(PhD) research

This PhD dissertation is a linguistic ethnography of a metal foundry in the Dutch province of Limburg, in the Dutch-German borderland. When its fieldwork data were collected in 2017, over 300 people with many different language backgrounds worked in the production departments of the foundry, including Dutch, German, Limburgish, and Polish, as well as Arabic, Greek, Russian, and Turkish, among others. Some workers lived on the Dutch, others on the German side of the border. Slightly more than half were temporary workers, and an important part of their daily and nightly work consisted of interactions with machines.

The dissertation contains lively and detailed descriptions of life in the metal foundry. A returning issue is to what degree the language diversity in the workplace constituted a ‘problem’ or not, and if yes: what the nature of this ‘problem’ was. The dissertation shows that speakers of majoritised languages in the foundry often found the language diversity more problematic than speakers of minoritised languages, that the often-temporary work relations constituted a bigger obstacle for communication and workplace learning than language diversity in and of itself, and that production workers often had more problems understanding machines in the workplace than each other. The dissertation reflects upon these and other observations and applies both established, linguistic-ethnographic as well as post-humanist concepts.

This project is supported by the Interreg V-A Euregion Meuse-Rhine programme

Project page: https://euregio-mr.info/en/projects/emrlingua.php

For more information visit the dedicated research page EMR Lingua

Within the Erasmus+ project LINK EDU-RES ITEM is working on the internationalisation of cooperation in higher education. The aim of the project is to increase cooperation in the field of joint doctorates in Europe. ITEM is responsible for a study in which regulations at national and university level are evaluated on collaboration possibilities. The study is expected to be concluded in the Summer of 2021.

ITEM researches social security coverage of researchers and their family members
The Dutch Long-term care act (Wlz) forms an important legal basis for social security in the Netherlands. In accordance with that law, every person resident in the Netherlands is insured as are persons who work in the Netherlands and pay their income tax here. When it comes to European and international researchers and their family members not all of them appear to be covered by the Wlz. ITEM will research the limited social security coverage of these researchers on behalf of SOFIE (Sociaal Fiscaal Internationale Expertise). Research activities have started in March 2021 and are due to be completed over the course of 2021

INTERREG project, partners:
Expertise Centre ITEM, RWTH Aachen, Université de Liège, UHasselt and the Euregio Meuse-Rhine

Expertise Centre ITEM is the lead partner of a new INTERREG project called “CrossQuality”. Together with RWTH Aachen, Université de Liège, Universiteit Hasselt and the Euregio Meuse-Rhine, ITEM will develop a methodology to better assess the quality of cross-border cooperation in the framework of the INTERREG programme Euregio Meuse-Rhine. So far, the evaluation of INTERREG projects is focused on quantitative performance or output indicators, meaning the number of involved SMEs or participants of certain activities. What is still difficult today, is to monitor the development of cross-border cooperation with respect to qualitative indicators over time. Meaning for instance the quality of cooperation within a specific sector, for example public transport, education, the labour market or cultural organisations. The project is aiming at defining a set of qualitative indictors to assess qualitative aspects of information, coordination, agenda setting, that are relevant for the functioning and stability of cross-border networks. The basic question is, whether projects really lead to sustainable improvements in different sectors. Hence, the aim of the project is to use the new methodology and conduct an assessment of the effects of the current INTERREG programme with respect to its impact on the quality of cooperation. Meaning: how did certain projects contribute to the improvement of stable and sustainable cooperation networks in different policy sectors. The project team will be working closely with practitioners from the Euregio Meuse-Rhine in order to incorporate their view on the evolution of cooperation in specific sectors. The project started in March 2021 and will end in September 2022.

This project is supported by the Interreg V-A Euregion Meuse-Rhine programme

Project page: https://euregio-mr.info/en/projects/crossquality.php

INTERREG Research project, partners:

EMRIC (lead partner), Expertise Centre ITEM, the MUMC, the German-speaking Community, the Province of Liège and the EGTC-EMR

Interreg EMR COVID-19 project strengthening the cooperation within the Euroregion in dealing with major crises such as COVID-19, including the exchange of information, cooperation between ICU departments and the examination of the legal aspects of cross-border ambulance transport. In addition, an early warning system and a centre for the collective procurement of protective equipment will also be rolled out.

This project is supported by the Interreg V-A Euregion Meuse-Rhine programme

Official website: PANDEMRIC.INFO  
News article: PANDEMRIC explores the benefits of Euregional cooperation during (health) crises (September 2020)

COVID-19 Resources
Webtool for EMR citizens  (frequently updated)
Overview of Corona measures in the EMR  (frequently updated)

PhD research, persons in charge:

Mr. K. Zimmermann / Prof. dr. S. van Erp (expertise from Maastricht University, Faculty of Law) and Prof. dr. R. Schulze (Universität Münster).

PhD Defense (2 June 2021): On-Site PhD conferral ms. Katja Zimmermann, LL.M - Facilitating cross-border real estate transactions in Europe: An exploration
PhD Thesis:  https://cris.maastrichtuniversity.nl/en/publications/facilitating-cross-border-real-estate-transactions-in-europe-an-e
PhD Thesis Summary:  https://cris.maastrichtuniversity.nl/ws/portalfiles/portal/64647443/a7070.pdf

Buying real estate in a different European country is a complex understanding. The aim of this research is to explore how such European cross-border real estate transactions can be facilitated. To determine how the high complexity that underlies such transactions can be reduced, four steps were taken. First, to gain a solid understanding of how the process of acquiring real estate works on national level, the land registration systems of the Netherlands, Germany, and England & Wales were described and compared with each other. On the basis hereof, it was analyzed which obstacles European citizens and legal professionals face when they are involved in a cross-border real estate transaction. Afterwards, the relevant European and international initiatives were discussed and it was assessed to what extent they respond to the obstacles that were identified. Finally, strategies for the further facilitation of cross-border real estate transactions were formulated.

PhD research, persons in charge:

Pim Mertens / Anouk Bollen-Vandenboorn (expertise from Maastricht University, Faculty of Law)

The labour market is changing and will continue to do so through digitisation, robotisation and the transition to a sustainable economy. Furthermore, job mobility is significantly increasing over time, whereby workers change not only their employers but also their forms of labour. This demands a certain flexibility of the labour market, resulting in an increasingly growing group of workers that qualify as ‘non-standard’. 
Another development is that of the concept of pension privatization. The European population is ageing, putting pressure on the fiscal sustainability of public finances. Therefore, the importance of work-related pensions is increasing. Yet, work-related pensions and its regulation are strongly linked with the labour classification, insufficiently covering non-standard workers. With the European Pillar of Social Rights (EPSR), the right to an adequate pension income for all workers and the right to transferable social rights and facilitated labour mobility is stressed.

This research assesses the opportunities of focusing on the sociological concept of pension tiers instead of pension pillars in legal systems. How can pension systems be adapted to the non-standard labour market through tier-focussed regulation and facilitation?

