How is cross-border governance developing on the borders of Luxemburg, in particular with Lorraine?
With regard to cross-border governance, three EGTCs are in preparation. The first, on which most progress has been made, will be tasked with management of the Interreg IVA “Greater Region” programme (the decision was made on both political and administrative grounds). It is the only known application of an EGTC for this type of mission. The second proposed EGTC concerns the Alzette/Belval site. There is a strong political will, and the founding documents (statutes) are being drafted. The members of this EGTC will be the State and four municipalities on the Luxemburg side and the prefecture, Lorraine regional council, two department councils and the community of municipalities Pays-Haut Val d'Alzette on the French side. It will have a strategic mission to develop relations with the aim of encouraging the emergence of joint projects in the cross-border conurbation around the site. Some issues still have to be settled, such as the distribution of votes between the stakeholders. Lastly, a third EGTC may be formed for the purpose of organising and structuring (with a budget, personnel, etc.) the institutionalised cooperation between the ten partners of the Greater Region summit: the Luxemburg state, the two bordering German Länder, the Walloon region, the French- and German-speaking communities of Belgium and, on the French side, the prefecture, the Lorraine region and the Meurthe-et-Moselle, Meuse and Moselle department councils.
Can you mention some projects backed within the Interreg IVA framework?
Several projects have already been approved. A cooperation between the universities of the three countries, for example, is intended to encourage integration of courses, recognition of diplomas and mobility of students and lecturers within the Greater Region. Other projects include the establishment of a network of nature parks, health cooperation and joint promotion of tourism in the Greater Region. There will also be cultural projects, following 2007 “Luxemburg European capital of culture”.
Source: Cross-border news, No.47, February 2009
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