page_title: Ems Dollart Region
section_title: Goals and Tasks
hierarchical_section_title: Ems Dollart Region / Goals and Tasks
caption_attribution_description: Deutsch: Geschäftsstelle Ems Dollart Region
context_page_description: The Ems Dollart Region, established in 1977, is a cross-border organisation located in the northern Dutch-German border area. The region is named after the Ems River and the Dollart estuary. Its aim is to establish and improve contacts and levels of interaction between people, companies and organisations within the border region. The organization is based in the Dutch village of Bad Nieuweschans. Here, the office has developed into a Dutch-German center, where cross-border functions and other activities take place. The office also serves as an administration base and launching point for many cross-border projects.
context_section_description: Since its establishment, the EDR has been active in the areas of spatial planning, infrastructure, culture and developing the regional economy. However, the EDR places special emphasis on its efforts to develop and intensify the contacts between the populations on both sides of the German-Dutch border.
  In order to reach these goals, the EDR provides financial assistance for regional cross-border initiatives. The basis for these activities is provided by the contributions of EDR members. In addition, the EDR receives financial support from the Dutch provinces of Groningen, Drenthe and Friesland, as well as project associated contributions from the German federal state of Lower-Saxony. An important contributor to the activities of the EDR is the European Union, which contributes to cross-border activities as a part of its INTERREG-IVA program. This program provides subsidies to projects in the following areas: economy, technology and innovation, sustainable regional development, as well as integration and society.
  Over the years, contacts and networks have been established among the people, businesses and organizations on both sides of the Dutch-German border. As a result of this closer interaction, it has become clear to many participants that significant obstacles to full co-operation remain. Differences in legal systems present the most significant obstacle to cross-border cooperation, but also differing customs and cultural expectations can add to the difficulties of cross-border initiatives. The EDR works to overcome these obstacles.
caption: Office of the EDR in Bad Nieuweschans
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