Credits: Interreg Alpine Space / European Commission / Eusalp Alpine Region
History of cross-border cooperation between our territories
From 1789 to 1947, the borders between the current French, Italian and Monegasque states saw multiple changes of sovereignty. The Metropolis of Nice Côte d'Azur as well as the City have maintained links of great value with these territories through a multitude of political agreements: we will mention Nice and the twinning agreements with Sorrento, Cuneo and other municipalities. There is a partnership protocol between the Nice Côte d'Azur urban community and the Commune of Genova, signed on February 11, 2011, as well as a Friendship Pact between the City of Turin, the City of Nice and the Nice Côte d'Azur Metropolis. 'Azur signed on December 17, 2018. Numerous thematic workshops and webinars relate actions carried out within the framework of the cross-border programs INTERREG-ALCOTRA, PITEM CLIP, ALPIMED...
In this case, the MOT (Mission Opérationnelle Transfrontalière) as well as local and regional institutions such as the South Region, the Metropolis of Nice, but also the Liguria Region, the Autonomous Region of the Aosta Valley, the Piedmont Region or well again the Universities of Genoa and Turin participated.
But where does this cross-border cooperation come from? What historical bases have allowed the realization of structured and financed projects in order to fulfill economic, social or even environmental objectives? If we go back in time, we see a geopolitical context of territorial competition between France and Italy, particularly on the issue of the County of Nice (Kingdom of Piedmont-Sardinia) annexed by France in 1860. This concept of rupture and fracture of the border is overthrown by European integration policies which aim to establish a notion of collaboration and integration in border areas. Although the border between Nice and Liguria and therefore between France and Italy experienced setbacks, especially during the war, a cultural and historical link remained.
Historical link on which were based the initiatives that this cross-border space knew. Furthermore, conventions such as the framework convention of 1984 and the subsequent bilateral agreements of 1993 formed the basis of today's cross-border cooperation. The programs instituted following these agreements were multiple, among the most famous: ALCOTRA financed by the FEDER fund of the European Union, still existing today and aimed at the development and harmony of the European territory.
Cross-border cooperation has asserted itself over time as a system of governance in its own right. It is interesting to note that on the scale of history, what was previously an exclusive prerogative of the state, namely the direction of actions abroad, is becoming more and more or even has become completely, a local prerogative and of the regions.
The Cross-Border Cooperation Scheme
The Cross-Border Cooperation Scheme developed by the Nice Côte d'Azur Metropolis is part of the vision of the MAPTAM Law published on January 28, 2014. This law aims to restore local freedoms by trusting "territorial intelligence". In other words, the law aims to restore the competence of the regions and departments and to clarify the conditions for exercising the competences of local authorities.
This text establishes a new status for metropolises in order to provide agglomerations with the ability to act in terms of economic development, city policy, energy transition and innovation. Not only that, but also a Territorial Conference for Public Action which outlines a Territorial Governance Pact. The most important thing is art. L. 5217-2, VIII, para. 2: “the metropolis bordering a foreign State draws up a cross-border cooperation scheme involving the department, the region and the municipalities concerned”.
The MOT (Mission Opérationnelle Transfrontalière) was commissioned to give substance to this measure and to the creation of the Cross-border Cooperation Scheme. It comprises 4 territorial scales: proximity (Coastline and Mid-Country), cooperation (Mountain), innovation (inter-metropolitan), influence (macro-regional). Precisely for Nice, it was "to promote the emergence or the structuring of a cross-border living area".
The Nice Côte d'Azur Metropolis then drew up its plan with four levels: the scale of proximity between Cannes and Imperia, the scale of mountain cooperation with the Province of Cuneo, the macro-regional scale (ALPIMED) and with the towns from Genoa and Turin. Some data: there are no less than 180,000 students in the Nice-Turin-Genoa area, 1 million inhabitants between Cannes and Imperia, 44,000 cross-border workers in Monaco and 350,000 Italian passengers at Nice Airport each year. Thus, in 2018, after two years of partnership work between local authorities, consulates, universities, the Metropolis and the City of Nice as well as natural parks, 12 cross-border cooperation projects were approved by the Supervisory Committee of the European Program ALCOTRA. This was accompanied by 12 million euros in allocations over 3 years.
