Strengthening cross-border communities: Lessons from Covid-19

Cross-border regions across the Nordics and beyond are facing challenges due to the Covid-19 pandemic. In the web conference “Strengthening cross-border communities: Lessons from Covid-19”, representatives from European and Nordic institutions will discuss the short- and long-term impacts of Covid-19 in cross-border regions. The results of recent studies in the Bothnian Arc and Svinesund regions will be presented and refined during the conference – with your help.

Cross-border activities came dramatically to a halt in the spring of 2020 as a result of measures adopted to limit the spread of the Coronavirus. On a macro level, the interruption of flows of people and goods added significant stress on every aspect of community life, as well as challenging the supply and accessibility to key goods and services. Bi-national communities, used to a borderless daily life, suddenly experienced hard borders. These communities were divided by inward-looking national measures put in place without considering the nature of border communities.  Collaboration across borders is being tested, but also the resilience and viability of cross-border community living. This highlights the need for raising more awareness of the consequences and risks of hard borders for these communities, and what instruments may be developed to ensure the long-term resilience of cross-border regions.

Web conference

With this web conference, Nordregio together with the Bothnian Arc and Svinesund cross-border committees aim to stimulate learning among stakeholders from across Nordic border regions, and open up for a discussion on the impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic in a short- and long term perspective. We will share results from research conducted on behalf of the Nordic Thematic Group of Innovative and Resilient Regions – including a not yet published report on Covid-19 implications where we seek your input on the conclusions.

Guests speakers

Among others, the Association of European Border Regions (AEBR) and Nordic Council of Ministers’ Secretariat are invited to provide a wider perspective on the challenges and opportunities for cross-border regions.

Studies on cross-border regions

The Nordic Thematic Group on Innovative and Resilient regions has undertaken four cross-border studies in the Bothnian Arc and Svinesund cross-border regions in 2017-2020. These cover themes such as economic and social resilience, digitalisation, skills supply, and governance. In light of the global pandemic, the thematic group initiated a study on the effects resulting from the measures adopted. The preliminary findings of this study will be presented in the event and the feedback from the sessions will help to strengthen the results.

PROGRAMME

Note: the web conference starts 12:00 (Swedish time) / 13:00 (Finnish time)

Welcome to the cross-border web conference hosted by the Bothnian Arc and Svinesund committees and Nordregio on behalf of the Nordic Thematic Group on Innovative and Resilient Regions 2017-2020.

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