Under the aegis of the General Commission for Territorial Equality (CGET) on the French side and the Federal Ministry of the Interior, Building and Community on the German side, the MOT and the BBSR* have coordinated the production of a brochure entitled “France-Germany: cross-border observation at the heart of Europe”.
The cross-border dimension was at the heart of the ESPON seminar “New Narratives for Territorial Development” which took place in Vienna on 5-6 December 2018.
A new issue of INSEE Première published in January 2019 focuses on the different engines of demographic growth on either side of France’s borders.
Following the Communication “Boosting growth and cohesion in EU border regions”, DG REGIO launched a pilot project focusing on the collection and availability of data necessary for studying cross-border territories. The study, carried out by eight national statistical institutes, including the French INSEE, has just been published. It focuses on indicators for analysis of the labour market. The results are promising and invite further research.
The proceedings of the seminar on "Territorial observation and assistance with decision-making in cross-border regions" hosted by the MOT and UMS RIATE (Interdisciplinary network for territorial development and cohesion in Europe and neighbouring countries) on 17 September in Paris are online, together with all of the presentations made at the seminar.
On 18 September 2018 the sixth work meeting of the Cross-Border Strategic Committee (CSC) took place, which had not met since April 2015. Set up in 2013, the CSC brings together representatives of the ministries in charge of territorial development in France and its neighbours: Germany, Switzerland, Spain, Italy, Luxembourg, Belgium and Andorra, as well as their statistical institutes.
The MOT and UMS Riate* hosted a seminar entitled “Territorial observation and assistance with decision-making in cross-border regions” on 17 September in Paris. It brought together 60 people in order to discuss this crucial subject.
On the occasion of the third Conférence national des territoires (CNT) on 12 July 2018, a “Report on Territorial Cohesion” was presented by Serge Morvan, head of the CGET (General Commission for Territorial Equality) A new tool shared with associations of elected representatives, this report fulfils two objectives: updating an inventory of France and its territories after a decade of crisis, and the elucidation of the factors influencing territorial cohesion. What about cross-border issues?
This new issue of "InfObservatoire" sets out the cross-border forecasts of the North Lorraine Urban Planning Agency (AGAPE): "With 150,000 French cross-border workers in Luxembourg in 15 years and huge movement of goods, isn't it time […] to make the cross-border dimension a priority issue?"
The Jura Arc Cross-Border Statistical Observatory has published statistical portraits of four cooperation territories identified along the Franco-Swiss border as part of the 2016-2020 strategy of the Trans-Jura Conference.
The General Commission for Territorial Equality (CGET) has just published its 2017 annual report. An extensive chapter looks at the dynamics of cross-border employment. Border issues are also discussed in other sections of the report.
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.
To mark its 20th anniversary, the MOT produced a map of European cross-border territories. Now, on the occasion of its 21st General Assembly, it is publishing – and has had printed in the form of a large poster – a map showing the cross-border territories along France's borders.
"Since its creation, the European Union seems to be guided by the idea that an increase in cross-border flows contributes to more European unity. […] In a context characterized by the rise of Euroscepticism, it seems crucial to take a more critical look at actual cross-border integration and to unravel its concrete consequences for the people who live in border regions."
The MOT contributed to this publication* produced by the Institut Destrée et Acadie, following a series of Franco-Walloon cross-border seminars entitled "Territoires en trans– : mythologies, réalités et dispositifs" ("Trans- territories: mythologies, realities and mechanisms"). This document (available in French only) provides an in-depth analysis of cooperation between France and Wallonia.
The Regional Economic, Social and Environmental Council (Ceser) of the Grand Est region has published a study looking at the reduction of cross-border obstacles in the Grand Est region.
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").
On 9-10 November 2017, the MOT took part in the final conference of a project on the observation of cross-border territories along Germany's borders.
In the context of its partnership with the CNFPT (French National Centre for the Territorial Civil Service), the MOT organised, with a number of partners, different training sessions.
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.
On 20 and 21 September 2017 in Brussels, a conference was held to mark the adoption of the Communication entitled “Boosting growth and cohesion in EU border regions”.
In association with the Grand Est regional council, the AFIGEO (French Association for Geographic Information) and the CNIG (French National Council for Geographic Information) took the INSPIRE European Conference of 4 and 5 September as an opportunity to bring together French-speaking players of the profession in the context of a “Francophone conference on geographic information”.
More user-friendly and better suited to players in the Greater Region but above all to the general public is how the new version of the Greater Region's geoportal, which was officially presented on 23 May, in the presence of Camille Gira, Luxembourg's Secretary of State for sustainable Development and Infrastructure, can be summed up.
The MOT made a contribution in Brazzaville at a conference of the International Association of Francophone Mayors (AIMF), in a workshop on regional cooperation among Central African local authorities.
