euregio_brochure_eng

Euregio Meuse-Rhine in real

Dear Reader,

Thank you for your interest in the Euregio Meuse-Rhine. We are delighted that you wish to know

more about our cross-border cooperation. This brochure includes all you need to know about the

work and organisation of the EMR and introduces you to a wealth of initiatives and projects.

Discover the added value of cross-border cooperation!

Best wishes,

Your Euregio Meuse-Rhine

MEUSE-RHIN - MAAS-RIJN - MAAS-RHEIN 3

The Euregio Meuse-Rhine (EMR) is one of the oldest cross-border cooperations in Europe.

The southern part of the Dutch Province of Limburg, the German REGIO Aachen e.V., the German-

speaking Community in Belgium and the Belgian provinces of Liège and Limburg have been

cooperating for many years. Intensive dialogue between three countries and fi ve regions, which

involves three languages, has resulted in a sense of a shared Europe. The various regions join

forces to tackle common problems, which encourages European integration.

The idea behind the creation of the EMR, i.e. that cross-border cooperation offers new

opportunities, is still a central theme. Targeted priorities simplify and help to strengthen cross-

border cooperation.

ABOUT THE EUREGIO MEUSE-RHINE

MEUSE-RHIN - MAAS-RIJN - MAAS-RHEIN4

Deutschsprachige Gemeinschaft /B

Provincie Limburg /B

Provincie

Limburg /NL

Province de Liège /B REGIO Aachen /D

Most importantly, cross-border cooperation benefi ts the approximately four million inhabitants

of the EMR. The active participation of the population and civil-society actors is a major factor in

all cross-border projects.

The EMR has become an essential and reliable partner with respect to all cross-border themes.

The cross-border cooperation provides a framework for cooperation and communication

between regions which, thanks to their diversity, offers a splendid opportunity for harmonious

co-existence.


In the past few decades, many European border areas have developed into regions where people

come together, make cross-border visits and develop exchange programmes. Since the 1970s,

cross-border cooperation has been boosted by countless projects, particularly in order to

support deprived regions and to bring about a balanced and shared Euregional development.

In 1976, the EMR was set up by the Queen’s Commissioner for the Dutch Province of Limburg, the

District President of Cologne and the Governors of the Belgian provinces of Limburg and Liège.

During the fi rst few years, cooperation was laborious. However, the abolition of European interior

borders in the 1990s gave the process a new boost.

HISTORY OF THE EUREGIO MEUSE-RHINE


In 1991, the EMR was given the legal status of a foundation under Dutch law (similar to an e.V. in

Germany or a vzw/asbl in Belgium). Since then, the cross-border cooperation has progressed. In

1992, the German-speaking Community in Belgium joined the cross-border cooperation as the

fi fth independent partner region.

Since 2007, the offi ce of the EMR has been Eupen in Belgium.


The EMR is located in the heart of Europe. It covers a surface area of approximately 11,000

km2 in which almost four million people live. In addition to many historic towns and wonderful

scenery, the region also offers a strong economy, countless educational institutions and

good infrastructure. In the EMR, people do not live side by side, but rather with one another.

Consequently, the border regions of Belgium, Germany and the Netherlands are characterised

by the variety of languages and cultures. Dutch, French and German are the national languages

and they are spoken beyond the borders of their respective countries. The fact that diversity and

harmony offer new opportunities and provide added value is clearly evident: from the locals in

cafés, when walking down the street and during festive gatherings.

THE REGION AND ITS INHABITANTS


In the EMR, innovation and a sense of tradition, technology and art, nature and tourism go hand in

hand. Thanks to its variety, the EMR is a region with a high quality of life.


With regard to the labour market and training, the EMR deliberately aims to create cross-border

synergies by introducing diverse initiatives. Moreover, support is given to various bodies focusing

on the reintegration of job seekers. Other incentives relate to providing employees with extensive

qualifi cations for the Euregional labour market by, for instance, a cross-border exchange of

trainees or by the general encouragement of multilingualism. Teaching the languages of the

neighbouring countries and the exchange of both pupils and teachers are already providing a

basis for the future Euregional labour market.

