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10th anniversary of the Cross-Border Jura Arc Forum

Gilles Robert recalled how central the cross-border issue is to his mandate as mayor of this municipality that is so close to Switzerland. Olaf Kjelsen, Ambassador and Head of Cross-Border Cooperation at Switzerland's Federal Department of Foreign Affairs in Bern, and Olivier Denert, the MOT's Secretary-General, also addressed the gathering.

On the occasion of this anniversary, the public discovered an original publication: a concertina-folded brochure containing a text by the author Odile Cornuz entitled "Adresse sans frontière" ("Address without Borders") and nine texts written by members of the committee. A timeline recounts the life and activities of the association from 2007 to 2017. On the back is a cross-border map produced by Joël Chételat. This map shows the employment areas and flows of cross-border workers in this territory.
For the past 10 years, the Cross-Border Forum has carried out significant actions in support of cross-border cooperation in the Franco-Swiss Jura Arc. In its role as a think-tank, it organises events that make it possible to bring together citizens, specialists and political players around issues such as mobility, training, jobs, communication and cross-border identity. The objective is to draw up assessments of the current situation and to propose solutions to the malfunctions identified. During the Doubs Miroir Series, the Forum organised original cultural events in relation to the River Doubs, which was set up like a totemic symbol. The Forum also carries out initiatives on the ground to gain in-depth understanding of a particular issue, as was the case when it surveyed local cooperation projects in the Jura Arc (Series 8). This resulted in recommendations that led to the creation of a specific fund by the Trans Jura Conference. In this way, the Cross-Border Forum fully plays its role as a stimulus for institutional players for the benefit of the inhabitants of the Franco-Swiss Jura Arc. In 2018, the Forum will begin its 9th Series, entitled "From a productive economy to a 'presential' one". More info [FR]

www.forum-transfrontalier.org