News

MOT

A look back on the MOT GA: in Dunkirk, stakeholders in cross-border cooperation support a Europe of cohesion beyond borders!

More than a hundred stakeholders from all over France gathered in Dunkirk and on the Franco-Belgian border on September 17th and 18th, 2024, for the MOT's general assembly, at the invitation of its members: the Dunkirk Urban Community (Communauté urbaine de Dunkerque), the Nord Department and the Flanders-Dunkirk Urban Planning Agency. The event was an opportunity to highlight the richness and uniqueness of cross-border cooperation on the Franco-Flemish coast, while reaffirming the importance of cooperation in the face of the common challenges faced by border territories!

NATIONAL LEVEL

Tightening border controls: what is the impact in cross-border living areas? What obligations do States have?

On Monday September 16th, Germany reintroduced border controls for six months to combat illegal immigration, drawing criticism from within the European Union (EU) for failing to consult with other EU countries. After the border controls already in place with Poland, the Czech Republic, Austria and Switzerland, Germany has now reintroduced border controls with France, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Belgium and Denmark.

EUROPE

Cross-border territories: what does the new Schengen Code published on June 20th say?

On June 20th, 2024, the regulation "on a Union Code on the rules governing the movement of persons across borders" - the new "Schengen Code" - was published in the EU's Official Journal.

TERRITORIES

The mayor Strasbourg wants to experiment with legalising cannabis

"The mayor of Strasbourg, Jeanne Barseghian, is asking the government to allow her to experiment with legalising cannabis in her area. "This is a pragmatic request, since the Treaty of Aix-la-Chapelle [...] allows cross-border territories to carry out experiments of this type", she says. [...] This request comes at a time when the liberalisation of cannabis consumption in Germany has existed, subject to conditions, since April 1st."

TERRITORIES

A new cross-border legal access point in Europe

The conference to launch the new cross-border legal access point, located at the heart of the Strasbourg-Kehl conurbation, was held on May 10th, 2023 at the Strasbourg judicial court. Its chairman, Thierry Ghera, gives us his view on this new service, the first of its kind in Europe.

NATIONAL LEVEL

France-Luxembourg: Significant progress made with the 7th Intergovernmental Commission

The 7th Franco-Luxembourg Intergovernmental Commission (IGC) was held in Thionville on April 17th, 2023, in the presence of Laurence Boone, Secretary of State to the Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs, responsible for Europe, and Corinne Cahen, Minister for the Greater Region of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg.

TERRITORIES

Cross-border aid: a Franco-Belgian agreement signed in Metz

On March 10th 2023, an agreement on assistance and rescue in border areas was signed in Metz between France and Belgium. The territory covers the provinces of Namur and Luxembourg in Belgium and the departments of Ardennes, Meuse and Meurthe et Moselle in France, which together share around 250 km of borders.

NATIONAL LEVEL

Signing of the Treaty of Barcelona: Advances for cross-border cooperation?

On Thursday, January 19th, 2023, President Emmanuel Macron and Prime Minister Pedro Sànchez signed an important Franco-Spanish cooperation treaty, the "Treaty of Barcelona ", in the Catalan capital. What advances does it contain in terms of cross-border cooperation?

MOT

MOT involvement in the Pactesur study

Between 2019 and 2022 the MOT was part of the committee of experts in the framework of the PACTESUR project financed by the European Internal Security Fund. This project sought to provide European local authorities with the knowledge and tools they need to better secure their public spaces in the face of danger, particularly from terrorism.

EUROPE

Towards a strengthening of the Schengen zone better taking cross-border areas into account?

The European Commission's draft regulation on the revision of the Schengen area will soon be discussed by the European Parliament.

TERRITORIES

Three Franco-Italian cooperation agreements on civil security

On July 19th, three agreements on civil security and border security were signed between the prefecture of Savoie and that of Turin.

EUROPE

Schengen border controls poorly scrutinised during the pandemic

The European Commission has not scrutinised enough the challenges that the COVID-19 pandemic posed to the right of free movement of people. This is the overall conclusion of a special report published on 13 June 2022 by the European Court of Auditors (ECA).

EUROPE

Europe and border territories unite in support of Ukraine

The European Union and all of its Member States have strongly condemned Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. The humanitarian emergency highlights the importance of joint mobilisation, but also of cooperation and the role of territories located along borders in supporting the Ukrainians.

NATIONAL LEVEL

The Quirinal Treaty – a historical advance for Franco-Italian cross-border cooperation

On the eve of France’s presidency of the EU, the French President, Emmanuel Macron, and the head of the Italian government, Mario Draghi, have signed in Rome a bilateral cooperation treaty, the “Quirinal Treaty”. Sixty years after the signature of the Franco-German Élysée Treaty, this “friendship pact” is historical and marks the desire, at the highest level of state, to advance Franco-Italian cross-border cooperation.

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.

COVID-19

Border closure: a very difficult situation in Moselle

On 28 February, Germany took the decision to restrict crossings at its border for people coming from the Moselle, describing the department as “a zone in which Covid-19 is circulating”.

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.

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

Restrictions on movement and introduction of health measures along France's borders

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

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 MOT has produced a map showing the reintroduction of border controls in the Schengen Area following the outbreak

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".