Borders, pandemics, and collaboration: insights from the GRENSimpact project
November 21, 2024

Border regions are home to approximately 30% of Europe’s population, where daily life often relies on cross-border mobility. However, during the COVID-19 pandemic, these areas faced unique challenges due to border closures and travel restrictions. The GRENSimpact project, conducted by euPrevent in collaboration with the Academic Workplace for Public Health Limburg (AWPG Mosa) and funded by ZonMw, explored these challenges in depth. By using Geographic Information System (GIS) methods, the project analyzed pandemic transmission dynamics in selected border regions and visualized their impact.

Launched in February 2024, the GRENSimpact project has now published its key findings. One notable conclusion is that cross-border transmission of COVID-19 had a minimal impact on outbreaks in the Netherlands, Germany, and Belgium. These insights are now available in a series of factsheets, offering a detailed look at the project’s results and recommendations.

The findings emphasize the vital role of cross-border collaboration in public health, highlighting its importance for both the social and economic resilience of our societies. To explore the full findings and recommendations, visit our website: Publications – euPrevent.