While the crisis initially provoked uncoordinated border measures, it also revealed interdependencies and gave rise to multiple forms of cooperation and cross-border solidarity, which now need to be organised and strengthened by European and national public policies that take full account of the specific nature of cross-border territories.
The MOT is hosting the first Borders Forum on 9-10 November 2020, on line: two days in which to demonstrate the central role played by cross-border territories in Europe, to persuade both European and national authorities to place them at the heart of their public action and to bear witness to France’s ambitions on the European stage in this area. Close-up on the programme for the first day, with Europe as the overarching theme .
Close-up on the second day devoted to cross-border territories along France’s borders. It will be opened by Jean Jouzel, climatologist and glaciologist and Member of the Academy of Sciences, with the aim of highlighting the diversity of these territories, going from from Dunkirk to Bayonne, by way of Nice, Geneva and Strasbourg, pointing out their specificities and discussing decentralisation, deconcentration and above all differentiation.
Focus on mountain territories, a topic on the agenda of Round table #8 "Metropolises, mountains, rural areas: what kind of cross-border cohesion?" of the Borders Forum, on 10 november.
To discuss these opportunities for the future of cross-border territories, join us for Round table#7 of the Borders Forum, on 10 November 2020: "Cross-border areas, differentiated areas?"
Following the adoption of the first four Cross-Border Cooperation Strategies (Schémas de Coopération Transfrontalière – SCT) by the Nice, Strasbourg and Lille Metropolises, as well as by the Basque Country Conurbation Community, the MOT and its partners embarked on the drafting of a preliminary assessment of these initiatives that has resulted in a publication, co-written with each of these groupings of municipalities.
The national support programme for towns with fewer than 20,000 inhabitants and their groupings of municipalities was launched on 1 October by Jacqueline Gourault, the Minister for Territorial Cohesion, and Joël Giraud, Minister of State for Rural Affairs. The National Agency for Territorial Cohesion is in charge of setting it up and implementing it, in collaboration with the Banque des Territoires and its main national partners (the ANAH, Ademe, Cerema, etc.).
The vote on mass immigration (27/09/2020) is defeated by 63%.
“Les annales des Mines” has devoted a whole issue to the topic “Work and cooperation across borders”.
At the “10 years of the EGTC Platform” (RT#3 of the Borders Forum), an emblematic example in Europe will be celebrated: the Cerdanya Cross-Border Hospital EGTC, with the participation of François Calvet, Senator for the Pyrénées-Orientales Department and President of its support committee. At the height of the health crisis, this, the first cross-border hospital in Europe demonstrated the benefits and effectiveness of cross-border cooperation in the area of healthcare.
In the context of the health crisis, all of the neighbouring countries have sought to encourage homeworking. Good news for cross-border workers: the legal uncertainty regarding the social security system governing cross-border workers has been removed until 31 December 2020.
The diplomatic contact group of the EU Council, COREPER II, met in early September to discuss better coordination between Member States regarding internal borders, with "particular attention given to border regions".
The MOT’s 23rd general assembly, held in Colmar, was an opportunity for rich discussions between representatives of territories that are sometimes very different and yet so similar in terms of their cross-border specificities. You have done me the honour of electing me as the MOT’s President and I am conscious of the responsibility this represents.
The network of the Mission Opérationnelle Transfrontalière (MOT) met in Colmar on 8-9 September, at the invitation of the Haut-Rhin Department, to elect its new President: Christian Dupessey, Mayor of Annemasse and First Vice-President of Annemasse Agglo.
The AEBR has published a compendium setting out analyses of the 43 obstacles and solutions identified over the course of the first two calls for proposals of the b-solutions initiative. NB: 3rd call for proposals extended until 11 October 2020.
The third call for proposals in the framework of the b-solutions initiative is opened. Deadline extended until 11.10.2020!
The Commission’s Directorate-General for Regional and Urban Policy (DG REGIO) launched a new online "Public consultation on overcoming obstacles in border regions", and invite citizens and/or border stakeholders to participate and share their opinions and feedback. Extended deadline: 11 October.
On 9-10 November 2020, the Mission Opérationnelle Transfrontalière (MOT) is hosting in Paris the first edition of the BORDERS FORUM. This exceptional event will take place under the patronage of Mr Emmanuel Macron, President of the French Republic.
