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If you live in a border region such as ours, you hardly ever stop to think about the fact that there are national borders. You pass them almost carelessly, on your way to buy cheap petrol or drugstore articles. You easily speak a word of German, because your parents used to watch German television programmes, and you take the many foreign languages you hear on the streets of Maastricht for granted.
When you work across the border, that dividing line suddenly becomes much more prominent. Then there are obstacles in the area of tax or social security that can make things unnecessarily complicated. Especially now that working from home is part of the new way of working. ITEM continues to dedicate itself to a structural solution for the problems in the current situation for cross-border workers. This even extends to The Hague, where the institute recently organised a round table meeting in Nieuwspoort on this important subject.
The importance of good relations between the European Member States, including Europe's internal borders for peace, security and prosperity, was also a central theme during the first Beatrix Lecture, held earlier this month in Maastricht. The lecture was created to look back annually on the legacy of one of the most important treaties in recent European history: the Maastricht Treaty. Organiser Maastricht Working on Europe is supported by UM and others, and I had the honour of delivering a welcome speech. Former French Minister Élisabeth Guigou was the speaker, because of her close involvement in the negotiations in 1991. Among other things, she made it clear that Europe as it exists today is the result of compromises made by states, and that every compromise must be seen as a victory. In my view, this is the essence of fruitful cooperation: looking beyond your own borders and sometimes having the courage to go beyond them.
That’s why ITEM, and in a broader context Maastricht University, will continue to focus on enhanced cooperation, not only within the Euregion, but also across provincial borders within the Netherlands. The annual Brussels meeting together with the Dutch provinces and European stakeholders will take place on 12 October and will focus mainly on the European energy discussion and how to deal with associated border effects. A broader discussion on the future of the border regions in Europe will take place during the annual conference in Groningen.
However logical all this may seem for a university such as ours, it is important to keep realising that it is not self-evident. Europe and cross-border cooperation remain 'work in progress'. We are happy to make a sustainable contribution to it.
Prof. Rianne Letschert President Maastricht University
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“Ene mene miste es rappelt in der kiste” This phrase has always stuck with me from my childhood. As a Maastricht girl born in 1970, I used to watch children's programmes on German and Belgian television, drive with my parents on Sunday mornings to the forest in Belgium, or to the flea market in Tongeren, or go shopping in Aachen and take Aachener Printen with us.
As a little girl, I did not experience borders and I paid no attention to the Euregion, it was just there. It was only much later, during an interrail trip to Greece in the early 1990s, that I tangibly came into contact with Europe, having different currencies in my pocket, speaking different languages, differences in border controls and differences in culture. What an enrichment to get to know Europe this way!
Many years and various jobs later, I came into contact with another aspect of Europe. I started working for the Belastingdienst (the Dutch tax authority), and its foreign office, and learned about the value of good agreements between countries and, at the same time, about the tremendous complexity and the effect this had on people and companies that were located abroad and were liable to pay tax in the Netherlands.
Now, as a fresh Volt alderman with Euregio and Europe in her portfolio, there are a number of things I want to devote myself to. Maastricht is known as an international city, situated in the heart of Europe. If you ask people how they feel about Europe, their reactions are very diverse: the loss of the guilder, an abstract and far away spectacle, but also the increasingly stronger feeling that a stronger Europe is also in our interest as inhabitants of the Netherlands.
In Maastricht, we are confronted with Europe every day, whether it’s the tourists who visit our city, our international students, partnerships between knowledge institutes, and let's not forget our cross-border workers. Maastricht owes a lot to its location and thus its international character. But it is not all fun and games, for example, cross-border crime, flooding and the obstacles that people experience when they live in Belgium or Germany and work here or vice versa.
We often try to explain the power of a strong Europe to Eurosceptics, but in my opinion it is actually important that people experience the power of a strong Europe. A strong Europe is something you make together, it requires establishing connections, it brings not only rights but also duties, you also have to be willing to offer each other something.
In a time of many challenges, the Maastricht Executive Board wants to focus on the agglomeration power of Maastricht in and of the (Eu)region. We all experience a scarcity on the labour market, a scarcity of suitable housing and locations for (international) companies and at the same time there are great opportunities, for example the Einstein telescope! What possibilities this enormous project brings with it, it will not only put us on the map as a centre of science, but it will also bring a social and economic upgrade to our region and thus improve the broad prosperity of our (Eu)region.
