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The Franco-German cross-border cooperation committee (CCC): from cooperation to integration

Co-chaired by the two Secretaries-General for Franco-German cooperation (currently Anna Lührmann and Laurence Boone), it meets at least twice a year to assess the implementation of its work programme, adopt new deliberations (including recommendations to governments) and discuss priorities for integration between the border regions of the two countries. The MOT has the status of expert in the Committee, with Switzerland and Luxembourg as observers.

All relevant political and administrative levels are represented: parliaments and ministries, sub-national authorities (Länder, Grand Est Region, French departments, Strasbourg Eurometropolis) and Eurodistricts. This unprecedented collegiate and multi-level format enables collaborative working (decisions by consensus), with the help of a joint Secretariat based in Kehl. Among the main concrete results achieved by the Committee, the French law no. 2022-217 (known as the 3DS) has made it possible to resolve various "irritants" (medical certificates for sports events, use of German-language brochures at commercial events in France, opening up the capital of local public companies to foreign municipalities). The CCC's strategic priorities cover a wide range of issues, from the economy and public services to energy transition, education, and mobility.

In addition, the Committee acts as a "pressure group" for the settlement of disputes (e.g. German social security contributions on unemployment benefits and various benefits paid to cross-border workers). The CCC recently set up a working group on cross-border territorial observation, and is soon due to set up a body responsible for drawing up a procedure for examining the impact of national legislation on border regions.

The Committee is keen to develop its links with several institutional, public, and association partners, including the APFA and the OFAJ (for the organisation of a Forum dedicated to cross-border apprenticeships). Scheduled for the autumn, the next session of the CCC will provide a "progress report" a few months before the 5th anniversary of the Treaty of Aachen, which turned the Franco-German cross-border area into a genuine "European laboratory".

CCC website

^{Photo: Préfecture de la Moselle}