ITEM Annual Conference 2022 - Recap

18 November 2022 09:30 - 18 November 2022 17:00

The future of border regions in Europe “Impact on safety, health and energy supply for border residents”

The ITEM annual conference in Groningen focused on the impact of border regions on security, health and energy supply for residents of Europe's internal borders. Current social developments in the fields of energy, health and safety still show that, in order to tackle barriers and work together with partners on both sides of the border, it is important to arrive at the right casuistry, a joint concrete agenda and a structural approach. The current energy challenge and the cross-border aspects involved require stronger intergovernmental governance (multilevel governance).

During the ITEM Annual Conference 2022, the message emerged that structural cooperation and coordination are needed. This requires intensive contact with neighbouring countries. "For this, governance structures, instruments and cross-border projects are needed.", Prof Dr Anouk Bollen-Vandenboorn, director of ITEM, summed up. Only then can any barriers through measures be minimised for those living and working in border regions.

Province of Groningen hosted the ITEM Annual Conference 2022, which was broadcast live from the Statenzaal of the Provinciehuis in Groningen.

Watch the recap

Cross-border structures and integration essential for the future of border regions

"It is vital to move from networks to cross-border structures. In addition to vertical integration from the EU, we need to work together on horizontal integration as a structure that connects neighbouring countries to put border obstacles and opportunities on the agenda, analyse them and come to common future perspectives." It was how Prof Dr Anouk Bollen-Vandenboorn summed up the main message. The ITEM Annual Conference 2022 in Groningen focused on the future of border regions in Europe, given the many challenges at play. During the ITEM Annual Conference in Groningen, experiences were exchanged to support security, healthcare and energy supply in border regions. "For this, governance structures, instruments and cross-border projects are needed."

Read the press release here

Prospects for cross border cooperation in Europe

Horizontal integration between regions alongside vertical integration from the EU, that was a recurring phenomenon during the Annual Conference. Prof. Dr. Joachim Beck has done a lot of research on cross-border governance and horizontal integration in the EU. In his presentation, he highlighted several findings from his latest studies. Border regions, it is about where 1/3 of the European population lives and represents 40% of the European area. "Cross-border cooperation is underestimated in the European debate, although it is very important," Prof Joachim Beck noted, however.

Read the presentation of prof. dr. Joachim Beck

Read the ITEM newsletter including a recap of the Annual Conference 2022

Read the news items about the publication of the Cross-border Impact Assessment 2022

Read all about the 7 dossiers on the ITEM website

item-grenseffectenrapportage-2022-cover summary.jpg

Cross-border Assessment summary

Our most prominent results are presented in an infographic

View or download the photos taken at the conference

ON-SITE PROGRAMME:

Moderators: Ms. Simone van Trier and Mr. Sander Kleikers Side-kick: Mr. Pim Mertens

09.00-09.30	Arrival and registration
09.30-10.20	Welcome: Mr. René Paas, Kings’s commissioner in the Province of Groningen Presentation: Prof. dr. Anouk Bollen-Vandenboorn, Director ITEM Video message: Experiences Nordic Council in video message from Vibeke Hammer Madsen, chair of the Freedom of Movement Council, Nordic Council Panel discussion: Mr. René Paas, King’s commissioner in the Province of Groningen Mr. Han Polman, King’s commissioner in the Province of Zeeland Mr. Andries Heidema, King’s commissioner in the Province of Overijssel
10.20-10.40	Importance of good cooperation across borders: accelerating European energy transition? Mr. Arthur van Dijk, King’s commissioner in the Province of Noord-Holland, Chairman House of Dutch Provinces in Brussels Mr. Ronald van Roeden, Dutch Ambassador to Germany Dr. Cyrill Jean Nunn, German Ambassador to the Netherlands Mr. Petri Suopanki, Senior advisor at the Nordic Council of Ministers
10.40-11.15	Energy transition in balance with living environment Video message: Ms. Stientje van Veldhoven, Vice President of Europe of the World Resources Institute Panel discussion: Mr. Martin Unfried, Senior researcher ITEM Dr. Lea Diestelmeier, University of Groningen / INTERREG SEREH Dr. Elles Bulder, Lecturer Hanze University of Applied Sciences Groningen
11.15-11.45	Break
11.45-12.20	Learning and growing together: the inhabitants of the border region in the picture Mr. Peter Schuurman, Consul general in Germany Prof. Dr. Joachim Beck, Rector Hochschule Kehl Mr. Karel Groen, Director Ems Dollard Region Dr. Math Noortmann, Senior researcher ITEM
12.20-12.45	“Outside in” Caroline de Gruyter, Journalist NRC Handelsblad
12.45-14.00	Lunch
14.00-14.10	“In picture” ITEM pitches on ITEM Cross-Border Impact Assessment 2022 An overview this years’ dossiers in video messages by ITEM researchers
14.10-14.30	Cross-quality border effects methodology in importance of cross-border cooperation Mr. Martin Unfried, Senior researcher ITEM
14.30-15.15	ITEM Cross-border Impact Assessment dossier highlighted: European Health Data Space (EHDS) – What does this mean for collaboration in border areas? Ms. Susanne Sivonen, Researcher ITEM Prof. Dr. Lisette van Gemert-Pijnen, University of Twente Dr. Adriana Perez Fortis, University of Groningen Prof. Dr. Jochen Mierau, Professor of Economics of Public Health & Scientific Director UGBS
15.15-15.30	Closing with Melissa van Hoorn, Deputy Province Groningen, and Prof. dr. Anouk Bollen-Vandenboorn, ITEM director Followed by networking drinks for physical attendees