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Dutch people who went to Aachen to get their Covid-19 booster shot, or to spend a day shopping in Liège when all shops were closed in the Netherlands around Christmas. Thanks to the media coverage of these phenomena, the problems that occur in border regions when government policies are not aligned have been clearly visible in recent months. There are of course many other areas where the need for cross-border coordination may be less visible, but is at least as essential.
Think of our UM employees who live in Belgium and whose working from home due to corona can be financially disadvantageous. Also, the ambitions that the Netherlands and its neighbouring countries have for the energy transition in the years ahead, presents opportunities and challenges. Onshore wind farms are the way forward, but where do you put them without getting into a fight with the neighbours? And the images of the recent flooding caused by climate change are still vivid in Limburg. In order to successfully manage such flood crises, it is crucial to look beyond one's own sandbags.
In the Dutch coalition agreement for the coming years, as well as in the German "Koalitionsvertrag 2021", many issues can be found which do not stop at the border. In this newsletter, Otto Fricke, member of the German Bundestag, outlines his views on both documents and ITEM's border impact screening also lists all points of attention and starting points for the coming years. This analysis shows once again the great importance of good, cross-border multilevel governance. A great challenge, to which we at Maastricht University are happy to contribute, together with the new governor of Limburg, Emile Roemer.
Rianne Letschert President Maastricht University
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Dutch version
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Im Herbst vergangenen Jahres konnten SPD, Grüne und FDP unter den Vorzeichen des Fortschritts einen Koalitionsvertrag verhandeln. Am Ende stand ein Vertrag, der für Aufbruch in Gesellschaft, Wirtschaft und Politik steht. Nach 16 Jahren Union sehe ich in der Ampel in großen Teilen die dringend notwendige Liberalisierung, die unser Land und Europa brauchen. Ganz besonders in der Gesellschaftspolitik, in der die Ampel für Selbstbestimmung und freie Entfaltung steht. Besonders zuversichtlich stimmt mich auch der Blick etwa auf die Einführung einer Aktienrente, die Rückkehr zu solider Haushaltspolitik und den Fokus auf Bildung als Möglichmacher.
Doch nur wenige Wochen nach der Amtsübernahme der neuen Bundesregierung wurden wir von der Realität überholt. Die Spannungen zwischen der Ukraine und Russland sind leider in das Szenario übergegangen, das fast alle in Europa versuchten zu vermeiden. Die russische Invasion in die Ukraine verändert die Diskussion über Sicherheit fundamental. Mit Blick auf die Arbeit der noch nicht einmal 100 Tage alten Bundesregierung rücken damit nicht nur verteidigungspolitische, sondern auch energiepolitische Fragen in den Fokus.
Auch ohne die Gaspipeline Nord Stream 2 ist Russland bisher der mit Abstand größte Erdgaslieferant Deutschlands. Mehr als die Hälfte des importierten Gases stammen von dort. Die Niederlande sind nach Norwegen der drittgrößte Lieferant. Die ehrgeizigen Ziele des Koalitionsvertrags und der Konflikt mit Russland zeigen ein Spannungsfeld in der grenzüberschreitenden Energiezusammenarbeit auf. Während die Bedeutung des Gasimports für Deutschland aus dem EWR-Raum steigt, planen die Niederlande die Gasförderung aus großen Erdgasfeldern herunterzufahren.
Die Erfahrungen mit Erdbeben in Groningen führen zu Ängsten der dortigen Bewohner über die Sicherheit ihrer Heimat. Gleichzeitig ist aus deutscher Perspektive die Einhaltung der vertraglichen Verpflichtungen in den vergangenen Tagen besonders wichtig geworden. Umso bedeutsamer wird daher die grenzüberschreitende Zusammenarbeit mit Blick auf die Erschließung kleinerer Felder sowie dem Bau von Terminals für und dem Transport von LNG. Diesbezüglich erkennt auch der Koalitionsvertrag die Bedeutung von Gas zur Sicherung der Versorgung während der Energiewende an.
Nicht nur steigende Energiepreise belasten die europäischen Partner die nächsten Monate, auch Inflation und die Sanktionen gegen Russland. Da werden die Verlockungen einer kurz- bis mittelfristigen, lockeren Schuldenpolitik immer größer. Umso wichtiger ist es für die beiden Partner solider Haushaltspolitik, Niederlande und Deutschland, auch auf europäischer Ebene weiter vertrauensvoll zusammenzuarbeiten. Mit diesem Wunsch möchte ich nach den düsteren Tagen enden: Deutschland und die Niederlande müssen und werden, so hoffe ich, ihre intensive Zusammenarbeit entlang der gemeinsamen Grenze, in Europa und in der Welt fortsetzen.
