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A comparative study by the MOT on major retailers in the SaarMoselle Eurodistrict

It was produced within the framework of the drafting by the SaarMoselle Eurodistrict of its territorial strategy for the 2021-2027 Interreg programming period and that of a future concept of regional development and a cross-border planning strategy. To do this, the members of the Eurodistrict focused first of all on planning for major retailers.

The objectives set for the study included: presenting and comparing the legal frameworks for planning in France and Germany; elucidating the characteristics of managing major retail sites in both countries; enumerating the tools used to support consultation processes; and setting out recommendations for designing a consultation tool aimed at planning for major retailers in the territory.

This comparative study is one component of the model project of spatial planning "MORO": a Franco-German "Planspiel" one of whose pilot sites is the SaarMoselle Eurodistrict. As part of this MORO project, which is due to be completed in autumn 2022, a design brief for a conurbation concept for the territory of the Eurodistrict is in the process of being drawn up.

In addition to providing the members of the Eurodistrict with a body of documentation on cross-border planning for major retailers, this exploratory work, along with the MORO project, constitutes the first example of concrete implementation of the Franco-German spatial planning set out in Article 20 of the Aachen Treaty: "The two countries shall step up the integration of their economies in order to create a Franco-German economic area with common rules."

Website of the Eurodistrict Saarmoselle

Photo: Shopping centre in Farébersviller, territory of the SaarMoselle Eurodistrict
^{Credit: Jean-Christophe Verhaegen}

* "Strengthening territorial development and spatial planning in cross-border regions"