Cross-border cooperation: MEPs quizzed the Council about the new mechanism

MEPs are calling on the member states to take all necessary steps to finally reach an agreement with the Parliament on the new mechanism for removing cross-border obstacles.

MEPs have reiterated their readiness to start interinstitutional negotiations with the EU governments on new Commission proposal inspired by the Parliament´s resolution from September 2023 on new mechanism removing legal and administrative cross-border obstacles and fostering cooperation. They would like to reach an agreement on the proposal before the EU elections in June 2024.

EP rapporteur Sandro Gozi (Renew, FR) pointed out that the new mechanism is expected not only to remove barriers, but also to financially benefit cross-border regions and EU economy by saving 457 billion euro and 4 million jobs every year. He has also stressed that the Commission´s new proposal is of a simpler character, has a voluntary nature, creates no new administrative burdens and effectively addresses legal issues the EU countries objected in the original proposal from 2018. MEPs thus expect the Council to restart the talks as soon as possible in order to finalize the text before the European elections.

Belgian Minister of Foreign Affairs Hadja Lahbib representing the Belgian presidency of the Council has acknowledged the importance of removing cross-border obstacles hampering development of infrastructure and impeding life of cross-border communities. She stressed the importance of cross-border cooperation for the functioning of the single market and expressed her full support to the new mechanism, which is in her view more flexible and allows the countries to act on a case-by-case basis. Yet, Lahbib also said that it would take some time to analyse the positions of member states, which might delay negotiations with the European Parliament. According to her, the Belgian presidency would do its utmost to meet the needs of border regions, although the agreement on the new mechanism might not be reached until the end of this legislative term.

MEPs welcomed the support of the Belgian presidency for this proposal and urged the Minister to ensure the legislative file is finalised before the European elections. They stressed the value of cross-border cooperation in ensuring peace, access to public services, universities and health care, while contributing to development of businesses and providing a tool for real integration. They also believe it can help border-regions to release their full potential and the EU governments to understand and better support the needs of their citizens.

Background

Internal border regions cover 40 % of the EU’s territory and account for 30 % of its population. Following Council´s failure to adopt its first-reading position on the proposed European Cross-Border Mechanism in 2018, Parliament has called on the European Commission to come up with a new legislative proposal aimed at removing cross-border obstacles in the EU. In response to Parliament´s call, the European Commission adopted a proposal for a Regulation on Facilitating Cross-Border Solutions in December 2023.