Conurbations 

The SaarMoselle territory on the French-German border encompasses a population of more than 1.1 million. Cooperation arrangements were initiated more than 10 years ago by the association “Zukunft SaarMoselle Avenir”, a member of the MOT network. It has resulted in the completion of a number of cross-border projects. Today the local elected representatives want to go further in the structuring of the cross-border territory and have undertaken the establishment of a European grouping of territorial cooperation (EGTC).

The urban community of Saarbrücken and the municipalities of north-eastern Moselle (Forbach, Saint-Avold, Freyming-Merlebach, Sarreguemines, etc.) form a cross-border conurbation of more than 600,000 inhabitants. Between the German and French sides the economic challenges are similar (conversion of former mining and industrial areas), the common culture is based on bilingualism and the border is crossed by substantial flows of border workers. The French side comprises several medium-sized towns which are experiencing restructuring and have implemented an active policy of attracting new industry. But Saarbrücken, which has the majority of the work and the people, is changing rapidly and has a high potential for provision of high-quality services to businesses. The principal challenge at cross-border level is thus to find a better balance either side of the border.

Today the border obstacles are being reduced thanks to strong political determination of the local elected representatives and a common identity that is developing through economic interdependence between SMEs, growing cultural relations and the bilingualism of part of the French population. Over ten years a number of cross-border projects have been completed and reinforce this feeling of belonging to a common territory. They cover areas such as economic development, water, training, transport (tram-train between Sarreguemines and Saarbrucken) and culture.

Towards the establishment of an EGTC

On 5 May 2004 the municipalities and intermunicipal structures of the territory signed a resolution defining the objectives for the formation of a Eurodistrict. In September 2007 the partners commissioned the MOT to conduct a legal operational assistance assignment for the Eurodistrict, following which, in September 2008, the elected representatives adopted the principle of the establishment of an EGTC. This project is positioned in the broader context of the development of a “vision of the future” for the whole of the territory, a cross-border development concept implemented between 2006 and 2008 organised around “master projects” intended for the citizens.

Forbach

Bearing the name “Eurodistrict SaarMoselle”, the objective of the EGTC will be to organise the governance, move towards a more ambitious territory project and federate the previous cooperation arrangements (association, Eurodistrict, metropolitan area cooperation). Another objective is to affirm the binational dimension of the Saar metropolitan area and change its image (upgrading of the river Saar and the forested spaces, research and projects on new energies, setting-up of a cross-border public transport system, etc.). The EGTC will continue to guide and coordinate a number of projects, for example in the area of health (establishment of a platform for discussion and management of cross-border emergencies) or in the area of tourism and culture (setting-up of the industrial heritage route). Projects such as the establishment of an Infobest centre or increasing exchanges of child-care centre and nursery school personnel are also under discussion. These initiatives could be backed directly by the new structure, which will have a high European profile and substantial flexibility in the definition of its organisation and its operating procedures. The establishment of the EGTC, currently in progress, is due to be completed in Autumn 2009 after the municipal and regional elections to be held in Saar between June and August.