In compliance with the amended Schengen Borders Code (Regulation (EU) 2024/1717, Art 42b), the Member States of the Schengen Area had to identify cross-border regions by 11 January 2025 and inform the European Commission accordingly. In August, the Commission published the list of border regions per country. AEBR, MOT and CESCI surveyed the list, and the results are now available on a map.
In principle, the territory of cross-border regions should be tackled with special attention to mitigate the impacts of an emergency, such as a pandemic, to allow for maintaining cross-border commuting and vital services in the border areas. However, the lists have been compiled at the national level, defining border regions according to national nomenclatures rather than cross-border areas.
Besides, there are many, hardly justifiable gaps on the map. Even more, not every government has notified the Commission on the cross-border regions by the given deadline. These shortcomings may endanger cross-border territories and their citizens in the event of a new emergency.
The three associations promote every effort to address this challenge and ensure the free movement of people within the Schengen Area.
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