Euroregional & International labour market mini conference
11 March 2024On Thursday 22 February, the mini-conference on Zuid-Limburg's Euroregional & international labour market approach took place. The focus was on the programme in place to attract and retain Euroregional, regional and international knowledge and skills profiles for the Zuid-Limburg border region.
At Werkcentrum Zuid-Limburg in Geleen, some 125 participants from the triple helix (the 3 central municipalities of Heerlen, Maastricht and Sittard-Geleen) gathered. Participants reflected upon the decision of these 3 central municipalities to invest €1.2 million per year (2024-2027) in the services focussing on the Zuid-Limburg Euroregional and international labour markets. The programme can also count on receiving €1 million from the Regio Deal Zuid-Limburg.
This investment will ensure the continuity of the relevant services: Grensinfopunten (Cross-Border Information Points) Aachen Eurode and Maastricht, Grensarbeid Kerkrade and Maastricht, Expat Centre Maastricht Region and the National Talent Coalition programme, and enable the programme to respond to the increasing demand from local, cross-border and international residents, employees and employers.
The choice of the Werkcentrum location in Geleen was a conscious one. The centre was specially opened to support employees and employers with all questions about work. Everyone from the Zuid-Limburg region can go there, including for questions about working or recruiting across the border.
The participants were warmly welcomed by wethouders Yvonne Salvino (Sittard-Geleen) and Judith Bühler (Sittard-Geleen). Under the direction of moderator Simone van Trier, wethouders Martin de Beer (Heerlen), Hubert Mackus (Maastricht) and Yvonne Salvino signed the cooperation agreement on behalf of their respective municipal governments.
The programme also included an interesting presentation by guest speaker Jan Van Dellen, Director of the Economic Board Regio Arnhem Nijmegen, and a lively panel discussion with Julia Reinold (Studio Europa), Martin de Beer (Gemeente Heerlen), Frank Schaapveld (Medtronic), Nicole Zwetsloot (Brainport Eindhoven) and Ramona Corsius-Corvers (Gemeente Maastricht/ Welcome to Maastricht Region).
Together we are stronger: Employers, campuses, knowledge institutes and intermediary organisations endorse the importance of this step and will help to further optimise services in the coming years. This "coalition of the willing" formed by Brightlands Chemelot Campus, Brightlands Smart Services Campus, Brightlands Maastricht Health Campus, Medtronic (Medlands Parkstad), Limburgse Werkgevers Vereniging (Limburg Employers' Association), Lonza, Mosa Meat, Leo Career, Maastricht University, Zuyd Hogeschool | Zuyd University of Applied Sciences, LIOF, The VISTA college and MKB Limburg all signed their support for the programme.
