News

TERRITORIES

The cross-border dimension as a mission

The Nice Côte D'Azur Metropolis has at least three particularities that have contributed to its growth.

PUBLICATION

The Committee of the Regions' annual monitoring report on EGTCs

This publication looks at developments in EGTCs during 2016. Based on an updated overview and case studies, the report aims to highlight the EGTCs' main areas of action, their involvement in cohesion policy, and their achievements and the obstacles encountered.

EUROPE

Castle Talks and study day on the diplomacy of territorial authorities

On 20-21 March 2017 in Strasbourg, Jean Peyrony, the MOT's Director-General, took part in the second edition of the " Castle Talks on Cross-Border Cooperation", a series of conferences organised notably by the University of Strasbourg and the Euro-Institut in Kehl that brings together researchers, students and players involved in cross-border cooperation.

TERRITORIES

The third Franco-German cross-border conference

On 5-6 April 2017 in Neustadt-an-der Weinstraße (Rhineland-Palatinate), the third Franco-German cross-border conference was held, in the presence of Harlem Désir, the Secretary of State for European Affairs (FR), and Michael Roth, Minister of State for Europe (DE).

EUROPE

The proposals of the intergovernmental group on cross-border obstacles

On 16 February 2017 in Brussels, the fourth meeting of the intergovernmental working group on innovative solutions to obstacles to cross-border cooperation was held. Noting the benefits of cross-border cooperation, but also the persistence of many obstacles, in 2015 the Luxembourg presidency of the EU Council proposed the development of a new European legal tool, the "European Cross-Border Convention" (ECBC); for its part, the European Commission launched the "Cross-Border Review".

NATIONAL LEVEL

Analysis of the Letchimy law (France): "Freeing up external action of French local and regional authorities"

The “law relating to external action of territorial authorities and to the cooperation of overseas territories in their regional environment” was adopted on 5 December 2016.

TERRITORIES

The PAMINA Eurodistrict has become an EGTC

The ceremony to mark the setting-up of an EGTC for the PAMINA Eurodistrict on the Franco-German border took place on 11 January 2017 in Haguenau. This new status is being accompanied by changes in the structure's governance, the main aims of which for 2017 are set out here.

TERRITORIES

Editorial by Rémi Bertrand, President of the PAMINA Eurodistrict EGTC

After 30 years of cooperation in the PAMINA area and 14 years operating as a local grouping of cross-border cooperation (LGCC), the member local authorities agreed on the principle of turning it into an EGTC.

PUBLICATION

Cross-border Co-operation and Policy Networks in West Africa

This publication examines how policy actors involved in cross-border co-operation contribute to the regional integration process in West Africa.

MOT

Study on the Greater Region's territorial development plan

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.

TERRITORIES

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

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."

TERRITORIES

5th Franco-Luxembourg intergovernmental commission (IGC)

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).

NATIONAL LEVEL

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

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.

NATIONAL LEVEL

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

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.

TERRITORIES

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

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.

PUBLICATION

Atlas of Greater Geneva: taking stock for sustainable progress

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.

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.

The MOT's workshops : "Cross-border investments" and "Rural areas"

During the European Week of Regions and Cities, the MOT organised two workshops: the first on cross-border investment and the second on rural areas.

NATIONAL LEVEL

Cross-border cooperation in Germany's territorial development policy

With the recent approval by both the German Länder and the federal level of its "Guiding Principles", Germany is emphasising cross-border cooperation in its territorial development policy.

EUROPE

Editorial from Dr. Katharina Erdmenger, Head of Division, Deputy Director, European Territorial Cohesion Policy, Federal Ministry of Transport and Digital Infrastructure, Germany

New "Guiding Principles" for Germany's territorial development were adopted in March 2016, which are in line with the idea that "Germany is not an island".

EUROPE

"MORO" – pilot projects devoted to cross-border cooperation in Germany

Several spatial planning pilot projects (MORO), such as the one that led to the setting-up of the IMeG,* incorporating border region and cross-border considerations have been launched in Germany.

NATIONAL LEVEL

The "ACTS" project (Support for cross-border cooperation in the Sahel)

The "ACTS" project* was launched in February 2015 by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Development.** It is a Priority Solidarity Fund project financed by France. It aims to help Mali, Niger and Burkina Faso preserve their sovereignty through better management of border regions with respect to security and local development.

NATIONAL LEVEL

Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes Region "SRDEII"

In the context of drawing up its SRDEII,* the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes Region asked the MOT, of which it is a member, to carry out an assessment of cross-border issues in the Region (which borders on Switzerland and Italy) that could be included in a cross-border component of the regional programme.

EUROPE

Studies presented by the Committee of the Regions

The EGTC Platform of the Committee of the Regions has presented three recent studies on cross-border cooperation.

TERRITORIES

A 2020 territorial strategy for the SaarMoselle Eurodistrict

The SaarMoselle Eurodistrict has just adopted an action programme for the next five years.