News

  • Meetings of the MOT's bodies and the Technicians' Platform

    MOT

    Meetings of the MOT's bodies and the Technicians' Platform

    March 2017

    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.

  • Field visits: the MOT's network in Alzette-Belval

    MOT

    Field visits: the MOT's network in Alzette-Belval

    March 2017

    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.

  • Three associations defending the rights of cross-border workers bring an action before the European Commission

    EUROPE

    Three associations defending the rights of cross-border workers bring an action before the European Commission

    March 2017

    Income from household wealth (capital gains on property, real estate income, etc.) received in France is subject to social security deductions. However, the European Court of Justice confirmed in 2015 that people who are affiliated to the social security system of another country should not be taxed to fund the French social security system.

  • Opinion of the Committee of the Regions on "missing links"

    EUROPE

    Opinion of the Committee of the Regions on "missing links"

    March 2017

    At its plenary session in February, the Committee of the Regions adopted an opinion entitled "Missing transport links in border regions".

  • 5th meeting of the EP Working Group on Cross-Border Cooperation

    EUROPE

    5th meeting of the EP Working Group on Cross-Border Cooperation

    March 2017

    On 1 March 2017 in Brussels, Anne Sander, MEP and vice-president of the MOT, hosted the 5th meeting of the EP Working Group on Cross-Border Cooperation. After the digital age, healthcare, Schengen and employment, the topic this time was the institutional initiatives underway at European level to remove obstacles to cross-border cooperation.

  • White Paper on the future of Europe: reflections and scenarios for the EU27 in 2025

    PUBLICATION

    White Paper on the future of Europe: reflections and scenarios for the EU27 in 2025

    March 2017

    The White Paper published by the European Commission on 1 March 2017 sets out five scenarios, each giving an idea of how the EU might look in 2025 depending on the choices that Europe will make.

  • The new members

    MOT

    The new members

    March 2017

    The annual meeting of the network on 15 March in Belval gave the MOT's new members the opportunity to speak, and these new members were presented to all of the participants.

  • Pamina Eurodistrict: an online game to get to know the neighbouring country and the territory's rich heritage

    TERRITORIES

    Pamina Eurodistrict: an online game to get to know the neighbouring country and the territory's rich heritage

    March 2017

    The Pamina Eurodistrict is launching a digital version of a board game called "Le Passe-partout" ("The Master Key") to help schoolchildren learn about the rich cultural heritage of the Franco-German territory and encourage bilingualism.

  • The MOT presents concrete projects to high-school students in Athis-Mons

    MOT

    The MOT presents concrete projects to high-school students in Athis-Mons

    March 2017

    On 28 February, the MOT made a presentation at the Ministry of Territorial Development, to students from the European section of the Lycée Marcel Pagnol in Athis-Mons, as part of a day devoted to finding out about Franco-German cooperation organised by the Franco-German Office for Youth.

  • Strasbourg-Ortenau Eurodistrict: an interactive map for better services for citizens

    TERRITORIES

    Strasbourg-Ortenau Eurodistrict: an interactive map for better services for citizens

    March 2017

    In February, the Strasbourg-Ortenau put in place an online geographic information system (GIS) that provides citizens with information about daily life in the cross-border territory (schools, markets, charging points for electric cars, etc.).

  • A new presentation pack for the MOT!

    MOT

    A new presentation pack for the MOT!

    February 2017

    The MOT’s new presentation brochure presents the major challenges of cross-border cooperation at three levels: local, national, and European, and then details the actions of the MOT at each level.

  • Committee of the Regions conference on natural disasters in cross-border areas

    EUROPE

    Committee of the Regions conference on natural disasters in cross-border areas

    February 2017

    Jointly organised by the Committee of the Regions and the MOT, this conference brought together more than 60 participants, on 3 February in Brussels. Its objective was to present best practice in the area of risk prevention and crisis management in cross-border zones: forest fires (ES-PT), flooding in the Nisa Euroregion (DE-CZ-PL), seismic risks in the Alps (FR-IT-CH), risks in mountainous regions (FR-ES) and more generally, civil protection (EGTC Euregio Senza Confini IT-AT).

  • In 2017 the MOT is celebrating its 20th anniversary!

    MOT

    In 2017 the MOT is celebrating its 20th anniversary!

