INTERREG 6A - DanGer112

Heavy downpours, dike breaks, floods, droughts, forest and natural fires or pandemics. These events all have in common that they do not stop at a national border. What actually happens when such events hit the border region between Germany and Denmark at the same time and cause damage there?

It is questions like these that are dealt with in the project INTERREG 6A - DanGer112. The INTERREG program is a financing instrument and part of the EU's structural and investment policy, the INTERREG funds must promote and support cooperation between neighboring regions and countries at the EU's internal borders and jointly find solutions to challenges and opportunities that do not stop at a border. And there are many examples of this – e.g. climate change, demographic changes, cooperation in the emergency and security sector or a pandemic.

The project is an association of administrative authorities along the Danish-German border with responsibility for non-political preparedness as project partners, as well as a constantly growing network of various organizations from the security and preparedness system in both countries. The coordinating lead partnership is with Fire and Rescue Sønderjyllland, which is supported by the project partners Region of Southern Denmark, Flensburg city, North Frisia County, the Coastal Directorate, Schleswig-Flensburg County and Sønderborg Municipality's emergency services.

By pooling the expertise and strengths on both sides of the border and sharing experiences, obstacles and problems can be jointly identified and then jointly overcome. Expertise and best practice are exchanged, and common solutions are developed. Our focus is on mutual support in operational scenarios of all types and sizes, transfer of information and knowledge, networking and communication as well as joint training and exercises. The aim is to achieve citizen-centred – mutually cost-neutral – cooperation in the border region within non-political preparedness, firefighting and civil protection, both in everyday accidents and fires as well as in major emergency situations, including disasters.

A national border must not be an obstacle to assistance in emergency situations in a border area within the EU. Neighborly assistance or administrative assistance, regardless of the size of the operation, must be possible at all times quickly, mutually free of charge and without complications, even across a national border. Even in the case of major damages or disasters, quick and uncomplicated support must not be a lengthy administrative action across several administrative levels. Good relations across national borders contribute to peace and security as well as to the protection and well-being of all.

The cooperation in the Danish-German border region in particular is unique. Especially in the border country – the Sønder Jutland-Schleswig region – there has always been a close bond. DanGer112 is the successful continuation of funded projects from the INTERREG 4A and INTERREG 5A funding periods with a constantly growing network from the "blue light family".

The DanGer112 project is supported by INTERREG 6A with a grant of approx. 442.000 euros from the European Regional Development Fund and runs from 1 January 2023 to 31 December 2025.