P. 2 Events The "High Valleys - Heart of the Alps" Integrated Territorial Plan In brief P. 3 MOT news Europe news P. 4 Press review Publication

Why does continue to attract so many cross-border workers?

In spite of its small surface area, the the year, Luxembourg holds the record Grand Duchy continues to attract skills for the highest minimum wage in from all over Europe. A symbolic Europe. milestone was passed in 2018, when the Its family policy (benefits, significant number of commuters reached 100,000. subsidies for pre-school childcare) also This is the count of French cross-border contributes to this attractiveness. workers who every day make the journey Moreover, it has been announced that Edouard Jacque to this country located at the heart of childcare centres and music lessons will President of Grand Est Cross- European exchanges. This figure will be made free. From the earliest age, Border Workers; Regional rise to close to 150,000 over the next children learn three languages and this Councillor, Grand Est Region 15 years. has an impact on the country’s ability This country owes its prosperity to export and to be open to the world. "The only border that exists in the Grand Est is that which historically to its steel industry, and The country has high levels of we have 'in our hearts'. It is part of our emotional more recently to its financial sector. immigration, and it is clear that this relationship to our history, now turned towards the future, But, contrary to widespread contributes to its prosperity. in which on a daily basis we shape a territory that is open preconceptions, it also owes it to the These elements reinforce this in all directions, open to the need to cultivate our diversification of its economy in the attractiveness among cross-border differences as they are an asset, and open to cooperation in all areas: be it providing responses to the challenges of AI, industrial domain and the development workers, who have become essential to research programmes or university projects; or be it of services, and to an unprecedented Luxembourg’s economic model. encouraging young people to become multilingual, bringing social policy constructed by consensus Efforts are now being focused on a railway line back to life, building a cycle path or through coalition agreements and co- mobility, as it is undeniable that the developing an area of countryside working together in a construction with the social partners, territory is lagging behind somewhat in network – because it’s above all a story of human beings. A which provide services to employees. this area, which has a negative impact complex story certainly, but all the more exciting for that. With a minimum wage at 1 January on quality of life due to the dominance It’s our role to 'facilitate these complexities'. They won’t 2019 of €2071.10 gross per month and of individual car use. Cont. on page 2. stop existing, and that’s a good thing. Those that consist in an increase of €200 scheduled during improving the living conditions of those who are, aspire to be or have been cross-border workers, and those of people living near the border, whether in cities or sparsely populated areas… This is our mission – that of a network for cross-border workers. It is being built step-by-step, with the support of the region, Europe and many local authorities – and thanks to our digital platforms*, which provide expert answers to hundreds of thousands of people; and to the Task Force, the employment observatory and all of the local structures such as the Maison de l’Allemagne, the Maison du Luxembourg, the Infobests and soon the Maison des , all able to provide responses on a human scale."

* Grand Est Cross-Border Workers (Frontaliers Grand Est), the European Centre for Consumer Protection and the Euro-Institut. EVENTS The "High Valleys - Heart of the Alps" Europe, governments, Integrated Territorial territories: a dialogue of the deaf? , 14 May 2019 in Plan Franco-German seminar: Making The cross-border territory of the "High Valleys" is maps: cross-border and located in the heart of the Alps, between Savoie, intercultural representations from Antiquity to the present Piedmont and the High Alps. It consists of 13 groups day , 20-22 May 2019 in of municipalities, 147 rural mountain districts and 270,753 inhabitants spread over 6,350 km 2. Interreg Annual Event 2019 , 22- 23 May 2019 in Bucarest Beyond the strong historical in order to group together 2. "CoeurAlp RESILIENCE" to links between the territories the common development “make the cross-border Territories’ Spring Forum of the Grand Briançonnais priorities for the coming territory more resilient and [Printemps des Territoires], 6 and the Maurienne in years. It consists of concrete safer for its inhabitants, June 2019 in and the Susa, Sangone and projects within the workers and tourists” (led by To mark its first birthday, on 6 Pinerolo Valleys in Italy, the framework of the 2014- the Metropolitan City of June the Banque des Territoires High Valleys local 2020 Interreg programme Turin) will unveil its new offer aimed at authorities, which share the ALCOTRA, in the form of an 3. "CoeurAlp ON THE MOVE" territorial authorities and same cultural, "Integrated Territorial Plan": to develop solutions for eco- designed to meet their specific environmental and "Les Hautes Vallées, Coeur friendly mobility and funding needs. sociological characteristics des Alpes" ("The High synergies between modes of ESPON seminar" The role of of mountain living, launched Valleys – Heart of the Alps"). transport” (led by the functional areas for territorial a cross-border cooperation This Plan, coordinated by Maurienne Country cohesion", 19-20 June 2019 à initiative in the early 1990s. the Maurienne Country Association) Ia și (Romania) Since 2000, they have been Association, is made up of 4. "CoeurAlp SOLIDARITY" to brought together in a single four projects: “ensure access to essential Franco-German cooperation 2.0 , political and technical body: 1. "CoeurAlp INNOVATION" services” (led by the 28-29 June 2019 in Ludwigsburg the Conférence des Hautes to “create innovation Metropolitan City of Turin). () Vallées (High Valleys opportunities for businesses More info Conference). in the cross-border territory" All the events A cross-border strategy "The (led by the Briançonnais High Valleys – Smart Community of Destination" was drawn up Municipalities)

