Border: France-United Kingdom
Regions concerned: France: Regions – Nord-Pas de Calais, Picardie, Haute-Normandie; Departments – Nord, Pas de Calais, Somme, Seine-MaritimeUnited Kingdom: Counties – Kent, East-Sussex; Unitary Authorities – Brighton and Hove, Medway
European programme(s):
- Interreg IVA France (Channel)-England
Website of the programme
The programme on the Inforegio website - Interreg IVA Two Seas (France-UK-Belgium-Netherlands)
Website of the programme
The programme on the Inforegio website
Overview
Introduction
Although the maritime border constitutes a barrier to close cross-border relations, there is nonetheless sustained cooperation between the territories on either side of the English Channel.
The local authorities in the border regions are seeking to strengthen their ties within the Channel area through the adoption of a joint strategy, notably via the “Channel Arc Manche” platform, which gives the cooperation an institutional framework.
Numerous projects carried out by the local authorities are thus making it possible to develop cooperation in a variety of areas (transport, public services, the environment, maritime management, culture and tourism, etc.).
All of these projects are supported by the cooperation programmes Interreg V France-(Channel)-England and Interreg V Two Seas. Notable among them is the NOSTRA then the ESI project, which is aimed at better management of sea straits both at local and European level.
There are many issues related to this cooperation and include in particular cross-border mobility, the development of the system of governance and the legal framework for cooperation.
