Manifesto for balanced economic development in cross-border territories
April 2026
Nearly 520,000 cross-border workers living in France cross a border every day to work, mainly to Switzerland (236,000) and Luxembourg (122,000).
Whilst this mobility illustrates the interdependence of European labour markets, it also creates growing imbalances in certain parts of France: recruitment difficulties, labour shortages in key sectors, and pressure on housing and public services.
A call from elected representatives and grassroots stakeholders within the MOT network
Result of a collaborative effort carried out between 2025 and 2026 by elected representatives and grassroots stakeholders from the MOT network who are directly confronted with these realities, this Manifesto proposes 20 concrete measures across three key areas:
- complementarity of labour markets
- attractiveness of the French side
- cross-border financial solidarity
It calls for a shift in approach:
- moving from competition to cross-border co-development;
- better recognising and integrating cross-border realities into national and European public policies.