Double PhD research, persons in charge:

R. Tans | Prof. dr. Hildegard Schneider & dr. Šejla Imamović (Maastricht University, Faculty of Law) & prof. dr. Petra Foubert (Hasselt University, Faculty of Law)

Since the migration crisis, the EU and its Member States have been facing the challenging task of processing the high number of applications for asylum. However, they soon faced a new challenge: the integration of the recognised asylum seekers and other migrants. As the EU only has a supporting role to play in the management of migration and the integration procedure, the burden was put on the individual Member States. 
By analysing and comparing the national frameworks on integration of Belgium, Germany, the Netherlands and Sweden, and thereby focusing on educational and labour market integration, this research identifies both best and worst practices, while at the same time suggesting ways to improve the national frameworks. This comparative analysis is conducted using qualitative and quantitative methods, which are based on a set of factors that are essential to integration. The national frameworks are assessed vis-à-vis each other. Additionally, this research focuses on the role played by the EU during the migration crisis and purports to assess whether, and to what extent, the EU should have been more actively involved. 

Ultimately, the research aims to contribute to the formation of more inclusive and welcoming societies. Can we conclude with: “wir haben es geschafft”?

The EGTC Linieland van Waas en Hulst at the Dutch-Belgian border would like to take action to promote dual learning and vocational trainings as tools to attract students to work in the cross-border context of the Port of Antwerp – where there is an increasing need for young and skilled technical professionals.

The current legal and administrative provisions on social security in the two countries pose some limits to the full implementation of an integrated traineeship system, as they do not take into consideration neither the cross-border dimension nor the “vocational trainer” status of the potential workers.

Removing these obstacles would improve the attractiveness of job opportunities offered in the territory of the EGTC but also in other regions along the entire Dutch-Belgian border where the solution could have a good replicability potential. ITEM explored these (legal) impediments and set forth recommendations to overcome these obstacles.

b-solutionsproject.com
b-solutions’ third call for proposals: the full list of selected cases Making cross-border internship worthy (EGTC Linieland van Waas en Hulst (in cooperation with Euregion Scheldemond)

Citizens residing in the 30 enclaves located in Dutch-Belgian territory of Baarle experience legal uncertainty on a daily basis as different legal frameworks meet in this very specific environment. Given the geographical situation of the enclaves, in order to go from place to place in the same country citizens have to cross the territory of the neighbouring state. Because different provisions apply on Belgian and Dutch territory, problems can arise such as with COVID-19 was the case. The aim is to make a thorough problem analysis.

b-solutionsproject.com
b-solutions’ third call for proposals: the full list of selected cases
Problem analysis and possible solutions concerning access to enclaves (Gemeente Baarle-Nassau)

As part of the Belgian Spartacus plan, a new cross-border tramline will be realized between Hasselt (BE) and Maastricht (NL). The Belgian public transportation company De Lijn will operate both the Belgian and the Dutch part of the tramline. There are some issues regarding the legal authorizations of Belgian tramway personnel on the Dutch part of the tramway, mostly related to the enforcement of rules in and around tram platforms. These issues are related to Dutch laws and regulations which differentiate between two types of supervisors within the context of public transport. ITEM provided a problem analysis and practical recommendations as solutions to the case, overcoming possible extra costs.

b-solutionsproject.com
b-solutions’ third call for proposals: the full list of selected cases
Cross-border authorizations of tramway personnel (Province of Limburg)

Research, people in charge: Martin Unfried (expertise from Maastricht University, Faculty of Law) & Dr. Vincent Pijnenburg (Fontys University Venlo, Lector Cross-border Business Development)

ITEM has finalized the study on cross-border aspects of future NOVI area of South Limburg. NOVI stands for National Environmental Vision. South Limburg has been granted a NOVI status. Together with Fontys University, ITEM explored cross-border opportunities for South Limburg in the priority areas of the NOVI strategy, such as circular economy, urban development and nature protection. The final aim of the study was to prepare different options for a cross-border strategy for the NOVI South area. It was shown how own policy objectives (as circular economy, energy transition, strengthening urban areas) do correspond to specific priorities of the neighbouring regions in the Euregio Meuse-Rhine. It was concluded, that there is a very good momentum to search for synergies, since the neighboring regions are currently also developing new strategic programmes and new regional plans. In particular, the research found that some of the investment priorities in the framework of the transformation of the Rheinische Revier in NRW offer excellent opportunities. In the final report, various recommendations are made with respect to specific projects and where synergies are looking promising. Project leader from ITEM was senior researcher Martin Unfried, from Fontys University of Applied Sciences is lecturer Dr Vincent Pijnenburg, lectureship Cross-border Business Development. ITEM will also be involved in the final formulation the cross-border agenda and its implementation process.

LIMES PhD Research, people in charge: C. Schenetti / Prof. dr. V. Mazzucato, S. Wyatt (expertise from Maastricht University, Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences) & Djamila Schans (Wetenschappelijk Onderzoek- en Documentatiecentrum)

The EU, UN and individual member states dedicate many resources to migration campaigns in Africa to discourage people from coming into Europe without proper documentation. These campaigns have been described as the EU’s soft borders. At the same time, there are very few possibilities for young Africans to migrate through official channels, leaving many African youth in a state of ‘waithood’. Waithood is a concept coined by scholar Alcinda Honwana to describe the predicament of African youth in which they are not allowed to leave, but their own countries offer them very little prospects for entering adulthood as workers, heads of family and to fulfil their dreams. This project proposes a two-part ethnographic investigation into the production and reception of migration campaigns in Senegal, where EU and UN campaigns have been particularly strong. The first part focuses on the production of the campaigns and the second part on how campaigns are perceived by would-be migrants, focusing on youth (16-25 years old). Social media and more generally the Internet is a way for would-be migrants to receive migration campaigns but they also bring images and information about other populations for whom international mobility is much easier and even encouraged. How does social media and the Internet more broadly affect young Senegalese’s sense of social justice and what effects does this have on their migration aspirations, and how they perceive, interpret and react upon migration campaigns? This research combines theoretical perspectives from migration and science and technology studies to gain a better understanding of the relationships between ICTs, youth and migration. Fluency in French is required and in Wolof, preferable.

LIMES Hardening and Softening of Borders

LIMES is a doctoral programme for 13 talented PhD candidates in the domain of the humanities and social sciences

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Youth mobilities of Unaccompanied Minors across Border Regions

LIMES PhD research, persons in charge:

M. Naami / Prof. dr. V. Mazzucato (expertise from Maastricht University, Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences), Katie Kuschminder (UNU-MERIT / Maastricht University), Janniek van de Looij (Raad voor de Kinderbescherming)

Unaccompanied minors, i.e. youth under the age of 18 who seek refuge in a country but are not accompanied by a parent or other adult relative, are hosted in the Euregion in different ways, depending on the institutions and laws of the country where they are located (Belgium, The Netherlands or Germany). Their access to support networks and institutions differs as does their ability to be physically mobile. Generally, youth in border regions are involved in different types of mobilities. They move across borders for education, leisure and work on a frequent basis. They may live in one country and attend secondary or tertiary schools in another country; they arrange to meet their friends and family in neighbouring countries; and they vacation by visiting places not far from home but across borders. The Euregion is no exception to this phenomenon. However, there is very little research that investigates the way this everyday mobility impacts youth’s transitions into adulthood related to moves into higher education, employment, independent living, social belonging and active citizenship, and none looking at unaccompanied minors in particular. This project entails an ethnography of how unaccompanied minors between the ages of 15-18 live the border, what different mobility patterns they have and how these patterns shape their motivations, identities, conditions and transitions into adulthood. By understanding these dynamics, regions that are experiencing a decline in population such as the region of Limburg, can be aided in thinking about how to attract young people – future students and workers – to this area.

