News
Editorial by Nicolas Garcia, 1st vice-president of the Pyrénées-Orientales Department, in charge of cross-border issues
September 2023
"At a time when much work is being done on the concept of cross-border living areas, the department of Pyrénées-Orientales, the Generalitat de Catalunya and the Diputació de Girona have agreed on the definition of a space for exchange and collaboration, shaped by a shared history, culture and language.
As a result, our 3 local authorities are working on structuring what we now call the EsCat, short for Espace Catalan Transfrontalier, which brings together the territories of the province of Girona and the Pyrénées-Orientales. On this scale, we intend to collectively pursue and strengthen the many initiatives and partnerships we have forged over the years.
In order to go even further, we have decided to seize the opportunity offered by Europe by proposing EsCaT's application to the Functional Areas of the POCTEFA 2021-2027 Programme.
We are on schedule. 2023 marks an important turning point which we hope will be confirmed and made a reality.
Within EsCaT, our ambition is to build a laboratory for cross-border integration with the aim of improving the quality of life of local residents, through 3 key issues: establishing a stable framework that facilitates cooperation, adapting to climate change, and strengthening citizen participation in the development of this local living area.
To achieve this objective, we do not intend to act alone. The whole ambition of this approach is to bring together residents and stakeholders at every stage of this major project over the next 6 years.
With the support of the MOT, Res Publica and the Universitat de Girona, we have therefore launched a citizen consultation and a cross-border call for participatory ideas to gain a better understanding of the vision that local residents have of their area, and to gather their priorities and ideas, in advance of future calls for projects which, thanks to European funding, will make it possible to support the initiatives of local players.
The next stage: launch of the 1st EsCaT call for projects by the end of the year!
We remain fully mobilised, and are convinced of the strengths of our EsCaT."
Read the article: "The Catalan Cross-Border Area co-builds its future with its citizens"
Photo: Michel Jauzac / Département des Pyrénées-Ortientales
