The merged port company North Sea Port (the ports of Ghent and Terneuzen) is no stranger to ITEM. The ITEM team with Dr. Nina Büttgen, Martin Unfried and Prof. Hildegard Schneider already investigated problem cases concerning differences in regulations in neighbouring countries the Netherlands and Belgium (Inventory of cross-border bottlenecks in the North Sea Port)                                            In particular, it was found that administrative and bureaucratic burdens in the field of social security and taxation are a problem for the development of an integrated cross-border company. This means that, for example, the occupation of certain positions was strongly determined by the home or workplace of the employees. In the case of internal meetings held in a building across the border, employees also have to fill in extensive declarations themselves. In addition, annoyance was also observed due to differences in the training and competence of certain functions such as harbour master and harbourmaster.

In addition to these restrictions on the development of integrated human resource management, there are obstacles in the area of infrastructure and with regard to cross-border activities of companies based in the port.  This concerns, for example, pipelines and pipelines for the future transport of CO2, or the transport of waste and certain goods across the border where differences in environmental legislation create additional administrative burdens.

With the follow-up process, the two governments now want to investigate how the Flemish and Dutch planning and permit regulations and appeal procedures can be better coordinated. It is also being investigated whether the legal instruments of the Benelux offer solutions and whether there are possibilities for experimentation regulations.

Prime Minister Bourgeois and State Secretary Knops have this process managed and followed by an administrative working group consisting of the Governor of Antwerp, Mrs. Cathy Berx, the Governor of East Flanders, (currently acting) Mr. Didier Detollenaere, former Vice President of the Council of State, Mr. Piet Hein Donner and Commissioner of the King in Zeeland, Mr. Han Polman.