News

  • Final meeting of the Cross-Border Review group of experts

    EUROPE

    Final meeting of the Cross-Border Review group of experts

    January 2017

    The MOT took part in the fourth and final meeting of Cross-Border Review experts that took place on 15 December in Brussels.

  • A Franco-Swiss "Community of Knowledge"

    TERRITORIES

    A Franco-Swiss "Community of Knowledge"

    January 2017

    At a meeting in Belfort on 1 December 2016, a framework agreement bringing together seven universities in the Franco-Swiss Jura Arc was signed, putting in place a "Community of Knowledge".

  • Editorial from Xavier Faure, Project Manager, Occitanie Regional Healthcare Agency

    TERRITORIES

    Editorial from Xavier Faure, Project Manager, Occitanie Regional Healthcare Agency

    December 2016

    The Cerdanya Hospital, which is located on the border between France and Spain in the Catalan Pyrenees, is an unprecedented example in Europe of cooperation in healthcare (between the Autonomous Community of Catalonia and France).

  • The cross-border Cerdanya Hospital: an example of successful cooperation

    TERRITORIES

    The cross-border Cerdanya Hospital: an example of successful cooperation

    December 2016

    To be able to treat someone rapidly after a stroke requires coordination between local emergency services and specialist neurology and neurosurgery departments.

  • The "Diplomacy and Territories" White Paper online

    FRANCE

    The "Diplomacy and Territories" White Paper online

    December 2016

    Endorsed on 23 November 2016 by the plenary session of the National Commission for Decentralised Cooperation (CNCD), the "Diplomacy and Territories" White Paper of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Development is online on the website of the DAECT (Délégation pour l'action extérieure des collectivités territoriales (Delegation for the External Action of Territorial Authorities).

  • Study on the Greater Region's territorial development plan

    MOT

    Study on the Greater Region's territorial development plan

    December 2016

    At the request of Luxembourg's Ministry for Sustainable Development and Infrastructures, acting on behalf of the different bodies of the Greater Region's Summit, a consortium led by the North Lorraine urban planning agency (AGAPE) in collaboration with the MOT, the urban planning agencies of Metz (AGURAM) and Nancy (ADUAN), and the Technical University of Kaiserslautern, carried out an assignment to assist with the drawing-up of the Greater Region's territorial development plan.

  • The Territorial Observatory's 2016 Report

    FRANCE

    The Territorial Observatory's 2016 Report

    December 2016

    The Territorial Observatory's 2016 Report on the topic "Employment and Territories" has just been published by the General Commission for Territorial Equality (CGET).

  • Signature of the "Greater Geneva Territorial Project 2016-2030"

    TERRITORIES

    Signature of the "Greater Geneva Territorial Project 2016-2030"

    December 2016

    Nearly 200 people gathered on 8 December 2016 in Geneva for the signature of the "Greater Geneva Territorial Project 2016-2030", a third generation conurbation project: "We want to move from a financial rationale to a common political vision. We want to make Greater Geneva a collective, shared project that is led by the territory's citizens and stakeholders. We want to work towards the concrete and effective realisation of projects."

  • ESPON seminar: "Where are European cities heading? Evidence for better policy-making"

    EUROPE

    ESPON seminar: "Where are European cities heading? Evidence for better policy-making"

    December 2016

    A seminar organised by the ESPON programme and the Slovak presidency of the EU Council was held in Bratislava on 7-8 December 2016. Its objective was to promote the use of ESPON's findings and tools in decision-making processes, and to discuss future issues for European territories.

  • The EU proposes a revision of the rules on the provision of unemployment benefits between Member States

    EUROPE

    The EU proposes a revision of the rules on the provision of unemployment benefits between Member States

    December 2016

    On 13 December in Strasbourg, the European Commission presented a revision of the European rules on the provision of unemployment benefits for cross-border workers and also for job-seekers in another Member State, in order to facilitate labour mobility.

  • The Atlas of Borders: Walls, Conflicts, Migrations

    PUBLICATION

    The Atlas of Borders: Walls, Conflicts, Migrations

    December 2016

    "There are borders that can be easily crossed and others that are impassable; there are visible borders and invisible borders; there are political, economic and cultural borders… This first atlas devoted to borders helps us to better understand the issues that are concealed behind the lines that separate or link peoples."

  • 5th Franco-Luxembourg intergovernmental commission (IGC)

    TERRITORIES

    5th Franco-Luxembourg intergovernmental commission (IGC)

    December 2016

    The 5th Franco-Luxembourg intergovernmental commission (IGC) for the strengthening of cross-border cooperation was held on 21 November 2016 in Luxembourg, in the presence of Harlem Désir, Secretary of State for European Affairs (FR), and Corinne Cahen, Minister for the Greater Region (LU).

