Resistance or Acceptance? The Voice of Local Cross-Border Organizations in Times of Re-Bordering

Figures & data

Table 1. Euroregions at the Austrian-German Border with Key Characteristics and Analyzed Material.

Euroregion	Founded	Members	Scope of analyzed material	Dominant/typical material, in order of frequency	Material relevant to “hardening” borders and/or migration
Euregio Bayerischer Wald – Böhmerwald – Mühlvierte	1993	350 regions and local governments and other organizations (e.g. civil society organizations) (trilateral: Austria, Germany, Czech Republic)	71 news items (2014–2019) 10 newsletters (2015–2019), 4 annual reports*	EU Cohesion Policy current and future developments; information on project funding from EU Interreg program; cooperation on projects in the area of education; commemorative and other events; European values/value of EU	Marginal. General refugee situation and border controls; integration of refugees; border controls
Euregio Inntal-Chiemsee-Kaisergebirge-Mangfalltal	1998	80 local governments, regions and other organizations (e.g. higher education institution)	90 news items (2015–2019), 4 Annual Reports (2015–2018), 1 Resolution	Interreg; organization-related; events, European values; infrastructure and transport; education; business development; environment	Present. Referrals to border controls and refugee situation in annual report introductions and speeches. Infrastructure resolution partly on border controls. Cooperation on integration of refugees mentioned in several news items.
Euregio Salzburg-BLG-Traunstein	1995	110 local governments, regions and other organizations (e.g. Economic Chamber, Chamber of Labour)	23 newsletters (2015–2019), 4 Annual reports (2015–2018)	Events; education; business development; tourism; environment; information on project funding from EU Interreg program; organization-related; youth	Present. Referrals to border controls and the migration situation at the end of 2015 and early 2016. Discussion and cooperation about refugee integration.
Inn-Salzach-Euregio	1994	137 local governments from 4 districts (Braunau, Grieskirchen, Ried and Scharding)	147 news items (2017–2019)	Information on project funding from EU Interreg program; policy area; environment and sustainability; innovation and business development; organization-related, events	None.
Euregio Via Salina	1997	125 local govts + Bavaria, Tyrol and Voralberg	16 news items (2015–2019)	Information on project funding from EU Interreg program	None
Euregio Zugspitze-Wetterstein-Karwendel	1998/2015	20 local governments, agencies and associations from 3 regions	9 news items (2017–2019)	Project outcomes from the EU Interreg program in areas of education; environment; gender and cultural heritage	None

Source: Websites of the listed institutions. Data retrieved November 2019–January 2020 if not otherwise indicated.

*From the Bavarian carrying organization of Euregio Bayerischer Wald – Böhmerwald – Unterer Inn e.V.

Table 2. Argumentation Against Border Controls in One Case of Policy Action.

Normative	Instrumental	Factual (premises)	Policy recommendations
Against the spirit of European borderland integration Against the spirit of the European Integration/EU project (reference to Schuman) Refugees are in need and worthy of support	Borderland inhabitants spend time in queues. Borderland inhabitants endure the unpleasant conditions created by congestions. Queuing costs money for business. Congestion is harmful to health of inhabitants. Congestion is bad for the environment.	There are not so many migrants coming anymore (hence borders not needed)	External border control (official policy recommendation) Better aid policies (money to education in Africa) Agricultural policy (not have surpluses) Trade policies – not export electronic waste or too cheap agricultural produce