LIMES Hardening and Softening of Borders

LIMES is a doctoral programme for 13 talented PhD candidates in the domain of the humanities and social sciences

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PhD candidate, persons in charge:

L. Kortese, LL.M./ Prof. dr. H. Schneider (expertise from Maastricht University, Faculty of Law), mr. dr. S. Claessens, LL.M. (expertise from Maastricht University, Faculty of Law) and mr. dr. S. Schoenmaekers, LL.M. (expertise from Maastricht University, Faculty of Law). 

News article: Unclear whether your diploma is recognised in another EU country (May 2020)
PhD Thesis Summary:  https://www.maastrichtuniversity.nl/sites/default/files/l._kortese_-_phd_recognition_of_qualifications_-_summary.pdf
PhD Thesis Factsheet:  https://www.maastrichtuniversity.nl/sites/default/files/l._kortese_-_phd_thesis_factsheet.pdf

Before individuals with a desire to work or study in another Member State are able to do so, they need to make sure that they will be granted access to the host Member State’s labour market or educational system. In many cases, recognition of their professional or academic qualifications is a prerequisite to working or studying in a second Member State. Underlying the recognition of qualifications is a theoretical distinction between two types of recognition: professional recognition related to working in another Member State and academic recognition for those who want to study in a second Member State. Originally of a theoretical nature, this distinction has been accompanied by a division in EU competences. Whereas professional recognition falls within the scope of the EU’s internal market competence, academic recognition falls under the restrictive EU competence in the area of education and culture.

In this context, it is clear that the EU is the main actor on professional recognition. The recently modernized Directive 2005/36/EC regulates access to another Member State’s labour market for those professionals exercising a regulated profession. Access for non-regulated professions falls within the scope of the free movement Articles in the Treaties, meaning access to such professions is largely dependent on the decision of the employer. The situation for academic recognition is less clear-cut. Being outside the scope of the EU’s competence to create hard law, the area is dominated by various actors who also create their own legislation and cooperation initiatives. This has resulted in a factor complicating the area of the recognition of qualifications: EU Member States both implement the EU Directive on professional recognition, but also take part in non-EU academic recognition initiatives that need to be implemented in their national legal orders. What are the consequences of this disparity of legal instruments? How does this affect the free movement of persons? Located at the border between two strongly different competences, this PhD research seeks to provide answers to the aforementioned questions and strives to provide solutions to the longstanding issue of the recognition of qualifications.

PhD research, persons in charge:

Mr. B. Didden / prof. dr. A.H.H. Bollen-Vandenboorn and Prof. dr. M.J.G.A.M. Weerepas (expertise from Maastricht University, Faculty of Law).

News article: Grensoverschijdende kwalificatieproblematiek: tussen sociale zekerheid en aanvullend pensioen (November 2019)
PhD Thesis: https://cris.maastrichtuniversity.nl/en/publications/grensoverschrijdende-kwalificatieproblematiek-tussen-sociale-zeke
PhD Defense (19 Nov 2019): https://www.maastrichtuniversity.nl/events/phd-defence-bastiaan-didden

2019/20 academic year

Comparative research of how SMEs in two border provinces meet their need for highly-skilled international employees

Researchers:

Julia Reinold and Mariska van der Giessen​ (ITEM); Shilpa Samplonius-Raut (NHL Stenden University of Applied Sciences; Manon Niesten(Zuyd University of Applied Sciences); 6 to 12 bachelor’s students.

Both border provinces of Limburg and Drenthe are becoming increasingly international and both provincial governments support small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in conducting business internationally, e.g. by giving subsidies and sharing knowledge and information about topics related to international business. Limburg and Drenthe can be considered as rural areas that suffer from a shrinking population and often face a shortage of highly-skilled Dutch employees. This leads many companies to search for highly-skilled workers from abroad. 

This research looks at how regional SMEs in Limburg and Drenthe fill their demand for highly-skilled workers by searching in other countries as well as how they try to retain highly-skilled immigrants for a longer period of time. It also explores the possibilities for regional SMEs to help their highly-skilled international employees integrate into the regions.  

Bachelor’s students in both provinces will work together on this research project, supervised by researchers from Maastricht University (ITEM), NHL Stenden University of Applied Sciences and Zuyd University of Applied Sciences. They will focus on: 
- the problems faced by the SMEs in both regions, as well as the opportunities and possible solutions (a comparison)
- the attractiveness of Limburg and Drenthe for the SMEs and for the highly-skilled migrants
- possible recommendations for support that can be provided by the regional governments (municipalities, provinces) ​

The researchers will look at the differences between the SMEs in the provinces and will identify best practices that could be transferred into guidelines for stakeholders within Limburg and Drenthe.

This research project is funded by the SWOL Limburg with co-financing from NHL Stenden University of Applied Sciences, Zuyd University of Applied Sciences, and the Institute of Transnational and Euregional cross-border cooperation and Mobility.

January 2019

Cross-border administration of foreign pension schemes

Joint PhD research, persons in charge:
Mr. S.H.W.A. Bemelmans | Prof. dr. Anouk Bollen-Vandenboorn (Maastricht University, Faculty of Law) & Prof. dr. Elly Van de Velde (Hasselt University, Faculty of Law).

Since the introduction of the European IORP Directive, pension institutions are able to operate across borders and implement foreign pension schemes. Several pension institutions are already using this option. However, a thorough research into the underlying reasons, elaborations and challenges has not yet been conducted. This comparative pension research aims to fill this gap.

After studying the (legal) relationship between Belgium and the Netherlands, attention will be paid to this theme from a European perspective. The starting point is that every pension system is in principle unique and therefore account must be taken of the different (pension) cultures of the European member states. In particular, the pension institutions, employers and employees play a central role. The obstacles that these parties face under tax law, private law (governance), labor law and social security law during the cross-border pension administration of foreign pension schemes will be examined. In addition, attention will be paid on how pension institutions are supervised and to democratic legitimacy. If a pension plan is allocated to an IORP institution in another member state, there is also a possible risk of loss of control / power over the pension capital.

The objective of this comparative pension research is to map the obstacles and to give recommendations to European and national legislators in order to achieve a cross-border pension administration of foreign pension schemes without obstacles. To achieve this objective, there will be a cooperation based on interviews with various professionals working in pension practice.

cross-border cooperation of local authorities

Project, person in charge:
Martin Unfried (project leader)

The central question of this study is how local authorities in the Meuse-Rhine Euroregion (hereafter EMR) can be involved in the structure of the new EGTC with an efficient execution of tasks and a lean organisational structure. In this respect, it concerns a governance and organisational issue against the background of the functioning of the current and future cross-border governance system in the Meuse-Rhine Euroregion. The study will be carried out by ITEM on behalf of EMR.

For a first EGTC analysis commissioned by the Province of Limburg (NL) and the Ministry of the Internal Affairs, ITEM employee Martin Unfried observed as early as 2009 that the involvement of the municipalities was not optimal at that time. On the basis of the then governance structures, municipalities had little interest in becoming involved in the EMR.  The recommendations therefore argued that the formation of an EGTC could also be used to involve cities and municipalities more in the Euroregional governance system and to intertwine them with the EMR and its organisations.

With the decision to transform the EMR into the EGTC, the opportunity now arises to substantially improve the involvement of actors at municipal level in the second phase. It is also essential that the interlinking of existing networks such as the MAHHL cities, AG Charlemagne or Eurode with the Meuse-Rhine Euroregion can also be given a positive shape as an EGTC. A precondition for an analysis of the prospects for development, is an accurate quantitative and qualitative stock-taking of the local actors within the EMR, as well as their relationship to supraregional/euregional, regional, national and international actors. The study will reiterate the shortcomings and positive aspects in this respect and will map out the historical development of the role taken by the municipal level.

