News

MOT

Death of Professor Charles Ricq

It is with great sadness that the MOT learned of the passing of Charles Ricq, professor at the European Observation Centre for Regions (C.O.E.U.R.), and a frequent participant in MOT events.

NATIONAL LEVEL

Cross-border agenda at Grand Est council 'board meeting'

On 11 July 2018 in Châlons-en-Champagne in France, a meeting of the Grand Est Regional Administration Committee (CAR) was held: a veritable ‘board meeting’ of the State in the region, bringing together every two months the prefects of the region and the départements, and all of the decentralised services of the State.

NATIONAL LEVEL

"For competitiveness clusters with European ambition"

French “pôles de compétitivité” (competitiveness clusters) are entering their 4th phase of construction for the period 2019-2022. A call for applications, launched by the economy and finance minister, and supported by the CGET, will be open until 19 October.

EUROPE

"Boosting growth and cohesion in EU border regions"

In July 2018, the European Committee of the Regions published an "Opinion" on this subject, in response to the European Commission’s Communication published in September 2017. The MOT actively contributed to the elaboration of this Opinion. The European Parliament also published its report on the subject on 18 July.

NATIONAL LEVEL

Third French National Conference of Territories: Publication of a report on territorial cohesion

On the occasion of the third Conférence national des territoires (CNT) on 12 July 2018, a “Report on Territorial Cohesion” was presented by Serge Morvan, head of the CGET (General Commission for Territorial Equality) A new tool shared with associations of elected representatives, this report fulfils two objectives: updating an inventory of France and its territories after a decade of crisis, and the elucidation of the factors influencing territorial cohesion. What about cross-border issues?

EUROPE

8th Meeting of the Working Group on innovative solutions to cross-border obstacles

The 8th meeting of the Working Group on innovative solutions to cross-border obstacles was held on 28 June 2018 at the European Committee of the Regions in Brussels.

NATIONAL LEVEL

Overseas territories: a ‘blue book’ to set the territories’ priorities and strengthen their “regional foothold”

France’s borders can be found not only in Europe, but also in the Caribbean, the Indian Ocean, and the Pacific. France’s overseas territories are all concerned by cross-border issues. At the Assises des Outre-mer (“Overseas France Conferences”, promised in President Macron’s election campaign), the Minister for Overseas France, Annick Girardin, presented the President on 28 June with a ‘blue book’ detailing the roadmap and the priorities for these territories for the President’s five-year term.

MOT

Proceedings of the 2018 MOT Conference

During its General Assembly in May 2018 in Nice and Ventimiglia, the MOT held two round tables on the topics "Local cross-border cooperation in the French-Italian border area" and "The French-Italian-Monacan Metropolitan area under construction", which were complemented by a presentation of cross-border projects within the Nice Côte d’Azur metropolis.

PUBLICATION

Proceedings of CHEMI’s day on prefects and cross-border cooperation: "Renforcer la coopération transfrontalière"*

On 15 June 2018, the French Ministry of the Interior’s Centre for Advanced Studies (CHEMI) organised with the MOT a day of reflection on cross-border cooperation for the benefit of prefects.

TERRITORIES

Youth meeting from the Alpenrhein-Bodensee-Hochrhein region

Around 50 young workers from the border region between Germany, Switzerland, Austria and Liechtenstein got together in June 2018 for the first transnational symposium of young workers.

TERRITORIES

Cooperation in the renewable energies field between Andorra and France

The first day of French-Andorran exchanges on the topic of energy was jointly held in April 2018 by the Pyrénées Orientales and Andorran chambers of commerce and industry, brought together within the PirineusMED Chamber of Commerce and Industry in the context of the Interreg POCTEFA 2014/20 programme and the DERBI competitiveness cluster. High attendance of French and Andorran entrepreneurs contributed to the day’s success.

TERRITORIES

The Nord Department: a cross-border strategy that translates into concrete projects

More than 100 people gathered on 12 June 2018 in the ancient Vaucelles Abbey (Cambrésis, Nord) for the first Departmental Meeting on Cross-Border Cooperation organised by the Nord Department.

