The environmental powers of the state authorities and the local authorities respectively are determined, in this article, on the basis of a choice of the main treaties and international declarations. These texts are the result of bilateral or multilateral negotiations and constitute a compromise between the different positions of the States, the only subjects in international law. In this respect, States are more or less inclined to allow the local level to participate in the implementation of the international environmental instruments that they sign. The term "local" can be used to refer to all the relevant territorial levels situated below State level.
As for the notion of "national/state authority", it can be used to refer to central government or decentralised bodies. Finally, the term "local authority", a generic term defined by its opposition to the authorities of the sovereign State, is inspired by the practice of the Council of Europe's European Outline Convention on Transfrontier Co-operation and refers at once to territorial authorities of the French type, regional entities with legislative powers, federated entities and "local authorities" of the type found in English-speaking countries. Of course we also find that the traditional position of international law has survived, that is to say that state authorities have a monopoly on implementing the treaty as they see fit.
The contribution represents the entire pallet of bodies of cross-border cooperation that have developed along the borders of the French continent that borders eight adjacent states, and potentially their regional subdivisions. There are national bodies, i.e. associations (everywhere), bodies under French law ("sociétés d’économie mixte locale" [local mixed-economic companies] and European districts) and bodies under foreign law. Subsequently, supranational bodies are present (GÖZ, EVTZ, VEZ) that owe their success to legal harmonisation. However, other bodies that resulted from the early phase of cross-border cooperation (work groups) are receding.
These themed dossier looks at the question of local and regional labour markets, whether cross-border or not, through some multidisciplinary quantitative examples concerning the determinants, stakes and impacts of these particular forms of mobility, according to the different units of analysis and/or time periods.
In this way, different comparisons are made on different markets in order to understand how cross-border workers are different to non-cross-border workers (and even migrants) within the different geographical areas of the local and regional labour markets. With the aim of answering these different questions, four articles are selected to try and provide some answers.
There is significant renewed interest for borders. Empirical observation has shown that border stabilisations and destabilisations are multifaceted and are therefore increasingly perceived as complex processes. With this publication project, the 20 authors critically and productively address the concept of “border textures” in order to produce an analysis and reflection instrument likely to strengthen the complex research on borders from all angles.
This working paper highlights the thematic field of “energy” and presents the challenges which occur in terms of territorial development for the Greater Region. It discusses the energy transition concept and focuses on energy systems and vectors, specifically the development of wind energy and the production of energy from biomass with regard to the development of fossil energy in Germany and France.
This working paper highlights the thematic field “mobility and transports” and presents the challenges which occur in terms of territorial development for the Greater Region. It specifically focuses on the territorial distribution of cross-border worker movements and on the reliance on cars within the Greater Region, as well as on the influence of European policies on the way challenges inherent to cross-border transport are addressed.
The working paper pertains to the thematic field “demography and migration” and highlights the challenges for territorial development in the Greater Region. Particular emphasis is placed on cross-border residential mobility at borders with the Grand Duchy, on population ageing and on the guarantee of general interest services in rural regions.
The thematic document highlights various aspects of cross-border spatial development based on the following central themes: spatial planning instruments, promotion of cross-border cooperation, health care, transport infrastructures and services, territorial integration through the combination of transport modes and creation of European Groupings of Territorial Cooperation. The contributions pertain to different cross-border spaces in Europe.
Development of the cross-border cooperation presented in the regional scheme of economic development of innovation and internationalisation (SRDEII) of the Grand Est region pursues ambitious goals that strengthen the specific geographic location of this region.
Even though the cross-border development seems to have been achieved, the goals pursued for economic development in the Grand Est region are facing great challenges: Stronger transparency of the programmes of cooperation, better mediation of local competences, reduction of the language barrier between the residents, etc.
The book essentially questions the way spaces can be described and empirically studied within or as cross-border relations. To do this, the author focuses on border dwellers in the Greater Region of SaarLorLux, insofar as its circular mobility structure and its presence in multiple neighbouring areas may be considered exemplary for cross-border life realities. The book hypothesises that spaces, rather than being pre-existing, allow for the development of subjectively significant spatial relations through cross-border activities. The concept of space therefore describes the significant social relations developed through border dweller practices, which are partially operationalised and studied empirically through socio-cultural questions.