Project, person in charge: Martin Unfried (project leader)

In 2018, the ports of Zeeland Seaports and Ghent Port Company merged and continued under the name of North Sea Port. This new fusion port aims to be a smart innovative port that seeks cooperation and gives the region an economic boost. The merger port dares to think across borders but also faces legal problems surrounding its cross-border cooperation. The objective of this project is the inventory of these legal problems. ITEM is researching this.

Within this project ITEM investigates the experiences of active and passive frontier workers (e.g. employees, unemployed, jobseekers, pensioners) in the Euregio Rhine-Waal and the Euregio Rhine-Meuse-North. It aims to identify and compare the obstacles and needs for guidance in taking up work in the neighboring country in the two border regions. In addition, the satisfaction of active and passive frontier workers with the EURES advisory service will be analyzed. The aim of the project is to draw up a EURES guidance and placement directive, better suited to the needs for guidance of active and passive cross-border workers. This will be coordinated with the work of other cross-border services; such as border information points. Overall, the project aims to contribute to a further stimulation of cross-border work.

Within the framework of the EU Programme for Employment and Social Innovation (EASi), the Interregional trade union councils Meuse-Rhine, Rhine-Issel and Schelde Kempen are preparing the realisation of a 'Fair Mobility tool'. The tool will be an integrated part of the regular border services, the so-called horizontal dimension. The trade unions are an indispensable link in this process given the existing knowledge and experience they have in the field of employment conditions, taxation and social security.

The Fair Mobility tool is an instrument that offers the border worker the opportunity to make an outline qualitative diagnosis of a work (supply) situation. A frontier worker can be defined as a frontier worker and a seconded worker. In any case, the terms of employment (law), social security and taxation should be discussed during the diagnosis. The tool should have an added value compared to the existing information provision, advice and employment mediation in Belgium, the Netherlands and Germany. In view of the complexity of the matter, the basic elements of the employment conditions, taxation and social security in particular should be reflected in the tool. For complex cases where there is a need for in-depth analysis and advice, the tool should refer the user to a service provider. ITEM conducts research to prepare this tool.

In relation to the “youRegion” interreg project, ITEM conducts an “Inventory of Services and Activities for Newcomers in the Meuse-Rhine Euregion” commissioned by the Meuse-Rhine Euregion Foundation. The project maps existing initiatives to attract and retain newcomers from within Belgium, Germany and the Netherlands as well as abroad to the region. In doing so, it distinguishes between initiatives focusing on different areas which are relevant to facilitate social and economic integration of newcomers and to increase the region’s attractiveness for the target group (e.g. support with bureaucratic issues, housing, employment, language, leisure and culture, etc.). In a second step, the project explores possibilities for increased cross-border cooperation between the mapped initiatives and identifies potential gaps in the service provision. The ITEM study is based on desk research and interviews with stakeholders and representatives of organisations providing services for newcomers.

On 11 May 2017, the Provincial Council of Limburg (the Limburg Parliament) adopted a motion containing the objective of achieving closer bilateral cooperation with the Walloon Region, Flanders and North Rhine-Westphalia. To this end, the Province should be given more room for policy: The cross-border cooperation should be established from the bottom up, whereby Limburg 'with a government mandate with sovereign or mandated authorities across the border can act as a forward post, whereby the Province initiates and executes while the State supervises'. This is necessary because such border crossing is currently hindered by law and policy that often take insufficient account of border regions. ITEM was asked to carry out legal research for this purpose.

A consortium, amongst them ITEM, is working on territorial impact assessment for cross-border cooperation. The project aims at developing and testing a methodology specifically tailored to assess ex-post territorial impacts of CBC programmes. In due course the terms of reference then point out, that territorial impact assessment are to be seen as basis for the evaluation and the monitoring of the CBC programmes. Therefore, it has to be specified what the two concepts – i.e. TIA and evaluation – mean and how they are linked.

CBC TIA methodology. 
The project (Task 2) will provide a methodology for conducting ex-post TIA for CBC programmes. Cur-rently, there are several models of TIA, most of which are best suited for ex-ante purposes. As for measuring territorial impact on the regional level in case of cross-border areas, there are several academic inputs, all of which are taken into consideration in development of methodology in this project. The consortium will use a synergy between partners specializing in both TIA models (prof. Thomas Fischer, University of Liverpool, Dr. Erich Dallhammer and Bernd Schuh, ÖIR) as well as in cross-border regions (prof. Martin Unfried, University of Maastricht, Dorothea Palenberg, Blue!) in order to develop a sound and solid methodology and make an informed selection of indicators. A methodology for an ex-post CBC TIA shall be transferable and applicable by other CBC stakeholders than the five CBC programmes involved in the Targeted Analysis.

The Maastricht University Medical Centre (MUMC+) is working with parties in the Meuse-Rhine Euregion on the establishment of a Euregional Paediatric Surgical Centre. This process leads to a large number of issues. One of these concerns the education and training of paediatric surgeons in the Netherlands, Belgium and Germany and their mobility between the three countries. Another important aspect related to the education and training of paediatric surgeons relates to how this should be organised in three countries and which standards are applicable. The Institute for Transnational and Euregional cross border cooperation and Mobility / ITEM, commissioned by the MUMC+, conducts research into the above-mentioned issues and focuses on questions such as why paediatric surgery is not universally recognised as an independent specialism, what should be taken into account when setting up a cross-border paediatric surgical training centre and which possible solutions can be identified.

This project brings together partners along the Dutch border, including partners from the Netherlands, Belgium, North Rhine-Westphalia and Lower Saxony. The aim of the project is to develop roadmaps and fact sheets for promising professions. These roadmaps and fact sheets are two separate documents that aim to promote cross-border mobility and employability by improving recognition. The project focuses in particular on the way in which the recognition of selected promising regulated professions takes place. The documents will indicate how competent authorities assess qualifications to provide first line supporters and citizens with information that goes beyond what is currently available. In addition, the project aims to make citizens aware of their rights and obligations during the recognition procedures. ITEM is the project leader for this project on behalf of the Province of Limburg.

More information

Methodology for territorial impact assessment for cross-border regions.

Persons in charge:

Prof.mr. S. van Erp (expertise from Maastricht University, Faculty of Law)

This research addresses problems related to access to digital assets, for instance after decease (someone’s so-called digital afterlife). One could envisage e-mail accounts, but also digital bank accounts, outstanding balances at web shops or pay sites (such as PayPal) etc. In practice, this problem by definition seems to be transboundary, think of worldwide web service providers such as Microsoft, Yahoo and Facebook, but also of more regional service provision (for instance the purchase by a Dutch resident via a web shop in Belgium, Germany or Luxemburg). Problems may also arise when the involved is still alive, for instance when someone is placed under state administration or goes bankrupt.

Double PhD research, persons in charge:

S. Bemelmans, Prof. dr. E. Van de Velde (expertise from UHasselt, Unit Law, Tax and Business), Prof. Dr. A. Bollen-Vandenboorn (expertise from Maastricht University, Faculty of Law)

text

Dissertation, persons in charge:

The Meuse-Rhine Euroregion is a complex cross-border region with diverse cultures and languages (Dutch, German and French). Despite this complexity and the relatively low level of economic, educational and cultural exchanges between the different parts of this region, there is (or at least seems to be) an increasing political and societal will to focus on the Euroregion for the region’s economic and cultural development. The existence, creation or inspiration of a cross-border regional identity could be a precondition for the development of a politically and socially strong Meuse-Rhine Euroregion.

