News

  • Study for the EIB - Identifying cross-border investment projects in Europe

    MOT

    Study for the EIB - Identifying cross-border investment projects in Europe

    October 2019

    Between November 2018 and July 2019, the MOT and CESCI (the Central European Service for Cross-Border Initiatives) collaborated on producing a study for the European Investment Bank and its European Investment Advisory Hub.

  • Border cities in West Africa

    PUBLICATION

    Border cities in West Africa

    June 2019

    A report on border cities in West Africa has just been published in the OECD’s series "West Africa Papers" on the Sahel and West Africa. Made up of four papers, the "cities" collection is the fruit of systematic analysis of the role played by border cities in the regional integration process in West Africa.

  • Agreement between the Lille European Metropolis and the Brussels Region

    TERRITORIES

    Agreement between the Lille European Metropolis and the Brussels Region

    June 2019

    On 2 May 2019, the Lille European Metropolis and the Brussels-Capital Region signed a cooperation agreement in order to reinforce exchanges between the two metropolises, on topics such as accessibility, spatial planning, attractiveness, tourism and culture.

  • TERRITORIES

    Why does Luxembourg continue to attract so many cross-border workers?

    May 2019

    In spite of its small surface area, the Grand Duchy continues to attract skills from all over Europe. A symbolic milestone was passed in 2018, when the number of commuters reached 100,000. This is the count of French cross-border workers who every day make the journey to this country located at the heart of European exchanges. This figure will rise to close to 150,000 over the next 15 years.

  • A Territorial Development Plan for the Greater Region

    TERRITORIES

    A Territorial Development Plan for the Greater Region

    May 2019

    Within the framework of the Interreg “Greater Region Territorial Development Plan” project, the Greater Region Executives Summit have laid the political groundwork for the drawing-up of a common cross-border territorial strategy for the Greater Region partners.

  • “The Poverty of Territorialism”

    PUBLICATION

    “The Poverty of Territorialism”

    February 2019

    Andreas Faludi, Professor Emeritus and guest researcher, Delft University of Technology, the Netherlands. Published by Elgar Studies in Planning Theory, Policy and Practice, November 2018.

  • TERRITORIES

    Fessenheim: signature of the territorial project

    February 2019

    Signed on 1 February 2019 by the Minister for the Ecological Transition, François de Rugy, and the French and German regional players, this “territorial project” is designed to accompany the economic redevelopment of the area around the nuclear power station in Fessenheim, whose two reactors are due to be shut down in the summer of 2020.

  • Cross-border issues at the heart of the Grand Est Region's SRADDET

    TERRITORIES

    Cross-border issues at the heart of the Grand Est Region's SRADDET

    January 2019

    After two years of co-construction, the elected representatives of the Grand Est Region presented the major elements of the Region’s SRADDET at an event in Metz on 30 November 2018.

  • State Visit between France and Belgium: advances for cross-border matters

    NATIONAL LEVEL

    State Visit between France and Belgium: advances for cross-border matters

    December 2018

    On the occasion of the French president Emmanuel Macron’s visit to Belgium on 18 and 19 November, a declaration of intent on strengthening cooperation in matters of cross-border mobility and transport was signed by the two countries:

  • Launch of the "Banque des Territoires"

    NATIONAL LEVEL

    Launch of the "Banque des Territoires"

    July 2018

    On 30 May 2018, the Caisse des Dépôts launched the "Banque des Territoires" ("Bank for the Regions") – a new instrument aimed at territorial authorities and other local public bodies to help them to carry out future projects. Through this tool, it intends to offer a set of support and financing solutions for projects, with particular attention being given to small territorial authorities and territories facing difficulties. Border territories are directly concerned and were mentioned at the launch conference. The MOT promotes this initiative within its network. More info

  • A study by the European Commission on "missing cross-border rail links"

    EUROPE

    A study by the European Commission on "missing cross-border rail links"

    July 2018

    The European Commission has published a report on the existing rail transport connections and the "missing links" on the EU's internal borders. It provides a comprehensive inventory of the 365 cross-border rail links which are underexploited or not exploited at all. In total, there are 176 missing rail links and, after consultation of the stakeholders and competent authorities, 48 of them – 9 of which are located along France's borders – were assessed as "potentially beneficial projects".

  • TERRITORIES

    Nice takes action for cross-border cooperation projects

    May 2018

    The city of Nice and the Nice-Côte d'Azur Metropolis are engaged in many cooperation projects within the framework of the ALCOTRA and MARITTIMO European programmes, in very varied areas such as: territorial development, strengthening links between urban and rural territories, innovation and support for businesses, sustainable development and combating climate change, healthcare and social inclusion, youth, culture and strengthening digital networks.

