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Cross-border Impact Assessment 2023

This year’s impact assessment survey was conducted between February 2023 and March 2023 and distributed to ITEM stakeholders and other interested parties. ITEM received numerous written responses to this survey from various partners. In addition, topics may also be highlighted in the context of ITEM’s daily activities under the ITEM annual cycle. Another way to identify topics is to have ITEM conduct a quick scan of policy initiatives or programs. After screening the submitted dossiers and topics, the final selection of dossiers was made based on the advice of the Cross-Border Impact Assessment Working Group.

The current research dossiers are the result of a successful collaboration between ITEM, its researchers and its partners.

Files

Euregional Barometer: broad prosperity from a cross-border perspective

Broad Prosperity focuses on measuring both material and immaterial prosperity, such as well-being and social cohesion. In the Netherlands, this is measured with various monitors, but these are not cross-border. This dossier investigates Brede Welvaart in border regions and forms the basis for the creation of a Euregional Barometer. ITEM is conducting a pilot for this in order to provide better insight into cross-border regions.

Read the full dossier

Transnational Infrastructure projects: Ambitions, sectors, instruments and effect on border regions

There are plans for cross-border infrastructure projects between NL/BE/DE, such as hydrogen infrastructure and the Einstein Telescope, which need to be implemented quickly due to climate ambitions. This dossier examines whether the right resources and partners are available to tackle these projects, identify common obstacles and find innovative solutions to avoid delays.

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Kinderzuschlag and Kindgebonden budget: The border worker falls between two stools?

Kinderzuschlag in Germany is for low-income earners, but since 2022 has required the applicant to live in Germany. In the Netherlands, the child budget is linked to child benefit. As a result, cross-border workers cannot claim both benefits, which particularly affects lower incomes. This raises questions about compliance with EU law and why the Kinderzuschlag is no longer exported as before.

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Future-proof acute care in the Netherlands: 360° cross-border perspectives

The Minister of Health, Welfare and Sport (Ernst Kuipers) has proposed concentrating acute care in response to rising demand for emergency care and staff shortages in the Netherlands. However, concerns have been raised about the impact of this proposal on proximity and quality of care in border regions, where patients already have to travel long distances to healthcare services. While the proposal highlights the importance of better regional cooperation in the provision of care and distribution of patients, it raises the question of whether sufficient attention is given to the impact and potential of Euroregional and cross-border cooperation

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Public Transportation in the Euroregion Meuse-Rhine (student dossier)

Explanatory dossier How can cross-border transport between the Netherlands, Belgium and Germany be improved? Cross-border public transport is a crucial part of Euroregional mobility. The question of how cross-border public transport is affected by national legislation or policy and what can be done to improve it is the focus of this project. Adequate public transport is an important factor in reducing emissions across Europe, several studies have shown the limitations or missing links in cross-border mobility. Within the PREMIUM project, a multidisciplinary student team will conduct a border effects report on the state of (sustainable) cross-border public transport.

Read the full dossier

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