Cross-border healthcare

Advised entity: Landkreis Wunsiedel im Fichtelgebirge

In the Czech German border region, there are still significant obstacles to cross border healthcare. At present, the absence of legal or financial regulations governing how patients from the other country can be treated makes access to cross border care difficult. This situation is particularly evident in the area around Aš (Czech Republic) and Selb (Germany), where the hospital in Aš has been closed while a new healthcare campus has been established in Selb, leaving patients and healthcare providers with unclear procedures for access to services and reimbursement of medical costs.

Addressing this obstacle highlights the need to develop appropriate framework conditions for closer administrative cooperation in the cross-border healthcare sector.

Safe and reliable Tri-Country Train (RE18)

Advised entity: Province of Limburg

Operating across the borders of Belgium, the Netherlands, and Germany, the Tri-Country Train (RE18) runs through an area where three national railway and legal systems meet but do not fully align. On these cross border stretches, differences in national legislation and competences of train staff can make it unclear how to respond effectively to nuisance or incidents. This enforcement vacuum sometimes creates feelings of insecurity on board.

Solving this obstacle would improve legal certainty and ensure that safety and order on the railways continue seamlessly across borders.

Belles Border-Joint Civil Protection

Advised entity: Municipality of Sintiki

Greek and Bulgarian local and regional authorities or fire units cannot cooperate directly in wildfire prevention, preparedness, and response, without prior central-level authorization.  The absence of a legally recognized civil protection cooperation framework at the local level  creates significant risks for both nature and human safety. Addressing this gap would transform the current informal exchanges into structured, institutionalised, and legally supported cooperation, thereby strengthening joint action and improving long-term risk-reduction. 

Romanian-Hungarian cross-border data sharing of patients' records

Advised entity: BRECO Oradea Regional Office for CBC Cooperation on Ro-Hu Border

Many residents at the Romanian-Hungarian border frequently cross it to access healthcare services. However, the lack of a clear legal framework and interoperability issues between hospital and healthcare IT systems are major obstacles to sharing patient data. This delays patient care and reduces healthcare efficiency.

Solutions to harmonise cross-border data sharing would improve the Romanian and Hungarian healthcare systems and health status of citizens residing in the border area.

Cross-border Unpeopled Aerial Systems (UAS) for Research & Rescue

Advised entity: NOI AG / spa

Mountain regions face extreme weather hazards, requiring effective rescue operations. Cross-border rescue cooperation between Austria and Italy is hindered by inconsistent drone regulations, liability and insurance discrepancies as well as  differences in equipment standards.

Harmonising the regulatory framework would enable efficient and timely rescue operations, benefitting both countries.

Cross-border freshwater sharing between France and Flanders

Advised entity: Provincie West-Vlaanderen

The lack of a formal agreement between French and Flemish authorities on cross-border water management hampers effective collaboration concerning the Schelde, Leie (Lys), and IJzer (Iser) rivers. This results in policy mismatches, delayed emergency responses to flooding, and inefficiencies in long-term water resource planning

Addressing these issues could enhance resource allocation and improve emergency responses for both regions

Cross-border security cooperation in a twin-city area

Advised entity: Zweckverband Eurode

The collaboration between the public order offices of the municipalities of Herzogenrath (Germany) and Kerkrade (Netherlands) is complex because of differing responsibilities and legal powers. Key questions about the authority of Dutch and German Enforcement Officers when crossing the border include their insurance, uniform use, carrying of equipment, and legal status on the other side of the border.

Addressing these issues could benefit Eurode residents by enhancing public safety and creating a seamless operational environment for enforcement officers.

Sharing clinical information across borders

Advised entity: AECT-Hospital de Cerdanya / GECT-Hôpital de Cerdagne

Spanish doctors at the EGTC-Hospital of Cerdanya cannot access French patients' medical records because they are not registered with the French Medical Council (Ordre des Médecins). This registration is an administrative requirement for accessing medical records. Resolving this obstacle would benefit the hospital staff and patients by making medical data more accessible and thus medical care more efficient.

Effects of German driving ban on Sundays and public holidays in the Netherlands

Advised entity: Rijkswaterstaat Oost-Nederland (RWS ON)

The German driving ban for trucks on Sundays and holidays causes truck overcrowding and illegal parking at borders, especially with the Netherlands, due to a lack of parking. This endangers road safety, results in environmental pollution due to lack of sanitation and increased crime such as robbery and theft.

Finding a solution for the cross-border area between Germany and the Netherlands could optimise parking use, enhance road safety, and support truck drivers better.

Cicero - Croatia Italy Civil Protection Collaboration

Advised entity: Unione dei comuni pratiarcati

The Union of Pratiarcati Municipalities (Veneto, Italy) and the municipality of Labin, Croatia, aim to collaborate on civil protection through the Interreg CICERO project. Legal barriers prevent local civil protection groups from cross-border interventions, which need national-level activation.

Overcoming this could enhance cooperation, training, and joint responses to emergencies, benefiting both regions' civil protection capabilities.

Comparison of fishing rules on border rivers

Advised entity: Mura Region EGTC

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The Mura river has been for several years the destination of a lively fishing tourism community. However, since the border between Croatia and Hungary runs through the middle of the river, regulations and conservation efforts for the same river differ greatly between each side. Overcoming these differences would greatly improve a coordinated conservation effort as well as increase the attractivity of the leisure area leading to various benefits for the region.