News

EUROPE

How should cooperation across Europe's borders look going towards 2050? Over to you!

Following the Covid-19 crisis in the border regions, and in the light of the scale of the coming transitions, a new impetus and long-term vision are needed more than ever to make these territories engines of solidarity and cooperation between Europeans. What have been the impacts of the pandemic on cross-border cooperation? What are the desirable futures for Europe, democracy and cooperation? These are the questions that the consultation on the long-term future of cross-border cooperation is attempting to answer.

EUROPE

DG GROW - Call of interest for border regions to participate in a pilot to overcome barriers to cross-border business activities

The call aims to mobilise border regions that have already acknowledged and experienced market access barriers due to regulatory or administrative obstacles. Deadline: 15 March 2021.

EUROPE

Public consultations on Serious Cross-Border Theats to Health

The European Committee of the Regions is currently working on a legislative opinion analysing the impact of two legislative proposals of the European Commission on EU's regions and cross-border links :

EUROPE

Adoption of the New Leipzig Charter and the European Territorial Agenda 2030

On 30 November and 1 December, at the informal meeting of ministers responsible for urban development and territorial cohesion organised by the German EU presidency, two important documents for Europe’s territories were adopted: the New Leipzig Charter and the Territorial Agenda 2030.

TERRITORIES

Editorial by Michel Pélieu, President of the “Pyrénées-Pirineos” European Grouping of Territorial Cooperation

“The Pyrenees have long bound us together”

TERRITORIES

The "Pyrénées-Pirineos" EGTC: Aragon and French territorial authorities join forces

Since 19 October 2020, a single European Grouping of Territorial Cooperation (EGTC) has brought together Aragon, the Province of Huesca and the Hautes-Pyrénées and Pyrénées-Atlantiques Departments.

EUROPE

B-solutions initiative: the 4th call is open

On behalf of the European Commission’ s DG REGIO, the Association of European Border Regions (AEBR) has opened the fourth call for proposals in the framework of the b-solutions initiative. Applications can be submitted until the 11th of March 2021.

TERRITORIES

Craftsmanship of mechanical watchmaking and art mechanics in the Jura Arc listed by UNESCO

On 16 December 2020, UNESCO added craftsmanship of mechanical watchmaking and art mechanics to the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. This listing gives recognition to an emblematic living tradition in the Franco-Swiss Jura Arc. The candidacy was regarded as exemplary by UNESCO in that it raises awareness of the importance of intangible cultural heritage in a cross-border space

MOT

Supporting the development of cross-border projects along the Grand Est Region's borders

On 9 October 2020, the final conference relating to the study “Analysis of the contributions made by the 2014-2020 cross-border cooperation programmes in the Grand Est Region”, led by the Region within the framework of the European programme Europ'Act and coordinated by the MOT and the Euro-Institut, brought together in the form of a webinar around one hundred participants.

TERRITORIES

Greater Region – The future of cooperation in the fields of higher education and research

A declaration of intention on the future of institutional cooperation in the fields of higher education and research in the Greater Region was signed on 25 November 2020 in Saarbrücken, at a ministerial conference held under Saarland’s presidency. At the conference, the ministers and representatives from the five partner regions took stock and discussed the consequences of the health crisis for cross-border cooperation between higher education and research institutions.

TERRITORIES

A Franco-Italian accelerator dedicated to SMEs

The first Franco-Italian accelerator has just been set up. Its aim is to help French and Italian SMEs to work together to grow internationally.

PUBLICATION

"Public inquiries and local democracy"

Proceedings of the conference of the Compagnie Nationale des Commissaires Enquêteurs* (CNCE) of 4 March 2020.This event was an opportunity to take stock and to set out a number of observations regarding the future of public inquiry procedures in France, the timeframes of which have recently been reduced.

EUROPE

Multiannual financial framework adopted and recovery package

On 17 December 2020, the EU Council adopted the regulation laying down the EU’s multiannual financial framework (MFF) for the years 2021-2027. Combined with the “Next Generation EU” recovery instrument, it will enable the EU to provide funding of an unprecedented amount of €1,800 billion to support the recovery after the Covid-19 pandemic and the EU’s long-term priorities.

