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Ассоциация Европейских Приграничных Регионов (АЕПР)Ассоциация Европейских Приграничных Регионов (АЕПР) Európai Határ Menti Régiók SzövetségeEurópai Határ Menti Régiók Szövetsége (EHMRS) (EHMRS) Associació de les Regions Frontereres Europees (ARFE)Associació de les Regions Frontereres Europees (ARFE)

International ConferenceInternational Conferenceon Border Areason Border Areas

Võru (EE), 18-19 September 2012Võru (EE), 18-19 September 2012

Taking stock of Cross-BorderTaking stock of Cross-Border

Cooperation (CBC) in Europe.Cooperation (CBC) in Europe.

Future PerspectivesFuture Perspectives

The Association of European Border RegionsThe Association of European Border Regions

(AEBR – AGEG – ARFE)(AEBR – AGEG – ARFE)

Emil Gött (1864-1908)Emil Gött (1864-1908)Sayings, AphorismsSayings, Aphorisms

DE: Gefühl von Grenze darf nicht heißen: hier bist du zu Ende, sondern: hier hast du noch zu wachsen.

ES: Las fronteras no pueden generar ES: Las fronteras no pueden generar una sensación de que hemos una sensación de que hemos llegado al final, sino que son llegado al final, sino que son donde aún podemos crecer.donde aún podemos crecer.

EN: Borders must not create the EN: Borders must not create the feeling that this is where you feeling that this is where you come to an end, but rather that come to an end, but rather that this is where you still need to this is where you still need to grow.grow.

CBC is a story of CBC is a story of Multi-Level Governance Multi-Level Governance

and assymetriesand assymetries• 50+ years of “formal” CBC; 50+ years of “formal” CBC; centuries centuries

of “informal” and “abnormal” CBCof “informal” and “abnormal” CBC• Laboratories for European IntegrationLaboratories for European Integration• Central Europe (Rhine basin), Northern Central Europe (Rhine basin), Northern

Europe, Mediterranean regions, Eastern Europe, Mediterranean regions, Eastern Europe and far beyond (Caucasus), …Europe and far beyond (Caucasus), …

• Global CBC for Global Challenges: Latin Global CBC for Global Challenges: Latin America and AfricaAmerica and Africa

Long European TraditionLong European Tradition

• 1960: 1960: 20 border regions in Scandinavia,20 border regions in Scandinavia, NW Europe and the Rhine basinNW Europe and the Rhine basin• 1980: 1980: 40 (Iberian Peninsula, the Alps, the 40 (Iberian Peninsula, the Alps, the

PyreneesPyrenees and Ireland)and Ireland)• 2000:2000: 120 border regions in Europe120 border regions in Europe• 2012: 2012: 200 structures (regions and euroregions)200 structures (regions and euroregions)

---o------o---• EuroregionsEuroregions• Working CommunitiesWorking Communities• C B Initiatives Cabinets (GIT)C B Initiatives Cabinets (GIT)• EGTCs – EGCsEGTCs – EGCs• Macroregions?Macroregions?

AGEG – AEBR - ARFEAGEG – AEBR - ARFE

19711971 10 members10 members (projects)(projects)

19801980 3030 (programmes, instruments)(programmes, instruments)

20122012 100100 (generalisation)(generalisation)

≈ ≈ 200 European border areas200 European border areas

Represents the interests of CB Represents the interests of CB regions towards the Council of regions towards the Council of Europe, the European Union and Europe, the European Union and the national Governments.the national Governments.

CBC CBC structures structures

in 2011in 2011

• Insertar mapaInsertar mapa

• Insertar mapaInsertar mapa

• Insertar mapaInsertar mapa

• Insertar mapaInsertar mapa

EU Programmes exist EU Programmes exist and are healthy, but…and are healthy, but……legal instruments?…legal instruments?

