News

TERRITORIES

France-Germany and the Upper Rhine: measures to combat climate change

TERRITORIES

Concrete projects for the Upper Rhine!

125 cross-border projects were officially approved at the plenary session of the Collectivité Européenne d'Alsace (CEA) held on December 8th. The topic of energy took center stage!

NATIONAL LEVEL

Results of the first Franco-German spatial planning pilot project (MORO)

On December 14th, 2022, the closing conference of the first Franco-German spatial planning pilot project (MORO) was held in Strasbourg, with Jean Peyrony, director general of the MOT, and other experts sharing their knowledge at several round tables.

EUROPE

University cooperation transcends borders

Focus on two border initiatives at the heart of the European project.

TERRITORIES

A "web" of cross-border innovation to observe and promote the economy of the Upper Rhine

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".

MOT

Bringing together cross-border territories in preparation for 2022!

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.

MOT

EWRC "Breathing without borders" : the MOT publishes three project factsheets

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.

COVID-19

Health crisis: a tool to facilitate cross-border movements between France, Germany and Switzerland

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.

TERRITORIES

Two Franco-German "Planspiele" devoted to border regions

Concrete expressions of the Aachen Treaty, two MORO* pilot projects on the Franco-German border aim to strengthen the cross-border dimension of territorial development practices, using an innovative method that has been widely tried out in Germany – the "Planspiel"**:

TERRITORIES

Opinion of the Grand Est Regional Economic, Social and Environmental Council (CESER) on cross-border civil society

At its plenary assembly in October, the Grand Est CESER adopted an opinion on cross-border civil society. The MOT had been formally heard as part of the preparation of this publication.

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.

MOT

"Together, Let's Discuss the Added Value of EU Programmes For Our Border Territories"

The MOT and Euro-Institut are carrying out a capitalisation study on behalf of the Grand Est region, funded by the Europ’Act technical assistance programme. Within this framework, three seminars have been held: in Strasbourg on 4 December, in Metz on 3 February, and in Charleville-Mézières on 10 February.

TERRITORIES

A 2030 strategy for the Upper Rhine Trinational Metropolitan Region

The 2030 strategy for the Upper Rhine Trinational Metropolitan Region was signed in Basel on 22 November. “We want to be a model region for Europe and to make visible and tangible the benefits that Europe provides day by day. To do this, we will continue to develop excellence in the economic and scientific field, to strengthen structures of cross-border cooperation and to develop new potential,” the political representatives affirmed on this occasion.

EUROPE

The Commission has circulated orientation papers by border

In the context of the preparation of its 2021-2027 programmes, DG REGIO has drawn up 38 Border Orientation Papers (BOPs) for all of the EU’s land borders. Six of these BOPs relate to France’s borders.

TERRITORIES

“Passe-Partout”, a cross-border educational game for schoolchildren

Launched in 2017 in the Pamina Eurodistrict, the educational game “Passe-partout – Weltenbummler” (“Globetrotter”) has successfully completed an initial pilot phase, and in September 2018 begins a new phase now covering the whole of the Upper Rhine region. A project to replicate!

GERMANY

Territorial observation along Germany's borders and European perspectives

The observation of cross-border territories, which is now recognised as a priority by European countries, is moving towards overall coordination. The MORO project launched in Germany has accelerated this progress.

TERRITORIES

Pamina Eurodistrict: an online game to get to know the neighbouring country and the territory's rich heritage

The Pamina Eurodistrict is launching a digital version of a board game called "Le Passe-partout" ("The Master Key") to help schoolchildren learn about the rich cultural heritage of the Franco-German territory and encourage bilingualism.

TERRITORIES

Seminar: "The Grand Est region and its neighbours"

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

PUBLICATION

"Grand Est : L'Europe entre voisins"

Published by Correspondances Lorraines. Author: Pascale Braun. October 2016. Retail price: €20. Title in English: "The Greater East Region: Europe among Neighbours"

FRANCE

Philippe Richert, President of the Alsace-Champagne-Ardenne-Lorraine Region, writes to François Hollande

The President of the Alsace-Champagne-Ardenne-Lorraine Region, Philippe Richert, and his first Vice-President, Patrick Weiten, have written to the French President of the Republic. They are asking for 'a strong signal' to be sent at the French-German council of ministers meeting on 7 April in Metz.

TERRITORIES

Cancellation of the Strasbourg marathon and other cross-border sporting events under threat

The 2016 edition of the Strasbourg-Ortenau Eurodistrict marathon has been cancelled due to "participation by German runners being too low". With a cross-border route (13 km Germany and 29 km in France), it was the only binational marathon in the world.

TERRITORIES

The 2016 "Science Offensive" has been launched

The Upper Rhine Trinational Metropolitan Region is renewing its scheme to finance cross-border projects in the area of research and innovation entitled the "Science Offensive".

TERRITORIES

A university for Europe: Eucor – The European Campus

The first European Grouping of Territorial Cooperation (EGTC) to be set up by an alliance of universities is located in the Upper Rhine area.

TERRITORIES

40 years of cross-border cooperation in the Upper Rhine

The Joint Secretariat of the Upper Rhine Conference and the journalist Reinhard Reck have produced a booklet to mark the 40th anniversary of the French-German-Swiss intergovernmental commission. The booklet presents the evolution, diversity and dynamism of cross-border cooperation in the Upper Rhine since the Bonn Agreement signed in 1975.

MOT

The MOT is publishing two handbooks to encourage cross-border economic development

Since January 2014, the MOT has been carrying out a project supported by the national technical assistance programme Europ'Act relating to the economic development of the cross-border territories along France's borders. The results of this work will be presented at the project's final conference on 30 September in Paris.