sustainable cooperation between all layers of government and knowledge institutions in Flanders and the Netherlands, with the objective of tackling practical border obstacles in the Flemish-Dutch border regions. A grant of over €1 million has been made available for this initiative from the Interreg Flanders-Netherlands programme.

ITEM’s role

Through research, advice, knowledge exchange and training activities, we provide expertise on cross-border mobility and cooperation. We translate scientific insights into practice, aiming to tackle problems in border regions and generate real impact in society, in cooperation with our partners. We are therefore delighted to put our extensive knowledge and experience of cross-border cooperation and tackling cross-border challenges to use in this innovative project.