News

TERRITORIES

INSEE highlights the negative impact of cross-border workers on growth in the Grand Est Region

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.

EUROPE

AEBR and the European Commission have released five new b-solutions’ publications

AEBR and the European Commission’s DG REGIO have released a series of publications aiming at raising awareness of cross-border cooperation. These showcase relevant information gained through the implementation of the b-solutions initiative, which AEBR has managed on behalf of DG REGIO for the past four years.

MOT

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

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.

TERRITORIES

Joint declaration about the cross-border hospital in Puigcerdà

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.

MOT

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

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.

NATIONAL LEVEL

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

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.

NATIONAL LEVEL

Franco-Luxembourg ICG: progress notably in the areas of transport and teleworking

Following the sixth Franco-Luxembourg Intergovernmental Commission (ICG) that took place on 19 October in Belval in the presence of the Minister of State Clément Beaune, agreements between the two countries were reached notably with respect to transport and teleworking.

NATIONAL LEVEL

In France, the cross-border dimension in the Conseil d'Etat’s proposals to improve the use of the "state of emergency"

The use of the state of emergency in three of the past six years has led the Conseil d'Etat, in the context of its 2021 annual study, to analyse the lessons learned from this exceptional measure. It is proposing to establish principles of use with 15 proposals for improvement.

EUROPE

New report by the Commission: "EU border regions: living labs of European integration"

This European Commission report, published on 13 July, looks at the lessons of the Covid crisis and the initiatives carried out since the publication of its 2017 Communication “Boosting growth and cohesion in EU border regions”.

TERRITORIES

Forum on Mobility in Lorraine: white paper adopted

Led by the Lorraine Corridor Metropolitan Pole and the Grand Est Region, on 16 March 2021 the “Grenelle des Mobilités” (“Forum on Mobility”) published a white paper setting out “nine commitments over the next ten years designed to connect Lorraine to its neighbours”.

MOT

European study carried out by the MOT on behalf of DG REGIO What have been the impacts of border restrictions on citizens?

At a time when we are seeing fresh border closures, the MOT is proposing to take a step back and to analyse the first phase of the crisis and its impact on cross-border living areas.

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

MOT study on the cross-border occupational mobility of refugees and European residents

This study was undertaken within the framework of the legal component of the “AB Réfugiés” project, which is led by the province of West Flanders and funded by the Interreg France-Wallonie-Vlaanderen programme. In the light of the disparities in unemployment on either side of the Franco-Belgian border and the difficulties that can be involved in obtaining a residence or work permit, the study provides an analysis of the legal frameworks pertaining to these statuses and obstacles to mobility.

Interview with Annie Genevard, Vice-President of the Assemblée Nationale and MP for the Doubs Department

Focus on mountain territories, a topic on the agenda of Round table #8 "Metropolises, mountains, rural areas: what kind of cross-border cohesion?" of the Borders Forum, on 10 november.

TERRITORIES

Switzerland will not be closed to cross-border residents

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

PUBLICATION

A special issue of the journal "Réalités industrielles" devoted to cross-border cooperation, with an article by the MOT

“Les annales des Mines” has devoted a whole issue to the topic “Work and cooperation across borders”.

BORDERS FORUM

Three questions to Vincent Gross, Delegate General of the Lorraine Corridor European Metropolitan Pole

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.

PUBLICATION

Thematic issue: "Borders and cross-border labor markets : Opportunities and challenges"

Edited by Isabelle Pigeron-Piroth (University of Luxembourg) and Rachid Belkacem (University of Lorraine), the latest thematic issue published by the UniGR-Center for Border Studies provides an analysis of cross-border employment and related issues. Comprising seven chapters contributed by ten authors, it has a preface by Jean Peyrony, the MOT’s Director-General.

EUROPE

The European Parliament calls for greater protection for cross-border and seasonal workers

Resolution adopted on 19 June.

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.

EUROPE

MEPs call for the removal of border restrictions

Anne Sander, Vice-President of the MOT, and Pascal Arimont and other MEPs have called on the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, "to firmly recommend the immediate ending of checks and entry restrictions on our internal borders".

COVID-19

Free movement of workers: the Commission’s guarantees

Free movement of workers: on 30 March, the Commission published practical guidance to ensure the free movement of critical workers, including cross-border workers. More info

COVID-19

The EU stands united in the face of the virus - the need for co-ordination

Europe is now the epicentre of the coronavirus pandemic, COVID-19. In response to its spread, several EU Member States have implemented uncoordinated border closures and unilateral measures. On 13 March, the European Commission called for border measures to be "coordinated, operational, proportionate and effective".