Integrated Coastal Zone Management (ICZM) as new approach to spatial planning in Germany faces several challenges that can only be solved through cooperation with neighbouring countries. The opportunities to create cross-border institutions are very different among the various border regions. There is a frame agreement among Germany, the Netherlands, Switzerland, France, and Luxembourg that allows the local administrations to seal public contracts. Such an instrument was never established for the German-Polish border area.
In 2006 the European Union created with the European cross-border cooperation groupings (EGCC) a new frame instrument for cross border activities. The option to organize cross-border developments with the EGCC will be discussed in the following for the implementation of an ICZM in the Oder Estuary Region.