Cross-Border Cooperation and Mobility in European Regions
Explore the complexities and challenges of cross-border cooperation and mobility in European regions, focusing on the impact of Schengen agreements, harmonization of legislation, and threats to social, economic, and citizenship aspects. Discover case studies and insights from various studies and institutions addressing the paradoxes and potential financial implications of border controls on businesses and countries.
Download Presentation
Please find below an Image/Link to download the presentation.
The content on the website is provided AS IS for your information and personal use only. It may not be sold, licensed, or shared on other websites without obtaining consent from the author. Download presentation by click this link. If you encounter any issues during the download, it is possible that the publisher has removed the file from their server.
E N D
Presentation Transcript
2019 Institute for Transnational and Euregional Cross border Cooperation and Mobility / ITEM Cross-border knowledge for policy and practice Maastricht University / Provincie Limburg / Zuyd Hogeschool / NEIMED / Gemeente Maastricht /Euregio Maas-Rijn (EMR)
2019 Schengen from the perspective of border regions Martin Unfried ITEM, Maastricht University Castle Talks 2019 Strasbourg Institute for Transnational and Euregional cross border cooperation and Mobility / ITEM
Promoting cross border cooperation and cross border mobility: New/old problems? reducing border obstacles Confronted with new obstacles Institute for Transnational and Euregional cross border cooperation and Mobility / ITEM
Paradox of European Integration 1. Successful harmonization of legislation internal market, Euro, Schengen, etc. 3. Without harmonization: national systems with more complexity social security, taxes, diploma s etc. 3. New phenomena: threat to the established success factors of cross border regions Schengen as a case in point! Institute for Transnational and Euregional cross border cooperation and Mobility / ITEM
Threats: three dimensions Socio-economic impact Impact European Citizenship/freedoms Impact cross border cohesion Institute for Transnational and Euregional cross border cooperation and Mobility / ITEM
European Parliament Study 2016 Cost of non-Schengen: the impact of border controls Austria: costs probably below one tenth of one percent of GDP (a maximum of 242 million according to Scenario 3 in Felbermayr, Gr schl, Steinwachs, 2016) . The fiscal cost of caring for refugees in Austria during 2015, 2016, and 2017 combined has been estimated at 2.7 billion Thus if border controls reduce the number of refugees living in Austria by more than 22,000, which seems likely, fiscal cost savings exceed the economic cost of controls . Institute for Transnational and Euregional cross border cooperation and Mobility / ITEM
Austrian Study 2018: Potential financial impact border control Austrian Enterprise that delivers shops in Germany in the border region in Tirol, Salzburg Result: border controls reduce especially turn- over in very interdependent border regions The company analysis calculated an additional 78.750 Euro pro Month additional costs for loss of productivity. Source: Wirtschaftsuniverstit t Wien (et al) 2018 Institute for Transnational and Euregional cross border cooperation and Mobility / ITEM
Schengen crisis: potential impacts? Goals/principles Good practice/benchmark No border controls, open labour market, easy recognition of diplomas, good coordination of social security facilities, taxes Indicators European integration, European citizenship, Non-discrimination Number of border controls, cross-border commuting, duration and cost of recognition of diplomas, access to housing market, etc. Regional competitive strength, Sustainable development of border regions Cross-border initiatives for establishing companies, Euregional labour market strategy, cross-border spatial planning Euregional: GDP, unemployment, quality of cross-border cluster, environmental impact (emissions), poverty Cross-border cooperation/Good Governance, Euregional cohesion Functioning of cross-border services, cooperation with organizations, coordination procedures, associations The number of cross-border institutions, the quality of cooperation (in comparison to the past), development of Euregional governance structures, quantity and quality of cross-border projects Institute for Transnational and Euregional cross border cooperation and Mobility / ITEM
ITEM cross-border impact assessment 2016/2017/2018/2019 Dossiers 1. 2. 3. 3. 4. 5. Border train and bus travel Interreg regulation and bureaucracy The German toll/Baukindergeld Tax Treaty Netherlands-Germany Social security questions Recognition of qualifications Belgian law on pass port controls cross So far no border controls at the border NL/BE/DE German-Austrian border Impact assessment? Institute for Transnational and Euregional cross border cooperation and Mobility / ITEM
An example from 2017: Dossier 5. Belgian Passenger Identification legislation cross border connections Background: Berlin terrorist traveled without identification via Bus through Benelux to Italy Legislation: possible identification in normal cross-border trains and busses Ex ante assessment: open legislation with many technical questions not solved (who controls, who s ID will be controlled, what means of transport ) Note: Belgian government commissioned an own impact assessment after adopting the law Institute for Transnational and Euregional cross border cooperation and Mobility / ITEM
resund Institute 2016 Train travel Copenhagen-Malm Longer travel times fewer departures resulting in a 45 per cent decrease in the number of seats during rush hour and more crowded trains over the resund Bridge. fewer are taking the train and the amount of car travel over the resund Bridge is rising; the Danish-Swedish cross-border job market is diminishing; and accessibility has decreased to Copenhagen Airport, Institute for Transnational and Euregional cross border cooperation and Mobility / ITEM
Status Quo The Swedish Government has decided to extend the internal border controls for another three months, assessing that there is still a threat to public policy and internal security. the control will continue until 11 May 2019. Institute for Transnational and Euregional cross border cooperation and Mobility / ITEM
Measures 2016: Sweden introduced a new carrier s responsibility for any company that transports people by bus, train or ferry from Denmark to Sweden. The transport company is responsible for performing identity checks If a person without a valid passport/ID card travels by bus/train/boat to Sweden, the transport company can be fined 50 000 Swedish crowns per person. Institute for Transnational and Euregional cross border cooperation and Mobility / ITEM
Related threats New complexity road toll/vignettes Divers introduction of environmental zones in city centers Cross border complexity because of new legislation and practice digitalization Public awareness: internatl borders as an instrument of protection? Institute for Transnational and Euregional cross border cooperation and Mobility / ITEM
Conclusions Need for extended impact assessment on the real costs of border controls Socio-economic impacts for the cross border areas Impacts on the cross border cohesion Impact on the general principles of European Integration Time for joined action of border regions? Institute for Transnational and Euregional cross border cooperation and Mobility / ITEM
Thank you for your attention! Institute for Transnational and Euregional cross border cooperation and Mobility / ITEM martin.unfried@maastrichtuniversity.nl www.maastrichtuniversity.nl/item Itemcrossborderportal.maastrichtuniversity.nl E-mail: Address: Item@maastrichtuniversity.nl Bouillonstraat 1-3 | 6211 LH Maastricht, The Netherlands Institute for Transnational and Euregional cross border cooperation and Mobility / ITEM