LABOUR MARKET AND TRAINING


Thousands of workers commute every

day across the borders in the EMR. They

are still being confronted with obstacles

resulting from the differences between the

Belgian, Dutch and German legal systems.

In order to improve the situation for cross-

border workers, employees of consultancy

organisations, public authorities, trade

unions and health insurance companies

are analysing these problems in detail.

Taking these analyses as a basis, the Task

Force Net – an EMR INTERREG project – is

developing improvement proposals that

are issued to the bodies and organisations

involved. Moreover, the experiences

gained are exchanged with experts from

other European border regions.

EURES is the European job mobility portal.

It offers services to job seekers looking for

work abroad and to employers that wish

to recruit staff from abroad. The EURES

consultants make every effort to promote

the cross-border mobility of workers and to

improve job opportunities.

The offi cial collaboration between

the EURES job portal and other

partners (such as the EMR and the

Grenzgängerberatungsstelle in the REGIO

Aachen) was fi rst ratifi ed in 1993 and has

since then been extended. As a result, the

regional labour market has become more

transparent and countless legal obstacles

are being removed.

EURESTASK FORCE NET


The unique character of the collaboration between the fi ve partner regions is derived from the

cultural similarities and differences that have developed in the course of history. The EMR has

given itself the task of creating an intensive network of various organisations and actors in order

to bring about new perspectives for cultural development. In order to reach a broad public, a

common marketing strategy is vital. This type of collaboration has benefi ts for the touristic

sector, which has a positive and sustainable infl uence in both an economic and cultural sense

(‘soft tourism’). The EMR is aiming to put in place a diverse range of opportunities and facilities

for tourism at Euregional level for the benefi t of both inhabitants and visitors. The excellent

quality of life and the countless recreation areas are central in this respect. When it comes to

culture and tourism, the EMR is an indispensable platform for meetings and exchanges between

people.

CULTURE AND TOURISM


WIRTSCHAFTSFÖRDERUNG DÉVELOPPEMENT ÉCONOMIQUE ECONOMISCHE ONTWIKKEWERKGELEGENHEID WISSENSINSTITUTIONEN INSTITUTIONS DE SAVOIR KENNISINSTITARBEIDSMARKT EN ODERWIJS GESUNDHEITSLEISTUNGEN LES SOINS ZORG MOBILINFRASTRUCTUUR KULTUR UND TOURISMUS CULTURE ET TOURISME CULTUUR ENVIE LEVENSKWALITEIT GESCHICHTE HISTOIRE GESCHIEDENIS KULTUR CULTURE CEURÉGIONALE EUREGIONALE SAMENWERKING PARTNER PARTENAIRES VORBILDREGIOGRENZÜBERSCHREITENDE ZUSAMMENARBEIT COLLABORATION TRANSFRONTALIÈRE GINTÉGRATION INTEGRATIE CHANCE MOGELIJKHEID GESELLSCHAFT SOCIÉTÉ MAAMEHRWERT VALEUR AJOUTÉE TOEGEVOEGDE WAARDE EUREGIO DG REGIO AACHEN PROJETS INNOVATION INNOVATIE ENERGIE ÉNERGIE LEBENSWISSENSCHAFTEN SCIENEUREGIONALE NETWERKEN SICHERHEIT SÉCURITÉ KOMMUNIKATION COMMUNICATIONSTÄRKE FORCE KRACHT HERAUSFORDERUNG DÉFI UITDAGING IM HERZEN EUROPAS ACAMPUS AUTO CAROLINGUA TASK FORCE NET CMD CŒUR(S) DE VILLE DRIELANDENPEUREGIONALER INFORMATIONS-SERVICE/EIS EUREGIONALE 2008 EUROPOM HEIDEN UNPROQUA RECES REGIONALVERMARKTUNG RISICO ADO SINT PIETERSBERG STRATEGISCSILICO EU-PREVENT SUN DESIGN SIS SKILLS 3 REGIO4DANCE MRSA EXTENSIO FLOODONTWIKKELING NACHHALTIGES WACHSTUM CROISSANCE DURABLE DUURZAME GROKENNISINSTITUTEN ARBEITSMARKT UND BILDUNG MARCHÉ DU TRAVAIL ET L ENSEIGZORG MOBILITÄT UND INFRASTRUKTUR MOBILITÉ ET L INFRASTRUCTURE MOBILITEIT EEN TOERISME SICHERHEIT SÉCURITÉ VEILIGHEID LEBENSQUALITÄT QUALITÉ DE VICULTUUR LEBEN VIE LEVEN EUREGIONALE ZUSAMMENARBEIT COOPÉRATION EURÉGIEUROPESE VOORBEELDREGIO NACHHALTIGKEIT DURABILITÉ DUURZAAMHEID GRENGRENSOVERSCHRIJDENDE SAMENWERKING SPRACHE LANGUE TAAL INTEGRATIONMAATSCHAPPIJ WIRTSCHAFT ÉCONOMIE ECONOMIE POLITK POLITIQUE POLITIEK MEHREUREGIOBAHN LIÈGE LIMBURG BELGIEN NEDERLAND INTERREG PROJEKTE PROJETS DE LA VIE LIFE SCIENCES REGIONALE NETZWERKE RÉSEAUX EURÉGIONAUX EUREGCOMMUNICATIE GEMEINSAMKEIT IN VIELFALT GESAMENLIJKHEID IN DIVERSITEIT STÄRKCOEUR DE L EUROPE IN HET HART VAN EUROPA ALMA-GRID AUTOWEB C@KE CAMPUSEUBAN EURECARD EUREGIO KONEKT EUREGIONAAL BEDRIJVEN PLATFORM EUREGIOMOORE INDUSTRIELLE FOLGELANDSCHAFT KOMM!/HORA EST LIFE SCIENCES PROQUAINNOVEREN TRANSCEND TUL WEGE DES WASSERS ZEITREISEN FLAPP ALMA IN SILICO E

