News

EUROPE

Detail of Interreg programmes published

On 19 January 2022, the European Commission published in the EU’s Official Journal the detail of Interreg programmes for the period 2021 to 2027.

EUROPE

European Territorial Cooperation: a MOOC is being designed

Together with its partners*, the MOT is currently working on behalf of the European Commission to produce the first MOOC (Massive Open Online Course) devoted to European Territorial Cooperation (ETC).

EUROPE

New report by the Commission: "EU border regions: living labs of European integration"

This European Commission report, published on 13 July, looks at the lessons of the Covid crisis and the initiatives carried out since the publication of its 2017 Communication “Boosting growth and cohesion in EU border regions”.

EUROPE

Special report of the European Court of Auditors on Interreg

In early July, the European Court of Auditors published a report on the implementation of Interreg programmes. It highlighted that “the programmes have clear strategies for addressing the challenges facing the cross-border regions”, but that they are “limited [in their ability] to unlock the potential of these regions”.

EUROPE

Cross-border players come together to relaunch cross-border cooperation

Organised by the European Committee of the Regions in association with the other founding partners of the European Cross-Border Citizens Alliance (the MOT, AEBR and, CESCI), on 5 July the Conference on the Future of Cross-Border Cooperation brought together nearly 200 participants.

EUROPE

Adoption of 2021-2027 regulations

On 23 June, the European Parliament adopted the five “cohesion policy” regulations including that on the Interreg programme.

EUROPE

Conference on the Future of Europe: Advancing cross-border issues in the Europe of Tomorrow

The Conference on the Future of Europe was launched on 9 May. A local dialogue in Strasbourg marked the territorial dimension of the conference, and highlighted that local and regional authorities are essential in taking it beyond Brussels and the European capitals.

TERRITORIES

Brexit: the future of cooperation around the Channel at risk

Since it came into force on 31 January 2020, the effects of Brexit on the territories oriented towards the Channel are tangible. On both sides, the new procedures for exports are penalising small producers, the fishing and agri-business sectors, as well as the services sector (tourism and hospitality). The economic context linked to the double crisis (Covid and Brexit) is also putting many cross-Channel transport links at risk.

EUROPE

Adoption of the New Leipzig Charter and the European Territorial Agenda 2030

On 30 November and 1 December, at the informal meeting of ministers responsible for urban development and territorial cohesion organised by the German EU presidency, two important documents for Europe’s territories were adopted: the New Leipzig Charter and the Territorial Agenda 2030.

MOT

Supporting the development of cross-border projects along the Grand Est Region's borders

On 9 October 2020, the final conference relating to the study “Analysis of the contributions made by the 2014-2020 cross-border cooperation programmes in the Grand Est Region”, led by the Region within the framework of the European programme Europ'Act and coordinated by the MOT and the Euro-Institut, brought together in the form of a webinar around one hundred participants.

EUROPE

Multiannual financial framework adopted and recovery package

On 17 December 2020, the EU Council adopted the regulation laying down the EU’s multiannual financial framework (MFF) for the years 2021-2027. Combined with the “Next Generation EU” recovery instrument, it will enable the EU to provide funding of an unprecedented amount of €1,800 billion to support the recovery after the Covid-19 pandemic and the EU’s long-term priorities.

BORDERS FORUM

The first Borders Forum brought together over 700 participants online

The first Borders Forum was a great success, with over 700 participants online throughout two days of discussions, on 9-10 November 2020. The event was organised by the MOT, in partnership with the European Commission and the European Committee of the Regions.

EUROPE

European Cross-border Citizen's Alliance

While the crisis initially provoked uncoordinated border measures, it also revealed interdependencies and gave rise to multiple forms of cooperation and cross-border solidarity, which now need to be organised and strengthened by European and national public policies that take full account of the specific nature of cross-border territories.

Covid-19 and Europe - Europe attempts to coordinate actions along borders

The diplomatic contact group of the EU Council, COREPER II, met in early September to discuss better coordination between Member States regarding internal borders, with "particular attention given to border regions".

EUROPE

DG REGIO Public Consultation on overcoming obstacles in border regions

The Commission’s Directorate-General for Regional and Urban Policy (DG REGIO) launched a new online "Public consultation on overcoming obstacles in border regions", and invite citizens and/or border stakeholders to participate and share their opinions and feedback. Extended deadline: 11 October.

MOT

MOT study - The Sud Region prepares the future of its Interreg programmes

A year ago, the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur Region commissioned the MOT to carry out a capitalisation study that gave a voice to regional players involved in ALCOTRA and MARITTIMO projects by means of a broad consultation process.

FRANCE

Editorial by Yves Le Breton, Director-General of the National Agency for Territorial Cohesion (ANCT, France)

The National Agency for Territorial Cohesion, which was created out of the merger of the CGET, the EPARECA and the Digital Agency, was founded on 1 January 2020. Its name well encapsulates its purpose – which is to strengthen territorial cohesion and combat social division. To do this, the ANCT supports local elected representatives in the implementation of their projects, adapting to the needs on the ground.

EUROPE

INTERACT – "Introducing more territoriality into Interreg"

The INTERACT programme offers training courses to players involved in the management of and decision-making for Interreg programmes. Jean Peyrony, the MOT’s Director-General, contributed to a training session devoted to the relevance and concepts of territoriality and functional areas in the upcoming 2021-2027 programming period, in which political objective 5 aims to give greater prominence to territorial strategies and action by local players.

EUROPE

Preparation of the European programmes for 2021-2027: What account is being taken of the cross-border territorial approach?

The Covid-19 crisis demands that European and cross-border cooperation be strengthened. The 2021-2027 programmes, the preparation of which is continuing, should be informed by the lessons learned from it. The draft regulations proposed by the Commission, which are in the process of being negotiated with the Parliament and the Council, contain positive innovations for cross-border territories that address their aspirations, as expressed in the Cross-Border Cooperation Strategies along France’s borders. The MOT encourages all of the stakeholders to take them on board.

COVID-19

The European Commission has launched the Coronavirus Response Investment Initiative Plus – CRII+

On 2 April the European Commission put forward a new set of measures, the Coronavirus Response Investment Initiative Plus (CRII+), which introduced greater flexibility and simplified procedural steps to allow all unutilised support from the European Structural and Investment Funds to be mobilised to the fullest.

COVID-19

Emergency assistance in cross-border cooperation in healthcare related to the Covid-19 crisis

On 3 April the Commission published guidelines on EU emergency assistance with respect to cross-border cooperation in the area of healthcare.

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".

MOT

The MOT’s position on the Territorial Agenda 2030

The Territorial Agenda sets out the European strategy for spatial planning. Following on from its adoption in 2007 in Leipzig, and the first update in 2011, the ministers in charge of territorial cohesion have embarked on a new update of the Agenda. A consultation has been launched, to which the MOT has responded in order to highlight cross-border issues.

PUBLICATION

"Agenda-setting dynamics in the post-2020 cohesion policy reform: the pathway towards the European cross-border mechanism as possible policy change"

The article examines issues specific to the development of the European Cross-Border Mechanism (ECBM) proposed by the European Commission for the next programming period. It describes the manner in which the ECBM tool proposal arose through the action of an ensemble of "policy entrepreneurs". The article highlights the role of the MOT as a facilitator and a relay.

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.