Euroregional mentality in two Euroregions
Student group from Fontys University of Applied Sciences Venlo
Coordinator: Christopher Neller
Introduction
This student study, conducted by a group of students from Fontys Hogeschool Venlo, dealt with citizens’ awareness of the Euroregions.[1] Furthermore, their knowledge, thinking and emotional attitudes regarding neighbours, institutions, labour markets, etc. were analysed. This resulted in the title ‘Euroregional mentality’. The assumption was that the structure of a Euroregion, its overall strategic approaches and objectives could have an impact on the specific mindset of its citizens. Do we see major differences in the mindset within and between two different Euroregions? In this context, the Meuse-Rhine Euroregion (EMR) and the Rhine-Meuse-North Euroregion (ermn) were compared. How do citizens think about the Euroregion? What do they know about it and is there a correlation with the differences mentioned? The aim of the study was to collect some initial results to stimulate further research.
To this end, a survey was conducted in the two Euroregions mentioned above to get a first picture of the mentality of the inhabitants. With 204 respondents, the sample size of the survey was relatively small. Therefore, the analysis can only be considered as a first indication for future research on the topic “Euroregional mentality”.
Comparison of ERM and ermn
A comparison between the two Euroregions is particularly interesting because they have significant differences. First, different governance structures have been set up. Unlike the Eremn with only partners from Germany and the Netherlands, the EMR includes partners from Germany, the Netherlands and Belgium. While two languages are spoken in the EMR (Dutch and German), there are three languages in the EMR: Dutch, German and French. Furthermore, politicians from municipalities and districts are actively involved in the EMR, alongside representatives of the Chambers of Commerce (German Industrie- und Handelskammern (IHK)). These are members of the Euroregional institution that, among other things, decide together on European grants for cross-border projects. In contrast, the local level does not play a major role in the EMR, but the provinces alongside the Belgian community and the Zweckverband Aachen.
- Euroregions and European integration
Both the Meuse-Rhine Euregio and the Rhine-Meuse-North Euregio base their strategies on the Lisbon Treaty. The Euregio Rhine-Meuse-North drafted the Vision 2014-2020+, which came into force on 31 October 2013.[2] In spring 2013, the Euregio Meuse-Rhine presented its new strategy EMR2020.[3] Both strategies address partly similar topics, but then follow different strategies.[4] Both Euroregions want to promote EU integration and want to be seen as dynamic and creative European border regions.
Asked about open borders and general perception of the EU, respondents’ answers showed interesting differences between the two Euroregional areas. According to the survey, respondents in the EMR are more open to the EU than in the ermn. In EMR, Belgian respondents in particular are the most open to the EU, followed by the Dutch and Germans. The difference between respondents in EMR and ermn is thus to some extent a consequence of the fact that there are more Europe-minded Belgians in EMR. Also in ermn, Dutch respondents are more in favour of European Integration than German respondents. Since both Euroregions only mention that they want to promote EU integration, but do not formulate concrete objectives, it was not possible to establish a link between the official objectives of the Euroregions and these findings. Overall support for European integration is mentioned in both strategic documents. However, there are interesting research questions for future research: Are there really differences related to nationality regarding general support for European Integration in the Euroregions? Or is there a strong correlation between a positive European and Euroregional mindset?
The Lisbon Treaty states that deepening solidarity between peoples while respecting their history, culture and traditions is the key to success.[5] Both Euroregions officially support the exchange of cultural institutions and want to promote participation in a vibrant Euroregional cultural programme. Survey respondents showed little interest in the public institutions of the cross-border regions. In both Euroregions, respondents never or rarely use neighbouring cultural institutions and events, such as museums, libraries, sports events and cycling routes. This could indicate that residents in both Euroregions do not really use the cultural diversity of the cross-border region. Future studies should further examine and discuss the conditions for encouraging cultural exchange.
Moreover, Dutch respondents in both Euroregions speak German and French more often (according to their self-assessment), still only moderately, than other citizens. Moreover, more Belgians than Germans say they speak Dutch moderately. Survey responses also show that in both Euroregions, Dutch respondents say they read German literature and use German media-like web pages. This is not the case for the German respondents with regard to Dutch (online) publications. Language proficiency could thus apparently lead – unsurprisingly – to the use of neighbour’s media/literature and ultimately to a more positive Euroregional attitude.
- Employment and a cross-border labour market
According to the survey results, there is a link between language skills and perceptions of the neighbouring labour market. Especially Dutch respondents perceive Germany as a country with attractive employers and are open to cross-border employment, which is less the case the other way around. Two reports show that there is indeed a cross-border labour market, and interestingly, it is balanced in relation to the total number of workers of both countries.[6] At the same time, German and Dutch respondents do not perceive the Belgian labour market as very attractive. Nevertheless, the latest figures (mentioned under footnote 5) show that almost as many Dutch people cross the border to Belgium for work as to Germany. Relative to the total number of workers of the compared countries, many more Belgians work across the Dutch-Belgian border than Germans cross the border into the Netherlands.[7] Further research should investigate how the perception of the neighbouring labour market actually affects labour mobility.
