The Centre for Cross Border Cooperation: Unlocking opportunities across borders
For over 25 years, the Centre for Cross Border Cooperation has been shaping opportunities for government, business, and communities by breaking down barriers across these islands, writes Anthony Soares, Director of the Centre for Cross Border Cooperation.
At its 25th anniversary conference in September 2024, the Centre for Cross Border Studies announced the new name it would be operating under – the Centre for Cross Border Cooperation – to better reflect this mission. The name change signals continuity, but also ambition: to build the partnerships that will help Northern Ireland, and the wider region, navigate a rapidly changing economic and political landscape.
Driving economic growth through cooperation
Cross-border cooperation is not just a matter of goodwill, it is a driver of competitiveness and prosperity. Working with governments, businesses, and communities, the Centre has consistently highlighted how a cross-border perspective can unlock growth.
In partnership with our Senior Research Associate Niall O’Donnellan, we published Accelerating Growth: Towards an All-Island Perspective on Regional Development (2022) and Accelerating Growth: Progressing Globally Ambitious Sectoral Clusters on the Island of Ireland (2024).
These studies demonstrate how cooperation can:
• build globally competitive sectoral clusters;
• strengthen regional development; and
• deliver mutually beneficial outcomes for both jurisdictions.
We have used this evidence in direct engagements with policymakers and business organisations to promote cross-jurisdictional collaboration. The message is clear: Northern Ireland’s economy gains when borders are not barriers to growth.
“For 25 years, the Centre for Cross Border Cooperation has been turning ideas into action to strengthen connections across these islands. As a trusted think-and-do-tank, we provide independent analysis and practical support that help governments, businesses and communities overcome barriers and unlock opportunities. Our work demonstrates that cooperation drives growth, resilience and prosperity.”
The labour market on the island of Ireland
Sustainable growth depends on people. Employers across Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland need access to talent, and workers need systems that support mobility. However, practical obstacles, from tax treatment and pensions to recognition of skills, often stand in the way.
The Centre was commissioned by the Labour Employer Economic Forum (LEEF) Shared Island Working Group to examine these challenges. Our report, authored by a team of experts led by our Border People Project Manager, Annmarie O’Kane, identified limiting factors that include:
• personal taxation and pension portability;
• social welfare systems;
• recognition of qualifications and skills; and
• changing patterns of work and mobility.
Following its publication, the Centre convened a series of webinars on worker mobility, tax and pensions, social security coordination, and skills recognition. These directly informed our 2025 Annual Conference, where governments, businesses, trade unions and support networks came together to consider actionable solutions.
For business leaders and policymakers alike, the prize is clear: a wider horizon of possibilities for recruiting, retaining, and upskilling the workforce that will drive future prosperity.
Trusted research, independent analysis
The Centre’s credibility rests on more than advocacy. At the core of our work is rigorous research and independent policy analysis. We continually track legislation and policy developments from London, Dublin, Belfast, Cardiff, Edinburgh, and Brussels, identifying both risks and opportunities for cross-border cooperation.
This evidence-based approach ensures that the Centre is a trusted partner for government departments, legislative committees, and local authorities. Our Briefing Papers and submissions have supported parliamentary scrutiny, while our seminars and workshops provide practical knowledge exchange for public bodies and civic organisations.
In short, we do not just describe the obstacles; we offer the solutions.
Practical support for cooperation
The Centre’s impact is also felt in the practical assistance we provide. Our Border People project offers information and advice for those living, working, studying or retiring across the border; an essential service for thousands of individuals and families.
We also work with councils, community groups, and civic organisations to build capacity for cross-border projects. Through the Ad-Hoc Group for North-South and East-West Cooperation, we convene voices from across these islands to ensure that the conditions for cooperation created by the Good Friday/Belfast Agreement are protected and strengthened in the post-Brexit context.
Why this matters now
For Northern Ireland’s government and business community, cross-border cooperation is not optional. It is a strategic necessity. From addressing labour shortages and supporting skills development, to building globally competitive clusters and ensuring resilience in supply chains, the opportunities of cooperation directly align with government priorities and business growth strategies.
At a time when both public budgets and private investments must deliver maximum impact, cooperation offers a multiplier effect: pooling resources, sharing expertise, and widening horizons.
Looking ahead
The Centre for Cross Border Cooperation will continue in its unique role as a think-and-do-tank, working with governments, businesses, and communities to turn cooperation into prosperity. The foundations laid by the 1998 Good Friday/Belfast Agreement remain strong, but they require continual investment of effort and imagination.
The question now is not whether we can cooperate across borders, but how far we are willing to go in seizing the opportunities it offers.
As Northern Ireland looks to the future, the Centre stands ready to work with those across government and business who see cooperation not as a challenge to overcome, but as an asset to embrace.
E: anthony@crossborder.ie
W: www.crossborder.ie
