A borderless labour market needs specialised cross-border information desks. These “GIPs” provide free legal advice and information: GrenzInfoPunkte in Aachen/Eurode and GrensInfoPunt in Maastricht. Residents, cross-border workers and entrepreneurs can approach the GIP’s for free expert advice on legal and administrative questions regarding borderless living and working in the Euregio Meuse-Rhine. Other youRegion project partners are able to provide additional support, so never hesitate to ask.
26,000 employees
About 5% of employees in Aachen and Zuid-Limburg come from the neighbouring country for work. With more than 26,000 cross-border commuters in the Euregio in total, it is widespread and a normality for many. Expats, self-employed and artists are border commuters, too. They can make use of diverse services in the cross-border youRegion community, among others the “Services GrenzĂĽberschreitende Arbeitsvermittlung SGA” (Website in FR/DE/NL)
Highlights attracting across borders
In some places in your Euregio, more than 10% of inhabitants cross the border for daily work. For each municipality in the Euregio Meuse-Rhine, you find detailed statistics.
- The universities, as well as Uniklinik Aachen Medical Centre (Voted the best large hospital in NRW by the German government’s Science Council) and Maastricht UMC+,
- Campuses such as Brightlands Campuses and Corda Campus attract hundreds of cross-border commuters
- Other higlights for cross-border commuters are international sites, such as Liège Airport or Avantis Business Park, directly on the border
Ask questions, make appointments
The contact form might be in German, Dutch, and French only, advisors will understand your inquiry also in English (“Anfrage” / “Contactformulier”):
When you cross a formal state border within the European Union to work in another Member State, additional rules apply. National social security systems in Europe are somewhat coordinated, however yet not harmonised.
- European rules facilitate access to healthcare and social protection as a cross-border worker, even though healthcare, pensions and family benefits greatly differ.
- Tax systems are based on national regulations and are therefore coordinated bilaterally in agreements on double taxation (Doppelbesteuerungsabkommen / Dubbelbelastingsverdragen).
The video below (running time 03:00, in German) covers general characteristics of cross-border commuting within the EU. The GIP’s hosted a webinar (running time 58:00 minutes), explaining the most frequent challenges for Dutch-German border commuters (in Dutch, subtitles possible).