  • "Un territoire, une rivière"*, a French-Swiss publication

    PUBLICATION

    "Un territoire, une rivière"*, a French-Swiss publication

    December 2016

    The Jura Arc Cross-Border Forum commissioned an original piece of work from Thomas Brasey as part of his thematic cycle entitled "Le Doubs Miroir" ("The Doubs Mirror") in order for him to train his photographer's eye on the cross-border territory between Saint-Ursanne in the Swiss Jura and Saint-Hippolyte in Franche-Comté, two municipalities linked by the river Doubs.

  • Editorial from Jean-Marc Ayrault, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Development (France)

    FRANCE

    Editorial from Jean-Marc Ayrault, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Development (France)

    November 2016

    After several decades of innovative projects undertaken between neighbouring countries, cross-border territories have become shared living spaces, and places for discovering a “European citizenship” experienced in daily life.

  • The White Paper "Diplomacy and Territories" of the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs: "A genuine strategy for cross-border cooperation"

    FRANCE

    The White Paper "Diplomacy and Territories" of the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs: "A genuine strategy for cross-border cooperation"

    November 2016

    The members of the CNCD (National Commission for Decentralized Cooperation) approved on 23 November 2016 a White Paper entitled “Diplomatie et territoires" (Diplomacy and Territories) proposed by the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Development.

  • Call for proposals for facilitating transport connections in Europe

    EUROPE

    Call for proposals for facilitating transport connections in Europe

    November 2016

    Within the framework of the Connecting Europe Facility, the European Commission has launched three calls for proposals concerning the implementation of large European transport networks, amounting to 1.9 billion euros. One of the main goals of these projects focuses on interoperability and the reduction of “missing links” in infrastructure, at a cross-border scale.

  • MOT Network Day

    MOT

    MOT Network Day

    November 2016

    The president of the MOT, Michel Delebarre, welcomed members of the MOT network on 16 November on the invitation of the Ministry of Overseas France in Paris for two meetings: the Advisory Committee meeting, where activities were presented and the reports made on the functioning of the MOT; and the Technicians’ Platform meeting, which was the occasion for interactive exchanges with members.

  • ITEM Conference in the Netherlands

    EUROPE

    ITEM Conference in the Netherlands

    November 2016

    ITEM (Institute for Transnational and Euregional cross border cooperation and Mobility at Dutch borders) held its annual conference on 28 October 2016 in Maastricht, on the topic “Europe under pressure: effects for border regions – 25 years after the Maastricht Treaty”. The ITEM annual report, which analyses each year the impact of legislation on the border territories of the Meuse-Rhine Euroregion, was presented and discussed.

  • TERRITORIES

    Creation of a cross-border chamber of commerce

    November 2016

    The directors of the Chambers of Commerce and Industry of Perpignan, Girona, Lleida and Andorra have officially launched the cross-border Chamber of Commerce and Industry “Pirineus Med”: a new body which aims to develop exchanges and cross-border knowledge, and whose goal is to “establish trade relations in the cross-border territory”.

  • The Working Community of the Pyrenees, at the heart of the development strategy for the Pyrenean massif

    TERRITORIES

    The Working Community of the Pyrenees, at the heart of the development strategy for the Pyrenean massif

    November 2016

    The Working Community of the Pyrenees (CTP) brings together the French and Spanish border regions, and Andorra. Its main objective is to contribute to harmonious and coordinated development of the Pyrenean massif.

  • Atlas of Greater Geneva: taking stock for sustainable progress

    PUBLICATION

    Atlas of Greater Geneva: taking stock for sustainable progress

    November 2016

    The work of 174 pages offers an environmental, social and economic inventory of the cross-border territory of Greater Geneva on the French-Swiss border.

  • Seminar: "The Grand Est region and its neighbours"

    TERRITORIES

    Seminar: "The Grand Est region and its neighbours"

    November 2016

    Close to 300 people gathered in Strasbourg for a major seminar on the cross-border relations of the new “Grand Est” region of France.

  • "Skills Without Borders"project launch

    TERRITORIES

    "Skills Without Borders"project launch

    November 2016

    The project “Compétences sans Frontières” (Skills without Borders) was launched on 1 October 2016. Its goal is to contribute to reducing the imbalance of supply and demand in the job market of the France-Wallonia-Flanders cross-border region.

  • A European Parliament study on territorial cooperation programmes

    PUBLICATION

    A European Parliament study on territorial cooperation programmes

    November 2016

    A study by the European Parliament analyses the territorial cooperation programmes for the 2014-2020 period.

  • Meetings in Brussels on "obstacles to cross-border cooperation"

    EUROPE

    Meetings in Brussels on "obstacles to cross-border cooperation"

    October 2016

    The MOT took part in two important European meetings at the end of September in Brussels: the third meeting of the experts' group of the European Commission's "Cross-Border Review", and the second meeting of the "Intergovernmental working group on innovative solutions to cross-border obstacles".