Region Sønderjylland–Schleswig
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Region Sønderjylland–Schleswig is the regional centre for cross-border cooperation between the municipalities of
Tønder Tønder (; ) is a town in the Region of Southern Denmark. With a population of 7,477 (as of 1 January 2025), it is the main town and the administrative seat of the Tønder Municipality. History The first mention of Tønder might have been in th ...
,
Aabenraa Aabenraa (; , ; South Jutlandic: ''Affenråe'', also known as Åbenrå) is a town in Southern Denmark, at the head of the Aabenraa Fjord, an arm of the Little Belt, north of the Denmark–Germany border and north of German town of Flensburg. It ...
,
Haderslev Haderslev (; ) is a Denmark, Danish town in the Region of Southern Denmark with a population of 22,405 (1 January 2025).Sønderborg (; ) is a Denmark, Danish town in the Region of Southern Denmark. It is the main town and the administrative seat of Sønderborg Municipality (Kommune). The town has a population of 28,333 (1 January 2025),southern Denmark The Region of Southern Denmark (, ; , ; ) is an administrative region of Denmark established on Monday 1 January 2007 as part of the 2007 Danish Municipal Reform, which abolished the traditional counties ("amter") and set up five larger regions. ...
, the districts
Schleswig-Flensburg Schleswig-Flensburg (; ) is a district in Schleswig-Holstein, Germany. It is bounded by (from the south and clockwise) the districts of Rendsburg-Eckernförde, Dithmarschen and Nordfriesland, the Region Syddanmark in Denmark, the city of Flensb ...
and
Nordfriesland Nordfriesland (; ; Low German: Noordfreesland), also known as North Frisia, is the northernmost Districts of Germany, district of Germany, part of the state of Schleswig-Holstein. It includes almost all of traditional North Frisia (with the e ...
, and the independent city of
Flensburg Flensburg (; Danish language, Danish and ; ; ) is an independent city, independent town in the far north of the Germany, German state of Schleswig-Holstein. After Kiel and Lübeck, it is the third-largest city in Schleswig-Holstein. Flensburg's ...
. Region Sønderjylland–Schleswig was established on 16 September 1997 in
Aabenraa Aabenraa (; , ; South Jutlandic: ''Affenråe'', also known as Åbenrå) is a town in Southern Denmark, at the head of the Aabenraa Fjord, an arm of the Little Belt, north of the Denmark–Germany border and north of German town of Flensburg. It ...
. It is a recognized
Euroregion In European politics, the term Euroregion usually refers to a transnational co-operation structure between two (or more) contiguous territories located in different European countries. Euroregions represent a specific type of cross-border regio ...
, a legislative cooperation between two or more European regions sharing a common
border Borders are generally defined as geography, geographical boundaries, imposed either by features such as oceans and terrain, or by polity, political entities such as governments, sovereign states, federated states, and other administrative divisio ...
. All Euroregions are organised in the Association of European Border Regions with its head domicile in Gronau. The coordinating centre for the cross border cooperation within Region Sønderjylland–Schleswig is fulfilled by the Regional Office in Padborg.


Name

Region Sønderjylland–Schleswig refers to the historical background of the cross-border cooperation. Both
Schleswig The Duchy of Schleswig (; ; ; ; ; ) was a duchy in Southern Jutland () covering the area between about 60 km (35 miles) north and 70 km (45 mi) south of the current border between Germany and Denmark. The territory has been di ...
and Sønderjylland have become two independent institutions which characterized the old
Duchy of Schleswig The Duchy of Schleswig (; ; ; ; ; ) was a duchy in Southern Jutland () covering the area between about 60 km (35 miles) north and 70 km (45 mi) south of the current border between Germany and Denmark. The territory has been div ...
which was divided in 1920 between
Denmark Denmark is a Nordic countries, Nordic country in Northern Europe. It is the metropole and most populous constituent of the Kingdom of Denmark,, . also known as the Danish Realm, a constitutionally unitary state that includes the Autonomous a ...
and
Germany Germany, officially the Federal Republic of Germany, is a country in Central Europe. It lies between the Baltic Sea and the North Sea to the north and the Alps to the south. Its sixteen States of Germany, constituent states have a total popu ...
. The southeastern part of Region Sønderjylland–Schleswig, which is in the German district of Rendsburg-Eckernförde, declined to become part of the cross-border cooperation.


