The Association of European Border Regions welcomes actors from border and cross-border regions to its Annual Conference 2019 which takes place in Dresden on 24 and 25 October 2019, with the title “Cross-border Culture Cooperation and the Culture of Cross-Border Cooperation”. Bringing together AEBR’s members from border regions inside and outside the European Union and many more stakeholders, the event offers a unique opportunity to discuss current topics of interest for regional and local policy-makers, academicians and actors involved in cooperation. The annual conference is an open event upon registration.

Border and cross-border regions are involved in Interreg programmes and projects promoting people-to-people contact, knowledge and collaboration. Together with local and regional authorities and in cooperation with national and international institutions, AEBR seeks to identify solutions to overcome cross-border obstacles, but also to fight Euro-scepticism and promote a better understanding of EU programmes  - and particularly territorial ones - through the deployment of young volunteers with the initiative Interreg Volunteers Youth. With these efforts, we want to contribute to increase the level of trust among Europeans - and this will be the main message of AEBR's Conference in Dresden.

Prior to AEBR's Annual Conference 2019, the third eidtion of the Cross-Border School will take place on Wednesday 23 October. This is organised by AEBR and in its third year it will expand the topic of the conference, “The Culture of Cross-Border Cooperation”: we will discuss borders in a globalised context, success stories of cross-border cooperation as a strategy to face Euroscepticism and the provision of services across national borders - workshops and debates to deepen the discussion will follow the presentations in the afternoon. The Cross-Border School is a unique opportunity to learn about latest research and trends on cross border cooperation, as well as a meeting point for related actors and experts from all over Europe and beyond. Academicians and practitioners will discuss with the audience the added value of cross border cooperation against the backdrop of the current political situation locally and globally. 

On Thursday 24 October AEBR's Annual Conference will offer the chance to discuss current relevant aspects of European Territorial Cooperation: the European Cross-Border Mechanism, initiatives to solve obstacles to cooperation like b-solutions, communication of territorial cohesion. On Friday 25 October, a series of workshops and presentations of best-practices will allow to deepen specific topics.

AEBR has invited as speakers and organisers DG Regio, ESPON, Interact and many local and regional authorities from border and cross-border regions.

More information can be found here. To register, please fill in the registration form accessible here before the 10th of October 2019.