Resilience of Cross-border Cooperation in the Neisse-Nisa-Nysa Euroregion after the Pandemic: Bouncing In-between

Abstract

The article focuses on analyzing the impact of pandemic-induced border closures on cross-border integration within the Euroregion Neisse-Nisa-Nysa (ERN) encompassing parts of Germany, Czechia, and Poland. The restrictions on border crossings significantly disrupted the flow of people and goods across the ERN, affecting the daily lives of individuals residing on both sides (or all three sides) of the borders, particularly cross-border commuters. These individuals, referred to as borderlanders, found themselves disproportionately affected by the closures, with no representation to advocate for their interests. Consequently, the article highlights the key consequences of border closures and evaluates the initiatives undertaken by Euroregional stakeholders to enhance the resilience of cross-border cooperation within the ERN. In the concluding remarks, stakeholders involved in cross-border cooperation are urged to seize the opportunity and proactively advance their collaboration, as their interim unambiguous responses to the pandemic bounce in between advancing their cooperation and coming back to a pre-pandemic state. This can be achieved through the implementation of people-centric initiatives and a transition towards the European Grouping of Territorial Cooperation, facilitating a more effective and sustainable cross-border partnership.