News

EUROPE

The Critical Dictionary on Borders is finally available online!

Published in paper format in 2020, this major publication, to which the MOT contributed, is finally available online.

MOT

The MOT publishes two new "Focus" on the environment and adaptation to climate change

The environment knows no borders, and neither does the climate!

TERRITORIES

A new electrical link between France and Italy

As a further step towards the construction of the European electricity network, a new 190 km EHV line, entirely underground, is being built between Savoy and Piedmont. It will increase the electricity exchange capacity between France and Italy by 40%.

TERRITORIES

French-Italian High Valleys: two new missions for the MOT

The summer of 2022 marked the launch of two parallel missions for the MOT concerning the territory of the Hautes Vallées Conference (CHAV) at two different territorial levels.

TERRITORIES

The Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur Region adopts a "Cross-border cooperation strategy"

This strategy, adopted by the Region on June 24th, 2022, takes place in the context of strengthened cooperation between France and Italy since the signing of the Quirinal Treaty at the end of 2021, as well as the historical links with the Principality of Monaco

TERRITORIES

Three Franco-Italian cooperation agreements on civil security

On July 19th, three agreements on civil security and border security were signed between the prefecture of Savoie and that of Turin.

BORDERS FORUM

Borders Forum 21&22 June in Paris: focus on governance with three key testimonies

Sandro Gozi, MEP, Jean de Béthune, President of the Lille-Kortrijk-Tournai Eurometropolis, and Christoph Schnaudigel, President of the PAMINA Eurodistrict, talk to us about governance – a crucial subject at the centre of the second day of the Borders Forum. Register now as places are limited! You can also access the event's press kit.

NATIONAL LEVEL

Quirinal Treaty: Franco-Italian cross-border cooperation committee about to be set up

Cross-border co-operation was at the heart of the first of the four meetings devoted to the advances of the Quirinal Treaty. This bilateral treaty between France and Italy was signed by the two countries on 26 November last year.

MOT

Hub/Banque des Territoires: a breakfast show devoted to cross-border cooperation

During this sequence programmed on 8 April as part of the Banque des Territoires and its Hub’s "Europe and Territories" breakfast shows, Jean Peyrony, the MOT’s Director-General, highlighted the major challenges of cross-border cooperation :

MOT

In Nice, a cross-border citizens’ forum to shape tomorrow’s Europe

On 24-25 March 2022, at the invitation of the Nice Côte d’Azur Metropolis, the MOT had the pleasure of facilitating a Franco-Italian citizens’ forum against a very positive backdrop: the start of the European Year of Youth, the publication of the findings of the Conference on the Future of Europe, France’s presidency of the EU Council and the recent signing of the Quirinal Treaty between the two countries’ governments.

MOT

Bringing together cross-border territories in preparation for 2022!

This autumn, and for the second consecutive year, the MOT organised nine “territorial meetings”, so as to keep in close contact with the members of its network, and involve them in preparing its annual programme. Held successively in Besançon, Strasbourg, Lille, Annemasse, Charleville-Mézières, Nice, Urrugne, Perpignan and Metz, both virtually and in person, the meetings brought together close to 200 participants in total.

NATIONAL LEVEL

The Quirinal Treaty – a historical advance for Franco-Italian cross-border cooperation

On the eve of France’s presidency of the EU, the French President, Emmanuel Macron, and the head of the Italian government, Mario Draghi, have signed in Rome a bilateral cooperation treaty, the “Quirinal Treaty”. Sixty years after the signature of the Franco-German Élysée Treaty, this “friendship pact” is historical and marks the desire, at the highest level of state, to advance Franco-Italian cross-border cooperation.

TERRITORIES

Towards greater cooperation around Monte Viso

Continuing a collaboration going back 30 years, the territories located south of Monte Viso (3,841 metres), the iconic mountain in the Southern Alps, are structuring their cooperation within the framework of an integrated territorial plan supported by the ALCOTRA programme, known as “Terres Monviso”.

MOT

TERACTION: proactive Franco-Italian partners join the MOT’s network

On 5 November 2021, the MOT team had the pleasure of hosting the partners of the integrated territorial plan known as GraiesLab – Active And Innovative Rural Generations – in their offices for a work meeting.

MOT

Cross-border monitoring of the 3DS bill (France) by the MOT

Following its adoption at its first reading in the Senate on 21 July 2021, the 3DS bill (standing for “differentiation, decentralisation, deconcentration and various measures to simplify local public action”) will be examined under a fast-track procedure in the Assemblée Nationale, in France, from the beginning of December. Taking on a number of the proposals put forward by the MOT, the senators adopted a series of amendments relating to cross-border issues.

NATIONAL LEVEL

4D bill: The MOT's proposals to strengthen the cross-border component

In anticipation of the reading of the 4D bill in Parliament, the MOT, on behalf of its network, has sent to the co-rapporteurs of the Senate’s Law Commission on this legislation proposed amendments aimed at strengthening its cross-border component.

NATIONAL LEVEL

A cross-border component in the ‘4D’ bill

The “4D” bill was presented during the Council of Ministers’ session on 12 May. It will be subject to an accelerated parliamentary procedure, and its reading in the Senate is scheduled for July.

EUROPE

Cross-border healthcare: two public consultations launched by the Commission, two seminars on French borders

NATIONAL LEVEL

First national meetings of the Small Towns of Tomorrow programme

These meetings were held on 22 April 2021, organised by the ANCT, with the Minister Jacqueline Gourault and Minister of State Joël Giraud in attendance. All beneficiary towns were invited, and examples of territory projects were presented. Among these, several border towns were highlighted, including Saint-Jean de Maurienne and its valley in Savoie, Bouzonville and Sierck-les-Bains in Moselle, along with Hirson and the Thiérache in Aisne.

TERRITORIES

Focus on the Franco-Italian project PROSANTE, and assistance from the MOT

Funded by the Interreg programme Alcotra, the "PROSANTE" project is dedicated to the creation of a cross-border healthcare network linking the hospitals in Briançon and Susa on the Franco-Italian border.

MOT

Taking account of border towns in the national programme “Small Towns of Tomorrow”

In October 2020, the MOT was tasked by the National Agency for Territorial Cohesion and the Banque des Territoires as an “action partner” in the national programme “Small Towns of Tomorrow”.

COVID-19

Restrictions at France’s borders: cross-border living areas finally recognised

Since 31 January 2021, anyone entering France, including from other European countries, must be in possession of a negative Covid test obtained within the previous 72 hours. However, this obligation does not apply to the inhabitants of cross-border living areas (for journeys lasting less than 24 hours) or to cross-border workers.

TERRITORIES

A Franco-Italian accelerator dedicated to SMEs

The first Franco-Italian accelerator has just been set up. Its aim is to help French and Italian SMEs to work together to grow internationally.

PUBLICATION

"FOCUS", a new thematic brochure by the MOT : "Les massifs aux frontières françaises"*

Mountain areas represent over 40% of France’s borders. Among France’s mountain ranges, three of them are located in border regions: the Jura, the Pyrenees and the Alps. This new brochure sets out their common cross-border issues and challenges, while also highlighting concrete cross-border projects.

TERRITORIES

France-Italy: resilience and post-crisis(es) recovery at the heart of future cooperation initiatives

On 17 September, the concluding webinar of the Europ’Act capitalisation project entitled “What prospects for Franco-Italian cross-border cooperation initiatives in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur Region?” brought together more than 150 people. Organised by the Sud Region and run by the MOT, it aimed to take stock of six years of cooperation initiatives and to outline the Interreg programme for 2021-2027.