An analysis will be made through this research of the concept of 'regional identity’ in the Meuse-Rhine Euroregion. The study will mainly focus on South Limburg (NL) and the Belgian Province of Liège.

The complexity of a shared identity in the region is represented by major linguistic and cultural differences on the one hand, and a shared economic history and feeling of belonging on the other.

In the analysis an emphasis will be placed on the role of teaching and the centralized Dutch and Belgian education systems in the past, the present as well as the future. Historically education has played an important role in strengthening borders and national versus regional identities. As a result in the past Dutch and Belgian education effectively eliminated the regional identities. Ironically however, through the development of the European Union and economic globalisation, a different trend has emerged and education is now viewed as a motor to strengthen that trend: an emergence in regional identities. Through this research an analysis will be made of current language education in the Meuse-Rhine Euroregion, and initiatives aimed at increasing the knowledge of the vernacular and culture of one’s neighbour and, thus, increase real human interaction. 

The research is interdisciplinary: historic, sociological, economic and legal. 

PhD research, persons in charge:

J. Reinold, Prof. Dr. M. Siegel (expertise from Maastricht University, Maastricht School of Governance), co-promotor: Dr. M. van der Giessen (expertise from NHL University of Applied Sciences, Leeuwarden)

The goal of this project is to better understand the decision-making factors of international migrants in the Euregio Meuse-Rhine with regard to arrival, staying or leaving the region. In particular, the project focuses on perceived advantages or disadvantages of living in a border region. The outcomes from the project will enable policy-makers in the region to employ policies to better attract and retain highly-skilled international migrants in the region. The research is planned to cover the Netherlands: Sittard/Geleen, Maastricht, Heerlen; Germany: Aachen, Düren/Jülich; Belgium: Liege, Hasselt, Genk. This project will use both surveys conducted with migrants in the region and in-depth interviews with highly-skilled migrants and stakeholders. Key areas of focus for this project are on international migrants, cross-border workers, third country nationals, reason for initial migration and more. The following is a list of some of the factors in decision-making, which will be investigated, however this is not exhaustive:

• Hard locational factors such as employment and career opportunities,  working environment, job security, further education opportunities, salary and costs of living
• Soft locational factors such a living environment, leisure time activities, recreational and cultural opportunities , (ethnic) diversity, tolerance, family-friendly environment, public safety, political as well as economic stability, public services (taxation system, medical services, health care system, social security)
• Social factors, such as the role of the partner, children, family and friends, level of integration/ contact with locals and social capital/ networks
• Demographic/ socioeconomic background factors

PhD research, persons in charge:

Prof. dr. F. Cörvers, ROA (expertise from Maastricht University, Research Centre for Education and the Labour market / School of Business and Economics). Second supervisor is not known yet.

The project concentrates on the attraction of Limburg and the Euregion for foreign young people. To what extent are institutions in the secondary education (intermediate vocational education, higher professional education and higher education) able to link young people of another nationality to Limburg or to one of the neighbouring areas? Is the link with the country where they are participating in the educational programme strong enough? Can ‘binding’ factors be identified (for instance membership of associations) and how transparent and realistic are the career perspectives of foreign young people? What are the most important moments of decision to stay here to live and work? What strategies do companies use to link young immigrants to the region? What clever connections can arise to make the investments in foreign students work on a regional level? The central research question is: which circumstances link young foreign school-leavers to the region having them wanting to stay here to live and work after their education and which personal characteristics (for instance type of education, professional group) have them either move within the Netherlands or leave the Netherlands again? For the research, we use CBS data and graduate data of the ROA.

PhD research, persons in charge:

Prof. dr. V. Mazzucato (expertise from Maastricht University, Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences). Second supervisor is not known yet, will be asked within 3 months after the start of the PhD candidate.

ITEM research, persons in charge:

L. Kortese, LL.M./ Prof. dr. H. Schneider (expertise from Maastricht University, Faculty of Law)

ITEM starts feasibility study ‘cross-border professional recognition card’

Commissioned by the Council of Europe, ITEM has produced a research report on the 'fair distribution of taxes in cross-border areas'.

Cross-border work involves a lot to be taken into account. A much-discussed aspect is the recognition of qualifications. During these procedures, competent authorities check whether a person's diplomas and professional experience meet certain standards. Such processes are anything but obvious. In order to provide clarity in the complex subject matter, the Ministry of Education, Culture and Science has commissioned Expertise Centre ITEM to draw up a set of explanatory documents. Expertise Centre ITEM is pleased to announce the publication of these documents.

Directive 2005/36/EC (as amended by Directive 2013/55/EU) is the main instrument in the field of the recognition of professional qualifications. This Professional Qualifications Directive exclusively covers so-called regulated professions. In the European Union, there is a large number of regulated professions whereby differences among Member States are considerable. Each country may lay down different requirements as regards the diplomas and professional experience that a person must have before being able to work in that country. When these requirements are laid down in laws or regulations, they are referred to as a regulated profession.
When one considers the number of EU Member States and regulated professions as well as the large amount of legislation and competent parties involved, it is not surprising that complications occur. The Professional Qualifications Directive aims to facilitate the mobility of those professionals practicing a regulated profession. The directive is based on the principle of mutual recognition. This fundamental principle requires that a diploma obtained in accordance with the rules in force in one Member State should also be considered as such in all other Member States.

The Professional Qualifications Directive provides a comprehensive framework to effectuate the principle. To illustrate this complex framework, ITEM has drawn up two explanatory documents on behalf of the Ministry of Education, Culture and Science. The Explanatory Memorandum concisely describes the essence of the Professional Qualifications Directive. The Annexes to the memorandum offer interested readers more in-depth information.

Please note that both documents are only available in Dutch.​

Download the document here:

ITEM - Toelichtingsnota - Verwezenlijking van een grondbeginsel: De wederzijdse erkenning van beroepskwalificaties = september 2018 (999KB, PDF)
ITEM - Bijlagen Toelichtingsnota “Verwezenlijking van een grondbeginsel: De wederzijdse erkenning van beroepskwalificaties” - Richtlijn 2005/36/EG zoals gewijzigd door Richtlijn 2013/55/EU (1.03MB, PDF)

A report by the Vereniging voor Belastingwetenschap entitled ‘Grenswerkers in Europa. Een onderzoek naar fiscale, sociaalverzekerings- en pensioenaspecten van grensoverschrijdend werken’ (Cross-border workers in Europe: An investigation into the tax, social insurance and pension aspects of cross-border work) was drafted by a committee chaired by professor Marjon Weerepas, who is affiliated with the Institute for Transnational and Euregional cross border Cooperation and Mobility (ITEM) at Maastricht University. The committee offered 39 recommendations for addressing cross-border problems. A shortlist of these recommendations can be found in the documents below:

Nederlands: Slotbeschouwing en overzicht aanbevelingen Nederlands
English: Closing assessment and overview of recommendations
Deutsch: Schlussbetrachtung und Empfehlungen

The following Description: is only available in Dutch

Wanneer er op de arbeidsmarkt een tekort aan personeel wordt geconstateerd, denkt men al gauw aan de aanstelling van werknemers van over de grens. Zo ook in het geval van de IC‑verpleegkundigen. De casus die ITEM onlangs onderzocht betrof een vraagstuk uit de praktijk. Een Nederlands ziekenhuis in de grensregio kampte met een tekort aan IC verpleegkundigen en een vergelijkbaar tekort aan Nederlandse sollicitanten. Een logische oplossing zou zijn om IC‑verpleegkundigen te werven over de grens. Inderdaad, Belgische sollicitanten meldden zich voor de functie, toch bleek hun aanstelling geen vanzelfsprekendheid.