Provincie Limburg /B

Provincie Limburg /NL

Province de Liège /B


WIKKELING NACHHALTIGES WACHSTUM CROISSANCE DURABLE DUURZAME GROEI EN NSTITUTEN ARBEITSMARKT UND BILDUNG MARCHÉ DU TRAVAIL ET L ENSEIGNEMENT MOBILITÄT UND INFRASTRUKTUR MOBILITÉ ET L INFRASTRUCTURE MOBILITEIT EN UR EN TOERISME SICHERHEIT SÉCURITÉ VEILIGHEID LEBENSQUALITÄT QUALITÉ DE URE CULTUUR LEBEN VIE LEVEN EUREGIONALE ZUSAMMENARBEIT COOPÉRATION DREGION EUROPESE VOORBEELDREGIO NACHHALTIGKEIT DURABILITÉ DUURZAAMHEID ÈRE GRENSOVERSCHRIJDENDE SAMENWERKING SPRACHE LANGUE TAAL INTEGRATION

MAATSCHAPPIJ WIRTSCHAFT ÉCONOMIE ECONOMIE POLITK POLITIQUE POLITIEK HEN E.V. EUREGIOBAHN LIÈGE LIMBURG BELGIEN NEDERLAND INTERREG PROJEKTE

SCIENCES DE LA VIE LIFE SCIENCES REGIONALE NETZWERKE RÉSEAUX EURÉGIONAUX ATION COMMUNICATIE GEMEINSAMKEIT IN VIELFALT GESAMENLIJKHEID IN DIVERSITEIT PAS AU COEUR DE L EUROPE IN HET HART VAN EUROPA ALMA-GRID AUTOWEB C@KE DENPARK EUBAN EURECARD EUREGIO KONEKT EUREGIONAAL BEDRIJVEN PLATFORM EN UND MOORE INDUSTRIELLE FOLGELANDSCHAFT KOMM!/HORA EST LIFE SCIENCES

EGISCH INNOVEREN TRANSCEND TUL WEGE DES WASSERS ZEITREISEN FLAPP ALMA IN LOOD-WISE WIRTSCHAFTSFÖRDERUNG DÉVELOPPEMENT ÉCONOMIQUE ECONOMISCHE E GROEI EN WERKGELEGENHEID WISSENSINSTITUTIONEN INSTITUTIONS DE SAVOIR

