The Association of European Border Regions (AEBR) is an organization of European regions and deals with cross-border cooperation in Europe[1] and other continents. AEBR's main office is based in Gronau (North Rhine-Westphalia), Germany. It also has a Project's Office in Berlin, an Antenna in Brussels (at the Office of Extremadura) and Info Centres for Ukraine in Kharkiv (in collaboration with the Simon Kuznets National University of Economics) and for the Balkans in Novi Sad (in collaboration with CESCI Balkans). It represents the interests of the European border and cross-border regions at European, national and regional levels.
The first initiative to create a "union for border regions" was discussed in 1965 at the International Regional Planning Conference in Basel. After extensive preparation, ten border regions from Europe came together on June 17–18, 1971, and created a Standing Conference of European Border Regions that later was called "Association of European Border Regions".[2] They elected Alfred Mozer as the first president at AEBR.[3]
| President | Inauguration | End of Term | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alfred Mozer (1905–1979) | 1971 | 1975 | |
| 1975 | 1979 | ||
| Dr Wolfgang Schäuble (born 1942) | 1979 | 1983 | |
| Dr Karl Ahrens (born 1924) | 1984 | 1996 | |
| Joan M. Vallvé (born 1940) | 1996 | 2004 | |
| Lambert van Nistelrooij (born 1953) | 2004 | 2009 | |
| Karl-Heinz Lambertz (born 1952) | 2009 | 2017 | |
| 2017 | 2019 | ||
| Ann-Sofi Backgren | 2019 | 2020 | |
| Karl-Heinz Lambertz (born 1952) | 2020 | current president |
AEBR supports European border and cross-border regions in order to:
In order to reach their objectives, AEBR works together at European level with:
The General Assembly votes for the President and the Executive Committee and decides which applicants are accepted into the organization, as well as to determine contribution fees.[5]
The Executive Committee consists of the President, Treasurer and at least seven Vice-Presidents and twenty members representing border and cross-border regions who receive a two-year term once voted into office. They are responsible for positions adopted by the AEBR on vital issues and cooperating with European and national institutions, organizations and associations. They are also responsible for appointing the Secretary General. The President (highest ranking representative of AEBR) represents AEBR externally and also is responsible to make joint decisions with the Secretary General. The Secretary General has the power and also authority to represent AEBR.[6]
The Association of European Border Regions may open forums, form committees and employ representatives from European and other political bodies, associations and social groups that receive an advisory capacity. AEBR also organizes task forces and working groups on different issues of interest for European border and cross-border regions to which belong representatives of European institutions and political committees, associations and society-relevant groups with an advisory role. The "Advisory Committee for cross-border cooperation", is composed of scientists and stakeholders that advise AEBR in all matters relating to cross-border cooperation. This committee may also make proposals for solving issues in the area of cross-border cooperation.[7]
AEBR formed about 100 border and cross-border regions, representing over 200 border regions within and outside the EU. Cross-border regions (e.g. Euregio) and larger combinations (for example Greater Region Saar-Lor-Lux) often have multiple regions as members.
A cross-border region, border or associations of border regions within the European Union can apply as a full member with full voting rights.[8]
Members without voting rights who can apply as members without voting rights are border and cross-border regions. When accepted as a non-voting member, they receive observer status for two years until their representative status has been conclusively confirmed. Advisory members can also be non-voting members, who can be individuals, associations, institutions and institutes working in the area of cross-border cooperation.
The languages primarily used at AEBR as working languages are German, English, French, Polish, Spanish, Italian, Portuguese, Russian and, if need be, other languages of member regions.