News
Supporting the development of cross-border projects along the Grand Est Region's borders
January 2021
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.
The first part was devoted to the presentation of the study and the recommendations drawn up during three co-drafting seminars held in early 2020. Speakers from all of the Grand Est Region’s borders reported on the initiatives carried out within their institutions to support the development of cross-border strategies, consistency in projects and greater participation by citizens. Parallels could thereby be drawn between the initiatives carried out in the Franco-Belgian Ardenne, by the Alzette-Belval EGTC, and those linked to the Strasbourg Eurometropolis and the drawing-up of the European Territorial Authority of Alsace’s cross-border cooperation strategy.
The second part was an opportunity to have an overview of the operational mechanisms that are most successful in fostering the development of cross-border projects. Four sessions presented the tools that territorial authorities and public players can make use of to encourage the emergence of projects (micro-projects, feasibility studies, thematic forums, etc.), help with setting up projects (support schemes and technical assistance), funding (cash advances, co-financing, integrated territorial investment) and capitalisation (information to the public, overcoming obstacles, resource structures). Here again, a wide range of the structures present along the Grand Est Region’s borders shared their experiences in this area. These kinds of gatherings under the aegis of the Region should be stepped up in the future, to promote the setting-up and development of cross-border initiatives.
Recordings of the conference:
Part 1
Part 2
