News

  • Closer cooperation between Strasbourg and Kehl

    TERRITORIES

    Closer cooperation between Strasbourg and Kehl

    January 2022

    At their joint municipal council meeting that took place on 1 December 2021, the cities of Strasbourg and Kehl signed a cooperation agreement aimed at stepping up their exchanges and working on new cross-border projects. This initiative encompasses the competences of the Strasbourg Eurometropolis, which is a signatory to the agreement, thus marking a recognition of involvement at the intermunicipal level in the cooperation between the cities and the construction of a cross-border conurbation.

  • Spotlight on cross-border public services at the 42nd conference of urban planning agencies

    MOT

    Spotlight on cross-border public services at the 42nd conference of urban planning agencies

    January 2022

    At a time when the closure of borders highlights the issues relating to cross-border living areas and their cohesion, the provision of public services specific to these territories was the subject of a dedicated workshop at the FNAU’s last national conference.

  • En route for Katowice to talk cross-border cooperation!

    MOT

    En route for Katowice to talk cross-border cooperation!

    January 2022

    The PFVT (Partenariat Français pour la Ville et les Territoires – French Partnership for Cities and Territories) is French urban development players’ platform for discussion and promotion of their expertise internationally.

  • MOT study for the Lille Metropolis Development and Urban Planning Agency: the impacts of the pandemic on the cross-border area

    MOT

    MOT study for the Lille Metropolis Development and Urban Planning Agency: the impacts of the pandemic on the cross-border area

    January 2022

    Between June and September 2021, the MOT was commissioned by the Lille Metropolis Development and Urban Planning Agency (ADULM) to conduct an analysis of the consequences of the border restrictions in the territory of the Lille-Kortrijk-Tournai Eurometropolis. The aim was to identify the issues highlighted and revealed by the crisis and the brakes on/levers for the development of the cross-border territory.

  • The MOT partner in the GeRTrUD

    MOT

    The MOT partner in the GeRTrUD

    January 2022

    A large proportion of new urbanisation is concentrated in areas, more or less densely spread out, located on the edges of major urban conurbations. This phenomenon of "scattered" urbanisation encompasses scenarios as varied as the construction of periurban housing estates on the outskirts of big cities, the setting-up of economic activities far from urban centres and the development of small rural towns between two conurbations.

  • The three Franco-Belgian EGTCs sign a memorandum addressed to France’s presidency

    TERRITORIES

    The three Franco-Belgian EGTCs sign a memorandum addressed to France’s presidency

    January 2022

    On the initiative of the Lille-Kortrijk-Tournai Eurometropolis, the three EGTCs working along the Franco-Belgian border signed a memorandum addressed to France’s presidency of the EU.

  • France’s presidency of the EU: what place for cross-border territories?

    EUROPE

    France’s presidency of the EU: what place for cross-border territories?

    January 2022

    From 1 January until 30 June 2022, France holds the presidency of the European Union Council, for the 13th time. At a press conference on 9 December, President Emmanuel Macron set out the presidency’s three main themes: "recovery", "power" and "belonging". On this last point, he emphasised that the feeling of belonging to the European region had "declined" in France, as in other EU countries.

  • Joint declaration about the cross-border hospital in Puigcerdà

    TERRITORIES

    Joint declaration about the cross-border hospital in Puigcerdà

    January 2022

    On 7 December in Brussels, the French Health Minister, Olivier Véran, and his Spanish counterpart, Carolina Darias, signed a declaration of intent concerning the cross-border hospital in Puigcerdá, which sets out the framework for cooperation with respect to healthcare professionals practising between the two countries.

  • A cross-border strategy for resilience to climate change in the Pyrenees

    TERRITORIES

    A cross-border strategy for resilience to climate change in the Pyrenees

    January 2022

    At its annual plenary council meeting on 13 December in Alp, in Cerdanya, the members of the Communauté de Travail des Pyrénées (CTP – Working Community of the Pyrenees) unveiled a new “Pyrenees Climate Change Strategy” (EPiCC).

  • Cross-border regions in the Commission’s proposed reform of the Schengen Area: a major step forward

    EUROPE

    Cross-border regions in the Commission’s proposed reform of the Schengen Area: a major step forward

    January 2022

    On 14 December 2021, the European Commission presented to the European Parliament its proposals for new rules to strengthen the governance of the Schengen Area. The draft regulation, which sets forth a "Union Code on the rules governing the movement of persons across borders", specifically takes account of "cross-border regions".