No single EU wide legal instrumentNo single EU wide legal instrument, , for all Member States (and for all Member States (and far beyond) for CB, IR or TN cooperationfar beyond) for CB, IR or TN cooperation

The The Nordic AgreementNordic Agreement (1977) (1977) CBC between municipalitiesCBC between municipalities Multilateral inter-state agreementsMultilateral inter-state agreements: : Madrid Outline ConventionMadrid Outline Convention

(Council of Europe) and (Council of Europe) and Additional ProtocolsAdditional Protocols: framework for : framework for bilateral/trilateral inter-state agreementsbilateral/trilateral inter-state agreements

Bilateral agreementsBilateral agreements: : Benelux Benelux Agreement, German/Dutch Agreement, German/Dutch Anholt Anholt Agreement or Agreement or Karlsruhe Karlsruhe AgreementAgreement

Numerous Numerous conventions, treaties, agreements and protocols conventions, treaties, agreements and protocols at at bilateral and trilateral levelbilateral and trilateral level

Regional and local agreements, led to many Regional and local agreements, led to many border and CB 'border and CB 'working working communitiescommunities' ' (Euregios and similar structures) on the EU’s internal (Euregios and similar structures) on the EU’s internal and external borders;and external borders;

Project-specific cooperationProject-specific cooperation, through direct bilateral regional , through direct bilateral regional and/or and/or local agreements or through European and national legal local agreements or through European and national legal instruments (e.g. European Economic Interest Group (EEIG), mixed instruments (e.g. European Economic Interest Group (EEIG), mixed economy companies)economy companies)

The The European Grouping of Territorial European Grouping of Territorial CooperationCooperation

((EGTCEGTC) – Next: ) – Next: ECGECG

European experience European experience shows:shows:

• Supranational integration processes Supranational integration processes does not guarantee cohesion in very does not guarantee cohesion in very diverse territories. Their own dynamics diverse territories. Their own dynamics strengthen more developed areas strengthen more developed areas ((territorial dumpingterritorial dumping). ).

• There is a need of a There is a need of a “positive “positive discrimination”discrimination”: territorial cooperation : territorial cooperation programmes and projects (programmes and projects (InterregInterreg) to ) to enhance enhance economic, social and economic, social and territorial cohesionterritorial cohesion..

CBC:CBC:

• It is It is not a new administrative levelnot a new administrative level• There are There are no exclusive competencesno exclusive competences in CBC in CBC

structures (delegation)structures (delegation)• It is a good example of It is a good example of Multi-level Multi-level

GovernanceGovernance

The trick of Subsidiarity, Decentralization and The trick of Subsidiarity, Decentralization and Integration lies not in giving up national Integration lies not in giving up national sovereignty, but in sharing it sovereignty, but in sharing it (up- and (up- and

downwards) downwards) towards a Common Objectivetowards a Common Objective

DiversityDiversityfrom being an obstacle to create from being an obstacle to create opportunitiesopportunities

Various:Various:• Cultures and social systemsCultures and social systems• Administrative structures and powersAdministrative structures and powers• Fiscal and social legislationsFiscal and social legislations• Many other political activitiesMany other political activities

… … meet at the meet at the bordersborders

• Citizens have grown up in very different Citizens have grown up in very different environmentsenvironments

• They will not sacrifice aspects of everyday They will not sacrifice aspects of everyday lives for the European ideallives for the European ideal

• No State will alter its tried and trusted No State will alter its tried and trusted structuresstructures

Day-to-day at border Day-to-day at border areas:areas:

Preliminary conclusionsPreliminary conclusions• The work made by CB structures can only be successful The work made by CB structures can only be successful

if if supported by citizens and regional/local politicians supported by citizens and regional/local politicians from both sides of the border, generating trustfrom both sides of the border, generating trust

• At the borders, the citizens deal with practical aspects At the borders, the citizens deal with practical aspects of Europe every day (of Europe every day (Laboratories for European Laboratories for European IntegrationIntegration))