  • TV programme "Avenue de l'Europe" devoted to cross-border workers

    TERRITORIES

    TV programme "Avenue de l'Europe" devoted to cross-border workers

    May 2018

    "They are French and live in France, but work on the other side of the border, in Italy, Switzerland or Germany. They are known as the 'transfrontaliers' [cross-border workers]… There are 500,000 of them – the highest number in Europe. But is there an entente cordiale between these French people and their neighbours?"

  • Launch of the Lille-Kortrijk-Tournai Eurometropolis's "Parc Bleu"

    TERRITORIES

    Launch of the Lille-Kortrijk-Tournai Eurometropolis's "Parc Bleu"

    April 2018

    More than 100 people – elected representatives, technicians and civil society players – took part in the event on 22 March to launch the Lille-Kortrijk-Tournai Eurometropolis's "Parc Bleu".

  • Towards a new European legal tool: the ECBC

    MOT

    Towards a new European legal tool: the ECBC

    March 2018

    The intergovernmental working group on innovative solutions to cross-border obstacles met for the sixth time on 6 February 2018. It is working on the proposal for a new European tool dedicated to cross-border cooperation: the European Cross-Border Convention (ECBC).

  • The Basel tram network extended to Saint-Louis!

    TERRITORIES

    The Basel tram network extended to Saint-Louis!

    February 2018

    On 10 December 2017, the elected representatives of the Basel trinational conurbation had the pleasure of opening tram line 3 linking the centre of Basel-Stadt (CH) to the railway station of Saint-Louis (F). With this tram line it is now possible to travel from Saint-Louis station to Basel city centre in under 15 minutes.

  • Launch of the MOT's online forum

    MOT

    Launch of the MOT's online forum

    November 2017

    The MOT's Forum is up and running!

  • 38th Conference of Urban-Planning Agencies: "Building a Europe of Places and Links"

    NATIONAL LEVEL

    38th Conference of Urban-Planning Agencies: "Building a Europe of Places and Links"

    November 2017

    The 38th Conference of Urban-Planning Agencies was held on 8-10 November in Strasbourg, with the theme "Building a Europe of Places and Links" ("Construire l'Europe des Lieux et des Liens").

  • ESPON - Territorial impact assessment tool, Cross-border public services

    EUROPE

    ESPON - Territorial impact assessment tool, Cross-border public services

    October 2017

    Developed over the course of the 2007-2013 programming period, the ESPON territorial impact assessment tool aims to support political decision-makers in identifying the potential territorial impacts of EU policies and legislative proposals in the regions.

  • "Promoting cohesion and development in the ORs"

    TERRITORIES

    "Promoting cohesion and development in the ORs"

    October 2017

    In light of the elaboration of a new European strategy for the “outermost regions” (ORs), the Regional Development Commission of the European Parliament published a report in March 2017 to promote cohesion and development in the ORs by applying article 349 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU) in an innovative and positive manner.

  • Greater Geneva: 3 major infrastructure projects co-financed by the Swiss Confederation

    NATIONAL LEVEL

    Greater Geneva: 3 major infrastructure projects co-financed by the Swiss Confederation

    September 2017

    On 19 June 2017, new conventions were signed between the President of the Council of State of the Republic and Canton of Geneva, François Longchamp, and the President of the Agglomeration community of Annemasse ,Christian Dupessey, enabling the Swiss Confederation’s participation in the financing of 3 Greater Geneva flagship projects, at a level of 26 million euros.

  • 2017 project files

    MOT

    2017 project files

    September 2017

    Every year, the MOT publishes a dossier highlighting exemplary cross-border projects along French borders.

  • TERRITORIES

    Cerdanya cross-border abattoir up and running

    June 2017

    The cross-border abattoir in Ur (French Cerdanya) has been operating since the start of April. The facility promoted by Cerdanya District Council (Spain) and the Bourg-Madame abattoir (France) has been 50% financed by the two partners and European funds, with a total cost of €5.4 million.

  • A cross-border tramline once again links Strasbourg to Kehl

    TERRITORIES

    A cross-border tramline once again links Strasbourg to Kehl

    May 2017

    It was at 4.52 in the morning of 29 April 2017 that the first tram of Line D set off from Strasbourg in the direction of neighbouring Kehl, with the two cities now even more closely linked, within the framework of a project that has profoundly changed the urban landscape.

  • The French Geneva Area turns into a Pole Metropolitain

    TERRITORIES

    The French Geneva Area turns into a Pole Metropolitain

    May 2017

    In order to increase its influence in the development of the Greater Geneva cross-border territory, on 1 May 2017 the French Geneva Region Cooperation Assembly (ARC), the French side of the Local Grouping of Cross-Border Cooperation, became the French Geneva Area Pôle Metropolitain.