6th Intergovernmental Commission to strengthen cross-border cooperation Joint press release

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On 19 October 2021, the 6th meeting of the Franco-Luxembourg Intergovernmental Commission to strengthen cross-border cooperation (IGC) took place in Esch-Belval. The delegation of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg was led by Ms Corinne Cahen, Minister for the Greater Region, and that of the French Republic by Mr Clément Beaune, Secretary of State for European Affairs.

  1. 6e réunion de la Commission Intergouvernementale franco-luxembourgeoise pour le renforcement de la coopération transfrontalière, le 19 octobre 2021

    (de g. à dr.) Jean-Baptiste Djebbari, ministre délégué auprès de la ministre de la Transition écologique, chargé des Transports de la République française ; Corinne Cahen ministre à la Grande Région ; Clément Beaune, secrétaire dâ à tat auprès du ministre de l'Europe et des Affaires étrangères, chargé des Affaires européennes de la République française ; François Bausch, Vice-Premier ministre, ministre de la Mobilité et des Travaux publics

    © SIP/claude piscitelli

  2. 6e réunion de la Commission Intergouvernementale franco-luxembourgeoise pour le renforcement de la coopération transfrontalière, le 19 octobre 2021

    (de g. à dr.) Frédéric Remay, directeur général adjoint de lâ Agence régionale de santé Grand Est ; Corinne Cahen, ministre à la Grande Région ;

    © SIP/claude piscitelli

  3. (fr. l. to r.) Jean-Baptiste Djebbari, Minister Delegate to the Minister for Ecological Change, with responsibility for Transport of the French Republic; Clément Beaune, Secretary of State to the Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs, with responsibility for European Affairs of the French Republic; Corinne Cahen, Minister for the Greater Region; François Bausch, Deputy Prime Minister, Minister for Mobility and Public Works

    © SIP/Claude Piscitelli

  4. (fr. l. to r.) Jean-Baptiste Djebbari, Minister Delegate to the Minister for Ecological Change, with responsibility for Transport of the French Republic; Clément Beaune, Secretary of State to the Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs, with responsibility for European Affairs of the French Republic; Corinne Cahen, Minister for the Greater Region; François Bausch, Deputy Prime Minister, Minister for Mobility and Public Works

    © SIP/ Claude Piscitelli

  5. Photo of the meeting

    © SIP/Claude Piscitelli

  6. 6e réunion de la Commission Intergouvernementale franco-luxembourgeoise pour le renforcement de la coopération transfrontalière, le 19 octobre 2021

    Patrick Risser, président de la Communauté de communes Pays Haut Val d'Alzette ; Patrick Weiten, président du département de la Moselle ; Georges Mischo, président de lâ asbl Esch2022 ; Chaynesse Khirouni, présidente du département de Meurthe-et-Moselle

    © SIP/claude piscitelli

  7. Group picture

    © SIP/ Claude Piscitelli

  8. 6e réunion de la Commission Intergouvernementale franco-luxembourgeoise pour le renforcement de la coopération transfrontalière, le 19 octobre 2021

    Clément Beaune, secrétaire d'à tat auprès du ministre de l'Europe et des Affaires étrangères, chargé des Affaires européennes de la République française ; Corinne Cahen, ministre à la Grande Région ;

    © SIP/claude piscitelli

  9. 6e réunion de la Commission Intergouvernementale franco-luxembourgeoise pour le renforcement de la coopération transfrontalière, le 19 octobre 2021

    (de g. à dr.) Clément Beaune, secrétaire dâ à tat auprès du ministre de l'Europe et des Affaires étrangères, chargé des Affaires européennes de la République française ; Corinne Cahen ministre à la Grande Région

    © SIP/claude piscitelli

  10. (fr. l. to r.) Frédéric Remay, Deputy Director General of the Grand Est Regional Health Agency; Corinne Cahen, Minister of the Greater Region

    © SIP/Claude Piscitelli

  11. 6e réunion de la Commission Intergouvernementale franco-luxembourgeoise pour le renforcement de la coopération transfrontalière, le 19 octobre 2021

    Jean-Baptiste Djebbari, ministre délégué auprès de la ministre de la Transition écologique, chargé des Transports de la République française ; François Bausch, Vice-Premier ministre, ministre de la Mobilité et des Travaux publics ;

    © SIP/claude piscitelli

  12. (fr. l. to r.) Jean-Marc Huart, Rector of the Grand Est Academic Region, Rector of the Nancy-Metz Academy, Chancellor of Universities; Claude Meisch, Minister for Education, Children and Youth, Minister for Higher Education and Research.

