On 29 April 2024, the Next ITEM: European Elections and Border Regions event took place at EIPA Maastricht. During this event, ITEM experts Martin Unfried and Pim Mertens explained the findings of their ITEM Reflection: European Elections 2024 and Border Regions regarding cross-border perspectives in European party programmes. Candidate MEPs Karin Jacobs (D66), Fabiènne Hendricks (VVD), Teun Janssen (VOLT) and MEP Jeroen Lenaers (CDA) were invited to discuss the main finding, which is that border regions are not in the picture. The event was opened by Maastricht alderman Frans Bastiaens. Frans Bastiaens stressed the need for a strong focus on border regions, where Europe is as strong as its regions are.
ITEM reflection
In the run-up to the elections, ITEM analysed the European Manifestos of the different political groups in the European Parliament. Informed in part by data from national programmes, we reflect on the dimension of border regions and cross-border cooperation. With major cross-border developments and future cohesion policy reforms on the horizon, Europe’s cross-border regions are at a crossroads. Key outcomes of the ITEM reflection, such as European cohesion policy, strengthening border regions, the importance of the role of Interreg programmes and the internal market, led to a lively discussion with the panellists and the audience.
Single market
Our single market is essential in regions where people cross borders daily for work, study, living, shopping and more. However, there are still too many obstacles (such as tax barriers) that limit the development of border areas. Border regions are seen as the ‘testing grounds’ of European integration. Yet there is still the paradox that European integration has not led to the expected favourable situation. It is therefore surprising that border regions are not considered a separate category in the European manifestos and that no mention is made of border regions and their specific requirements and approaches. ‘The Meuse-Rhine Euroregion in particular is a best practice, a kind of testing ground for new EU policies focused on education, health and other topics,’ says Karin Jacobs. Therein also lies an instrumental role for Interreg, which plays an important role in the development of the internal market and Europe’s internal borders with its projects focused on cross-border healthcare, for example. Or, as Fabiènne Hendricks puts it, ‘Interreg is a very important funding mechanism for the cross-border region for all types of projects’.
Cross-border assessments
So if we want to make life easier in border regions and really see border regions as testing grounds for European integration, we should not only look at Europe, but also at national governments and national policies and what this means for border regions. ‘ITEM is doing a good job with these cross-border impact assessments’ says Jeroen Lenaers. ‘This is something we should perhaps do more often at European level, also to provide insight into what the added value can be of addressing issues across borders.’ Engaging and connecting citizens across borders to talk about cross-border issues can open up new perspectives. ‘It requires a cultural shift to act and organise democracy across borders,’ said Teun Janssen.
ITEM director Anouk Bollen closed the event by saying that cooperation between all of us and involvement of EU citizens is the key to success in strengthening Europe’s border regions. The analysis and discussion is clear, cross-border regions are essential testing grounds in Europe, but their situation and development need specific attention and investment.
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Read the article in Dagblad De Limburger