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MOT general assembly - A full programme for cross-border cooperation in 2022

February 2022

MOT general assembly - A full programme for cross-border cooperation in 2022

More than 120 people, including many elected representatives, came together remotely for the MOT’s first general assembly of the year on 9 February 2022. For Christian Dupessey, MOT’s President, Mayor of Annemasse and President of the Metropolitan Pole of the French Genevois: "our cross-border regions have been at the heart of the pandemic, which has brought about a new awareness that the MOT has greatly contributed to fostering".

He noted the greater account being taken of the specificity of cross-border territories, as illustrated by the 3DS bill that has just been adopted: "It is the first time that a piece of French legislation has devoted a whole chapter to cross-border cooperation."1
For the MOT network, the aim is clear: "Building on this momentum to move towards agreements for cross-border living areas that ensure the rights of their inhabitants and the functioning of cross-border public services, including in times of crisis."

Another major advance highlighted are the bilateral cooperation treaties,2 which he described as "the right approach to multi-level coordination to effectively escalate information about cross-border obstacles to the national level". On this topic, the next step was underscored – that of establishing genuine "interministerial coordination on cross-border matters", with the MOT as a technical resource.

The President also recalled that cross-border players "are counting on France’s EU presidency to continue the discussion about obstacles to cooperation, and to promote the necessary solutions, including the designation in each country of coordination points operating as a network". Now, "the topic of cross-border regions is already on the France’s EU presidency’s agenda of priorities, with the revision of the Schengen regulation". In this regard, it was recalled that the Commission has asked Member States to designate cross-border regions that should be given special attention in the management of the EU’s internal borders.

A full work programme for 2022

The assembly voted on the 2022 work programme. Alongside the MOT’s core missions,3 concrete projects are on the agenda, such as:

  • participating in the work of France’s EU presidency;
  • supporting the bilateral treaties;4 
  • supporting experiments relating to "cross-border living areas";
  • the rollout of "France Services" (a programme steered by the National Agency for Territorial Cohesion) in cross-border territories;
  • a study on behalf of DG REGIO on the after-effects of the pandemic in cross-border areas;
  • a publication on the impact of cross-border teleworking on co-development, a booklet on cross-border mobility and the production of a second one on healthcare;
  • the launch of new working groups;5 
  • the drawing-up of a roadmap for the Alliance that brings together the MOT, the AEBR and CESCI.

There was a reminder about the network’s two major gatherings of the year: the Borders Forum on 21-22 June in Paris and online, and a general assembly in Bayonne and San Sebastian on 4-5 October.

An expanding network

It should also be noted that the MOT network is continuing to expand, with two new Italian members: the Valli di Lanzo Ceronda Casternone local action group and the city of Cuneo.

Download the map of the networ.
Download the lis of participants.


1. MOT press release.
2. The Aachen Treaty between France and Germany and the Quirinal Treaty between France and Italy signed last November.
3. Helping to ensure that the cross-border dimension is taken into account in national and European policy and being the spokesperson for cross-border territories; creating networks of and informing players; and designing and implementing cross-border projects.
4. The Quirinal Treaty and Aachen Treaty (the MOT as an expert for the Aachen Treaty's Cross-Border Cooperation Committee).
5. On the ecological transition and cross-border observation (with the rollout of a "core" platform of cross-border data).

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