ITEM Cross-Border Impact Assessment 2022: Dossier 6: Border residents’ perceptions of the ‘border’ and ‘identity’ after the COVID-19 crisis: how do we establish it?

The sixth file, being an opinion piece, focuses on Border residents’ perceptions of the ‘border’ and ‘identity’ after the COVID-19 crisis: how do we establish it? During the COVID-19 crisis, (physical) borders were re-erected between the Member States in the EU. This phenomenon is likely to have affected the perception residents have on the border. Especially in a cross-border region like the Euregio Meuse-Rhine, where a 360°-perspective is being promoted when it comes to cross-border cooperation, living and working, deeper insights into such perceptions are of interest when pondering ideas like Euregional identity. This year a commentary will address these aspects as a follow-up to the two research dossiers on the coronavirus pandemic of 2020 and 2021. Additionally, it serves as the foundation for developing a uniquely localised barometer on identity, which will be expanded upon in future research.