Cross-border cooperation in the border region of Germany, France, and Luxembourg in times of Covid-19

Abstract

ABSTRACT The process of European integration has tended to diminish the significance of borders within the EU. In that respect, the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic in spring 2020 was all the greater: 35 years after the signing of the Schengen Agreement, checks and closures suddenly reappeared at many former border crossing points; long queues at crossing points, families and friends cut off from each other, and complex individual fates descended like a pall on European societies. At the same time, the advanced state of integration of borderlands became apparent - a striking example being the SaarLorLux region across the common borders of Germany, France, and Luxembourg. The article inquires into the political response to the impact of the Corona crisis across this border region. The analysis shows that on many levels SaarLorLux is perceived as a tightly meshed integration area in which functional exchange is normal, and that a corresponding ideational shock was felt at all political levels when border controls were reintroduced. However, the situation also had positive effects in terms of cross-border cooperation. Many political actors see the institutionalization of cross-border integration as having grown in the pandemic and are unanimous in wanting future developments in this respect.