• There will be no regulation compatible with all There will be no regulation compatible with all countries (countries (except EGTC / ECGexcept EGTC / ECG))

Objective: Critical MassObjective: Critical Mass

• CB regions cover half of their potential CB regions cover half of their potential areas of influenceareas of influence

• CBC makes easier to achieve a critical CBC makes easier to achieve a critical mass: synergies, efficiency, joint planning mass: synergies, efficiency, joint planning and managingand managing

• Creation of CB influence areasCreation of CB influence areas• Creation of alliances for joint sustainable Creation of alliances for joint sustainable

benefitsbenefits

CBC Added ValueCBC Added Value

• (Pan-) European(Pan-) European(Continental)(Continental)

• PoliticalPolitical• InstitutionalInstitutional• Socio-economicSocio-economic• Socio-culturalSocio-cultural

AEBR’s AmpelAEBR’s Ampel

Conclusions IConclusions IAfter 2013After 2013::

• New opportunities for genuine CBC. New opportunities for genuine CBC. 5th cohesion Report 5th cohesion Report recommends to continue (and increase) Territorial recommends to continue (and increase) Territorial Cooperation, in particular CBC. Cooperation, in particular CBC.

• Treaty of Lisbon Treaty of Lisbon also recommends a special attention to also recommends a special attention to CB regions.CB regions.

• The European Parliament has recommended that TC The European Parliament has recommended that TC receives receives 7% of Cohesion Fund 7% of Cohesion Fund (Sánchez Schmid’s report, (Sánchez Schmid’s report, Pieper’s report) Pieper’s report) (but latest news: € 5,5 B cut on (but latest news: € 5,5 B cut on Cohesion Policy, strong reaction)Cohesion Policy, strong reaction)

• Extension of CBC outside the EU borders:Extension of CBC outside the EU borders:- European Eastern Partnership, ENP, and far beyond

(Caucasus)- Processes in the Mediterranean basin, the Americas, Processes in the Mediterranean basin, the Americas,

Africa and AsiaAfrica and Asia

Conclusions IIConclusions II• New challenges for CB structuresNew challenges for CB structures: :

- promoting “hot” issues (R&D, reconversion, labour promoting “hot” issues (R&D, reconversion, labour market, CB healthcare, …).market, CB healthcare, …).

- Old wine in new bottles? The risk of “dying of Old wine in new bottles? The risk of “dying of fashion”: euroregions, EGTCs, macroregions (fashion”: euroregions, EGTCs, macroregions (Black Black cat, white cat, …cat, white cat, …))

- The EU legal instrument EGTC has to be improved by learning from lessons up to now

• And also for Networks!And also for Networks! (AEBR, MOT, NEEBOR, Baltic, (AEBR, MOT, NEEBOR, Baltic, Black Sea, Mediterranean, …) Black Sea, Mediterranean, …) (Benedetti: old answers for (Benedetti: old answers for new questions?)new questions?)

• More exigences for local and regional levels:More exigences for local and regional levels: pre- pre-condition for successful CBC (and more social participation). condition for successful CBC (and more social participation). Political will and participationPolitical will and participation..

• The The StatesStates involved should also promote CBC (with their involved should also promote CBC (with their own budgets) in own budgets) in new functional spacesnew functional spaces..

• No new competences, no new administrative levelsNo new competences, no new administrative levels..

Association of European Border RegionsAssociation of European Border RegionsEnscheder Strasse, 362Enscheder Strasse, 362D-48599 Gronau (Germany)D-48599 Gronau (Germany)Phone: +49-2562-70219 – Fax: +49-2562-Phone: +49-2562-70219 – Fax: +49-2562-7025970259

THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR ATTENTIONATTENTION

Photo: Kazimierz Branny, Czech-Polish border, 8th July 2006Photo: Kazimierz Branny, Czech-Polish border, 8th July 2006

info@aebr.euwww.aebr.eu