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Prof. Hildegard Schneider
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The summer period nearly starts. ITEM is looking back on a very productive and successful academic year. Even if we all have suffered a bit under the extreme weather conditions of the last month. This June 2019 has been the hottest June since measurements have started. And the heat did not stop at the border! We certainly might have to discuss in the future, what these extreme weather conditions might mean for our region and for cross-border cooperation.
During the last months we have reflected on the achievements we have reached in the past years. ITEM has been established in 2015 with the clear goal to contribute with scientific research to improve cross-border cooperation, to decrease barriers for cross border mobility and frontier workers and to stimulate awareness for the economic potential of border regions, the challenges they are facing due to legislation and administrative practices but also the chances and opportunities they have when border regions are cooperating together. In this period from 2015-2019, ITEM has developed a large network with regional, national and European partners. ITEM has shown that its original mission as formulated in 2015 has been achieved. Based on these results the institute can grow, intensify its research and develop further the specific instruments, such as the by ITEM developed cross-border impact assessment methodology as well as the cross-border knowledge portal, which can help policy makers in the decision making process.
We are very proud that an external independent Commission of Experts has evaluated ITEM and its achievements very positively during the past months. The Evaluation Commission recognized and praised the important network function ITEM has taken up on many levels: regional, national and European. ITEM has built close relationships with ministries and institutions in The Hague, Düsseldorf and Brussels, but has also become an active partner in academic networks of border research institutes such as the TEIN network and with neighbouring universities such as the UHasselt. In the past years, ITEM has developed close relationships with CBS in order to further develop data collection in a cross border context. Only with good and relevant data, evidence based decisions are possible to be made. These various forms of activities and co-operations have all been very fruitful. The Evaluation Commission specifically underlined the scientific but also the societal relevance of ITEM’s research and its activities.
In light of these evaluation, we are also very content that the Province of Limburg has fully recognized the importance of ITEM’s contribution to the further development of cross-border cooperation in its recent political declarations.
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ITEM researcher Martin Unfried presented the research results of the North Sea Port project to the Belgian ambassador to the Netherlands, Mr Dirk Achten, on 17 April 2019. The research assignment for the North Sea Port project was an assignment for ITEM from the Province of Zeeland and the Ministry of Interior and Kingdom Relations. On April 17th ITEM presented its findings during a boat tour from Ghent to Terneuzen. North Sea Port has been in existence since 2018 and is a cross-border merger of the ports of Ghent and Zeeland. The objective of this cross-border merger is to strengthen the port's international position and increase its competitiveness. ITEM has conducted research into the challenges of cross-border entrepreneurship and has made an inventory of the bottlenecks related to regulation in cooperation between the Netherlands and Flanders. This inventory will serve as a basis for the exploration of possible legal solutions, including the promising potential of the Benelux instruments and the option for legal experiments. The Benelux Union namely already possesses innovative legal instruments, like the “Benelux Decision”, that allow for targeted hands-on application of international obligations to resolve legislative conflicts that obstruct cross-border cooperation projects (see, for example, the Decision on noise pollution in the Albertknoop cross-border industrial zone). In the ITEM study, a distinction was made between, on the one hand, bottlenecks that were mentioned by the experts of the port authority and that were experienced today as an obstructing factor. On the other hand, further bottlenecks have been described that could also be detrimental to the development of not only the company, but also the development of the entire port area. ITEM researcher Martin Unfried presented these findings during the event of 17 April.
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ITEM research basis for innovative trajectory Flanders - The Netherlands
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On Wednesday 8 May, an innovative project to improve cross-border cooperation was launched by Flemish Prime Minister Bourgeois and State Secretary Knops.
This project investigates how permits, procedures and other relevant regulations can be better coordinated in order to stimulate cross-border infrastructure. The initiative was supported by an initial inventory of the situation of North Sea Port, a merged Belgian-Dutch company. ITEM had been commissioned by the Province of Zeeland and the Ministry of the Interior and Kingdom Relations to look into the company's legal bottlenecks.