NATIONAL LEVEL

Editorial by Jacqueline Gourault, French Minister of Territorial Cohesion and Relations with Local Authorities

Having for centuries been areas of expectations, fears and conflict, European borders are now the subject of a Forum. It is a fine symbol. In these difficult times, solutions can only come from our ability to make cross-border areas places of convergence, trust and partnership.

NATIONAL LEVEL

Incorporating the cross-border dimension into the “3D” bill: the MOT mobilises together with its network

Following on from the words of the Minister Jacqueline Gourault*, which give cross-border territories the role of “laboratories for the next stage of decentralisation”, serving as areas of experimentation at the forefront of territorial differentiation, the MOT wishes to elaborate with its network a joint position to incorporate the cross-border dimension into the 3D bill (Decentralisation, Differentiation and Deconcentration). This is due to be presented in the Council of Ministers in January 2021.

BORDERS FORUM

The first Borders Forum brought together over 700 participants online

The first Borders Forum was a great success, with over 700 participants online throughout two days of discussions, on 9-10 November 2020. The event was organised by the MOT, in partnership with the European Commission and the European Committee of the Regions.

EUROPE

CoR consultation on"The long-term future of cross-border cooperation"

The aim is to capitalise on the experiences of cross-border regions. Cross-border citizens’ dialogues will be organised in collaboration with players involved in cooperation. On the basis of these, the CoR will adopt a resolution, which will form an official contribution to the Conference on the Future of Europe.

EUROPE

Join the European Cross-Border Citizens Alliance

Launched in 2020 on the initiative of the MOT, the AEBR and CESCI, the Alliance now has the political support of the European Committee of the Regions (CoR).

TERRITORIES

Opinion of the Grand Est Regional Economic, Social and Environmental Council (CESER) on cross-border civil society

At its plenary assembly in October, the Grand Est CESER adopted an opinion on cross-border civil society. The MOT had been formally heard as part of the preparation of this publication.

MOT

Territorial meetings of the MOT network

In order to keep abreast of territorial realities and remain as close as possible to its members, the MOT has launched several initiatives: a technical committee, working groups and a Europe-wide event (the Borders Forum). It is currently preparing its 2021-23 programme, with the objective of better adapting to local, national and European needs, and fostering its “modularity”. It was in this context that it organised, in September and October 2020, nine “territorial meetings”.

MOT

MOT study on the cross-border occupational mobility of refugees and European residents

This study was undertaken within the framework of the legal component of the “AB Réfugiés” project, which is led by the province of West Flanders and funded by the Interreg France-Wallonie-Vlaanderen programme. In the light of the disparities in unemployment on either side of the Franco-Belgian border and the difficulties that can be involved in obtaining a residence or work permit, the study provides an analysis of the legal frameworks pertaining to these statuses and obstacles to mobility.

BORDERS FORUM

1st Borders Forum - Press release, and recordings online

PUBLICATION

A dictionary of borders and cooperation

The "Critical Dictionary of Borders, Cross-Border Cooperation and European Integration" has just been published: a major publication that contains 209 articles written by 124 authors from different countries and academic disciplines, accompanied by 66 original maps produced by the MOT.

PUBLICATION

"FOCUS", a new thematic brochure by the MOT : "Les massifs aux frontières françaises"*

Mountain areas represent over 40% of France’s borders. Among France’s mountain ranges, three of them are located in border regions: the Jura, the Pyrenees and the Alps. This new brochure sets out their common cross-border issues and challenges, while also highlighting concrete cross-border projects.

TERRITORIES

France-Italy: resilience and post-crisis(es) recovery at the heart of future cooperation initiatives

On 17 September, the concluding webinar of the Europ’Act capitalisation project entitled “What prospects for Franco-Italian cross-border cooperation initiatives in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur Region?” brought together more than 150 people. Organised by the Sud Region and run by the MOT, it aimed to take stock of six years of cooperation initiatives and to outline the Interreg programme for 2021-2027.