Special Dossier on the European elections

EDITORIAL

A crucial issue in cross-border cooperation

By Philip Cordery, Member of parliament for French residents in the Benelux and Chairman of the Parliamentary Group on Cross-Border Cooperation at the Assemblée nationale (France)
By Philip Cordery, Member of parliament for French residents in the Benelux and Chairman of the Parliamentary Group on Cross-Border Cooperation at the Assemblée nationale (France)

"France’s border regions possess remarkable assets. By virtue of their proximity and interconnectedness with the border regions of neighbouring countries, these areas put in place innovative public policies that take integration with their neighbours into account. The actions of local elected representatives and EGTCs in the area of cross-border cooperation is exemplary and I salute their determination.

In order to promote this cooperation, we need to act at both national and European levels.
First at the level of France, cross-border regions represent 20% of the country’s territory and more than ten million of its population. The research group at the Assemblée nationale, of which I have been made Chairman, and which is composed of around 40 members of parliament from all of France’s border areas, works with local stakeholders and national partners including the MOT. Its aim is to share local experiences and to seek legislative solutions for cross-border cooperation so that it is incorporated into the major national public policies that we adopt in the Assemblée nationale.

I am determined to improve French legislation in order to encourage and simplify cross-border cooperation. For example, thanks to a private members’ amendment, the Banque Publique d’Investissement (Public Investment Bank) can now propose integrated cross-border strategies to promote economic development in these regions. In the area of higher education, seeking partnerships with cross-border universities has also become a priority thanks to an amendment that we succeeded in getting adopted.

The next major challenge in promoting cross-border cooperation will be the future law on decentralisation. The major regional programmes that this future legislation is supposed to put in place will have to take account of this cross-border dimension. To encourage the development of shared cross-border living spaces, territorial authorities or groupings of authorities need to be able to build integrated strategies with the territorial authorities on the other side of the border.

At European level, cross-border areas are laboratories for Europe - it is in these areas that Europe is lived out on a daily basis. They are examples of the process of EU integration. The European Union should support cross-border cooperation more by encouraging mobility (portability of social security entitlements, recognition of educational and professional qualifications, etc.) and by facilitating the territorial governance of these regions. My wish is therefore that the future European Parliament makes cross-border cooperation a priority."