Commissioned by: Euregio Meuse-Rhine (2020)

Objective: Literature study, questionnaire and workshop on the cross-border labour market before and during Covid-19

The aim of this study is to identify and analyse cross-border labour market challenges in the Euregio Meuse-Rhine (EMR) before and during the Covid-19 crisis in 2020. The EMR is one of the oldest Euroregions within the European Union and was founded in 1976. The area counts almost four million inhabitants and comprises five sub-regions (the German Zweckverband region of Aachen, the German-speaking community of Belgium, the Belgian provinces of Limburg and Liège, and the Dutch region of South Limburg).

The Euregio Meuse-Rhine asked the Institute for Transnational and Euregional cross border cooperation and Mobility / ITEM to carry out a literature study on the cross-border labour market in general and the effects of Covid-19 on the cross-border labour market between March and October 2020, in particular. In addition, we will conduct analyses of both a related December 2020 workshop and the responses to our questionnaire on these topics. The results of this study provide a first direction for a number of policy recommendations. Additionally, this study created a methodology that can be used on a yearly basis to conduct structural monitoring and analysis of the cross-border labour market in the EMR.

In cooperation with:  Pim Mertens (ITEM), Martin Unfried (ITEM) & Frank Cörvers (ROA/Maastricht University).