France Belgium

Introduction

A border zone shaped by centuries of exchange, the Franco-Belgian border has, since its establishment in 1713, historically served as a place of passage and contact. Characterised by towns in close proximity to one another, as well as an extensive network of waterways, roads, and railways, the territories on either side provide a favorable environment for cross-border cooperation.

The Brussels Agreement, signed in 2002 by the French, Belgian, and Luxembourgish governments, formalizes cooperation and establishes a shared legal framework. The two main cross-border urban areas – West Flanders-Flanders-Dunkirk-Opal Coast and the Eurometropolis Lille-Kortrijk-Tournai, both structured as EGTCs – are dynamic cross-border urban spaces demonstrating an advanced level of border cooperation.

Natural and rural areas also make up a significant part of these territories, and the cross-border cooperation linking them is, in some sectors, very advanced.

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