News

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.

TERRITORIES

Basel Trinational Eurodistrict - Involving inhabitants in thinking about the future of their trinational region

The health situation threw up a major challenge – that of providing a suitable format for citizens’ participation in the middle of a pandemic. In collaboration with the Euro-Institut and the MOT, the Basel Trinational Eurodistrict (ETB) developed a concept organised around a questionnaire and several virtual events. The aim was both to ensure broad participation from the population and to facilitate real exchanges between citizens from the three countries.

TERRITORIES

Editorial by Thomas Zeller, President of the Basel Trinational Eurodistrict, Vice-President of the Saint-Louis Conurbation and Mayor of Hegenheim

The Basel trinational conurbation is a genuinely shared living area that is strongly interconnected. In designing our Strategy 2030, it seemed extremely important to us to set our goals in accordance with what matters to the region’s population.

FRANCE

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.

FRANCE

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.

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”.

TERRITORIES

Survey aimed at the inhabitants of the Basel Trinational Eurodistrict

In collaboration with the MOT and the Euro-Institut, the Basel Trinational Eurodistrict is currently working on its Strategy 2030, which will set out its role, its organisation and its themes for the coming years. One of its goals is to involve citizens more, as cross-border cooperation is aimed at one thing above all: making daily life and coexistence the border region easier and more enriching for its inhabitants.

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

Craftsmanship of mechanical watchmaking and art mechanics in the Jura Arc listed by UNESCO

On 16 December 2020, UNESCO added craftsmanship of mechanical watchmaking and art mechanics to the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. This listing gives recognition to an emblematic living tradition in the Franco-Swiss Jura Arc. The candidacy was regarded as exemplary by UNESCO in that it raises awareness of the importance of intangible cultural heritage in a cross-border space

MOT

Supporting the development of cross-border projects along the Grand Est Region's borders

On 9 October 2020, the final conference relating to the study “Analysis of the contributions made by the 2014-2020 cross-border cooperation programmes in the Grand Est Region”, led by the Region within the framework of the European programme Europ'Act and coordinated by the MOT and the Euro-Institut, brought together in the form of a webinar around one hundred participants.

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

Switzerland will not be closed to cross-border residents

The vote on mass immigration (27/09/2020) is defeated by 63%.

End of the uncertainty around homeworking for cross-border workers

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.

MOT

Editorial of Christian Dupessey, new President of the MOT, Mayor of Annemasse and First Vice-President of Annemasse Agglo

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.

MOT

Proceedings of the Besançon day event on Cross-Border Metropolitan Cooperation

TERRITORIES

France-Switzerland: A Léman Coherence Strategy

Since 2008, the Léman Council has provided a Léman Coherence Transport Strategy. This initiative, which is led by the Canton of Valais, provides an overview for the whole of the Léman region.

TERRITORIES

The "Espace Mont-Blanc" refines its strategy for adapting to climate change

Drawing on 29 years of cross-border cooperation, the "Espace Mont-Blanc" ("Mont-Blanc area") on the Franco-Italian-Swiss border is striving to adapt its territory by seeking joint responses to the impacts of climate change.

MOT

A publication by the MOT: The Covid-19 crisis on French borders

The MOT has published an analysis of the consequences for cross-border territories of the health crisis – the result of a call for experiences issued to all of its members. Organised in three main parts, it aims to set out the impacts, difficulties and initiatives linked to the management of the Covid-19 health crisis in cross-border territories.

COVID-19

Calls for an easing of border restrictions

While a circular issued by France’s Prime Minister, Edouard Philippe, dated 12 May has just extended France’s internal border controls until 31 October 2020,1 there have been growing calls to give attention to the difficulties faced in border territories, notably for the 360,000 cross-border workers who cross the French border every day to work in a neighbouring country.

COVID-19

Players in cross-border territories have their say

"The coronavirus crisis is putting our European ideals to the test, and obliges us to invent tomorrow’s world. We need to think, in the design of our policies, about the impact of our decisions on our neighbours."

COVID-19

GeoRhena, an observation tool for the Upper Rhine

GeoRhena, the Upper Rhine geographic information system, has developed a simplified dynamic mapping tool that enables people to view and search for regularly updated data on developments in the Covid-19 epidemic in the Franco-German-Swiss trinational region.

COVID-19

The MOT's maps showing the easing of lockdown measures along France's borders

The MOT has published on its website and on social media a series of maps showing the situation with respect to the easing of lockdown measures along France’s borders.

COVID-19

The influx of cross-border workers remains essential to the economy of the Swiss cantons

When looking at the share of people infected per capita, Switzerland turns out to be the second most affected country in the world after Italy. The large flow of workers between the canton Ticino and the Lombardy region, Italy's first region in terms of total number of infected people, has certainly speeded up the process.

EUROPE

"Together For a Sustainable Alpine Region"

The French presidency of the EU strategy for the Alpine Region, launched on 4 February in Lyon, intends to move into higher gear regarding the ecological transition within this transnational space among the most vulnerable and under threat due to climate change.

MOT

The MOT’s contribution at the conference "Spatial planning in the Franco-Swiss Jura Arc"

On 23 January 2020, the MOT took part in the conference "Spatial planning in the Franco-Swiss Jura Arc", held in La Chaux-de-Fonds (CH) within the framework of the Interreg V – ARC-AD programme. As well as being an opportunity to share views on spatial planning issues in the cross-border territory, the purpose of the conference was to present the ARC-AD tool, a decision-making tool designed to facilitate the coordination of territorial planning across the Jura Arc.