In the Franco-German region of Strasbourg-Kehl, the municipalities are in the process of implementing a flagship cross-border cooperation project for the extension of urban heating networks. Soon, the waste heat from the local steel mill will supply thousands of households on both sides of the Rhine.
On the occasion of the 30th anniversary of the European Archaeological Park of Bliesbruck-Reinheim, its two historical partners, the Department of Moselle and the Saarpfalzkreis, have initiated an in-depth reflection to make this site "a laboratory for local Franco-German cooperation."
On 23 September 2022, the closing ceremony of the project "PAMINA Care Services" took place. Concrete and promising results were presented by the PAMINA Eurodistrict, the project leader, as well as by the project partners (hospitals, health insurance funds, ARS, Landkreise, etc.).
On October 14th, the Prefect of Moselle gathered the Local Committee for Territorial Cohesion (CLCT). On this occasion, a participatory approach was proposed to the various participants, via the organisation of five working groups, the objective of which was to identify the engineering needs of local authorities, the existing solutions, and to promote the exchange of good practices and feedback from the field.
Following the modification of the French sports code (article L231-2-1) by the 3DS law of February 21st 2022, sportsmen and women residing abroad, and in particular in a country bordering France, no longer need to present a medical certificate when registering for a sports competition organised partly in a French border department.
This study on planning and permits regarding projects for sites intended for major retailers in the SaarMoselle Eurodistrict, on the Franco-German border was carried out by the MOT and the German consultancy Junker+Kruse, for the Saarbrücken Regionalverband.
"70 people aged 2 to 87 who live, work or enjoy their time in the Strasbourg Eurometropolis or in Kehl, share their views on what constitutes the cross-border living area, the influence of restrictions on crossing the border during the health crisis and their aspirations for the future."
On 12 July 2022, Brigitte Klinkert, member of parliament for Haut-Rhin (FR), questioned the French government in the National Assembly on "the place of cross-border cooperation in the negotiations conducted under the French Presidency ». Specific provisions will be included in the revision of the Schengen code.
Close to the Franco-German and Franco-Luxembourg borders, Bouzonville and Sierck-les-Bains are drawing up their cross-border goals with the help of the MOT.
Focus on two border initiatives at the heart of the European project.
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.
The Saarbrücken Regionalverband has just published a study on planning and permits regarding projects for sites intended for major retailers in the SaarMoselle Eurodistrict, on the Franco-German border. This assignment was carried out by the MOT and the German consultancy Junker+Kruse.
The Greater Region’s Cooperation Fund has been extended by the Greater Region Summit with a new call for projects. Its aim: "To bring the inhabitants of the Greater Region closer together and to enable them to experience the richness of exchanges across borders".
In order to strengthen its presence in the territories through ad hoc regional offices, on 14 March the MOT held its first session in Strasbourg.
The Franco-German Cross-Border Cooperation Committee met on 12 March in Strasbourg, under the co-chairmanship of Clément Beaune (France), Minister of State for European Affairs, and Anna Lührmann, Minister of State for Europe and Climate (Germany). The MOT officially took part in the meeting as a Committee "expert".
In January 2022, the Summit of Greater Region Executives took stock at the midpoint in France’s presidency, particularly with respect to the industrial, digital and energy transitions, flood and drought risk prevention, food and promoting short supply chains, culture, youth, sport and tourism, healthcare and security.
According to a study by INSEE that has just been published, average GDP growth in the Grand Est Region is the second lowest among mainland France’s regions, after Burgundy- Franche-Comté: "In the region, per capita GDP totalled €28,300 in 2017, which was €1,200 lower than the average for provincial France. […] One explanation for this is the greater increase in the number of cross-border workers than of workers in employment.
A "web" is a new method for observing innovative sectors. It consists of a mode of visualisation of ecosystems through the representation of their players and the relationships that connect them, and is designed to be a "participatory and experimental tool".
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.
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.
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.
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”.
On 18 November, the PAMINA Eurodistrict, in partnership with the MOT, held a seminar on the circular economy in the cross-border setting.
Following on from the MOT’s workshop “Breathing without borders” held on 13 October during the EURegionsWeek, the MOT has published three project factsheets corresponding to the examples of good practices presented during the workshop.
At a time when the pandemic is on the rise again in Europe and health measures are being strengthened on both sides of the Rhine, the European Territorial Authority of Alsace and the Grand Est Region, in cooperation with the Centre Européen de la Consommation (European Centre for Consumer Protection) and the INFOBEST network, have made available a digital tool to aid with crossing borders.