Naar aanleiding van deze situatie werd het Institute for Transnational and Euregional cross-border cooperation and Mobility / ITEM door het Ministerie van Binnenlandse Zaken en Koninkrijksrelaties verzocht om het vraagstuk van de gespecialiseerde verpleegkundigen IC te onderzoeken. Er leek bij deze verpleegkundigen namelijk een obstakel te bestaan in de vorm van een kwaliteitsstandaard. Kwaliteitsstandaarden zijn noodzakelijk en gangbaar in de Nederlandse zorg en waarborgen vooral een hoge kwaliteit gezondheidszorg. Hoge kwaliteit wordt bij IC-verpleegkundigen vooral gewaarborgd door een eis te stellen aan de kwalificaties die zij moeten hebben. Ze moeten namelijk een College Zorgopleidingen (CZO) erkend diploma hebben. Dat diploma kan tot nu toe alleen in Nederland verkregen worden. Belgische IC-verpleegkundigen voldoen daarmee op voorhand niet aan de standaard. Hoe gaat de praktijk hiermee om? Hoe is het in het Europese recht geregeld? Welke oplossingsrichtingen kunnen voorgesteld worden? Deze vragen stonden centraal in het door ITEM uitgevoerde onderzoek.

In het onderzoek werd geconstateerd dat er in de praktijk vaak gekozen wordt om IC-verpleegkundigen met een buitenlands diploma een volledige of gedeeltelijke CZO-erkende opleiding te laten volgen. De reden hiervoor is te herleiden naar verschillen tussen de praktijkonderdelen van de opleidingen alsook naar mogelijke gevolgen van de niet-naleving van de geldende kwaliteitstandaard. De Kwaliteitsstandaard, die een CZO-erkend diploma vereist, werd daarnaast getoetst in het licht van het Europese recht, met name op het gebied van de erkenning van beroepskwalificaties en het vrij personenverkeer. Hoewel de erkenning van beroepskwalificaties op Europees niveau is vastgelegd in de Richtlijn beroepskwalificaties (Richtlijn 2005/36/EG, zoals gewijzigd door Richtlijn 2013/55/EU), geldt het beroep ‘gespecialiseerde verpleegkundige IC’ niet als gereglementeerd beroep waardoor de richtlijn niet van toepassing is op deze beroepsbeoefenaren. ITEM constateerde dat de kwaliteitsstandaard als belemmering op het vrije verkeersrecht van werknemers en het recht op non-discriminatie op basis van nationaliteit kan worden beschouwd.

Ter afronding van het onderzoek stelde Expertisecentrum ITEM enkele oplossingsrichtingen voor, gerelateerd aan de formulering van de kwaliteitsstandaard, de vergelijking van opleidingen in Nederland en België, meer grensoverschrijdende samenwerking in de zorg en verder vervolgonderzoek.

Het rapport en de presentatie kunt u raadplegen via onderstaande links:

ITEM - De Grensoverschrijdende Mobiliteit van Gespecialiseerde Verpleegkundigen IC - Nederland/België - L. Kortese (4.78MB, PDF)
ITEM - Presentatie - Grensoverschrijdende mobiliteit van verpleegkundigen IC - 7 maart 2018 (270KB, PDF)

Lees meer:

Rapport over gespecialiseerde verpleegkundigen IC gepresenteerd
Cross-border mobility of specialized nurses - two Dutch hospitals in border regions

This topic of cross-border company mobility has been on the EU legislator’s agenda for several decades. However only in the last decade through the creation of European company law forms, such as the European Company (Societas Europeae, SE), legislation on cross-border mergers – the Cross-Border Mergers Directive (“CBMD”) – and the case-law of the Court of Justice of the European Union (“CJEU”) has EU integration accelerated in this area.

When considering new legislation and the protection of different stakeholders in corporate mobility transactions, such as shareholders, creditors or employees, a crucial question is to what extent companies use cross-border mobility mechanisms in practice, may it be concerning cross-border seat transfers, cross-border mergers, cross-border divisions or the activities of SE/SCE companies.

Different studies and research exercises have been undertaken in this area, yet, none of which has been able to provide a full picture as to the extent of corporate mobility in the EU.

Whilst also this project titled ‘Cross-border Corporate Mobility in the EU’ (CbCM) will not claim to provide a full picture, it will attempt to continue the collection of data in areas in which data previously has already been gathered (SEs, cross-border mergers) and aims to shed light on new areas, such as data collection in the area of cross-border transfers of the registered office of a company (seat transfer) or cross-border divisions.

The project will be, in short, a data collection exercise concerning company mobility within the EU/EEA using these instruments: European companies (SE, SCE), cross-border mergers, cross-border seat transfers and cross-border divisions. Data therefore will be collected on these instruments for all 28 EU Member States and Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway. The data will be collected from 2017 onwards until at least 2020. Following the successful award of a Jean Monnet grant by the European Commission, the project has been extended to also cover the period starting from 2000. The project monitors now the period 2000 until 2020.

The project is financed by the European Trade Union Institute (ETUI).

For more information visit the research page Cross-border corporate mobility in the EU

ITEM contract research, persons in charge:

Martin Unfried (Ontgrenzer ITEM)

The five partner regions of the Meuse-Rhine Euregion have been collaborating for years in order to promote cross-border internships. Even though students at the senior secondary vocational level (MBO) can choose from many internships within the Euregion, only a small number of them actually cross the border. While the overall number of students doing an internship abroad is growing, the Meuse-Rhine Euregion, which has more international than national borders, is hardly showing any growth in the number of students doing an internship in the neighbouring countries Germany and Belgium. As a result, many internship vacancies remain open in these countries, constituting a missed opportunity for the cross-border labour market.

The ITEM Expertise Center has been commissioned by the Meuse-Rhine Euregion and EURES to start a research project to identify the obstacles and success factors regarding cross-border internships in the Meuse-Rhine Euregion. The aim of this project is to make an inventory of the success factors or obstacles for students wanting to do an internship in the Meuse-Rhine Euregion. The research is particularly aimed at institutions of senior secondary vocational education (MBO) and is led by ITEM's ‘de-borderer’ Martin Unfried.

Several previous projects were initiated around the theme of euregional cross-border internships: Linguaclusters, projects around Euregion competency/certificates, the Learning Euregion (Rhine-Waal), Xperience (Rhine-Meuse-North) and Eurfriends (Meuse-Rhine). Despite the different INTERREG projects, it remained difficult to establish a sustainable structure for cross-border internships.

It is assumed that there are a number of fundamental obstacles in terms of:

Various surveys and interviews will be conducted in cooperation with institutions of senior secondary vocational education (MBO) in the Meuse-Rhine Euregion. This ITEM research project is financed by EURES and the Meuse-Rhine Euregion.

More information

Law research, persons in charge:

The focus of cross border cooperation in criminal matters has until now always been on the investigation phase. The enforcement of penalties is never a central theme. Nonetheless it is an equally important aspect of the enforcement of criminal law, especially in the fight against organised crime and terrorism. Experiences have shown that sentenced persons use/abuse the borders to hinder the correct, adequate and timely execution of their sentences. The absence of a swift and clear response, in particularly across borders, results in impunity, a sense of insecurity and injustice.

