Stratégies de développement des agglomérations lorraines situées le long de la frontière franco-luxembourgeoise

Border Region

Border between France and Luxembourg, region Lorraine, cross-border conurbations of the PED of Longwy, d’Esch-sur-Alzette - Villerupt and Kayl - Ottange

Language(s)

Français

Type

Note on a scientific paper, a conference paper, etc.

Main Category

Regional Development – Sustainability

Governance – Power – Cooperation

Introduction

This study analyses the development strategies of the towns in Lorraine near the border with Luxembourg that have chosen a strategy of "cross-border conurbations" in order to counter, among other things, the economic and social reduction in connection with the end of iron mining.

Summary

The article presents the development strategy that was introduced in the late 1990s by the conurbations in Lorraine near the French Luxembourgian border. These cities, developing during the heyday of the mining and steel industries, had to face difficult economic and social situations in the years after the economic miracle. They found new paths for development thanks to the regional policy of the EU, which was targeted at cross-border cooperation. The presented research work dealt with the contribution of this new strategy to improve the living situation of the people near the borders and their development perspectives.

Content

This article was published in Mosella, the journal of the Centre de recherches en géographie of the University Metz (CEGUM), in a 2000 issue that presented various research subjects of the laboratory. In the late 1990s, the policy of the EU and its member states facilitated in particular development of cross-border cooperation on a local level. The municipalities of Lorraine near the border are finding new development paths by cooperating in particular with their partners in Luxembourg. Cross-border projects were developed. Some of them led to true "cross-border conurbations". What are these? How can they be defined? What targets and development perspectives do they have? This article seeks to answer several questions with a reference to examples of cross-border conurbations between France and the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg.

After presentation of the origins of city development in these special militarised and industrialised spaces that already maintained strong relationships, the development of these "border regions" to "cross-border regions", and in this case "cross-border conurbation", are described. This change happens in individual steps, requiring institutionalisation of cooperation, in particular by creating "cross-border local administration unions" (grenzüberschreitende örtliche Zweckverbände; GÖZ) within the scope of the Convention of Karlsruhe from 1996. In the late 1990s, this strategy picked up speed and the number of projects along the French-Luxembourgian border increased. Three cross-border conurbations were created: The PEDs of Longwy and Esch-sur-Alzette and the smaller Kilbri between Kayl and Ottange. Cooperation had highly ambitious targets in spite of many obstacles: Research on site made it possible to point out some issues that influence the effects or even the efficiency of the strategies for cooperation or its sustainability. Finally, it was therefore necessary to think about the development perspectives of the cross-border conurbations.

Conclusions

The article speaks about the relevancy of development of the cross-border cooperation on a local level to improve the living situations of the population in the cross-border urban spaces. The border has become particularly permeable, in particular regarding passenger traffic. However, it separates areas that are subject to specific legal codes on development, spatial planning, urban development, tax laws, etc. The "cross-border conurbations" must lead to harmonisation of economic and social development and coordinated spatial planning, which is to become more coherent and solidary, in order to avoid excessive competition. Cross-border cooperation must define an appropriate governance, with the involvement and support of politicians from all affected regional authorities and the different actors of public and private spatial planning. Additionally, the local population must be involved. This is a complex approach that will take some time before it can be effective and efficient, in particular since the funds remain rather low. Structures such as the GÖZ are a start. They still need to collect experience. There are many projects, but only few are put into practice. "Development European style" is difficult to implement this way. The examples of the three analysed conurbations show this clearly. Certain obstacles cannot be removed on a local level, but require national reform, e.g. regarding the matter of cross-border taxation to support the municipalities in Lorraine where cross-border commuters are living, in covering the public costs for education, health, athletic and social infrastructure or for local public transport due to the increasing flow of cross-border commuters.

Key Messages

The urban spaces at the border enable innovative local development strategies. The cities along the French-Luxembourgian border have chosen the approach of a "cross-border conurbation" that is facilitated by the EU and its member states. Coordination of local policy on either side of the border requires introduction of strong structures of cooperation with stronger financial and personnel support. Rather than merely being places of coordination, they must increasingly become places for ideas to grow.

Lead

Université de Lorraine, Département de Géographie

Author of the entry

Rachid

BELKACEM

Contributions

Marie-France GAUNARD-ANDERSON, Université de Lorraine-Metz, Centre de recherches LOTERR/Centre for Border Studies

Keywords

border

cross-border conurbation

cross-border cooperation

local development