Among the palette of European tools available to support the development of cross-border territories, this essay considers the impact that an Internationale BauAusstellung (IBA, International Architecture Exhibition) would have on the territorial development of the Greater Region. First of all it describes the specific nature of this spatial development tool, then identifies the specific characteristics of the Greater Region which would justify the use of such a tool. It concludes with a set of reasoned proposals on procedure and possible outcomes.
This article details the process of the formation of the Greater Region as a specific space for cross-border cooperation in Western Europe. The author recounts the history and background to this cooperation and presents the different regions making up the cross-border territory. He then explains its specific socio-economic features through the themes of cross-border working and labour immigration. Finally, he details several cooperation projects initiated, including the cross-border polycentric metropolitan region (RMPT) project. This last example is emblematic of the difficulties involved in future cooperation in this territory.
Mobility is an essential element of the economic and social development of the cross-border regions. Nevertheless, there are many obstacles in introduction of a transport system. This article analyses the case of the train connection between Liège (Belgium) and Maastricht (the Netherlands). A comparative analysis of six areas is conducted: the economic context; the urban and regional infrastructures in Belgium and the Netherlands; the structure of the railway network; the obstacles when using trains; the current demand for train connections and the context of governance, public and political planning. Suggestions are made based on the results of this analysis.
The contribution represents the entire pallet of bodies of cross-border cooperation that have developed along the borders of the French continent that borders eight adjacent states, and potentially their regional subdivisions. There are national bodies, i.e. associations (everywhere), bodies under French law ("sociétés d’économie mixte locale" [local mixed-economic companies] and European districts) and bodies under foreign law. Subsequently, supranational bodies are present (GÖZ, EVTZ, VEZ) that owe their success to legal harmonisation. However, other bodies that resulted from the early phase of cross-border cooperation (work groups) are receding.
The thematic document highlights various aspects of cross-border spatial development based on the following central themes: spatial planning instruments, promotion of cross-border cooperation, health care, transport infrastructures and services, territorial integration through the combination of transport modes and creation of European Groupings of Territorial Cooperation. The contributions pertain to different cross-border spaces in Europe.
Development of the cross-border cooperation presented in the regional scheme of economic development of innovation and internationalisation (SRDEII) of the Grand Est region pursues ambitious goals that strengthen the specific geographic location of this region.
Even though the cross-border development seems to have been achieved, the goals pursued for economic development in the Grand Est region are facing great challenges: Stronger transparency of the programmes of cooperation, better mediation of local competences, reduction of the language barrier between the residents, etc.
The University of San Diego's Trans-Border Institute (TBI) promotes lasting peace in Mexico and in the border region, through applied research, innovative educational practices and cross-border partnerships. For twenty years, the TBI has been a source of information on cross-border issues and the relations between Mexico and the United States. The TBI publishes data from surveys and reports on police reforms, arms trafficking and the application of the immigration laws.
The cross-border coalfields led to the development of towns along the border throughout the SaarLorLux area. The industry fell into crisis. The urban spaces now need to counter the demographic and economic degradation. More and more borders disappear as well. New organisational strategies are now being introduced. This article presents two of them: The strategies of conurbations and the cross-border city networks. The article discusses strengths and weaknesses of these strategies.
The article presents the development strategy that was introduced in the late 1990s by the conurbations in Lorraine near the French Luxembourgian border. These cities, developing during the heyday of the mining and steel industries, had to face difficult economic and social situations in the years after the economic miracle. They found new paths for development thanks to the regional policy of the EU, which was targeted at cross-border cooperation. The presented research work dealt with the contribution of this new strategy to improve the living situation of the people near the borders and their development perspectives.
The Euroregions can be defined as European cross-border structures that play an influential role at the borders between European countries. Les Euroregions have an important role to play in increasing territorial cooperation. It is therefore important to provide support for the development of these structures. This book is a catalogue of good practices for the Euroregions intended to provide solutions liable to inspire a higher level of cross-border cohesion and positive progress in the process of European integration.