Cont. from page 1 A Territorial Development Plan for the Strasbourg: Survey The investment announced Greater Region on well-being (infrastructure projects but also free public transport, a worldwide first for a Within the framework of the promoting balanced across the cross- whole country) will make it possible to Interreg “Greater Region development in the cross- border area partly catch up in the Grand Duchy, but Territorial Development Plan” border area. For each of the cross-border co-development has project, the Greater Region four themes identified The Strasbourg become urgent and necessary. The Executives Summit have laid (demographic dynamics and the Eurometropolis’s Development remaining challenge is to open up a the political groundwork for the associated territorial needs, Council has conducted a new reservoir of growth, as the first drawing-up of a common cross- mobility, economic survey of citizens on well- hiring difficulties are appearing in border territorial strategy for development and the being across the whole of the Luxembourg. This is a huge area for co- the Greater Region partners. environment-energy), four cross-border metropolis. The development that needs to draw on all One of the principles of this brochures have just been survey is entitled “How are of the stakeholders in North as strategy derives from the produced, with the aim of you?”. Two volumes [in French well as those among our Luxembourg territories’ complementarities, providing a general overview of only] were published in 2017 friends, so that everyone in their area and it is placed within the spatial development in the and January 2019 of responsibility “produces” innovative framework of multilevel Greater Region in order to respectively: projects that build connections and governance. The strategy thus further the thinking of players - Volume 1 : The main create value added for the benefit of aims to set out an integrated involved in cooperation. determinants of well-being as both sides of the border. vision in the area of spatial More info expressed by the participants. planning with the goal of - Volume 2 : Recommendations Article written by “Grand Est and indicators. More info [FR] Cross-Border Workers” .

2 - CROSS-BORDER NEWS N°149 MOT EUROPE NEWS NEWS "L'Europe par les territoires", a publication Aurélien Biscaut, the by the FNAU – MOT's new Secretary- focus on the cross-border General dimension

The latest publication by the territorial issues, including the cross-border ambition French Network of Urban fifth one, “The marginalisation - The Grand Est Region: seven Planning Agencies (FNAU), of some cross-border areas”. In cross-border situations, three entitled "L'Europe par les it, Jean Peyrony, the MOT’s levels of issues territoires" (“Europe by its Director-General, highlights - The Strasbourg territories”) feeds into the “The cross-border dimension in Eurometropolis – European by debate about Europe and European cohesion policy”. culture, cross-border by Following the departure of Olivier provides different views on the A whole section is devoted to geography Denert, the MOT was pleased to issues relating to cohesion cross-border territories, with a - Basel-Mulhouse-Fribourg – welcome on 15 April its new policy and the way in which second article by Jean trinational cooperation to blur Secretary-General into the cities and territories have Peyrony: “Cross-border the borders technical team: Aurélien Biscaut, appropriated the European territories – Europe’s - Greater Luxembourg or the former Director of the North ideal and the tools of this laboratories”. The following challenge of cross-border Lorraine Urban Planning Agency policy. The MOT contributed to examples are then set forth: metropolisation. (Agape). “Having been modelled it and several cross-border - , a European cross-border This part concludes with a on the Agape, the MOT is in a way territories are showcased in it. metropolis "plea for cross-border urban its little sister. So now becoming part of it fits with my personal In the first part, “The - The development of the planning agencies”. history, and I’m very happy to be territories – vectors of Dunkirk area cannot be The other sections are devoted able to make use of my cross- European cohesion”, Serge envisaged without cross-border to creating networks, border expertise acquired in North Morvan, General Commissioner cooperation citizenship in Europe and Lorraine to serve all of the cross- for Territorial Equality, sets - The Atlantic and Pyrenees European cities. border territories.” out the five major European urban planning agency – a More info [FR]