In the coalition agreement, 'We, connected Maastricht', you can read among other things what I want to do together with the Maastricht Executive Board. Of course, I do this not only with my colleagues in Maastricht, but as a proud Volt member, I am also part of the pan-European movement, active in 31 countries, which makes connecting with European colleagues from a common mission a lot easier and enables me to address issues in The Hague.
As former governor Bovens said in his column: "Ich bin een grensbewoner", yes, we all are. And it is precisely as border residents, as people, that we make Europe together. That makes Europe ours, a place to cherish.
Anita Bastiaans Alderman of the Municipality of Maastricht (Volt)
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Dutch version
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Cross-Border Impact Assessment 2022: Topics announced
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The topics for the ITEM’s annual Cross-Border Impact Assessment 2022 have been previewed. The selected final reports will be presented at the ITEM Annual Conference, November 18th 2022.
This years’ topics:
- Ex-ante analysis of the border effects of the European Health Data Space (ex-ante)
- Cross-border effects of the EU proposal for a directive on platform workers (ex-ante)
- From North Sea Port to North Sea port: cross-border energy transition
- Cross-border exchange of information in the fight against organised crime (ex-ante)
- Border effects of the Dutch fireworks prohibition (ex-ante)
- The cross-border effects of the Dutch Nitrogen policy (student dossier)
- Has the border resident’s perception of the "border" changed since the COVID-19 crisis? (opinion piece)
For a description of each dossier topic, please click on the link below: https://www.maastrichtuniversity.nl/news/cross-border-impact-assessment-2022-topics-announced
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Tansmedal for Prof. dr. Hildegard Schneider
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On Friday 10 June 2022, Professor Hildegard Schneider held her farewell lecture in the Sint Janskerk in Maastricht. Her speech was titled "Crossing Borders: Challenges and Chances", in which she addressed both the internal and external EU borders. It was also a speech about the professional and personal boundaries between disciplines and faculties, that she passionately crosses. Hildegard does not see these borders, but seeks cooperation. During the ceremony she was awarded the Tans Medal, UM's most prestigious award, for all her efforts on behalf of the university, in laying the foundations for its European character and in cooperating across borders and disciplines, such as with ITEM. We are very proud and grateful for everything Hildegard has meant both inside and outside of ITEM.
Read more about this here.
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Degree of Doctor awarded to Kim Geurtjens for study about Outlaw Motorcycle Gangs in the Meuse-Rhine Euregion
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We are proud to report that Kim Geurtjens obtained her doctorate degree after defending her PhD-dissertation on June 20th, 2022 at Maastricht University. As cross-border crime is a topic of interest in ITEM's research disciplines, Kim Geurtjens was taken on as a PhD-candidate in 2016 with Prof. Dr. Hans Nelen and Prof. Dr. Miet Vanderhallen as her supervisor and co-promotor. The academic distinction was conferred by supervisor Prof. Hans Nelen.
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Facilitating cross-border (home) working: an important precondition for the Euroregional labour market and economy
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In the ITEM Cross-Border Impact Assessment 2021, the "Impact analysis into the future of working from home for cross-border workers post-COVID-19" investigated the consequences for taxation and social security of working from home by cross-border workers. Hybrid work is the future, also for the region, according to the SER advisory report 'Hybrid Work'. But working from home by cross-border workers can be complex, non-transparent and costly, both for employee and employer.
Read more here.
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ITEM welcomes new team members
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Marcel Dautzenberg coordinates operations within ITEM
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ITEM welcomed Marcel Dautzenberg on 1 April 2022 as the new Operations Coordinator for the ITEM Team. Previously he worked for the Municipality of Maastricht with projects such as the Expat Centre Maastricht Region, the Cross-Border Information Point Maastricht and more recently at the Knowledge Centre for International Staff at Maastricht University.
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Math Noortmann boosts cross-border security research within ITEM
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On 1 April, Math Noortmann started as senior researcher at expertise centre ITEM. With his expertise in the field of transnational law and security, Math Noortmann was until recently affiliated with the Centre for Trust, Peace and Social Relations, Coventry University (UK) as professor of transnational law and non-state actors. In addition to his research task at ITEM, he will also lead the scientific quadrant within ITEM.