In each of the three countries (the Netherlands and Belgium, Germany) several reports of national authorities show that the execution of sentences is inadequate. The objective of this project is to improve judicial cooperation in the field of Cross Border Execution of Sentences (CrossBES) between the three countries and other EU-countries, contribute to the effective and coherent application of the EU legal framework, strengthen mutual confidence, trust, recognition and the network of legal practitioners and to prevent convicted persons from abusing borders to escape punishment.

To successfully execute sentences across borders, increase the level of reintegration of the convicted person into society, the sense of security and decrease impunity, it is imperative that neighbouring countries know each others’ and EU’s possibilities, limitations and structures in this field.

Building on “BES Practice”, the partners within the project want to create a network of practitioners and to improve the knowledge and cooperation in this field, by offering the practitioners the outcome of a comparative law study including the (new) EU framework decisions, three in-depth trainings and a practical guide being the roadmap on how to successfully execute sentences across borders.

The aim of the comparative law study is to inform legal practitioners of the legal framework/system/structure of each of the three participating countries and to create cross border understanding. This study will give practitioners working in the field of CrossBES an overview of the legal possibilities and allow them to choose the best option to execute the sentence in a specific case. Different from other studies, this comparative law study will actually be used as a reference book. After all, in the execution phase, practitioners can take the time to decide upon the best option for each individual case, taking into account the legal possibilities, the position of the victim, social importance and reintegration of the convicted person into society.

ITEM Research, persons in charge:

E. van Ooij / Prof. dr. H. Schneider (expertise from Maastricht University, Faculty of Law).

In the 21st century, rapid technological progress, increased competition stemming from globalisation, changing consumer demand and significant growth of the services sector demand more flexibility on the labour market. This can be seen in the emerging trend of variations in work organisation, working hours, wages, and workforce size. Against that background, the classical ‘employee’ working for an undetermined period for one employer only seems to become the exception rather than the rule. Due to different forms of work, more persons are working across borders within the European Union, especially in border regions such as the Euregio Maas-Rijn.

Since employment statuses and social security rights are interconnected, the EU fundamental right of free movement interferes naturally with the competence of Member States to establish their social security system. The current approach of coordinating the national systems aims to unite the Member States’ will to protect their social security system with the States volition to enable a European Single Market. Therefore, the EU Regulation 883/2004 applies the principle that only one national social security applies to an individual. Flexible labour agreements, such as on-call contracts or job sharing, increase the complexity of the application of Regulation 883/2004. Notably, new patterns of work and mobility combined with several forms of employment simultaneously – the patchwork-worker - result in complex and legal unclear situations. It may be true that employers need more workers by flexible agreements; however, workers want social security protection and need legal certainty as to which rule applies. Moreover, no sufficient or well-organised protection of the social security position of migrant workers could deter employees to accept posts in the other Member States that need to be occupied. Or, in times of economic recession, employers could take advantage of the weaker position of the worker while proposing flexible agreements only.

This background begs the question to which extent Regulation 883/2004 on the coordination of social security systems contributes to promoting the exercise of the free movement right of economically active professionals in a way that takes account of the new forms of employment and is in agreement with the Treaties. In this study, the researcher aims to analyze which constraints and impediments mobile professional encounters when exercising the right to move within the European Union in a professional context, while taking into account new forms of employment statuses. Therefore, this study will scrutinise the hyper mobile sector of the cultural industries in the Euroregion through case studies. Subsequently, a comparison between the national legislations and policies of Belgium, Germany, Luxembourg and the Netherlands applicable to those hyper mobile and (in)dependent patchwork-workers will be made. Finally, based on the foregoing analyses and comparisons, the researcher will conclude with proposing measures and recommendations to increase legal certainty for the group of patchwork-workers and reduce the obstacles they encounter when crossing borders to exercise their particular profession in another Member State. Furthermore, the outcome can serve as an example for other, yet more traditionally organised sectors that may be confronted with the phenomena of new forms of employment in the near future.

The National Integration Evaluation Mechanism (NIEM) project is a six-years long transnational project which aims to prepare key actors in the integration field in 15 EU Member States to better face the current challenges and improve the integration outcomes of beneficiaries of international protection. As it takes currently on average 17 years, before refugees fleeing civil wars may eventually have a chance to return to their home country, the long-term integration of newly arrived beneficiaries of international protection is without alternative and presents an immediate challenge for European societies. NIEM will establish a mechanism for a biennial, comprehensive evaluation of the integration of beneficiaries of international protection to provide evidence on gaps in integration standards, identify promising practices and evaluate the effects of legislative and policy changes

© http://www.forintegration.eu

PhD research, persons in charge:

S. Kramer, prof. dr. A.H.H. Bollen-Vandenboorn (LAW), dr. L. Brüggen (SBE) (expertise from Maastricht University, interdisciplinary cooperation between Faculty of Law and School of Business and Economics)

The freedom for citizens to live and work where they want is a strong European asset. In Europe, about 8 million people work for a shorter or longer time outside of their home country. They thereby of course build pension. How and how much may vary from one country to another, as is the case for the retirement age and other options. The problem they are confronted with is that to date, there is not one central place to which they can address themselves to gain insight in their individual pension rights. At this moment, it has to be considered and retrieved per country. A European pension register could offer a solution: then there would be one coordinating system in which all the European pensions can be found. The TTYPE (Track and Trace Your Pension in Europe)-consortium, which, on the authority of the European Commission, has recorded the possibilities for a European tracking system, has stated in its final conclusions that it is possible, but a lot still needs to be done. 

Within this context, the PhD research focuses on the cross-border information and communication improvement between the Netherlands, Belgium and Germany. In the Netherlands, there is a national pension register where the citizen can find the information on his pension contribution and his employee pension. Belgium also newly has a national pension register. In Germany, there is no national system at this moment. And yet there is a large labour mobility between these countries. The research focuses on a mutual information and communication system between these countries. The research is executed within the scope of the TTYPE-project and can as such put forward its results.

Research, persons in charge:

Dr. R. Benschop, chair Autonomie en Openbaarheid in de Kunsten (Autonomy and Public Nature in Arts) (expertise from Zuyd Hogeschool) together with Inèz Derksen (artistic directer of Youth Theatre Company Het Laagland) and Christophe Aussems (artistic directer of the Belgium theatre company Het Nieuwstedelijk)

The project is a collaboration between the research centre, Het Laagland (a theatre-company in Sittard) and Het Nieuwstedelijk (a theatre-company in Belgium). The project has two aims: 1) artistic research of everyday border conduct and 2) practical experimentation of cultural institutions with over-the-border collaborations. The three parties will cooperate over a variety of (hard and soft, national and cultural) borders and thus gain insights in practice into such collaborations. At the same time, artistic research will be conducted about the issue of borders. Plans have further been made for the three institutes to develop a program in which knowledge and methodologies of research can be explored and shared. The project is practice-based action-research in which artistic research is developed in situ and the local specificity of knowledge is taken seriously. It does not presuppose positive results of cultural activities, but rather takes the question what relevant roles cultural actors might develop within the Euregion as a starting point. The research will be accompanied by workshops, conferences, courses and other forms of transfer and dissemination. These activities will be specifically listed in the project plan.