TERRITORIES

Editorial of Sylvie Labadens, Vice-President of the Nord Department responsible for International and European Relations

EUROPE

"B-solutions": ten projects selected

Ten projects have been selected within the framework of the "b-solutions" call for projects launched by DG REGIO on the theme of overcoming cross-border obstacles.

NATIONAL LEVEL

Launch of the "Banque des Territoires"

On 30 May 2018, the Caisse des Dépôts launched the "Banque des Territoires" ("Bank for the Regions") – a new instrument aimed at territorial authorities and other local public bodies to help them to carry out future projects. Through this tool, it intends to offer a set of support and financing solutions for projects, with particular attention being given to small territorial authorities and territories facing difficulties. Border territories are directly concerned and were mentioned at the launch conference. The MOT promotes this initiative within its network. More info

EUROPE

Reform of unemployment benefit for cross-border workers

On 21 June in Luxembourg, the 28 EU Employment Ministers adopted the revision of the regulation on the coordination of social security systems in the EU, which provides for reform of unemployment benefit for cross-border workers. Currently, cross-border workers pay into the unemployment benefit system of the country in which they are employed, but have their benefit paid by their country of residence when their contract comes to an end. This will be reversed under the reform.

TERRITORIES

"Horizon 2035: le Transfrontalier dans tous ses états ?", a publication by AGAPE

This new issue of "InfObservatoire" sets out the cross-border forecasts of the North Lorraine Urban Planning Agency (AGAPE): "With 150,000 French cross-border workers in Luxembourg in 15 years and huge movement of goods, isn't it time […] to make the cross-border dimension a priority issue?"

TERRITORIES

Statistical portraits of the Jura Arc territories

The Jura Arc Cross-Border Statistical Observatory has published statistical portraits of four cooperation territories identified along the Franco-Swiss border as part of the 2016-2020 strategy of the Trans-Jura Conference.

TERRITORIES

"Towards an Alsace Euro-authority"

The executives of the Bas-Rhin and Haut-Rhin Departments have submitted to the Prefect of the Grand Est Region a proposal for an authority with special status, based on the views of 13,000 citizens.

NATIONAL LEVEL

The cross-border dimension in the Territorial Observatory's annual report

The General Commission for Territorial Equality (CGET) has just published its 2017 annual report. An extensive chapter looks at the dynamics of cross-border employment. Border issues are also discussed in other sections of the report.

EUROPE

A study by the European Commission on "missing cross-border rail links"

The European Commission has published a report on the existing rail transport connections and the "missing links" on the EU's internal borders. It provides a comprehensive inventory of the 365 cross-border rail links which are underexploited or not exploited at all. In total, there are 176 missing rail links and, after consultation of the stakeholders and competent authorities, 48 of them – 9 of which are located along France's borders – were assessed as "potentially beneficial projects".

NATIONAL LEVEL

Territorial observation along Germany's borders and European perspectives

The observation of cross-border territories, which is now recognised as a priority by European countries, is moving towards overall coordination. The MORO project launched in Germany has accelerated this progress.

TERRITORIES

The "Transfermuga" project receives the "Le Monde - Smart Cities" award

"Reducing inequalities and making urban life easier for everyone while respecting of the environment: these are the aims of the eight projects that have been selected as winners of the European competition "Le Monde - Smart Cities". The "Transfermuga" scheme in the Basque Country is one of these eight projects – well-deserved recognition for this European project that aims to "boost Franco-Spanish cooperation with respect to all modes of transport, thus reducing the dominance of individual car use".

PUBLICATION

Euroregions, Excellence and Innovation across EU borders. A Catalogue of Good Practices.

This catalogue of good practices is designed to be a practical guide that gives people a better understanding of the "Euroregions": definition, list, typology, historical and geographical development, their role in cross-border governance, sectors of cooperation and the Euroregions' projects, etc.

EUROPE

Conference in Dubrovnik

The MOT took part in a conference entitled "Cross-Border Cooperation In Europe: Decentralisation, legal frameworks, and practice", organised under the aegis of the Council of Europe on 25 May in Dubrovnik.