ENSEIGNEMENT ARBEIDSMARKT EN ODERWIJS GESUNDHEITSLEISTUNGEN LES SOINS TEIT EN INFRASTRUCTUUR KULTUR UND TOURISMUS CULTURE ET TOURISME CULTUUR DE VIE LEVENSKWALITEIT GESCHICHTE HISTOIRE GESCHIEDENIS KULTUR CULTURE URÉGIONALE EUREGIONALE SAMENWERKING PARTNER PARTENAIRES VORBILDREGION GRENZÜBERSCHREITENDE ZUSAMMENARBEIT COLLABORATION TRANSFRONTALIÈRE

ATION INTÉGRATION INTEGRATIE CHANCE MOGELIJKHEID GESELLSCHAFT SOCIÉTÉ MEHRWERT VALEUR AJOUTÉE TOEGEVOEGDE WAARDE EUREGIO DG REGIO AACHEN E.V. JETS INNOVATION INNOVATIE ENERGIE ÉNERGIE LEBENSWISSENSCHAFTEN SCIENCES UREGIONALE NETWERKEN SICHERHEIT SÉCURITÉ KOMMUNIKATION COMMUNICATION STÄRKE FORCE KRACHT HERAUSFORDERUNG DÉFI UITDAGING IM HERZEN EUROPAS AU MPUS AUTO CAROLINGUA TASK FORCE NET CMD CŒUR(S) DE VILLE DRIELANDENPARK REGIONALER INFORMATIONS-SERVICE/EIS EUREGIONALE 2008 EUROPOM HEIDEN UND ROQUA RECES REGIONALVERMARKTUNG RISICO ADO SINT PIETERSBERG STRATEGISCH

ICO EU-PREVENT SUN DESIGN SIS SKILLS 3 REGIO4DANCE MRSA EXTENSIO FLOOD-WISE

Deutschsprachige Gemeinschaft /B

REGIO Aachen /D


Extending healthcare services is an important aim of the EMR. By means of cross-border

agreements, the Euregio contributes to improving healthcare, the care for the elderly, the general

quality of life, as well as the social integration of handicapped people and those from deprived

backgrounds. Specifi c objectives include: an optimised division of tasks between hospitals,

a targeted coordination of measures with regard to drug use prevention, a continuation and

intensifi cation of Euregional consumer information and improved cooperation between medical

and social care institutions. Various health insurance companies have now concluded long-term

agreements that will benefi t the regional population.

HEALTHCARE


euPrevent-EMR is a foundation incorporating the most important healthcare institutions in the

Euregio. The foundation aims to improve healthcare policy in the Euregio and the general quality

of life for citizens by increasing preventive measures. Specifi c activities include qualifi cations

of healthcare staff and an active information exchange between this professional group and the

responsible politicians and administrators. Scientifi c research is being performed and published

with respect to relevant themes. euPrevent-EMR creates a cross-border network between

countless actors and therefore contributes to the welfare of citizens in the entire Euregio.

EUPREVENT-EMR FOUNDATION


Thanks to the creation of a central helpdesk, inhabitants of the Euregio can benefi t from

improved cross-border collaboration between fi re brigades and other emergency services. To

encourage the best possible cooperation in this area, the EMR is supporting the development of

cross-border regulations that are vital particularly in the case of emergency medical assistance.

Euregional emergency response drills are also being organised in order to be better prepared for

disasters. As a result of EMR initiatives, legal obstacles regarding the cross-border deployment

of emergency services are being removed. By creating a common basis and an interregional

network, the EMR is supporting security in the various partner regions.

SECURITY


In order to improve cross-border cooperation and information exchange between police forces

in the Euregio, thereby guaranteeing the security of citizens, the NeBeDeAgPol (German

abbreviation of ‘Dutch-Belgian-German cross-border cooperation in police matters’) was set up

in 1969. This organisation brings together the chief constables of the various EMR police forces

and other experts and is intended mainly to simplify the work of the police ‘on the beat’. The

NeBeDeAgPol is also represented in the ÖSIKAT working group.

On the basis of experiences and the need to make better use of available resources, the

Euregional Police Information and Coordination Centre (EPICC) has been established in Heerlen,

the Netherlands. This centre includes staff from all three countries. They support the police

and customs by a rapid response to requests, an effective transfer of information, performing

analyses and coordinating joint interventions. The information centre now makes a vital

contribution to security throughout the entire Euregio.

