Transfrontier Euro-Institut Network
TEIN
Border regions represent 40% of the EU territory.
ID: 170530519970-93
Lobbying Activity
Response to Facilitating Border Solutions
16 Nov 2023
The Euro-Institut (www.euroinstitut.org), set up in 1993, is a bi-national and bi-cultural Franco-German training, consultancy and support organisation specialised in cross-border cooperation. Its main objective is to facilitate cooperation, overcome obstacles and encourage mutual knowledge between French, German and Swiss public players in order to simplify cross-border cooperation and thereby contribute to the European Integration. To this end, the Euro-Institut designs and organises training courses that enable participants to acquire the cross-cutting skills needed to carry out cooperation initiatives (the political and administrative system of the neighbouring country, cross-border project management, intercultural communication, European programmes, etc.) and to learn about the practices of their neighbour in specific areas (health, transport, culture, spatial planning etc.). In addition, the Euro-Institute carries out feasibility studies, diagnosis, evaluation as well as impact assessments. It also helps identifying and analysing obstacles to cross-border cooperation and free movement and supports stakeholders in their cross-border initiatives and projects by organising workshops and accompanying expert groups. It thus provides a neutral platform for exchanges. Finally, it transfers its expertise acquired in the Upper Rhine region to other European borders, participates in exchanges of good practice and coordinates the Transfrontier Euro-Institut Network (www.transfrontier.eu), which brings together 17 members from 11 borders in Europe as well as two associated members which are the Mission Operationnelle Transfrontalière and the Association of European Border Regions. TEINs main objective is to develop cross-border working capacitiy through training and research. The Euro-Institut also hosts the following entities: TRISAN, a trinational competence centre for cross-border cooperation in the field of health, the Science Pillar of the Upper Rhine Trinational Metropolitan Region and the Permanent Secretariat of the Upper Rhine Council. In this respect, we have been following with great interest the work of the European Parliament, in particular Resolution 2022/2194 INL of 14. September 2023 and are pleased to contribute to the call for evidence of the "Facilitating border solutions" initiative of the European Commission's DG REGIO. First of all, we can only underline the importance of reflecting on a mechanism that can help solving border obstacles. Following on the ECBM proposal, we can only very warmly welcome the resolution of the European Parliament containing recommendations to the Commission on amending the proposed mechanism to resolve legal and administrative obstacles in a cross-border context. On the basis of the Resolution of the Parliament and our experience, we would like to make following comments.
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