3LP cooperation

The Euregio Maas-Rhein  – and hence also the green heart of this region, the Three Countries Park (3LP) – is a meeting ground for the borders of not only three nations, but also as many as five differently organized administrative areas, as well as culturally and linguistically different living spaces: besides the federal state of North Rhine-Westphalia in Germany and the province of Limburg in the Netherlands, there are the two Belgian regions of Flanders and Wallonia. And within Wallonia there is also Belgium’s German-speaking community, known as Eastern Belgium.

Such diversity is unique. It is a Europe in miniature. Collaborating in the Three Countries Park means truly living the European project: getting to know the actors, building trust, dealing with different administrative structures, mentalities and languages and bringing together interests and initiatives – in short, the 3LP is a living example of the European objective of territorial cohesion.

City and countryside – closely intertwined

“Urban and rural spaces belong together. They are bound by climate, water, resources, people and much more besides. The environs of Aachen lie to a large extent in Belgium and the Netherlands. Many people from Aachen like to enjoy the rolling green hills of their neighbours. The Three Countries Park offers us excellent opportunities to share and coordinate our concerns and plans with the neighbours.”

Elmar Wiezorek, Head of Environment, City of Aachen, and member of the 3LP project group