NeBeDeAgPol


A large number of public services are charged with the health and safety of the population in

the EMR. In principle, national borders should not present obstacles, because the quicker the

emergency services arrive at the scene, the greater the chance of saving casualties. Within

the EMR, the Euregional working group ÖSIKAT (German abbreviation for ‘Public safety and

disaster response’) has for more than 30 years been facilitating the cross-border deployment of

emergency services.

At present, the working group focuses mainly on improving Euregional collaboration involving

services other than the police, i.e. disaster response teams, fi re brigades and other emergency

services.

ÖSIKAT


Particularly in the context of projects such as EUMED (Euregional Medical Assistance) and

EMRIC+ (Euregio Meuse-Rhine – Intervention in the case of Disasters), agreements are laid

down that make cross-border emergency assistance compulsory. Belgium, the Netherlands

and Germany are joining forces to be able to respond more rapidly and effectively in the case of

emergencies. Experts from the various partner regions work together on a permanent basis to

obtain further optimisation of proper emergency assistance.


Mobility and infrastructure are vital conditions for both the development of the regional economy

and Euregional integration in the broader sense. In order to protect the environment and the

quality of life for inhabitants while encouraging cross-border mobility, the EMR is supporting

the decentralised development of goods traffi c and the improvement of public transport. The

logistics sector also deserves special emphasis. Countless businesses have already set up their

distribution centres in the region thanks to the central logistical location. The EMR area acts as a

goods distribution centre not only for the Euregio, but also for Europe as a whole.

MOBILITY AND INFRASTRUCTURE


The Euregio requires a transport and in-

frastructure network that offers suffi cient

capacity. There are high-quality facilities

with regard to motorised passenger trans-

port, but citizens are still faced with pro-

blems when it comes to public transport.

In order to counter increasing traffi c den-

sity, public transport facilities need to be

extended. The setting up of a ‘Euregional

Public Transport Platform’ has laid a foun-

dation for dealing with joint problems and

developing a European strategy.

Various projects are specifi cally devoted

to extending cross-border transport links,

with a special focus on commuter and lei-

sure transport, the introduction of uniform

Euregional fares, improved customer in-

formation and the application of modern

technologies. The resulting synergies for

cross-border public transport will benefi t

citizens and will also provide a basis for the

economic, cultural and social inte¬gration

of the Euregio.

EUREGIO PUBLIC TRANSPORT PLATFORM


The EMR economic incentives programme focuses on a number of core themes. In order to create

new jobs and to improve both economic growth and regional competitiveness, SMEs and start-

up companies are being targeted for support. Other economic focal points include boosting the

agriculture sector and the joint marketing of regional products. Efforts are also being made to

strengthen the supply industry by means of creating networks. In the context of a joint marketing

strategy, the favourable business climate in the Euregio will be highlighted, which will generate

new commercial activities.

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT


Training and innovation are the foundations for a future-proof development which will be of

immense value to the Euregio. For this reason, the EMR is encouraging exchanges between

5 universities and 19 university colleges. Special focus is given to intensive cross-border

cooperation relating to life-sciences, information technology and multimedia. A targeted transfer

of technological innovations, as well as the development of information structures between

research centres and businesses will make a sustainable contribution to Euregional cooperation

at the interface of research and the labour market.

KNOWLEDGE CENTRES


Stichting Euregio Maas-Rhein

Gospertstraße 42

B-4700 Eupen

Tel: +32 (0) 87 789 630

Fax: +32 (0) 87 789 633

www.euregio-mr.eu

[email protected]

Responsible publisher : Stichting Euregio Maas-Rhein, Björn Koopmans

Editors: Christina Brendel, Lukas M. Egyptien, Anna Hissel, Tanja J. Unbehaun

Pictures:

Graphic Design, Layout:

Printed in the Euregio Meuse-Rhine

Cofi nanced by the European Union, with the support of the European Regional Development Fund.

The European Commission invests in your future.


www.euregio-mr.eu

www.interregemr.eu

euregio_brochure_eng

Documents

crossborder projects

crossborder visits

crossborder themes

rhin maas

rijn maas

euregio meuserhine emr

european border areas

euregio meuserhinemeuse