Conceptual development of cross-border regions using the example of the “green metropolis” - opportunities for strengthening

Duration: 15. April – 10. July 2013 (12 Weeks)

Participants: 7 students

Supervisors: René Fleschurz, Beate Caesar

Language: German, literature and interviews partially in english 

The “Green Metropolis” is an example of cross-border cooperation in the German-Dutch-Belgian border region. This project therefore offered the students the opportunity to deal with 3 different countries and their different planning cultures and processes as well as their cooperation within a short period of time.

The aim of the Bachelor's project was to analyze and evaluate fundamental problems and their solutions in the field of cross-border cooperation. In addition, a cross-border transport concept was designed in a practical, self-selected focus area.

The starting point of the project was the structural change in mining regions and the associated need to cooperate across administrative borders in order to jointly solve the problems and increase the attractiveness of a region.

As part of the project, a multi-day excursion to the green metropolis (Düren, Aachen, Valkenburg, Heerlen) took place, during which a large number of interviews were conducted with project partners of the cooperation project.