AEBR

The Association of European Border Regions (AEBR) was founded in 1971 by the first border regions which had started cross-border cooperation in Europe after the Second World War, strengthening the integration of citizens across national boundaries.

Today it counts some 100 members from the European Union and its neighbouring countries.

AEBR’s mission and work are regulated by the Statute and inspired by the European Charter for Border and Cross-Border Regions.

AEBR works on behalf of European border and cross-border regions with the aim to:

• highlight their role in the political landscape;
• represent their common interests;
• enhance cooperation between border regions throughout Europe;
• promote exchanges of experience, information and solutions to common obstacles.

Border regions face specific challenges because of their particular geographic position – a distance from the economic and political heartland of their country which often results in poor infrastructure, public services and goods provision. In these territories cross-border cooperation is essential, especially because it is very often crucial to keep value chains, labour market, and other economic and social lifelines.