There are also interesting differences regarding the two Euroregions: respondents living in the EMR are on average more open to working in the neighbouring country than those living in the EMR. In the EMRn, respondents mention interesting industries as a reason for possibly working in the neighbouring country. In EMRn, on the other hand, the approach to promote suistainability and innovation seems to have positive effects. Here, both terms are often mentioned as reasons to work in the neighbouring country. In both Euroregions, German respondents see Dutch companies as more sustainable (open to green technologies, etc.) than vice versa. While Dutch respondents generally see German companies as more innovative than Dutch ones. Future research could examine whether some of the Euroregional projects related to certain branches and industries affect perceptions of the labour market and job opportunities.
- Euregional cohesion
Do citizens in the Euroregions know which Euregion they live in? In both Euregions, about 60% of respondents knew the correct answer. In addition, the Dutch respondents were better informed than the others. Especially in EMR, 77% of Dutch, 54% of German and 50% of Belgian respondents gave the right answer. This is striking given that Belgian respondents are the strongest supporters of European Integration. In this case, openness to European Integration and open borders is not necessarily linked to a thorough knowledge of one’s own Euroregion.
Is the Euregion as an organisation known to citizens? According to this sample , not really. Almost none of the respondents knew people who worked for or represented the Euregio, in both border regions. This is somewhat surprising in the Rhine-Meuse-North Euroregion. This is somewhat more surprising in the Euregio Rhine-Meuse-North, where municipal politicians play an important role. The Euroregions as an organisation are not really known to the respondents. Apparently, even the involvement of local politicians (e.g. mayors) in Euroregional organisations cannot increase awareness.
Moreover, almost none of the respondents attended an event organised by Euroregional organisations. Therefore, it is very interesting to research how Euroregions – as organisations and with their prominent leaders – reach citizens and whether and how they can promote Euroregional ideas by organising activities themselves. According to responses from this Euroregional sample, Euroregions as organisations are not very visible.
The respondents were also asked about their perception of Euroregional cooperation, their familiarity with Euroregional cities/towns, their sense of belonging and whether they feel at home in the Euroregion. The results showed that overall Euroregional Cohesion (as a mix of different aspects) is rated slightly higher by respondents living in the EMR than in the ermn. In both Euroregions, Dutch respondents have a stronger connection with the Euroregion and stronger Euroregional cohesion. In the case of the EMR, the survey shows a significantly stronger perception of Euroregional cohesion from Dutch and Belgian respondents than from German respondents. Also in the EMR, German respondents’ answers indicate less Euroregional affection than those of their Dutch neighbours. Comparing the two Euroregions and asking whether they feel at home in the Euroregion, respondents from the EMR on average give lower marks than those in the Euroregion.
Conclusions
This student project has indicated that it is worth doing broader research on the topic of Euroregional mentality. According to the results of this rather small sample, it is interesting to look at the perception of Euroregions with the background of different nationalities. The survey indicates that, even in cross-border regions, nationality is still a decisive factor in the perception of the Euroregion. There are also indications that it is very difficult to find correlations between the different governance structures of Euroregions and the specific mentality of citizens living in these Euroregions. A possible reason for this could be that the Euroregion is considered more of a geographical than a political concept. In future research projects, it would be important to include the question of whether the visibility of Euroregions (as organisations) and their political figures among citizens is really so low. And if so, it would be interesting to analyse whether this is a problem for the idea of a widespread Euroregional mentality.
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[1] Terms like “Euregio” or “Euregio” may be used instead of the term “Euregio”. This report uses the term “Euregio”. The term refers to the institution itself and not to the border area covered by a particular Euregio (see Giessen, van der, M. (2014), p.7).
[2] euregio rhine-maas-north, http://euregio-rmn.de/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/2015-03-17_euregio-Vision_Webversion.compressed.pdf (accessed 01.06.2017)
[3] Euregio Meuse Rhine, http://www.euregio-mr.com/de/intern/pdf/EMR2020-D.pdf, (accessed 01.06.2017).
[4] In detail, the euregio rhine-maas-north follows an integrated approach. Vision 2014-2020+ covers the themes of agribusiness, industry, logistics, tourism/restoration/culture/sports and labour market/education/language. By comparison, EMR2020 covers the themes of economy/innovation, labour market/education/training, culture/tourism, healthcare and security.
[5] http://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX%3A12016M000
[6] Of all German workers, about 0.072% commute to the Netherlands for a job. Of all Dutch workers, 0.074% commute across the border to Germany. There is also a number of people who have moved across the border and work in both the home country and the new country. (For more information, see: PBL (2015) Labour market without borders, p. 10 and CBS- Internationalisation Engine 2016 -III Germany, p. 25).
[7] There are 4800 people commuting from the Netherlands to Belgium across the border against 5100 Dutch people crossing the border to Germany. The percentage of Germans crossing the border for work towards the Netherlands is about 0.072%, while 0,39% of Belgians cross the border towards the Netherlands for work (see reports under footnote 5).