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https://www.maastrichtuniversity.nl/news/item-onderzoek-onderbouwing-voor-innovatief-traject-vlaanderen-nederland
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B-solutions: recognition of qualifications roadmap
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The project “Roadmap and factsheet for the recognition of qualifications for highly demanded professions” is aimed at creating two practical documents per highly demanded profession aimed at boosting cross-border mobility and employability by improving recognition. The project was submitted by the Province of Limburg (NL) as lead applicant and is carried out by the ITEM Expertise Centre.
Part of the project is the development of roadmaps and factsheets for three professions; secondary school teacher, second level nurse and physiotherapist. Whereas the roadmaps are aimed at first line supporters to help them better inform citizens, factsheets are aimed at citizens and focus on increasing awareness about their rights and duties during the recognition process for these three professions. The basis for the development of these two documents is a literature review, interviews, and surveys with the competent authorities for recognition.
In the European Union, a large number of authorities is responsible for the recognition of qualifications depending on which profession one is looking at. This multitude can even be seen when looking at the selection of the three professions in the Dutch border region (comprising the territory of the Netherlands, the three Belgian Communities, North-Rhine Westphalia and Lower Saxony). ITEM has created the illustration above to make the different actors visible when dealing with recognition for the professions secondary school teacher, second level nurse and physiotherapist in the Netherlands, Belgium and for Germany; NRW and Lower Saxony.
The project “Roadmap and factsheet for the recognition of qualifications for highly demanded professions” is financed by the European Union.
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A tool to promote “fair mobility” for frontier workers
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Fair labour mobility is not only an issue when companies post workers across the EU, exercising their freedom to provide services. Also, in the area of frontier work, unfair competition on employment conditions and misinformation can lead to undesired social outcomes. Too often, unfortunately, there is unfair mobility, including in border regions.
Fair mobility ensures that employees who work across borders are rewarded as they should be, but are also socially insured and taxed in the right place.
The Interregional Trade Union Councils (ITUCs) Rhine Ijssel, Maas Rhine and Scheldt Kempen have taken the initiative to assess the development of an easily accessible instrument for the employee to check the work situation for irregularities: The Fair Mobility Tool (FMT).
In order to know whether such a tool already exists and, if not, what it should look like, the ITUCs requested ITEM to conduct an exploratory study on “fair mobility” for the cross-border worker and the feasibility of such a tool. This initial study received support within the framework of the EU Programme for Employment and Social Innovation (EaSI).
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A youRegional cross-border labour market and welcoming culture
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The Euregio Meuse-Rhine (EMR) provides the basis for cross-border cooperation across three countries and three languages. Fostering more cooperation particularly in the area of employment is considered vital, as the region is facing fundamental challenges of demographic and structural changes. Therefore, the INTERREG-V-A project youRegion pursues two overarching objectives: to create a euregional cross-border labour market and create a culture of welcoming new international talent. ITEM is active in this project, in two workpackages.
A three-year project (2018-2021)
On the one hand, the intention is to develop and align services in the area of employment and job placement within the EMR. This includes assessing the regional offer in the field of employment advice across the national borders and develop the cooperation between placement and cross-border information services. Not only is this to stimulate successful job matchings and help businesses recruit qualified staff notwithstanding formal frontiers. It should also help create a common (information) base for viewing labour demand and supply across the Euregio.
On the other hand, in particular the region’s academic institutions and tech sectors attract a lot of international talent. The youRegion project builds on the desire to increase this attractiveness and to motivate foreign professionals to stay and settle in the EMR with their families. The aim is to foster a euregional “culture of welcome” (Willkommenskultur) – amongst others by setting up common welcome centres – for international professionals already here and those newly arrived.
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Letter from Parliament: cross-border impact assessment by ITEM considered instrument for preventing border problems
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In a letter to the Minister of Social Affairs and Employment, Wouter Koolmees, the Standing Committee on Social Affairs and Employment (SZW) of the Dutch Upper House of Parliament emphasises the importance of the Dutch government’s role in solving specific cross-border issues where possible rather than leaving it up to the EU to find a solution, a position that has been affirmed by the Cabinet.
In the letter, the Parliamentary Committee refers to the cross-border impact assessment, which is conducted by the Institute for Transnational and Euregional cross border cooperation and Mobility (ITEM), as an instrument to help prevent border problems. The Committee also makes specific requests for the implementation of two of the recommendations of the Border Workers Commission, which is led by ITEM's Prof. Marjon Weerepas.
