Working group of European border regions

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The Working Group of European Border Regions ( AEBR ) is the oldest European umbrella organization for border regions and cross-border associations. It is based in Gronau (Westphalia) and represents the interests of European border regions both at European level and with the individual EU member states .

History of origin

The working group was on 17./18. Founded in July 1971 at the moated castle Anholt in the area of ​​the first EUREGIO in Gronau. However, the first suggestions for the establishment of a working group of European border regions were given as early as 1965 during the “International Regio Planner Conference 1965” in Basel. The official establishment took place in September 1971 in Bonn.

The first president to be elected was the Hungarian (later German and finally Dutch) Alfred Mozer, who worked from 1958 to 1970 as head of cabinet of the vice-president of the European Economic Community (EEC) Sicco Mansholt .

President since 1971

No. Name (life data) Taking office Term expires
1 Alfred Mozer (1905–1979) 1971 1975
2 Horst Gerlach (1919–1990) 1975 1979
3 Wolfgang Schäuble (* 1942) 1979 1983
4th Karl Ahrens (1924-2015) 1984 1996
5 Joan M. Vallvé (* 1940) 1996 2004
6th Lambert van Nistelrooij (* 1953) 2004 2009
7th Karl-Heinz Lambertz (* 1952) 2010 in office

aims

The working group works for all European border and cross-border regions in order to:

  • to promote networking and the exchange of experiences between the border regions
  • to prepare and carry out joint actions within the framework of networks
  • the interests of the border regions, together with the European institutions the EU Member States and the Euro Council to represent
  • to make their specific problems, challenges, opportunities, tasks and projects transparent
  • to raise awareness of the added value of cross-border cooperation
  • To promote cooperation
  • Implement programs and projects, apply for, receive and dispose of funds
  • to support the “European Center for Border and Cross-Border Regions”
  • Offering solutions to problems
  • Organize events on cross-border problems.

To achieve its goals, AEBR works together at European level with:

  • The European Union
    • the European Parliament
    • the European Commission
    • the Committee of the Regions
    • the European Economic and Social Committee
  • the Council of Europe
    • of the Parliamentary Assembly
    • the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities
    • the expert committee on border issues

organization

AEBR organization

Members

AEBR form around 100 border and cross-border regions, which represent over 200 border regions inside and outside the Union. Cross-border regions ( eg. EUREGIO ) and larger groupings ( eg. Greater region Saar-Lor-Lux ) often have several regions as members.

Ordinary members

Ordinary members with voting rights are European border and cross-border regions from the member states of the European Union and the Council of Europe and associations of border regions that represent large geographical areas in several countries.

Members without voting rights

Members without voting rights are border and cross-border regions with two-year observer status (until their representativeness is finally confirmed), extraordinary members, honorary members who have campaigned in a special way for the interests of AEBR as well as natural persons, associations of individuals, institutions and institutes, who are active in the field of cross-border cooperation.

languages

The working languages ​​are German, English and French, but in exceptional cases also Italian, Spanish and other languages ​​of AEBR members.

organs

The AEBR organs are:

The General Assembly

The general assembly is the highest organ of the working group. It elects the president and the members of the board, decides on the admission and exclusion of members, and determines the membership fees.

The board of directors

The board is elected for a term of two years. It is composed of the President, the first Vice-President, at least three other Vice-Presidents, the Chairman of the Advisory Committee, the Treasurer, the Treasurer and at least 20 members representing the border and cross-border regions, but taking into account regional balance. The tasks of the board are to represent the fundamental statements of AEBR and to work with European and national institutions, organizations and societies. The Board also appoints the Secretary General.

The President is the highest-ranking representative of AEBR and represents the working group externally. He has the right to make decisions in agreement with the Secretary General - who is authorized and authorized to represent AEBR.

Subsidiary organs

The working group can open forums, form committees and appoint representatives from European and other political bodies, associations and social groups who receive an advisory voice. A special "Advisory Committee for Cross-Border Cooperation" (the Advisory Board ), made up of scientists and practitioners from all over Europe, was also given the task of advising AEBR on all issues relating to cross-border cooperation. This body can also develop proposals for solving problems in the area of ​​cross-border cooperation.

The following forums are currently active or under construction:

  • TF Cross-Border Health (working group on cross-border healthcare)
  • TF Cross-Border Universities / Innovation (working group for the promotion of cross-border universities and innovation)
  • TF External Borders
  • TF Spatial Planning / ESPON
  • TF Border Languages
  • TF Strategy
  • TF Rural Development (working group on rural development)

See also

Web links

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ a b The Working Group of European Border Regions (AEBR), the Mission Opérationnelle Transfrontalière (MOT) and the Euro-Institut officially confirmed their partnership yesterday by signing two cooperation agreements.  ( Page no longer available , search in web archives )  Info: The link was automatically marked as defective. Please check the link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. (PDF; 49 kB) Press release March 19, 2010.@1@ 2Template: Toter Link / www.espaces-transfrontaliers.org  
  2. ^ Chronology: The Development of the Association of European Border Regions. (PDF; 128 kB)
  3. ↑ http://www.ostfriesenelandschaft.de/side.php?news_id=599&part_id=0&navi=11
  4. ↑ http://www.cor.europa.eu/migrated_data/aebr_de1.pdf  ( page no longer available , search in web archives )  Info: The link was automatically marked as defective. Please check the link according to the instructions and then remove this notice.@1@ 2Template: Dead Link / www.cor.europa.eu  
  5. ↑ http://www.aebr.eu/en/members/list_of_regions.php