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Read more
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In the context of the annual European week of Regions and Cities, ITEM is organising two events:
12 October 2022 - ITEM/HNP Meeting
13 October 2022 - Benelux-Conferentie: Thuiswerken vanuit grensoverschrijdend perspectief
Save the dates in your calendar!
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ITEM Calendar |
26 AUG 2022
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• Preuvenemint meeting (besloten) Maastricht, NL
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22 - 26 AUG 2022
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• LINK-EDURES Summer School Essex, UK
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12 OCT 2022
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• ITEM/HNP Meeting Brussels, BE
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13 OCT 2022
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• Benelux – Conferentie: Thuiswerken vanuit grensoverschrijdend perspectief Brussels, BE
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27 OCT 2022
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• ITEM/SVB Informatiesessie
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18 NOV 2022
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• ITEM Annual Conference 2022 Groningen, NL
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ITEM Appearances |
23 JUN 2022
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• Relatiedag BBZ en BDZ Presentation by Sander Kramer and Bastiaan Didden ’s Hertogenbosch, NL
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Looking back |
28 JUN 2022
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• PhD Meeting on Pensions (ITEM/UM CCP/UvT) Tilburg, NL
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20 JUN 2022
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• PhD conferral Kim Geurtjens - "Outlaw motorcycle gangs in the Meuse Rhine Euregion: Exploration of the phenomenon, OMCG-related crime and the public response to OMCGs" with Kim Geurtjens [Recording available]
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20 JUN 2022
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• ITEM/SVB Informatiesessie "Overgangsrecht" Academisch Genootschap, Eindhoven [Presentation available] |
10 JUN 2022
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• Valedictory lecture at UM by prof. dr. Hildegard Schneider Maastricht, NL
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12 MAY 2022
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• youRegion closing event Maastricht, NL [Aftermovie available]
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10 MAY 2022
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• SOFIE/NUFFIC-ITEM Workshop National Health Insurance Coverage in the Netherlands of international and European researchers Maastricht, NL [Presentation available] |
31 MAR 2022
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• Grenslandconferentie/Grenzlandkonferenz 2022 Aachen, DE |
30 MAR 2022
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• LINK-EDURES Multiplier event Madrid, SP/ Online [Presentation available]
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28 MAR 2022
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• ITEM/SVB Information session: Self-employment across the border (Dutch) Eindhoven, NL [Presentation available]
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09 MAR 2022
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• NEXT ITEM - The Future of the European Cross-border Regions [Recording available] |
17 FEB 2022
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• (Highly) mobile workers in the creative sector in the Meuse-Rhine Euroregion (EMR) - How do you create a good fit? Online [Report available] |
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Publication highlights |
Pauline Melin, Sarah Schoenmaekers, Sergio Carrera & Yuri Michielsen (June 2022) Maastricht Law Series 25, The Art of Moving Borders, Liber Amicorum Hildegard Schneider
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Martin Unfried (June 2022), Working Paper Series B/ORDERS IN MOTION Nr. 11, Wissenschaft & Praxis im Dialog in unsicheren Zeiten. Grenzüberschreitende Daseinsvorsorge in der Euroregion Pro Europa Viadrina & anderen Regionen im Vergleich |
Dr. Kim Geurtjens (June 2022), Outlaw motorcycle gangs in the Meuse Rhine Euregion: Exploration of the phenomenon, OMCG-related crime and the public response to OMCGs |
Dr. L. Kortese, S. Sivonen (June 2022), Organising intensive care transport in the Euregio Meuse-Rhine: Examining differences and identifying solutions |
Pim Mertens (May 2022), Vakblad Grensoverschrijdend werken, Wel of geen Tozo voor grensoverschrijdende ondernemers |
Dr. Daan Hovens (May 2022), Journal of Sociolinguistics, Breakdowns and assemblages: Including machine-actants in sociolinguistic ethnographies of blue-collar work environments |
Dr. Nina Büttgen (March 2022) youRegion, Crossing borders as self-employed professional between Belgium, the Netherlands and Germany |
Pim Mertens (March 2022) Pensioen Magazine, De veelzijdige impact van thuiswerken voor grensarbeiders |
More publications from ITEM Staff |
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