Otto Fricke, MdB
Member of Deutscher Bundestag
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English version
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Just before the turn of the year, the new Dutch coalition presented the coalition agreement 'Omzien naar elkaar, vooruitkijken naar de toekomst'. Not much before that, the German government also adopted the Koaltionsvertrag 'Mehr Fortschritt wagen. Bündnis für Freiheit, Gerechtigkeit und Nachhaltigkeit'. ITEM screened both documents for border effects and relevant aspects for cross-border cooperation. In the Dutch coalition agreement, the European Union has been given a prominent position; the Netherlands is to play a pioneering role 'for and within a strong and decisive European Union'. The current COVID-19 crisis has shown the interdependence of member states and border regions, the importance of cooperation and the cross-border nature of major developments. Border regions, as living labs of European integration, and cross-border cooperation have also obtained a paragraph in the Dutch coalition agreement. Border regions are taken into account in legislation and regulations and bottlenecks are tackled in cooperation with neighbouring countries. Regio Deals are intended to strengthen public-private partnerships between the national government and the region - the multi-level governance. However, ITEM notes that cross-border cooperation with neighbouring countries and the necessary cooperation structures would have deserved a stronger paragraph or an integral appointment. There are major cross-border challenges where cross-border cooperation with the neighbouring countries offers significant opportunities. ITEM reflects on the coalition agreement and the way forward with regard to cross-border cooperation from a cross-border perspective. The opportunities offered by cross-border cooperation lend themselves perfectly to being taken into account in the further elaboration of the main lines in the coalition agreement.
Attached you will find the ITEM Reflection, with a screening of the Dutch coalition agreement and the German Koalitionsvertrag:
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INVITATION - NEXT ITEM "The Future of the European Cross-border Regions"
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Presentation and Debate
Wednesday 9 March, 2022, 17.00 -18.15 hrs via Zoom
“Next ITEM” – is the title of public debates organized by ITEM, the Maastricht University cross-border institute. We continue with linking the debate on the Future of Europe to the Future of the European Cross-Border Regions.
The Euregion Meuse-Rhine – as an example - has recently suffered a lot from closed borders, non-harmonized national measures and a lack of cross-border crisis management during the pandemic. How can the future of Europe been shaped with a special attention to the current deficiencies of cross-border cooperation? ITEM research on cross-border crisis management in the field of public health has recently shown that cross-border coordination is hindered by deficiencies at all levels of governance.
Academics speak today about “re-bordering” effects due to the migration crisis and recently as a result of the national Covid-approach. The open internal and external borders have been under pressure. The question is how this is reflected in the debates on the Future of Europe? What could be the role of border regions when we discuss a future EU governance system? Are cross-border regions seen as an essential “test case” for EU integration in practice?
After a word of welcome, the programme consists of a presentation about the state of cross-border regions after the Covid crisis, a panel discussion and a lively debate. Interventions by:
- Prof Martin Klatt, Associate Professor, University of Southern Denmark (DK)
- Pascal Arimont, Member of the European Parliament (BE)
The event is held in English and will be moderated by Martin Unfried.
Please register before Tuesday 8 March via this link:
For more details about the programme and registration, please visit the event page below:
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ITEM Calendar |
09 MAR 2022
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• NEXT ITEM - The Future of the European Cross-border Regions Online |
28 MAR 2022
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• ITEM/SVB Information session: Self-employment across the border (Dutch) Eindhoven, NL |
31 MAR 2022
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• Grenslandconferentie / Grenzlandkonferenz 2022 Aachen, DE |
10 JUN 2022
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• Valedictory lecture at UM by prof. dr. Hildegard Schneider Maastricht, NL |
12 OCT 2022
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• ITEM/HNP Meeting Brussels, BE |
18 NOV 2022
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• ITEM Annual Conference 2022 Groningen, NL |
ITEM Appearances |
07 MAR 2022
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• Youregion School - Introduction: Welcome to youRegionl Presentation:
Impulse: Feeling welcome in youRegion by Julia Reinold Hasselt, BE |
08 MAR 2022
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• Youregion School - The Euregio Meuse-Rhine Diversity, demographics, and cooperation – challenges in a cross-border region Presentation: Lecture: Cross-border Governance, competences, stakeholders – How to analyse the cross-border potential of a certain policy field? by Martin Unfried Online |
Looking back |
24 JAN 2022
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• Pension Seminar 2022 [Report available] |
1|8|15 FEB 2022
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• Drieluik-Webinar: "Toekomstperspectieven op Koninkrijksrelaties" 1 - 8 - 15 february 2022 Online |
16 FEB 2022
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• Campus Brussels Fireplace Talk on EU Citizenship and the Rights of Free Movement with Martin Unfried & Prof. Dr. Hildegard Schneider Online / Brussels, BE [Listen to the Podcast!] |
17 FEB 2022
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• Muliplier event “How to improve doctoral training through joint programmes. Analysis of experiences in international collaboration” with Susanne Sivonen [Presentations available] |
17 FEB 2022
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• (Highly) mobile workers in the creative sector in the Meuse-Rhine Euroregion (EMR) (expert meeting youRegion) with Dr. Nina Büttgen & Eva van Ooij Online [Report available] |
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