It was at 4.52 in the morning of 29 April 2017 that the first tram of Line D set off from Strasbourg in the direction of neighbouring Kehl, with the two cities now even more closely linked, within the framework of a project that has profoundly changed the urban landscape.
In the context of constructing an "Energy Europe", a Franco-German experiment with a decentralised, local and also cross-border energy network is going to be conducted in order to go beyond the traditional interconnections between countries via high-voltage lines.
On 25 April 2017 in Forbach, an event to launch the European project “Mobipro.GR“ took place.
In order to increase its influence in the development of the Greater Geneva cross-border territory, on 1 May 2017 the French Geneva Region Cooperation Assembly (ARC), the French side of the Local Grouping of Cross-Border Cooperation, became the French Geneva Area Pôle Metropolitain.
This report, submitted by the General Commission for Territorial Equality (CGET) to the Prime Minister, recommends the creation of a pôle métropolitain encompassing more than 300,000 inhabitants on the border with Belgium and Luxembourg. This would enable North Lorraine to take advantage of its geographical position and of the great attractiveness of its immediate neighbours.
In April, the European programme LIFE launched a new call for projects with two focuses: the environment and action for climate.
The European Union's programme for employment and social innovation (EaSI) has launched a call for proposals regarding cross-border employment.
While the European conference being held by the MOT on 30 November-1 December will be at the heart of a year of festivities in 2017/2018 to celebrate its 20th anniversary, the organisation also wishes to promote the events organised by members of its network. To do this, it is proposing to award them the label "20 years of the MOT" *.
The project "Gestion Européenne Conjointe des Connexions et Transports pour les îles – GEECCTT-ILES" (Joint European Management of Connections and Transport for the Islands), which is aimed at creating transport links in the Western Mediterranean, has just been approved by the Interreg programme's monitoring committee.
Innovation does not stop at France's borders The Nice Côte d'Azur Metropolis, which now features among the 10 leading smart cities in the world, has been built up around a very dense international ecosystem. This has been in its DNA for a very long time…
The Nice Côte D'Azur Metropolis has at least three particularities that have contributed to its growth.
At the request of the CGET,* the MOT has conducted a study on the cross-border issues in mountain areas, which cover nearly 42% of mainland France's borders.
This publication looks at developments in EGTCs during 2016. Based on an updated overview and case studies, the report aims to highlight the EGTCs' main areas of action, their involvement in cohesion policy, and their achievements and the obstacles encountered.
On 20-21 March 2017 in Strasbourg, Jean Peyrony, the MOT's Director-General, took part in the second edition of the " Castle Talks on Cross-Border Cooperation", a series of conferences organised notably by the University of Strasbourg and the Euro-Institut in Kehl that brings together researchers, students and players involved in cross-border cooperation.
On 30-31 March 2017, before more than 500 participants, the Presidents of the outermost regions (ORs) submitted to the President of the European Commission, Jean-Claude Juncker, a memorandum urging for better account to be taken of their specificities in European policies through a "New Strategy for the ORs".
On 13 March 2017, around 50 French and British stakeholders from either side of the Dover Strait met in St Margaret's Bay, in Kent, to discuss an action plan for the low-carbon transition.
On 5-6 April 2017 in Neustadt-an-der Weinstraße (Rhineland-Palatinate), the third Franco-German cross-border conference was held, in the presence of Harlem Désir, the Secretary of State for European Affairs (FR), and Michael Roth, Minister of State for Europe (DE).
The 2017 edition of the cross-border workers fair, organised by the European Cross-Border Grouping in Annemasse, attracted nearly 2000 visitors.
On 6 March 2017, Navarra joined the Nouvelle-Aquitaine-Euskadi Euroregion. A new partnership that reinforces cooperation between the French and Spanish territories.
Helping entrepreneurs located on either side of the border to create new digital services thanks to geodata on Greater Geneva – this is the aim of the Interreg project "Geofab Greater Geneva" launched on 4 April 2017.*
The Association of European Border Regions (AEBR) manages on behalf of the European Commission the new initiative known as "Interreg Volunteer Youth" (IVY), which aims to give young Europeans aged 18-30 the opportunity to serve as volunteers in Interreg programmes and projects.
On 16 February 2017 in Brussels, the fourth meeting of the intergovernmental working group on innovative solutions to obstacles to cross-border cooperation was held. Noting the benefits of cross-border cooperation, but also the persistence of many obstacles, in 2015 the Luxembourg presidency of the EU Council proposed the development of a new European legal tool, the "European Cross-Border Convention" (ECBC); for its part, the European Commission launched the "Cross-Border Review".
At the invitation of the Alzette-Belval EGTC*, a member of the MOT's network, more than 100 people gathered on 15-16 March on the occasion of the MOT's general assembly, in Belval and Villerupt, on the Franco-Luxembourg border.
In the presence of Michel Delebarre, the MOT's President, Senator of the Nord Department and former Minister of State, and Philip Cordery, MP, Chairman of the study group "cross-border workers and areas" and Vice-President of the MOT, and many elected representatives, the meetings of the board and the general assembly were an opportunity to present the activities of the association, discuss the work programme and approve the activity and financial reports.
The field visits offered for the first time to participants in the MOT's 2017 general assembly, to Belval and Villerupt, proved to be a moment of very fruitful exchanges.
