Analysis of the role and of the added value of cross-border structures and agreements during the pandemic

• Author: Rubio, Jean; Peyrony, Jean; Viaggi, Raffaele
• Pages: 110-129

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III. CHAPTER 3:

ANALYSIS OF THE ROLE AND OF THE ADDED

VALUE OF CROSS-BORDER STRUCTURES AND

AGREEMENTS DURING THE PANDEMIC

A. INTRODUCTION

This assignment made it even clearer that there are at least as many approaches

to CBC as there are European borders. European borders are differently equipped

with CB governance structures or agreements, with a risk of increased vulnerability

in the case of border shutdowns for those borders where well-established ties are

weaker (e.g. FR-IT border). On the other side, while some borders had little formal

governance (e.g. IE-UK) the resilience of local actors and citizens of border regions

allowed to overcome uncoordinated measures taken by the administrations and

maintain cooperation.

The degree of efficiency and the role of these structures during the first phase of

the pandemic were extremely diverse. In some areas, CB structures were on the

frontline in managing and coordinating local stakeholders to tackle the crisis

(Euregio Meuse-Rhine). In other regions, they were not empowered to do so and

therefore limited their action in order to leave the lead to other local, regional or

national authorities (e.g. Grand Est region). Nonetheless, even in this latter case,

the fact that Eurodistricts did not take the lead does not mean that these structures

did not play an active role. Theywere requested to focus on some specific activities

(e.g. information, interpretation of evolving national measures, gathering local

health stakeholders, etc.), as can be seen in the PAMINA Eurodistrict.

This chapter aims at discussing the effects of the COVID-19 measures on the

governance of cross-border regions. It includes a preliminary assessment of the

role of cross-border legal structures and agreements in the process of deciding and

implementing those measures.

To do so, the links between the specificity of the measures taken and the existence

of well-established cross-border legal structures or formal cooperation agreements

will also be examined, in order to understand in which field they can represent a

real added-value.

In most of the cases, CB structures were active in a large variety of

actions, ranging from content creation to political advocacy, as can be

seen in the case presented by an interviewee at the DE-PL border:

“In front of this unprecedented crisis, the Euroregion Spree-Neiße-Bober tried to

be as reactive as possible: it took record of problems and addressed them to the

right parties; it played an important role with regard to the citizens and helped

taking contact, translating, etc. It served as a contact point for many stakeholders,

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it raised awareness via the letter to the ministries lobbying to open the border, it

informed various stakeholders on different political levels.”

In the following pages, we will therefore examine the different activities carried

out by CB structures, their limits and the reasons which sometimes impeded them

to go further.

The chapter is structured around the four following chapters:

1. Understanding the role played by cross-border structures during the

first wave of the pandemic

2. The added-value of cross-border structures and of cooperation

agreements to tackle the specific effects of the pandemic in border

areas

3. Lessons learnt from the management of the crisis (successes and

failures)

4. Recommendations for the future regarding cross-border structures

and agreements