The MOT attends the ‘Tag der Regionen’ in Trier: border regions at the heart of German debates
On 8 and 9 June 2026, the MOT took part in the 4th edition of the ‘Tag der Regionen’, organised in Trier by the German Federal Ministry of Housing, Urban Development and Construction. This year’s event, dedicated to cross-border cooperation under the theme ‘Connecting borders – Networking regions – Shaping the future’, brought together stakeholders from across Germany, as well as from European cross-border regions.
The MOT was present to represent its network and monitor discussions at German federal level on the planning of border regions, against a backdrop of growing cooperation in the field of spatial planning, as well as current European developments such as the implementation of the BridgeforEU Regulation.
The topics discussed during the plenary sessions and workshops focused in particular on border regions as areas of the future for Europe (Grenzregionen als europäische Zukunftsräume), housing policies in cross-border catchment areas (Integrierte Wohnraumentwicklung in Verflechtungsräumen), as well as key operational issues such as cross-border spatial planning through the Raumentwicklungskonzepte (REK) and cross-border monitoring. These discussions highlighted concerns shared by many European border regions: the need to better coordinate public policies between neighbouring states, to strengthen joint planning tools, and to consolidate cross-border monitoring systems.
The MOT was also highlighted during the conference. Its involvement as a partner in the Interreg ‘PRISMA’ Greater Region project was mentioned during the discussions on cross-border spatial planning approaches. Furthermore, its role within the European ecosystem of cross-border observation stakeholders was highlighted during discussions on territorial data and the observation of border areas.
The MOT has thus helped to showcase its expertise and the experiences of its network, whilst furthering its thinking on developments in cross-border cooperation policies in Europe.