MOT article on Publication of Call for proposals: Meeting in Brussels on cross-border public proceedings of the "Support to cooperation "Missing Railway Links"

services policy forum: on intra-EU mobility" Since a study by DG REGIO on the topic in 2018, the The magazine "Security and The EU Programme for importance of “Missing Railway "Intercommunalités" of the Employment and Social Links” for cohesion policy and Assemblée des Communautés development: how to Innovation "EaSI" (EURES axis) is the development of border de France (AdCF – Assembly launching a call for proposals regions disadvantaged by a lack of France’s Communities) has manage borders?" regarding “Cross-border of rail infrastructure has been published in its issue 238 an partnerships and support to highlighted. In this context, the On 7 July 2016 the MOT and article written by the MOT: cooperation on intra-EU mobility PAMINA Eurodistrict EGTC held a Grenoble-Alpes University held "Concevoir les services for EEA countries and social conference on 11 April in at the Assemblée Nationale in publics transfrontaliers" partners". The deadline is 6 June collaboration with the Paris a policy forum entitled ("Designing cross-border 2019. More info Committee of the Regions. In “Sécurité et développement: public services"). total, 9 out of the 19 “missing comment gérer la frontière ?”, The EURES cross-border links” identified by the To consult the magazine: within the framework of an Commission as potentially click here [FR]. international research project partnerships that have benefited from this funding can be viewed beneficial are on France’s "Borders in Globalization" borders. ("BIG"). The proceedings are here. now available (in French). The presentations More info [FR]

CROSS-BORDER NEWS N°149 - 3 PRESS RE VIEW The Maison de Eurostage - School 11 th France- The EU has failed to l'Europe at the students without Monaco Cooperation create solidarity in its forefront of helping borders Commission cross-border regions job-seekers find work Haut-Rhin magazine, April Monaco Government – Swissinfo.ch, 16 April "Since 2015, the association Principality of Monaco, 3 April "The bounty of tax from cross- in Eltern , supported by the "The France-Monaco Cooperation border workers is a source of Haut-Rhin Departmental Council, discord in but also La Voix du Nord, 19 April Commission met in Paris on 1 has enabled happy year 10 elsewhere in Europe. In France’s "Vooruit – meaning ‘forwards’ in April 2019. […] This commission students to do their work Grand Est Region, elected Flemish. It’s the name of a cross- takes place annually, alternating experience placement on the representatives and senior civil border job-seeker placement between Paris and Monaco. It other side of the ." servants rail against programme offered by eight serves as the framework for the Luxembourg’s selfishness and French and Belgian partners, regular consultations between the demand compensation along the including the Maison de l'Europe Consumption: two countries on issues of lines of the Geneva model. The in Dunkirk." national interest in the spirit of Greater Geneva under their ‘community of destiny’." solution might come from the Council of Europe." A smart city scrutiny A cross-border named Eclor La Voix de l'Ain, 26 April EU stuck on "What are the consumption habits swift water rescue La Semaine de Nancy, 18 April in Greater Geneva (GG)? A region unemployment rules for "Last October the birth of the with very strong economic and exercise cross-border workers first periurban smart city in demographic growth, and doubly La Nouvelle République, Le Temps, 17 April "SWITZERLAND- France was approved, in the so due to its particular geography 30 March EU – The 28 have not been able to territory of the Haut Val that combines two territories "Around 30 firefighters from the approve the controversial reform d’ Country. The next from two different countries […]. Hautes-Pyrénées and the that would have changed the rules logical step was its baptism: Between April and September Pyrénées-Atlantiques Departments governing the payment of this took place at the end of 2018, the GG thus conducted its gathered […], in Saint-Pé-de- unemployment benefit to cross- March when the territory’s very first survey covering the Bigorre, in order to take part in a border workers. The postponement digital platform was renamed whole of this territory comprising swift water exercise under real of the issue to the next parliament Eclor [‘to hatch’ in French] – the 1 million inhabitants." conditions." name chosen by the inhabitants is a welcome delay for Bern." themselves. […] The smart city is working to provide ‘innovative and connected services’ with, on INSEE Analyses: cross-border employment the menu, internal and cross- border mobility […]." from the Hauts-de-France Region to Belgium An app to visit Insee Hauts-de-France, Insee Analyses Hauts-de-France No. 94, 330 sites in the March 2019 At the end of 2017, 24,200 employees living in the Hauts-de-France Upper Rhine Region worked abroad, principally in Belgium. They represent 1.6% L'Alsace, 16 April of the region’s employees – five times less than in the Grand Est "Since 5 April, the app Region. Less favourable employment conditions, particularly with 'EuropeArt To Go' is available as respect to tax, have now made Belgium less attractive than in the a free download on Google Play past. More info [FR] and the Apple Store. It lists and displays 330 buildings that are considered important in the This publication is available in the MOT’s documentary portal. Specialising in Upper Rhine, from the Middle cross-border cooperation, this contains over 4,000 documents and documentary Ages to the present day." references. More info [FR]

CROSS-BORDER NEWS

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