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Editorial from Christian Dupessey, Mayor of Annemasse, President of Annemasse Agglo, Vice-President of the MOT and Jean Denais, Mayor of Thonon-les-Bains, President of the Metropolitan Pole of the French Genevois

"Greater Geneva is a daily cross-border reality. It is the fruit of history and exceptional dynamism, with the complex issues that come with it. That is why the Metropolitan Pole of the French Genevois was created: 8 groups of French municipalities, including Annemasse Agglo, that have come together in order to be able to implement structural projects, to respond coherently to growth in our shared living area, and to find solutions with our Swiss partners, within the framework of Greater Geneva, but also with Europe, the French Government, the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes Region and the Ain and Haute-Savoie Departments.
To best address the cross-border issues, being a member of the Transfrontier Operational Mission (MOT) and sharing our experiences within this network is vital. That is why we are delighted to be hosting the MOT’s annual conference on 20-21 March. In the light of the daily flows between France and Switzerland, we need to find solutions to address the challenges in terms of sustainable mobility, air quality, economic development, housing and social cohesion. We have chosen to work hand-in-hand with our Swiss partners to ensure good quality of life in this territory of a million inhabitants known as Greater Geneva. 2019 is a milestone year for our cross-border region with the realisation of projects that will revolutionise mobility in the territory and which would not have come about without this cross-border cooperation. After the inauguration of the Greater Geneva Greenway last year, 2019 will be marked by the coming into service of the Léman Express, an extensive rail network that will cover the whole of the Lake Geneva basin across two French departments and two Swiss cantons, as well as the arrival of the Geneva-Annemasse tram. We are therefore particularly pleased to be able to help the MOT’s members get to know this territory and its prospects, in this decisive year for Greater Geneva."

Read the other articles of the special dossier on the Greater Geneva:
- Greater Geneva
- Interview with Anna-Karina Kolb, Director of the External and Federal Department of the Republic and Canton of Geneva
- Cross-border employment: the point of view of Michel Charrat, President of the European Cross-Border Grouping