Partners


Danish

* Region
Syddanmark The Region of Southern Denmark (, ; , ; ) is an administrative region of Denmark established on Monday 1 January 2007 as part of the 2007 Danish Municipal Reform, which abolished the traditional counties ("amter") and set up five larger regions ...
(Regional Council of Southern Denmark) *
Haderslev Haderslev (; ) is a Denmark, Danish town in the Region of Southern Denmark with a population of 22,405 (1 January 2025).Aabenraa Aabenraa (; , ; South Jutlandic: ''Affenråe'', also known as Åbenrå) is a town in Southern Denmark, at the head of the Aabenraa Fjord, an arm of the Little Belt, north of the Denmark–Germany border and north of German town of Flensburg. It ...
Kommune (Aabenraa Local Authority) *
Tønder Tønder (; ) is a town in the Region of Southern Denmark. With a population of 7,477 (as of 1 January 2025), it is the main town and the administrative seat of the Tønder Municipality. History The first mention of Tønder might have been in th ...
Kommune (Tønder Local Authority) *
Sønderborg (; ) is a Denmark, Danish town in the Region of Southern Denmark. It is the main town and the administrative seat of Sønderborg Municipality (Kommune). The town has a population of 28,333 (1 January 2025),Schleswig-Flensburg Schleswig-Flensburg (; ) is a district in Schleswig-Holstein, Germany. It is bounded by (from the south and clockwise) the districts of Rendsburg-Eckernförde, Dithmarschen and Nordfriesland, the Region Syddanmark in Denmark, the city of Flensb ...
(Schleswig-Flensburg Local Authority) * Kreis
Nordfriesland Nordfriesland (; ; Low German: Noordfreesland), also known as North Frisia, is the northernmost Districts of Germany, district of Germany, part of the state of Schleswig-Holstein. It includes almost all of traditional North Frisia (with the e ...
(North Friesland Local Authority) * Stadt
Flensburg Flensburg (; Danish language, Danish and ; ; ) is an independent city, independent town in the far north of the Germany, German state of Schleswig-Holstein. After Kiel and Lübeck, it is the third-largest city in Schleswig-Holstein. Flensburg's ...
(Municipality of Flensburg)


Laws and regulations

The co-operating partners of Region Sønderjylland–Schleswig are still subject to their own national legislation. At the same time, the co-operation supports the European Charter for Border Regions and Cross-border regions that was implemented by the
Association of European Border Regions The Association of European Border Regions (AEBR) is an organization of European regions and deals with cross-border cooperation in Europe and other continents. AEBR's main office is based in Gronau (North Rhine-Westphalia), Germany. It also has ...
in 1995. The foundation for the co-operation is based on equal rights and a mutual respect for the other side's cultural identity, and decisions are made in unanimity. The Region's administrative domicile is located where the partners decide to place the secretariat of the organization.


Objectives

There are several different objectives for cross-border cooperation. First of all, a wish for a broader demographic contact and cultural exchange between the two populations, which in turn should lead to a deeper mutual understanding and an increased knowledge of each culture and language in the longer term. In order to support this objective, Region Sønderjylland–Schleswig provides administrative and financial support for cultural projects. For example, through the Interreg project “KursKultur 2.0”, the exchange of teachers, cross-border school cooperation and various language projects are prioritized. There is also great focus on economic integration and interaction of the cross-border labour market. Since 2004 the Infocenter, under Region Sønderjylland–Schleswig, has provided advice and counselling for cross-border commuters. The centre started as an Interreg project but became so popular, that it was permanently established in 2007. The Infocenter provides free advice and counselling both to the business community, local government and private individuals, wanting to expand job or living opportunities on the other side of the border. Here there is close cooperation with various other networks, for example trade unions, employment agencies, local authorities and clubs. An internet page, Pendlerinfo, administered by the Regional Office, offers information and help for commuters. Infocenter regularly hold lectures in conjunction with both Danish and German employment agencies and unemployment insurance representatives, in-service training of employees in the councils dealing with cross-border commuting, and gives personal counselling. Region Sønderjylland–Schleswig is also active in voicing concerns specific to the border region. Region Sønderjylland–Schleswig has for example pointed out the need for mutual recognition of business education. Building projects of current interest like the
Fehmarn Belt Fehmarn Belt () (, former spelling ''Femer Bælt''; ) is a strait connecting the Bay of Kiel and the Bay of Mecklenburg in the western part of the Baltic Sea between the German island of Fehmarn and the Danish island of Lolland. Ferries ...
Bridge and general infrastructure within the border region also has the attention of Region Sønderjylland–Schleswig. In order to support the cross-border business community there have also been some actual projects like the development of Danish-German parking discs and a pocket dictionary.


Organization

The organization consists of: * Board * Committees and business groups * Regional Office as secretary The board consists of representatives of the local administrative bodies. The responsibilities are many: the board prepares and carries out decisions and works closely together with the Regional Office. Furthermore, the board can appoint business groups for special assignments. Last but not least, the board represents Region Sønderjylland–Schleswig interests in any public debate. Decisions are based on a majority of votes but unity is always the goal. The Region Sønderjylland–Schleswig has three committees: The Committee for Culture, The Committee for Labor Market and the committee for cross-border Development. Furthermore, several business interest groups have been established. The Regional Office in Padborg is the coordinating centre for all Region Sønderjylland–Schleswig's activities. Political cooperation is coordinated and initiatives from any political side are closely monitored. One current example is the initiative to improve the exchange of language teachers. The teaching of Danish in Germany is especially affected by this, because Danish-German exchange of teachers, which should be taken for granted, is difficult due to administrative differences in in-service training.


Finances

The expenses of the organization are set at 50% for each the Danish and the German partners, excluding any grants from any side. All partners have full access to all financial information of the organization. The budget for 2020 is about 735.000 EUR.


References


External links


Region Sønderjylland-Schleswig
{{DEFAULTSORT:Region Sonderjylland-Schleswig Euroregions Region of Southern Denmark Schleswig-Holstein