    February 2016

    On the occasion of its 20th anniversary, the MOT will be holding a large European conference, in partnership with the Committee of the Regions, in Brussels from 30 November to 1 December. The goal will be to take stock of the last 20 years of cooperation, to show the ground covered and the progress made in the service of cross-border territories, but also to debate persisting obstacles and the solutions to implement, particularly in the context of an ambitious European policy post-2020.

  • Cooperation in the field of renewable energy and climate change adaptation

    MOT

    Cooperation in the field of renewable energy and climate change adaptation

    February 2017

    In September 2016, with the Heinrich Böll Foundation and the World Future Council, the MOT took part in a study tour from Copenhagen to Brussels, via Germany and the Netherlands.

  • France and Germany will test autonomous vehicles in a cross-border area

    TERRITORIES

    France and Germany will test autonomous vehicles in a cross-border area

    February 2017

    France and Germany have announced for the end of March the setting up of a test zone between the two countries for experimenting on the road with connected and autonomous vehicles.

  • NATIONAL LEVEL

    Impact in border territories of the law on public security, in France

    February 2017

    The vice-president of the MOT; Joël Giraud, member of parliament for Hautes-Alpes, is demanding special arrangements in border areas for authorisations for minors leaving the country.

  • TERRITORIES

    The ALARM Project: “For security without borders”

    February 2017

    “A shared region and shared risks must not be faced with obstacles to the carrying out of missions by emergency services in emergency situations.”

  • Third meeting of the intergovernmental group on innovative solutions to cross-border obstacles

    EUROPE

    Third meeting of the intergovernmental group on innovative solutions to cross-border obstacles

    January 2017

    The third meeting of the intergovernmental group initiated by Luxembourg and France took place on 14 December 2016 in Brussels. The discussions focused on the drafting of a final report that will set out the outline of the new European legal tool – the European Cross-Border Convention (ECBC) – proposed by the group and designed to help overcome cross-border obstacles.

  • Analysis of the Letchimy law (France): "Freeing up external action of French local and regional authorities"

    NATIONAL LEVEL

    Analysis of the Letchimy law (France): "Freeing up external action of French local and regional authorities"

    February 2017

    The “law relating to external action of territorial authorities and to the cooperation of overseas territories in their regional environment” was adopted on 5 December 2016.

  • Involvement of the private sector in European Territorial Cooperation projects and programmes

    PUBLICATION

    Involvement of the private sector in European Territorial Cooperation projects and programmes

    February 2017

    The CGET has published a study - available in English - on the involvement of the private sector in European territorial cooperation programmes (INTERREG).

  • International symposium "European territorial cooperation bodies, institutional and material aspects"

    MOT

    International symposium "European territorial cooperation bodies, institutional and material aspects"

    February 2017

    An international symposium entitled “European territorial cooperation bodies, institutional and material aspects”, was held on 10 February 2017 at the University of Valenciennes.

  • 5th Master-Class in Marseille

    TERRITORIES

    5th Master-Class in Marseille

    February 2017

    The 5th “Trans/frontières et dialogue des disciplines” [Cross/borders and dialogue between disciplines] Master-class was held in Marseille from 18 to 20 January 2017, on the topic “Young professionals and neighbourhood/proximity relations within the European Union? Between Conflict and Cooperation”.

  • The PAMINA Eurodistrict has become an EGTC

    TERRITORIES

    The PAMINA Eurodistrict has become an EGTC

    Janvier 2017

    The ceremony to mark the setting-up of an EGTC for the PAMINA Eurodistrict on the Franco-German border took place on 11 January 2017 in Haguenau. This new status is being accompanied by changes in the structure's governance, the main aims of which for 2017 are set out here.

  • Editorial by Rémi Bertrand, President of the PAMINA Eurodistrict EGTC

    TERRITORIES

    Editorial by Rémi Bertrand, President of the PAMINA Eurodistrict EGTC

    January 2017

    After 30 years of cooperation in the PAMINA area and 14 years operating as a local grouping of cross-border cooperation (LGCC), the member local authorities agreed on the principle of turning it into an EGTC.

  • Studies produced by the MOT in 2016

    MOT

    Studies produced by the MOT in 2016

    January 2017

    The MOT assists players involved in cross-border cooperation through studies and expert assignments. In 2016, it carried out or began work on 12 operational studies.