The plan was built in close cooperation between the South Region (then PACA), the Liguria Region, Piedmont, Aosta Valley and Auvergne-Rhône Alpes.
Interreg ALCOTRA
Interreg MARITTIMO
Alpes Latines COopération TRAnsfrontalière is one of the European cross-border cooperation programs which aims to strengthen cohesion between French and Italian border territories. The Interreg Italy-France MARITTIMO Program is part of the ETC (European Territorial Cooperation) and aims to achieve the objectives of the EU 2020 Strategy, namely "smart, sustainable and inclusive growth".
Interreg ALCOTRA is a European program financed by the FEDER fund (European Regional Development Fund) and aims to contribute to the economic and social growth of the Franco-Italian cross-border territories.
Interregional cooperation has existed for more than two decades. The predecessors of the current program were Interreg IIIC (2000-2006), Interreg IVC (2007-2013) and Interreg Europe (2014-2020).
2014-2020 represented the 5th ALCOTRA programming period. The managing authority for this program was the Auvergne Rhône-Alpes Region. The programming covered the territories of the Autonomous Region of the Aosta Valley, the Metropolis of Turin, the Provinces of Cuneo (Piedmont) and Imperia (Liguria) in Italy and the Departments of Haute-Savoie and Savoie (Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes), the Departments of Hautes-Alpes, Alpes de Haute-Provence and Alpes-Maritimes (Région Sud) in France.
A total of 116 projects were approved for a total cost of 223 M euros, 199 of which were financed by the ERDF (EU) including 6 integrated territorial plans (PITER) and 6 integrated thematic plans (PITEM). The program focused on 4 areas of intervention: 1/ Applied Innovation: Develop innovation projects and innovative services - Develop innovative models of eco-construction of public buildings. 2/ A better controlled environment: Improve the territorial planning of public institutions for adaptation to climate change - Increase the resilience of the territories most exposed to risks. 3/The attractiveness of the territory: Increase sustainable tourism - Improve management of habitat and protected species - Increase strategic actions and plans for efficient mobility. 4/ Social inclusion and European citizenship: Promote the settlement and permanence of families of people in rural and mountain areas - Increase the educational and training offer. Future expectations focus on improving cross-border mobility and improving the cross-border economy.
There is also Interreg MARITTIMO which focuses on the Mediterranean area, the Managing Authority was the Tuscany Region for the previous programming. This program aims to improve cooperation in terms of innovation, the use of natural and cultural resources as well as accessibility in order to ensure territorial cohesion and encourage economic and sustainable development. 4 areas of intervention were planned: 1/ Promoting the competitiveness of cross-border businesses (42 projects, 266 partners) with particular concentration on businesses in the nautical and naval sectors and sustainable tourism, biotechnologies and green energies. 2/ Risk management and the protection of natural and cultural resources (18 projects, 109 partners). 3/ The connection of territories and the sustainability of port activities (38 projects, 324 partners). 4/ Increasing work and integration opportunities through economic activity (18 projects, 123 beneficiary partners).
The 2014-2020 program represented 200 million euros, including 170 financed by the ERDF, 116 projects financed and 822 partners. Future expectations focus on improving the recognition of Italian and French diplomas, taking into account the health sector in IF Marittimo, continuing the work started in relation to the Upper and Middle Maralpin Country.
In the South Region, 95 ALCOTRA projects involved partners in the regional territory for 47 million euros of ERDF co-financing and 4 calls for projects between 2015 and 2019. With regard to MARITTIMO, these were 95 projects involving partners on the regional territory and 33 million euros of ERDF co-financing with 4 calls for projects between 2016 and 2019.
