SaarLorLux – a model region

At present, Saarland’s government promotes over 100 bi- and multilateral projects. They all have the aim to facilitate living without borders – e.g. by creating a "Schengen-School" for children from Saarland and Luxemburg, by concluding an agreement on fast help for accidents occurring in the border region, by organising joint police actions to enhance security or by establishing a network of ombudsmen dealing with petitions and complaints.

The region is making good progress!
Into the future – together: Since the SaarLorLux- Region in 2003 held its 7th summit-meeting in Saarbrücken, the main policies of "Future-vision 2020" point towards the challenges of the future. European identity and lifestyle, European competence and European model regions are the pillars of the SaarLorLux-Region that need strengthening. Even today, the region is a model for trans-border cooperation within Europe. Although the partners of the cooperation are characterized by big institutional differences – beginning with the nation state of Luxemburg and not ending with the peculiarities of the French Département – the region presents itself as a common entity: In the Committee of the Regions of the European Commission, common interests are represented by an "interregional group", and good contacts to the European Commission assist in dealing with the border-issues of the European central region of SaarLorLux. Therefore, its attitude towards the Constitution for Europe, Trans-European Networks and Structural Policy is recognized in European politics. Just to give an example: in 2004, Saarland received the award for "Most Innovative Region in Europe" from the European Commission.

SaarLorLux: An example of European reality in everyday life, to which not only legislation and the executive contribute, but also universities, research institutions, chambers of industry, associations and numerous other civil society organisations. They all play a part in overcoming borders that separate us and thus make it possible to benefit from the cultural diversity of the SaarLorLux-Region.