Conference of the High Valleys

Countries: France , Italy
Regions concerned: Communities of municipalities (Communautés de communes) of Briançonnais, Pays des Ecrins, Guillestrois, Queyras, Modane and Haute Maurienne-Vanoise (France); Mountain communities (Comunità Montane) of the Upper Suse Valley, the Lower Suse Valley (Italy)

Presentation

The “Conférence des Hautes Vallées”  is a Franco-Italian cooperation body that brings together local players (municipalities and their groupings, Pays) on either side of the border.
- on the French side : six Communities of municipalities (Communautés de communes) of “Briançonnais”, “Pays des Ecrins”, “Guillestrois”, “Queyras”, “Modane” and “Haute Maurienne-Vanoise” ;
- on the Italian side : six Mountain communities (Comunità Montane) of the Upper Suse Valley, the Lower Suse Valley, “Val Cenischia”, “Val Sangone”, “Val Chisone and Germanasca”, “Val Pellice and Pinerolese Pedemontano”.
After signing a memorandum of cooperation in December 2000 in Oulx and a declaration of intent in May 2005 in Briançon, these municipalities came together (within the Conference of the High Valleys) in the form of an association in 2007.
The mountainous and rural cross-border territory of the “Hautes Vallées” lies in the heart of the western Alpine space. It is marked by homogenous economy and geographical features, as it makes up the largest territory on the Franco-Italian border between the Province of Turin and the Departments of “Hautes-Alpes” and “Savoie”.
The preserved environment represents a strong economic, cultural and social potential. However, the aging population and the weak business and innovation evolution threaten the “Conférence des Hautes Vallées” to become a simple transit territory.
The “Conférence des Hautes Vallées” launched the PITER project in 2018 in order to promote the economic, social and environmental development of the cross-border territory through the implementation of a common strategy.