European Cross-border Citizen’s Alliance

 

"BORDERS AT THE HEART OF TOMORROW’S EUROPE"

 
While the Covid-19 pandemic  initially caused uncoordinated border measures, it also revealed interdependencies and gave rise to multiple forms of cooperation and cross-border solidarity, which now need to be organised and strengthened by European and national public policies that take full account of the specific nature of cross-border territories.

It is in this context,  that the MOT, the AEBR1 and the CESCI2 launched on 9 November at the Borders Forum a "European Cross-border Citizen’s Alliance" with the political support of the European Committee of the Regions (CoR), and call on all actors in cross-border areas, elected representatives, local authorities, organisations and citizens to join them.

This Alliance advocates, on behalf of cross-border territories throughout Europe, that European and national decisions should provide border authorities with more resources and powers in the future to deepen cooperation across borders. It is addressed to European and national authorities.

To consult and sign the Alliance: click here.

The signatories of the Alliance advocate that: 

  • border regions are reflected more fully in EU policy and legislation,
  • border regions and their cross-border groupings be involved in the conference on the future of Europe,
  • border public authorities have appropriate powers and specific resources, as well as fast-track procedures,
  • negotiations on the draft regulation on a European Cross-Border Mechanism (ECBM)3 come to a successful conclusion,
  • the legal and administrative obstacles to cross-border cooperation are removed,
  • the States and the European Commission carry out cross-border territorial impact assessments of public policies,
  • cross-border observatories be set up to measure cross-border integration and identify obstacles,
  • an effective framework allows the implementation of cross-border public services,
  • border regions be involved in the implementation of the European Green Deal, and fully benefit  from the Next Generation EU recovery plan,
  • a minimum level of cross-border cooperation is guaranteed in the event of a global, European or regional crisis.


  1. Association for European Border Regions.

  2. Central European Service for Cross-Border Initiatives (organisation equivalent to the MOT on the borders of Hungary).

  3. COM(2018) 0373.