Research projects

Cross-border cooperation between the Netherlands and North Rhine-Westphalia has a long tradition. It is an important objective of the policy of the state governments and the provinces and regions in the federal states and is implemented through numerous projects and institutional cooperation structures.

In preparation for the new European EFRE-funding period (European Structural and Investment Funds) within the framework of European Territorial Cooperation (ETC) from 2021 onwards, it is of great importance to bundle the activities at a strategic higher level and to structure their content. The State of North Rhine-Westphalia, the Dutch Ministry of Economics and Climate, the Dutch provinces of Flevoland, Gelderland, Limburg, Noord-Brabant and Overijssel have therefore agreed to draw up a joint document setting out the thematic priorities for future cooperation between regions and institutions.

This paper will have the working title "Strategy South". At its core it covers the programme areas of the INTERREG A programmes Germany - Netherlands and Meuse-Rhine (programme Belgium - Netherlands - Germany), the DE-NL/DE-NL-BE catchment area of the programme areas Northwest Europe and INTERREG Europe. The "Strategy South" builds on existing formats and cross-border cooperation projects and aims to identify future "guard rails" for a common approach.

The ILS supports the development process of this strategy. A first step for the development is the compilation and evaluation of relevant documents from the participating regions and institutions. It is accompanied by multi-level communication with relevant actors.