News

  • Editorial by Edouard Jacque, President of Grand Est Cross-Border Workers; Regional Councillor, Grand Est Region

    TERRITORIES

    Editorial by Edouard Jacque, President of Grand Est Cross-Border Workers; Regional Councillor, Grand Est Region

    May 2019

    The only border that exists in the Grand Est is that which we have “in our hearts”. It is part of our emotional relationship to our history, now turned towards the future, in which on a daily basis we shape a territory that is open in all directions, open to the need to cultivate our differences as they are an asset, and open to cooperation in all areas: be it providing responses to the challenges of AI, research programmes or university projects; or be it encouraging young people to become multilingual, bringing a railway line back to life, building a cycle path or developing an area of countryside working together in a network – because it’s above all a story of human beings.

  • Why does Luxembourg continue to attract so many cross-border workers?

    TERRITORIES

    Why does Luxembourg continue to attract so many cross-border workers?

    May 2019

    In spite of its small surface area, the Grand Duchy continues to attract skills from all over Europe. A symbolic milestone was passed in 2018, when the number of commuters reached 100,000. This is the count of French cross-border workers who every day make the journey to this country located at the heart of European exchanges. This figure will rise to close to 150,000 over the next 15 years.

  • The "High Valleys - Heart of the Alps" Integrated Territorial Plan

    TERRITORIES

    The "High Valleys - Heart of the Alps" Integrated Territorial Plan

    May 2019

    The cross-border territory of the “High Valleys” is located in the heart of the Alps, between Savoie, Piedmont and the High Alps. It consists of 13 groups of municipalities, 147 rural mountain districts and 270,753 inhabitants spread over 6,350 km2. A cross-border strategy "The High Valleys – Smart Destination" was drawn up in order to group together the common development priorities for the coming years.

  • A Territorial Development Plan for the Greater Region

    TERRITORIES

    A Territorial Development Plan for the Greater Region

    May 2019

    Within the framework of the Interreg “Greater Region Territorial Development Plan” project, the Greater Region Executives Summit have laid the political groundwork for the drawing-up of a common cross-border territorial strategy for the Greater Region partners.

  • Strasbourg: Survey on well-being across the cross-border area

    TERRITORIES

    Strasbourg: Survey on well-being across the cross-border area

    May 2019

    The Strasbourg Eurometropolis’s Development Council has conducted a survey of citizens on well-being across the whole of the cross-border metropolis. The survey is entitled “How are you?”.

  • INSEE Analyses: cross-border employment from the Hauts-de-France Region to Belgium

    PUBLICATION

    INSEE Analyses: cross-border employment from the Hauts-de-France Region to Belgium

    May 2019

    At the end of 2017, 24,200 employees living in the Hauts-de-France Region worked abroad, principally in Belgium. They represent 1.6% of the region’s employees – five times less than in the Grand Est Region. Less favourable employment conditions, particularly with respect to tax, have now made Belgium less attractive than in the past.

  • Call for proposals: "Support to cooperation on intra-EU mobility"

    EUROPE

    Call for proposals: "Support to cooperation on intra-EU mobility"

    May 2019

    The EU Programme for Employment and Social Innovation "EaSI" (EURES axis) is launching a call for proposals regarding “Cross-border partnerships and support to cooperation on intra-EU mobility for EEA countries and social partners". The deadline is 6 June 2019.

  • Aurélien Biscaut, the MOT’s new Secretary-General

    MOT

    Aurélien Biscaut, the MOT’s new Secretary-General

    May 2019

    Following the departure of Olivier Denert, the MOT was pleased to welcome on 15 April its new Secretary-General into the technical team: Aurélien Biscaut, former Director of the North Lorraine Urban Planning Agency (Agape).

  • "L'Europe par les territoires", a publication by the FNAU – focus on the cross-border dimension

    PUBLICATION

    "L'Europe par les territoires", a publication by the FNAU – focus on the cross-border dimension

    May 2019

    The latest publication by the French Network of Urban Planning Agencies (FNAU), entitled "L'Europe par les territoires" (“Europe by its territories”) feeds into the debate about Europe and provides different views on the issues relating to cohesion policy and the way in which cities and territories have appropriated the European ideal and the tools of this policy. The MOT contributed to it and several cross-border territories are showcased in it.

  • MOT article on cross-border public services

    MOT

    MOT article on cross-border public services

    May 2019

    The magazine "Intercommunalités" of the Assemblée des Communautés de France (AdCF – Assembly of France’s Communities) has published in its issue 238 an article written by the MOT: "Concevoir les services publics transfrontaliers" ("Designing cross-border public services").

  • Publication of proceedings of the policy forum: "Security and development: how to manage borders?"

    MOT

    Publication of proceedings of the policy forum: "Security and development: how to manage borders?"

    May 2019

    On 7 July 2016 the MOT and Grenoble-Alpes University held at the Assemblée Nationale in Paris a policy forum entitled “Sécurité et développement: comment gérer la frontière ?”, within the framework of an international research project "Borders in Globalization" ("BIG"). The proceedings are now available (in French).

  • Meeting in Brussels on "Missing Railway Links"

    EUROPE

    Meeting in Brussels on "Missing Railway Links"

    May 2019

    Since a study by DG REGIO on the topic in 2018, the importance of “Missing Railway Links” for cohesion policy and the development of border regions disadvantaged by a lack of rail infrastructure has been highlighted. In this context, the PAMINA Eurodistrict EGTC held a conference on 11 April in collaboration with the Committee of the Regions.