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ITEM Scientific Publications
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Some examples of ITEM's recent scientific publications:
“A ticket to mobility? Naturalisation and subsequent migration of refugees after obtaining asylum in the Netherlands“ Journal of Ethnic and Migration Studies. de Hoon, M., Vink, M., Schmeets, H. (2019)
Inventarisatie Grensoverschrijdende Knelpunten North Sea Port Dr. N. Büttgen, Prof. H. Schneider, M. Unfried & P. ter Vrugt (2019)
Pensioenseminar 2019: wat kan de beste van de klas nog leren? Vakblad grensoverschrijdend werken, (22). Bemelmans, S. & Mertens, P. (2019)
De nummer één positie is structureel te behouden: hervorming noodzakelijk: Een vergelijking van voormalig pensioenkampioen Denemarken en solidair Nederland. Pensioen & Praktijk, (1), 18-23. P. Mertens (2019)
Moment toepassing 30%-regeling wederom getoetst NTFR Beschouwingen 2019/13, nr. 4, p. 6-10. Prof. dr. M.J.G.A.M. Weerepas (2019)
See for a complete overview of ITEM's scientific publications the ITEM website.
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ITEM and UHasselt: cross-border co-operation a 'must'
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On the eve of Europe Day, to celebrate awareness and cooperation in Europe, ITEM (UM) and UHasselt signed their cooperation covenant.
Living in a border region creates obstacles but also offers opportunities, especially if there is cooperation. Cooperation across the border is therefore also a must. This was the central message during the launch of the cross-border cooperation between ITEM (Maastricht University) and Hasselt University on 8 May, in the presence of the Governor of Belgian Limburg, Mr Herman Reynders and the Commissioner of the King of Dutch Limburg, Mr Theo Bovens.
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ITEM ANNUAL CONFERENCE 2019
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Save the date
ITEM ANNUAL CONFERENCE
21 & 22 November 2019, Enschede
'Building a knowledge platform for cross-border cooperation'
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Disclaimer and privacy policy
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More information on how ITEM deals with personal data can be found in the privacy statement on our website. If you have any questions, please contact ITEM via item@maastrichtuniversity.nl
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Calendar
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Planned events
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23 August
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ITEM anniversary celebration
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26 August
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Launch ITEM cooperation RWTH and workshop "shaping future cross-border mobility solutions"
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9 - 14 September
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Euregio Summer School 2.0
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23 September
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Freedom of Movement in the Euregion Meuse-Rhine
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26 September
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Concluding conference: Cross-border corporate mobility in Europe
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26 september
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ITEM/Team GWO informationsession
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10 october
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TEIN annual conference, hosted by ITEM
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5 November
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ITEM/SVB informationsession
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8 november
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ITEM PhD defence - Bastiaan Didden - ‘Qualification problems: between social security and supplementary pension’
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21 & 22 november 2019
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ITEM ANNUAL CONFERENCE 2019
'Building a knowledge platform for cross-border cooperation'
Location: Enschede
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For more information and updates: www.maastrichtuniversity.nl/item
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Buitenlandse Verassingen Vlak over de Grens - F.Cörvers, April 2019
Will the European Social Model become a reality at last? - ITEM, March 2019
European Court of Justice allows Dutch tax credit reduction - ITEM, March 2019
Toll: After the German Maut, also a Belgian Péage in Wallonia? - ITEM, March 2019
Border Obstacle when Renewing Driving Licences - L.Kortese, Febr. 2019
Belgian Royal Decree allows unemployment benefit for frontier workers to match Dutch pension - S.Kramer i.s.m. Anouk Bollen, Marjon Weerepas en Hannelore Niesten, Jan.2019
CJEU case law on EU citizenship: normatively consistent? Unlikely! - A response to Davies’ ‘Has the Court changed, or have the cases?’ - A.Hoogenboom, Nov 2018
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The third report of the ITEM/ICGI project on ‘Cross-Border Corporate Mobility in the European Union’ has now been published. The report builds upon the earlier reporting on cross-border corporate activity and features a comprehensive country-by-country reporting to provide a fuller picture of cross-border company mobility in the EU.
The full report is available via SSRN.
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