The Maas-Rhine Euroregion: A Laboratory for European Integration?

Abstract The transborder and trilingual Maas–Rhine Euroregion is often presented as a laboratory for European integration. The authorities in the region promote the image of a region that has 'always' been a unity, but which is divided by artificial boundaries – 'scars of history' – as a result of power politics. In this essay this image is confronted with the reality of the cross-border interactions and identities of the people involved. This confrontation leads to the conclusion that although there is political, economic and cultural cooperation in the region, the region is not at all politically, economically and culturally integrated. The national border as a physical barrier may have been removed, but the economic, social, juridical and cultural barriers are still there. The unification and integration of the citizens living in the region is being impeded by conflicting national systems of law and regulations, by communication and information media focused on national issues, by nationally oriented infrastructure, and especially by strongly different national cultures and identities. The consequences for European integration in general are analysed by comparing this regional integration with the national integration and nation-building policies of the past. Notes 1 Europa concreet 2000. Flyer Stichting Euregio Maas-Rijn. Maastricht (www.euregio-mr.org). 2 G. Kockelkorn, 'ALMA – een grensoverschrijdend universitair netwerk in de (EU)regio van Karel de Grote', in H.C.G. Spoormans, E.A. Reichenbach and A.F.A. Korsten (eds), Grenzen over. Aspecten van grensoverschrijdende samenwerking (Bussum: Coutinho 1999) p.231; R.W.J.M. 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Deutsch, Nationalism and Social Communication: An Inquiry into the Foundations of Nationality (Cambridge, MA: MIT Press 1953); E. Gellner, Nations and Nationalism (Oxford: Blackwell 1983). 43 Cederman (note 41) p.22. 44 Gebieden in perspectief. Rapport van de KNAG commissie Aardrijkskunde Tweede Fase (Utrecht: KNAG 2003). 45 Cederman (note 41) p.23. 46 V. Mamadouh, 'Dealing with Multilingualism in the European Union: Cultural Theory Rationalities and Language Policies', Journal of Comparative Policy Analysis: Research and Practice 4 (2002) p.332. 47 Cederman (note 41) pp.23–4. 48 O. Niedermayer and R. Sinnott, Public Opinion and International Governance (Oxford: Oxford University Press 1995). 49 Cederman (note 41) p.26. 50 Ibid. 51 Ibid. 52 Mamadouh (note 44) pp.330–33; see also V. Mamadouh, 'Beyond Nationalism: Three Visions of the European Union and their Implications for the Linguistic Regime of its Institutions', GeoJournal 48/2 (1999) pp.133–44. 53 Cited in A.G. Harryvan, 'De historiografie van de Europese integratie, 1945–1985', in W.A.F. Camphuis and C.G.J. Wildeboer Schut (eds), Europese eenwording in historisch perspectief (Zaltbommel: Europese Bibliotheek 1991) pp.22–45. More generally attributed to Monnet is: 'Si c'était à refaire, je commencerais par la culture'. However, there is some doubt that Monnet has used one of these quotes at all (see www.revue-lebanquet.com/fr/art/1996/143.htm). There is no doubt that these quotes reflect his opinion at the end of his life.