International agreements on cross-border cooperation often provide for the creation of joint government commissions to exchange information and prepare recommendations to the national authorities. This puts the regional authorities in a position to present a common position to their national authorities to achieve recognition for it.

Two categories of joint government commission exist:

- Consultative commissions: these generally govern regional topics and relations between neighbours in a border region. Their main function is to exchange information and formulate recommendations to the national governments.

- Special commissions: these deal with specific, clearly delineated topics.


Two general consultative commissions have so far been created at international level:

• the joint consultative commission for regional problems between the Canton of Geneva and the French departments of Ain and Haute-Savoie
• the German-French-Swiss government commission for the promotion of cross-border cooperation in the Upper Rhine region.

Basel and Geneva have both played a pioneering role in regional cross-border cooperation. They have demonstrated that this cooperation must be adapted to meet the specific conditions and requirements of each region. In Basel the initiative to establish cooperative structures came from the private sector, while in Geneva it was primarily the authorities that felt the need for closer cross-border coordination. In both Basel and Geneva, regional efforts led to the establishment of these joint government commissions.

Cross-border cooperation on specific tasks is proving to be especially useful and successful. Examples include cultural exchanges, public-transport fare partnerships, environmental protection (especially preventing water pollution) and spatial planning. Around 40 of these specialist government commissions exist today. Their fields of activity are generally clearly delineated, they come together as and when required, and their powers are governed by bilateral agreements.