  • The goals of the Alzette Belval EGTC until 2027

    TERRITORIES

    The goals of the Alzette Belval EGTC until 2027

    January 2022

    The Alzette Belval EGTC has unveiled its new cross-border strategy for the next six years.

  • The MOT interviewed about the major issues concerning cross-border work

    MOT

    The MOT interviewed about the major issues concerning cross-border work

    January 2022

    As part of its special report on border exchanges, the Journal des Français à l'étranger has been investigating the difficulties faced by cross-border workers on a daily basis.

  • Launch of a working group on the ecological transition

    MOT

    Launch of a working group on the ecological transition

    December 2021

    A new MOT working group was launched on 14 December 2021, with 35 participants from varied backgrounds and sectors (protected natural areas, energy, transport, etc.).

  • The MOT facilitated a workshop on public services during the FNAU national meetings

    MOT

    The MOT facilitated a workshop on public services during the FNAU national meetings

    December 2021

    On the occasion of the 42nd national meetings of the FNAU*, the MOT jointly led a workshop with the Agence d’Urbanisme Atlantique et Pyrénées (AUDAP) on the topic of public service provision and access in cross-border contexts.

  • New resolution adopted for "effective cross-border hospital cooperation"

    FRANCE

    New resolution adopted for "effective cross-border hospital cooperation"

    December 2021

    On 25 November, a new resolution submitted by Antoine Herth, MP for the Bas-Rhin, for the development of better cross-border health cooperation between France and its neighbouring countries, has been adopted by the French National Assembly.

  • DG REGIO reveals the first results of its study on cross-border public transport services

    EUROPE

    DG REGIO reveals the first results of its study on cross-border public transport services

    December 2021

    Lack of accessibility by public transport remains a major obstacle to opening up isolated European border regions. It is on the basis of this observation that the European Commission launched in 2020 a comprehensive study to identify all existing services on European borders.

  • Bringing together cross-border territories in preparation for 2022!

    MOT

    Bringing together cross-border territories in preparation for 2022!

    December 2021

    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.

  • European Territorial Cooperation: a MOOC is being designed

    EUROPE

    European Territorial Cooperation: a MOOC is being designed

    December 2021

    Together with its partners*, the MOT is currently working on behalf of the European Commission to produce the first MOOC (Massive Open Online Course) devoted to European Territorial Cooperation (ETC).

  • Launching of the EP's pilot project" Cross-Border Crisis Response Integrated Initiative" (CBCRII)

    EUROPE

    Launching of the EP's pilot project" Cross-Border Crisis Response Integrated Initiative" (CBCRII)

    December 2021

    Initiated by Anne Sander MEP, the European Parliament's pilot project "Cross-Border Crisis Response Integrated Initiative" (CBCRII) has just been approved. It can now be implemented by DG REGIO.

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

    NATIONAL LEVEL

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

    December 2021

    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.

  • Towards greater cooperation around Monte Viso

    TERRITORIES

    Towards greater cooperation around Monte Viso

    December 2021

    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”.

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

    MOT

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

    December 2021

    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.

  • A cross-border component for the Sambre-Avesnois-Thiérache Pact

    FRANCE

    A cross-border component for the Sambre-Avesnois-Thiérache Pact

    December 2021

    On 19 November, the French President Emmanuel Macron came to the Avesnois and the Thiérache to sign a second-generation contract between the French state and the territory.

  • Micro-projects to involve cross-border civil society

    TERRITORIES

    Micro-projects to involve cross-border civil society

    December 2021

    Launched in 2017 for a five-year period, the project “Civil Society in the Upper Rhine” presented its final assessment at the closing day held by the PAMINA Eurodistrict EGTC on 9 November 2021 in Lauterbourg. Funded within the framework of the Interreg VA Upper Rhine programme, it aimed to “involve civil society players more in the joint construction of cross-border daily life”.

  • New – with #lundicarto, every Monday the MOT presents a cross-border map

    MOT

    New – with #lundicarto, every Monday the MOT presents a cross-border map

    November 2021

    Starting from this November, every Monday the MOT is publishing on social media a map illustrating the reality of flows and cooperation in cross-border living areas.