b-solutions and the mechanism to resolve legal and administrative obstacles in a cross-border context (BRIDGEforEU)

Martín Guillermo Ramírez

Secretary General

Association of European Border Regions (AEBR – AGEG – ARFE)

About AEBR

• Established 1971
• ca. 100 members
• Mission:
• represents border and CB regions’ common interests,
• identifying obstacles to cooperation and possible solutions,
• promoting exchanges,
• implementing projects,
• organising events, training, research, …

Karl-Heinz Lambertz�AEBR President 2010-2017, 2020-2024

Um Grenzen zu überwinden,

muss man kooperieren dürfen, kooperieren wollen,

und kooperieren können.

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To overcome borders, one should want to cooperate, be able to cooperate and should be allowed to cooperate.

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b-solutions, a powerful step towards European integration solving CB obstacles

• Promoted by DG REGIO and managed by the AEBR
• Result of the Communication “Boosting growth and cohesion in EU border regions“ (2017)
• Established in 2018
• Open to EU external borders since 2022
• Number of b-solutions cases: 182
• Number of b-solutions experts: 141

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b-solutions 1.0 (90): Institutional Cooperation (33), Employment (22), Health (incl. emergency services) (17), (Public) transport of passengers (11), Multilingualism (3), Evidence and Data (2), e-Government (1), Information services (1)

b-solutions 2.0 & 3.0 (92)

• Public services (35)
• Labour market and education (31)
• European Green Deal (14)
• Institutional cooperation (12)

Specific objectives and goals

• specific solutions addressing concrete legal and administrative obstacles
• innovative proposals to inform innovative approaches
• increased exchange of information and mutual engagement
• raised awareness of key stakeholders at local/regional/ national/EU level

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Pillar 1: defined obstacle and proposed solution

Pillar 2: implementing solutions

Pillar 3: pilot actions

• Mitigate cross-border obstacles
• Increase the understanding of every specific obstacle
• Promoting sustainable methods to solve cross-border obstacles
• Involving public bodies
• Stimulating an increased exchange of information and mutual engagement
• Fostering the replication of these approaches

Lessons learned

1. Variety of obstacles
2. Variety of causes
3. Tailored solutions
4. A long process
5. Changes in legal frameworks
6. Complementary tools

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7. Political commitment
8. Multi-level engagement
9. Deep analysis
10. Information sharing
11. Capacity building
12. Interreg and EGTC potential
13. ECBM 2.0/FCBS (?) potential

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Policy recommendations�Addressing policymakers involved in CBC at all levels: EU institutions, national & sub-national authorities

1. Capacity building of local stakeholders in borders regions:
1. improved training provision for LRA & CBC actors;
2. support for information/ coordination units at the LRA;
3. commissioning detailed comparative studies;
4. strengthening capacity within professional service firms

2. Promotion of effective multi-level engagement and responses

1. Legal mechanisms
2. Joint commissioning of CB studies & analyses
3. Enhanced forums of dialogue

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3. Maximising the value of EU tools and instruments

1. The proposed BRIDGExEU
2. Interreg
3. EGTC and other existing EU instruments