  • Editorial by Robert Herrmann, President of the MOT, President of the Strasbourg Eurometropolis

    MOT

    Editorial by Robert Herrmann, President of the MOT, President of the Strasbourg Eurometropolis

    April 2019

    "In the run-up to the European elections, our work has taken on particular significance. The risk of a low turnout is encouraging us even more to continue our work of persuading our fellow citizens that they should make their voices heard regarding the kind of Europe they would like to see. The projects that were presented to us in Geneva and Annemasse, reflecting the progress in Franco-German cooperation, are exemplary. They show the way we are seeking to promote: a Europe made of concrete actions, at the service of its citizens; a Europe of territories."

  • The cross-border dimension on "the French Government's agenda"

    MOT

    The cross-border dimension on "the French Government's agenda"

    April 2019

    Around Robert Herrmann, the MOT’s President and President of the Strasbourg Eurometropolis, the representatives of the French Government at the MOT’s general assembly emphasised the favourable political context for cross-border cooperation. According to Jacques Champagne de Labriolle, Ambassador for Cooperation and Border Issues at the Ministry of Europe and Foreign Affairs, the cross-border dimension is now “at the heart of the French Government’s concerns”.

  • Work of the MOT's bodies and Technicians' Platform

    MOT

    Work of the MOT's bodies and Technicians' Platform

    April 2019

    The network’s bodies approved the 2018 activity and financial reports, the 2019 work programme and the joining of two new members: the Saint-Avold Synergy Conurbation Community and the French Mountaineering Clubs Federation.

  • The EU is going to change the rules on unemployment insurance for cross-border workers

    EUROPE

    The EU is going to change the rules on unemployment insurance for cross-border workers

    April 2019

    On 20 March 2019, the Commission, the Parliament and the Council reached an agreement on the revision of European rules regarding coordination of social security. From 2021 onwards, unemployed cross-border workers will have their benefit paid by the country where they have worked and no longer by the country they live in.

  • The Alsatian departments launch their "OR Strategy - Oberrhein / Rhin Supérieur"

    TERRITORIES

    The Alsatian departments launch their "OR Strategy - Oberrhein / Rhin Supérieur"

    April 2019

    The two departments, which will soon be grouped together as the European territorial authority of Alsace, wish to step up cross-border cooperation with their German and Swiss neighbours straightaway. The "OR Strategy – Oberrhein/Rhin supérieur" that they have just presented formalises these reflections and expert assessments.

  • Annual report on intra-EU labour mobility

    EUROPE

    Annual report on intra-EU labour mobility

    April 2019

    The European Commission has published its 2018 report on intra-EU labour mobility. Data concerning cross-border workers are set out on pages 77-80 of the report, which records 1.9 million cross-border workers in 2017 (including EFTA countries as countries of residence and work).

  • A network for European capitals of cross-border culture

    TERRITORIES

    A network for European capitals of cross-border culture

    April 2019

    On 7 March 2019 in Esch-sur-Alzette, a city selected to be European Capital of Culture in 2022, an event was held to launch the Jean Monnet "CECCUT" project (European Capitals of Culture and Cross-Border Urban Cohesion).

  • Mobility Portal in the PAMINA area

    TERRITORIES

    Mobility Portal in the PAMINA area

    April 2019

    The PAMINA Eurodistrict and the Karlsruhe TechnologieRegion have inaugurated a new web portal dedicated to cross-border mobility. With 300,000 consultations a day, it is one of the main online journey planning services.

  • "Enhancing Healthcare cooperation in cross-border regions"

    PUBLICATION

    "Enhancing Healthcare cooperation in cross-border regions"

    April 2019

    Published following the European conference "Enhancing Healthcare Cooperation in Cross-Border Regions (CBHC)" that took place in December 2018 in Brussels, this 31-page document sets out 12 good practices that illustrate the value added and keys for success for cross-border cooperation in the area of healthcare.

  • The MOT’s network in Greater Geneva

    MOT

    The MOT’s network in Greater Geneva

    April 2019

    The MOT held its general assembly and annual conference on 20-21 March 2019 in Annemasse and Geneva, bringing together 140 participants, at the invitation of Annemasse Agglo, the Metropolitan Pole of the French Genevois, the Greater Geneva LGCC and the Republic and Canton of Geneva. Around the meetings of the MOT’s bodies, a conference on cross-border investment and field visits were organised.

  • The MOT's activity report

    MOT

    The MOT's activity report

    April 2019

    The MOT has published its 2018 activity report.

  • Border Studies, a joint study program between four universities of the Greater Region

    TERRITORIES

    Border Studies, a joint study program between four universities of the Greater Region

    April 2018

    The Master in Border Studies is a two-year joint international study program, which addresses the complex economic, political, social and cultural issues of borders and of border regions in Europe and beyond. The Master provides students with the major concepts and analytical tools to understand the various challenges of border regions and cross-border cooperations.

  • The MOT's contribution to the Great Debate

    MOT

    The MOT's contribution to the Great Debate

    April 2019

    Highly attentive to citizens’ concerns sparked by the four themes of the Great National Debate in the cross-border regions, where national issues sit alongside dynamics that transcend the border, the MOT wished to take part in this unprecedented exchange of views by contributing its concrete proposals.