How AEBR works
AEBR currently has about 100 members – border and cross-border regions in the Member States of the European Union and the Council of Europe. The list of members also includes various associations of border regions and, recently, Chambers of Commerce in border regions without permanent cross-border structures have joined the Association. There are strong relationships with non-members through project partnerships, participation in other networks, and similar initiatives. And there is also regular contact with cross-border experts, scholars, politicians, practitioners, entrepreneurs, and citizens in general.
The highest body of the AEBR is the General Assembly of members, which helps shape AEBR’s policy, debates, and decides on the most important issues. It meets once a year and elects AEBR representatives every other year. AEBR Executive Committee gathers representatives of AEBR members to report and give their opinion on current developments regarding Cohesion, especially Territorial Cohesion (Interreg and other CBC programmes, as well as other EU policies particularly affecting border regions), to discuss internal organisational and financial issues, to assess AEBR’s work, and to exchange views on other topics of interest for cross-border cooperation. They meet at least three times per year.
Here is the list of AEBR ExCom members 2024-2027 in English and in German.
To support AEBR, an Advisory Committee was created in 1977. The “Beirat” consists of personalities, on their own behalf or representing associations or institutions, who are active in cross-border cooperation and have gained recognition for their contributions. The advisory board counsels AEBR on all issues of cross-border cooperation.
The President of AEBR is the highest-ranking representative of the Association, while the Secretary-General has the authority to act solely on behalf of the Association and to represent it.
AEBR works on many aspects concerning border regions and cross-border cooperation. To be able to cover the most relevant issues of border regions and cross-border cooperation, AEBR has established various Task Forces since 2007, consisting of experts in every particular field:
- TF ‘Cross-Border Health’ (2007 to date)
- TF ‘External borders’ (TFEB) (2007 to date)
- Languages and Borders Network (2008- 2010)
- TF ‘Strategy & Finances’ (2009-2010), later “Presidium meeting” (2012-2022)
- TF ‘CB Programmes & Projects/Future Interreg Programmes (2009-2010, 2012-2014)
- TF ‘Interreg’ (2014 to date)
- TF ‘CB Culture’ (T4CBC) (2012 to date)
- TF ‘CB Water Management’ (2012-2016)
- Working Group on Small Project Funds and People-to-people projects (SPF & P2P)
- TF ‘CB Labour Market’ (2013 to date)
- TF ‘CB Data & Innovation’ (2016-2017): concentrated its work on a project proposal for an ESPON targeted analysis on Cross-Border Impact Assessment, based on a CB Territorial Impact Assessment Tool developed by Prof. Eduardo Medeiros (University of Lisbon) under the leadership of Hedmark County Council (NO). The proposal succeeded, and the results are accessible here.
- German Group in AEBR
In case of interest, please contact the particular Task Force or the AEBR main office in Gronau (info@aebr.eu)
AEBR Global Initiative
Not only do European border regions struggle with topics related to their geographical position. AEBR Global Initiative expands AEBR’s activities and projects across other continents, bringing AEBR’s knowledge through targeted projects.
More information on the AEBR Global Initiative is available here.
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