It was with great sadness that we learned of the death of Michel Delebarre. He was a great servant of the State, of decentralisation and of Europe, for which he chaired the Committee of the Regions.
The call selects inspiring projects focused on the transformation of infrastructures or public spaces that promote the three complementary values of the "New European Bauhaus": sustainability, aesthetics and inclusion. Towns (or groupings of municipalities) of fewer than 100,000 inhabitants can apply. EGTCs are also eligible.
After a preliminary study carried out in 2020,* the MOT has been commissioned by DG REGIO to conduct another study on the consequences of the pandemic and the impact of the measures taken by countries to combat it in cross-border territories**.
In order to answer the numerous questions about public services with a cross-border dimension from users of travelling and permanent "France Services" advice points run by the Nord Department, the latter commissioned the MOT to carry out an experimental study in 2021.
To coincide with the updating of the section of its website devoted to public services, the MOT is publishing a new edition of its brochure "Focus" (in French).
In order to strengthen its presence in the territories through ad hoc regional offices, on 14 March the MOT held its first session in Strasbourg.
The Franco-German Cross-Border Cooperation Committee met on 12 March in Strasbourg, under the co-chairmanship of Clément Beaune (France), Minister of State for European Affairs, and Anna Lührmann, Minister of State for Europe and Climate (Germany). The MOT officially took part in the meeting as a Committee "expert".
On the sidelines of the Franco-Swiss Dialogue that took place on 11 March 2022 in Belfort, a "Franco-Swiss declaration on bilateral cooperation in the area of healthcare" was signed between the two countries.
On 9 March, the French Assemblée Nationale adopted a draft resolution aimed at promoting teleworking for cross-border workers. The objective is to submit this text to the European Commission within the framework of France’s presidency of the EU.
On 8 March 2022, the MOT took part in Franco-Spanish working seminar that took place in Paris with Paco Boya, the Spanish State Secretary for the Demographic Challenge, and Joël Giraud, the French Minister for Territorial Cohesion.
The European Union and all of its Member States have strongly condemned Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. The humanitarian emergency highlights the importance of joint mobilisation, but also of cooperation and the role of territories located along borders in supporting the Ukrainians.
On 23 February, the MOT was invited for the first time to take part in the “Tax and Teleworking” working group of the consultative committee on Franco-Luxembourg co-development. In particular, this gave it an opportunity to talk about the preliminary findings of its investigations into cross-border teleworking and its impacts.
In January 2022, the Summit of Greater Region Executives took stock at the midpoint in France’s presidency, particularly with respect to the industrial, digital and energy transitions, flood and drought risk prevention, food and promoting short supply chains, culture, youth, sport and tourism, healthcare and security.
According to a study by INSEE that has just been published, average GDP growth in the Grand Est Region is the second lowest among mainland France’s regions, after Burgundy- Franche-Comté: "In the region, per capita GDP totalled €28,300 in 2017, which was €1,200 lower than the average for provincial France. […] One explanation for this is the greater increase in the number of cross-border workers than of workers in employment.
On 28 January, the European Commission published the "criteria and guidance" aimed at supporting Member States in identifying and designating new protected areas, with an objective of legally protecting 30% of land in the EU by 2030. The added value of cross-border cooperation is highlighted in them.
In January 2020, the association Young Europeans France created the "European Cities Label" with the aim of promoting European democracy and bringing the European spirit alive in cities, towns and villages.
The French Ministry’s Delegation for the External Action of Territorial Authorities (DAECT) renewed in 2022 its programme to promote the expertise of territorial authorities, known as EXPE-CT. Among the recipients in January 2022, for the category "Europe/ Cross-Border Cooperation", is the Grand Est Region with the theme "multi-sectoral cross-border cooperation (governance, organisation, cooperation)".
Every three years, the Commission publishes a report on the economic, social, and territorial cohesion in the EU, presenting the progress and the EU's role as a driver for regional development. It analyses the evolution of cohesion in the EU according to a wide range of indicators, such as prosperity, employment, education levels, and accessibility and governance.
More than 30 years after the creation of the INTERREG programme, the European Commission has teamed up with some of the most renowned experts* in the field of ETC to produce the very first MOOC (Massive Open Online Course) entirely dedicated to European Territorial Cooperation!
AEBR and the European Commission’s DG REGIO have released a series of publications aiming at raising awareness of cross-border cooperation. These showcase relevant information gained through the implementation of the b-solutions initiative, which AEBR has managed on behalf of DG REGIO for the past four years.
More than 120 people, including many elected representatives, came together remotely for the MOT’s first general assembly of the year on 9 February 2022. For Christian Dupessey, MOT’s President, Mayor of Annemasse and President of the Metropolitan Pole of the French Genevois: "our cross-border regions have been at the heart of the pandemic, which has brought about a new awareness that the MOT has greatly contributed to fostering".
The 3DS bill (standing for differentiation, decentralisation, deconcentration and simplification of local public action) was adopted in its final reading at the Assemblée Nationale and the Senate in France on 8-9 February. The MOT is delighted about the inclusion for the first time of a chapter devoted to cross-border cooperation in a piece of legislation.
The MOT took part in this conference organised within the framework of the French Partnership for Cities and Territories. It led one of its four workshops, on cross-border and European cooperation initiatives, and was able to get across the following message: sustainable development also needs to cross borders and requires cross-border cooperation.
On 25 January, the European Committee of the Regions and the European Commission signed a Joint Action Plan signed to enhance cooperation to support regions in the transition towards a more inclusive, sustainable and digital Europe.
With about 30% of the EU population living in internal border regions, the new DG REGIO publication contributes to the growing recognition of the importance of cross-border public transport services (CBPT) and their role in facilitating cross-border activities central to the development of border regions.
