Since 2023 CESCI has been actively participating in the work of the Cross-Border Monitoring Network, a German initiative which brings together the statistical offices and expert organisations of Germany and its neighboring countries. The annual meeting of the cross-border monitoring network took place in Brussels on 30-31st January 2025, in a hybrid way. Our association was represented online by Mátyás Jaschitz, director and Viktória Jánosi, senior GIS expert. The meeting was split into two days with presentations from the user perspective on 30th January and presentations from the statistical offices on 31st January.

The first day included several exciting presentations. Among others, Matteo Berzi from the Joint Research Centre (JRC) presented their ongoing ACROSS project that CESCI participated in by sharing databases and local knowledge. The emerging platform is very promising and its further extension is expected. 

Alexandre Banquet from OECD presented their Local Data Platform, also a very comprehensive online map with a rich list of indicators. The representatives of BBSR (Federal Office for Building and Regional Planning) and the GIS-GR (Geographic Information System of the Greater Region)  Platform presented their current work in progress, and the audience gained information about the Interreg Projects from the French borders as well.

In the late afternoon session, Roland Gaugitsch from ÖIR presented two major projects in which they were involved, namely the Cross-Border Labour Market project funded by DG Regio and the CrossGov project financed by the ESPON Programme. In the latter CESCI is also playing an important role. In addition to these, we have heard great presentations from the German-Polish border activities and about accessibility analysis. 

The second day started with a presentation of the German Statistik der Bundesagentur für Arbeit. They work on a big project, where they identify the workers who are coming from abroad according to the postal codes. The French Statistical Office (INSEE) presented their work about comparing the employment data between France, Germany, Switzerland, Belgium, and Luxembourg. The Nordic Mobility Project’s future goal is a secure, cost-effective data hub for the exchange of statistics. The Eurostat working group’s focus is on defining cross-border functional urban areas.

The presentations were followed by a fascinating discussion, in which the ideas explained in the presentations were further developed.

The various platforms and projects demonstrate an increasing commitment to cross-border data analysis and visualisation. Continued collaboration, harmonisation, and innovative approaches are essential for improved cross-border governance and policy-making. Analyses, partly based on experimental data, are essential to provide incentives for further improvements and enhanced cooperation. Future steps include the expansion of datasets, the integration of new methodologies, and fostering cooperation across institutions and regions.

The network’s next meeting will be held in early 2026.