Thematic Focus Le développement économique transfrontalier [FR] October 2026 Entre opportunités économiques et déséquilibres territoriaux, le développement économique transfrontalier est un enjeu central de l’intégration européenne. Comment valoriser les complémentarités et renforcer les coopérations pour construire un développement plus équilibré aux frontières ?
Partnership/national study European Groupings of Territorial Cooperation (EGTCs) with French participation: 20 years on – An overview and future cross-border prospects September 2026 Twenty years after the creation of the European framework for European Groupings of Territorial Cooperation (EGTCs), the MOT has published a study focusing on EGTCs with French participation. Carried out between January and July 2026 as part of the MOT’s annual work programme, this study is based on extensive analysis and discussions with stakeholders on the ground. The full study is available in French exclusively to MOT members. An eight-page summary (in English) and forward-looking recommendations (in French) are accessible to all.
European study Resilient Borders – Cross-border Crisis Management and Spatial Planning: Policy publication and Compendium of pilot actions June 2026 The "Resilient Borders - Cross-border Spatial Planning and Crisis Management project", coordinated by the MOT and the Association of European Border Regions (AEBR) with the support of DG REGIO, supported nineteen pilot projects across thirteen European borders between 2024 and 2025. Its objective was to strengthen the resilience of border regions by improving cross-border cooperation in the fields of spatial planning and crisis management. The final publication brings together the lessons learnt from the pilot projects, identifies the main methodologies and best practices, and sets out recommendations for public decision-makers. It serves as a reference tool to foster more resilient cross-border cooperation and inspire new initiatives across Europe.
Thematic Focus L’emploi transfrontalier [FR] June 2026 Dans l’Union européenne, près de deux millions de travailleurs traversent quotidiennement une frontière pour exercer leur activité. Dans certaines zones, ils représentent plus de la moitié de la population active, faisant de l’emploi transfrontalier un enjeu majeur.
Partnership/national study Expérimentation “Bassins de vie transfrontaliers” : Connaitre, comprendre et agir à l’échelle des bassins de vie transfrontaliers [FR] May 2024 [In French only] Etude multipartenariale réalisée par la MOT avec le soutien de dix-sept partenaires. Entre 2023 et 2024, pendant plus d'un an, la MOT a mené une expérimentation sur les bassins de vie transfrontaliers sur cinq sites pilotes : l’Eurodistrict PAMINA (frontière franco-allemande), l’Eurométropole Lille-Kortrijk-Tournai (frontière franco-belge), le Nord Lorrain – Luxembourg (frontière franco-luxembourgeoise), Alpes du sud – Riviera (frontière franco-italo-monégasque), Agglomération franco-valdo-genevoise (frontière franco-suisse).
Thematic Focus Coopération transfrontalière : résoudre les obstacles [FR] November 2023 [In French only] Qu’il s’agisse de trouver un emploi, de recevoir des soins, de se déplacer, de résoudre des problèmes administratifs, les habitants des régions frontalières sont confrontés dans leur vie quotidienne à des difficultés liées à la présence de la frontière. C’est pourquoi l’identification des obstacles à la coopération - et la recherche de solutions - est l’un des défis majeurs de la coopération transfrontalière.
Scientific article / Dictionary “Cross-border territorial cooperation between France and Germany: evolution, convergence and perspectives” September 2023 Article by Jean Peyrony, Franziska Sielker and Thomas Perrin. Published in "Cities and Metropolises in France and Germany", Forschungsberichte der ARL, No. 20, edited by Evelyn Gustedt, Ulrike Grabski-Kieron, Christophe Demazière and Didier Paris, 2023, pp. 193–215.
MOT Guides N°11 – The new challenges of cross-border mobility December 2022 Be it for freight or for passengers, for occasional or daily travel, mobility is at the heart of cross-border life. This 11th MOT thematic Guide gives an overview of the experiences and policies conducted in the field of cross-border mobility in various European territories. It highlights a wide variety of projects, but also obstacles, issues and major challenges for the years to come.
Thematic Focus L’environnement sans frontières [FR] October 2022 La protection de l’environnement et la gestion rationnelle des ressources sont des priorités pour les politiques publiques européennes et nationales. Quels sont les enjeux pour les territoires transfrontaliers ? Quelles actions sont à mener ? Ce «focus» présente des bonnes pratiques et initiatives exemplaires menées dans les régions frontalières, ainsi que des recommandations.
Scientific article / Dictionary Critical Dictionary on Borders, Cross-Border Cooperation and European Integration October 2020 Peter Lang, by Birte Wassenberg (Volume editor) Bernard Reitel (Volume editor) History & Political Science, Series: Border Studies, Volume 1. The "Critical Dictionary of Borders, Cross-Border Cooperation and European Integration" has just been published: a major publication that contains 209 articles written by 124 authors from different countries and academic disciplines, accompanied by 66 original maps produced by the MOT. Its aim is to answer the following questions: what is the role of borders in European integration? How does cross-border cooperation function concretely in the EU’s border regions? Does it contribute to European integration? Who are the players, and what are their motives, objectives and tools?
MOT Guides N°10 – The energy transition and cross-border cooperation January 2019 Neither the climate nor energy recognise national borders. Cross-border territories, as players in the energy transition, can take full advantage of the opportunities for development that it offers. The tenth edition of the MOT Guides highlights the stakes of energy transition in cross-border territories. What are the good practices? What kind of obstacles are there and how to overcome them? How do the different levels of energy policy fit together in France? What are the European Commission’s political and financial instruments in the area of the energy transition?