PhD research, persons in charge:

K. Geurtjens LL.M / Prof.dr.mr. H. Nelen and mr.dr. M. Vanderhallen (expertise from Maastricht University, Faculty of Law).

In recent years, there has been a lot of attention for forms of organised, subversive crime in the border area between Germany, Belgium and the Netherlands, in particular the Meuse-Rhine Euregion. Think e.g. of the outlaw motorcycle gangs which have greatly expanded over the past decade.

This project aims at identifying the role of the border for the (criminal) activities of outlaw motorcycle gangs and their members, as well as for measures imposed on outlaw bikers by the competent authorities, following an integrated policy. The term integrated policy refers to an approach whereby the nature, the seriousness and the extent of a crime phenomenon is clarified by various partners (police, Public Prosecutor, taxes, special criminal investigation departments, government) and whereby all the parties involved in conjunction with one another develop a method to keep that problem under control.

The research will therefore focus on (1) cross-border activities by outlaw motorcycle gangs (2) information sharing and cross-border operations by competent authorities and (3) how to improve the current situation regarding the cross-border approach to outlaw motorcycle gangs on the basis of situational crime prevention.

Research, persons in charge:

Prof. dr. H. Schneider / dr. K. Lubina (expertise Maastricht University, Faculty of Law)

The idea of a cross border museum pass in the region Maas Rhine/Rhine Maas North is based on the example set by the Association of Museums-PASS-Musées (formerly the Upper Rhine Museum Pass). This association has been founded in December 1998. The members of this association are either from Germany, France or Switzerland. From the very beginning onwards this initiative had more than 120 participating museums as members of the Upper Rhine Pass. In 2015 this initiative has more than 320 museums, castles and gardens as members of the association in the three countries and the geographic dimension of the project has increased enormously increased. Furthermore, this initiative has become financially fully independent.

Download the flyer

PhD research, persons in charge:

Drs M. de Hoon / prof. dr. H. Schmeets (expertise from Maastricht University, Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences / Centraal Bureau voor de Statistiek), prof. dr. M. Vink (expertise from Maastricht University, Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences)

What binds immigrants to a region? This project analyses the migration trajectories of immigrants in a border region context, with a specific focus on the province of Limburg. In the project we analyse the mobility pathways among migrants once they arrive in the destination context; whereas some stay, others move on, to another region in the Netherlands or abroad and, finally, again others may migrate, but return afterwards, or find themselves in an in-between cross-border life situation. We look at various types of immigrants, ranging from students, highly-skilled and unskilled labour migrants, family migrants and refugees, coming both from within the European Union and beyond. The project focuses on migration trajectories in the context of individual life courses, legal status transitions (such as citizenship acquisition) and economic and demographic characteristics of border regions. Furthermore, we look at the relevance of contextual factors at municipality or neighbourhood level to determine whether social capital (e.g., social contacts, participation in society, institutional trust) influences why some municipalities are more successful in ‘binding’ immigrants than others. The project employs a quantitative methodology, analysing longitudinal register and survey data from Statistics Netherlands (CBS) on foreign-born residents and natives with a focus on comparing municipalities within Limburg and within other regions in the Netherlands.

PhD research, persons in charge: 

Martin Unfried (Ontgrenzer ITEM)

People who live in a cross-border region with more international than national borders might consider taking a job across the national border in a neighboring country. In the Netherlands, Belgium and Germany cross-border employment service teams, i.e. the partners in the EURES network, offer support in making this transition by facilitating the placement of workers with employers and institutions across the border. Until recently, however, there was no clear overview of the comparability of processes involved, nor was there a comparable overview of the annual numbers of workers who were successfully placed across the border.

ITEM collaborated closely with the German Bundesagentur für Arbeit, VDAB, UWV, Le Forem, Arbeitsamt der Deutschsprachigen Gemeinschaft Belgiens and Grenzinfopunkte to investigate the operations of cross-border employment services. This research was carried out by ITEM's Martin Unfried.

Grenzüberschreitende Arbeitsvermittlung im regionalen und nationalen Kontext

More information

PhD research, persons in charge: 

Drs M. Heijnen van der Tier / dr. N. Reverda, chair Dutch Knowledge Institute Social Impact Demographic Changes (expertise from NEIMED) and prof. dr. K. Hermans (University of Leuven).

Limburg is an ageing province – care and welfare hence are important topics. De-institutionalisation, decentralisations, active citizenship, community healthcare service – to name but a few important terms – are central in the transformation of the welfare state. This movement occurs in Flanders, the Netherlands as well as in North Rhine-Westphalia. Research into the quality of life in the three areas and transnational comparison, particularly when it concerns the social support and the related responsibilities, hence is more than relevant. The research will be accompanied by workshops, conferences, courses and other forms of transfer and dissemination. These activities will be specifically listed in the project plan.

Cross-border employment involves a number of thorny issues. With respect to the cross-border hiring of contractors or subcontractors, a key question is the country in which income taxes and social insurance deductions are to be paid. The subject of cross-border employment has received considerable attention. The European labour market, fraudulent employment constructions and the free movement of services are the primary reasons for this. Countries try to resolve problems by adopting new legislation and stronger law enforcement. Changes are currently being introduced at the European level as well.

Rules for liability in the subcontracting chain can be used in cases in which the payment of taxes and social insurance obligations do not occur in the usual manner. Subcontracting chain liability makes it possible to hold parties liable for the collection of taxes and insurance deductions other than the party owing the taxes. The applicable law contains numerous conditions. An important question is whether current Dutch law allows for the collection of unpaid taxes from a third party found liable for payment of such taxes if that party resides abroad. An unequivocal answer has not always been given in the Netherlands. A possible conflict with the free movement of services plays a role in this discussion. Also implicated is the free movement of workers. It would be very useful to know whether Belgium and Germany have comparable chain liability laws and how these countries deal with cross-border liability. Both legislation and jurisprudence are important in this regard. The aim of the research is to determine how The Netherlands, Belgium and Germany deal with cross-border liability in subcontracting chains and to make proposals for a possible change with respect to cross-border liability.

PhD research, persons in charge:

Prof. dr. H. Nelen (expertise from Maastricht University, Faculty of Law)

Burglaries represent one major security issue for people in the Euregion Meuse-Rhine. In fact, the phenomenon has been classified as priority in all the partner regions as well as in the EMR. The combat is particularly difficult since we’re facing local and cross-border issues. The initiatives taken the last years didn’t bring the desired success, even though the cooperation between police actors has grown steadily. Hence, the main security actors of the Euregion decided commonly to tackle this topic by a global and integrated approach. The idea is to prevent and fight this phenomenon at all the levels with all the actors. 

• The project would interact on the level of prevention including citizen participation;
• Information exchange would be another main topic. Therefore crossing-technology and information becomes a key factor of success.
• Research and development would allow us to empower the actors by analysing the cooperation, the tools and the investigations.
• Combining technological tools. In BE and NL ANPR cameras (automatic number plate recognition) have been installed. The idea is to investigate how to exchange data of these systems in order to use them commonly. Furthermore the placement of these cameras can be coordinated so that a euregional network could be created.
• Support the existing networks in a common approach. It’s important to exchange the information that the networks have with the project team. Therefore regular exchange and mutual support is strongly needed.

This common project of police, justice, administrative authorities and scientifics should 

• aim at lower the amount of burglaries in the EMR;
• assure citizen participation and information on this issue,
• empower the euregional security cooperation;
• promote a euregional and multidisciplinary approach.