EDITION 2019 EUREGIO IN PRACTICE An overview of different cross-border services and networks in the Euregio Meuse-Rhine EN DE NL FR Table of contents Preface ...................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 6 Objective .............................................................................................................................................................................................................. 8 Euregional networks ........................................................................................................................................................................... 9 Related organisations ................................................................................................................................................ 10 Economy and innovation ....................................................................................................................................... 18 Labour market, education and training ........................................................................................... 22 Culture and tourism ...................................................................................................................................................... 30 Health care ................................................................................................................................................................................. 44 Security ........................................................................................................................................................................................... 48 Mobility and infrastructure ............................................................................................................................... 58 Sustainable development .................................................................................................................................... 62 Territorial analysis ......................................................................................................................................................... 66 Advocacy and regional promotion ........................................................................................................... 70 For reasons of legibility, the male form was chosen in the text. The information refers nevertheless to European networks ........................................................................................................................................................ 72 members of both genders. Index of services and networks ........................................................................................................................................................ 84 Preface Provincie Limburg (B) Provincie Limburg (B) Hasselt Provincie Hasselt Limburg (NL) Maastricht Maastricht Provincie Limburg (NL) Aachen Aachen Region Aachen- Zweckverband (D) Liège Eupen Region Aachen- Eupen Zweckverband (D) Province de LiègeLiège (B) Province de Liège(B) Deutschsprachige Gemeinschaft (B) The EGTC Euregio Meuse-Rhine (EMR) is one of the old- legal form which is going to allow the service provid- est Euregios in Europe. Instead of an abstract concept, ers and networks described within the following of the the cross-border cooperation represents here an every- present document to cooperate even closer together. day reality, based on networks and people working and delivering services at the benefit of the Euregio’s These networks organise the practical cooperation be- citizens. The EMR office supports and coordinates their tween stakeholders, each in their respective thematical efforts. It helps to create an euregional offer and to link fields. They act moreover as contact point for everyone local services efficiently together. who demonstrates cross-border needs and interests. The intention of this publication is to provide the visibil- 1976 1991 1992 2007 2013 2017 2019 The EMR looks back to a long tradition of working for ity and recognition due to them, to thank them for the Foundation Legal Form Entry Seat in Eupen Future The EMR Foundation and with the five partner regions from three countries. great work already done in the past and hopefully going of the EMR Stichting of the strategy boards of the EGTC to continue in the future. German- EMR 2020 approves the The EMR2020 strategy guides all efforts and initiatives, speaking transforma- defining the focuses and goals for the structure of co- Community tion towards operation. As the structures in the partner regions and an EGTC in the cross-border cooperation are subject to perma- nent change, the EMR has to continually adapt itself. Gisela Walsken The EMR is currently in the process of introducing a new President of the Euregio Meuse-Rhine 6 7 residents higher education institutes Objective Euregional networks area commuters museums 4.000.000 Economy and Labour market, Culture and Health Security innovation education and tourism care training Hasselt 22 Mobility and infrastructure Maastricht Aachen 11.000 km2 Sustainable development Liège Eupen Territorial analysis 43.000 Advocacy and regional promotion 200 The main mission of the EGTC EMR is to promote and contributing to increase the prosperity as well The networks described on the following pages fulfil key Besides these networks, several other projects are set up cross-border cooperation. The EMR acts moreover as as well-being of people in the region, while taking at functions in the cross-border cooperation within and out- via funding instruments such as Interreg V-A EMR, EasI/ central point of contact, as intermediary and informa- the same time into account their cultural differences. side the Euregio Meuse-Rhine. With very different tasks EURES or Horizon2020. One specific goal of the Euregio tion point for citizens, civil society and local as well The aim of this brochure is to present some of these in- and structures, three types of euregional networks are to Meuse-Rhine is to establish a sustainable financing for as regional authorities. The EMR initiates projects itiatives and projects, contributing thereby to the trans- be distinguished: these structures and the relevant networks as well as ser- and gathers relevant stakeholders. Its main tasks in- parency of the EMR’s work and highlighting some of its vice providers. clude removing obstacles, developing innovative solu- concrete achievements. The following pages present • Networks to exchange information and to adopt local tions, networking and coordinating. Backed by former and describe partner networks active in a range of dif- and regional resolutions (Example: Aebr) achievements and many years of experience, the Eure- ferent core and cross EMR areas. This will allow readers Did you know? gio Meuse-Rhine intends to promote the region both to gain an overview and comprehensive understanding • Networks to elaborate common offers The Euregio Meuse-Rhine supports stakeholders to internally to its territory and at international scale. The of the euregional cooperation initiatives and projects. (Example: EURES Meuse-Rhine) obtain project funding. Over the past 18 months*, EMR supports actively the interests of citizens, com- the EMR submitted project funding applications panies, organisations and municipalities within the • Focal contact points for specific cooperation projects worth for a total of EUR 28 million. border region, helping them to make optimal use of (Example: Cross-border Information Points or EPICC) the opportunities at hand on either side of the border * As of August 2018 8 9 Related organisations The Euregio Meuse-Rhine does not on the following pages often con- represent the only organisation es- nect other governance levels. As tablished and led by policymakers there prevails a close cooperation from its territory. Whereas the EMR with such networks, these former links the regional level, the organ- ones can be considered as related isations and structures presented organisations“. Michael Dejozé Director Email: [email protected] Related organisations Charlemagne Border Region which the Charlemagne Border Region organises a joint This budget covers the cost of the management staff, pub- booth with Dutch and Belgian companies. lic relation activities and the implementation of projects. Moreover, there is the possibility to obtain additional con- Structure and organisation tributions from partners through funding programmes. The Charlemagne Border Region is a cross-border associa- tion of municipalities and regional authorities in the border Results region of Germany, Belgium and the Netherlands. A particularly important achievement represents the estab- lishment of regular trinational business meetings and retail Its members are: forums. These promote cross-border networking activities • the German-speaking Community and international exchange between important economic of Belgium/East Belgium actors within the region in a sustainable way. In addition, • the Municipality of Heerlen (NL) the organisation takes part at prestigious trade fairs (EXPO • the Municipality of Vaals (NL) Real Munich, Provada, Nacht der Unternehmen, etc.) and is • Parkstad Limburg involved in important activities such as the implementation • Stadt Aachen of a cross-border electro-mobile public transport bus con- • Städteregion