    © SIP/Claude Piscitelli

  13. (fr. l. to r.) Patrick Risser, President of the Community of Communes of Pays Haut Val d'Alzette; Patrick Weiten, President of the Moselle Department; Georges Mischo, President of the Esch2022 Association; Chaynesse Khirouni, President of the Meurthe-et-Moselle Department.

    © SIP/Claude Piscitelli

  14. 6e réunion de la Commission Intergouvernementale franco-luxembourgeoise pour le renforcement de la coopération transfrontalière, le 19 octobre 2021

    (de g. à dr.) Jean-Baptiste Djebbari, ministre délégué auprès de la ministre de la Transition écologique, chargé des Transports de la République française ; Corinne Cahen ministre à la Grande Région ; Clément Beaune, secrétaire dâ à tat auprès du ministre de l'Europe et des Affaires étrangères, chargé des Affaires européennes de la République française

    © SIP/claude piscitelli

  15. (fr. l. to r.) Clément Beaune, Secretary of State to the Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs, with responsibility for European Affairs of the French Republic; Henri Kox, Minister for Internal Security

    © SIP/Claude Piscitelli

  16. Group picture

    © SIP/Claude Piscitelli

  17. (de g. à dr.) Henri Kox, ministre de la Sécurité intérieure; François Bausch, Vice-Premier ministre, ministre de la Mobilité et des Travaux publics; Corinne Cahen, ministre à la Grande Région; Claude Meisch, ministre de l'Éducation nationale, de l'Enfance et de la Jeunesse, ministre de l'Enseignement supérieur et de la Recherche

    © SIP/claude piscitelli

  18. 6e réunion de la Commission Intergouvernementale franco-luxembourgeoise pour le renforcement de la coopération transfrontalière, le 19 octobre 2021

    Clément Beaune, secrétaire d'à tat auprès du ministre de l'Europe et des Affaires étrangères, chargé des Affaires européennes de la République française ; Claude Meisch, ministre de lâ à ducation nationale, de lâ Enfance et de la Jeunesse, ministre de lâ Enseignement supérieur et de la Recherche

    © SIP/claude piscitelli

  19. Corinne Cahen and Clément Beaune, Secretary of State to the Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs, with responsibility for European Affairs of the French Republic

    © SIP/Claude Piscitelli

  20. Photo de groupe

    © SIP/claude piscitelli

  21. (fr. l. to r.) Jean-Baptiste Djebbari, Minister Delegate to the Minister for Ecological Change, with responsibility for Transport of the French Republic; Corinne Cahen, Minister for the Greater Region; Clément Beaune, Secretary of State to the Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs, with responsibility for European Affairs of the French Republic; François Bausch, Deputy Prime Minister, Minister for Mobility and Public Works

    © SIP/Claude Piscitelli

  22. 6e réunion de la Commission Intergouvernementale franco-luxembourgeoise pour le renforcement de la coopération transfrontalière, le 19 octobre 2021

    Clément Beaune, secrétaire d'à tat auprès du ministre de l'Europe et des Affaires étrangères, chargé des Affaires européennes de la République française ; Corinne Cahen, ministre à la Grande Région ;

    © SIP/claude piscitelli

  23. 6e réunion de la Commission Intergouvernementale franco-luxembourgeoise pour le renforcement de la coopération transfrontalière, le 19 octobre 2021

    Clément Beaune, secrétaire d'à tat auprès du ministre de l'Europe et des Affaires étrangères, chargé des Affaires européennes de la République française ; Claude Meisch, ministre de lâ à ducation nationale, de lâ Enfance et de la Jeunesse, ministre de lâ Enseignement supérieur et de la Recherche

    © SIP/claude piscitelli

  24. 6e réunion de la Commission Intergouvernementale franco-luxembourgeoise pour le renforcement de la coopération transfrontalière, le 19 octobre 2021

    Jean-Baptiste Djebbari, ministre délégué auprès de la ministre de la Transition écologique, chargé des Transports de la République française ; François Bausch, Vice-Premier ministre, ministre de la Mobilité et des Travaux publics ;

    © SIP/claude piscitelli

  25. (fr. l. to r.) Henri Kox, Minister for Internal Security; François Bausch, Deputy Prime Minister, Minister for Mobility and Public Works; Corinne Cahen, Minister for the Greater Region; Claude Meisch, Minister for Education, Children and Youth, Minister for Higher Education and Research

    © SIP/Claude Piscitelli

  26. Clément Beaune, Secretary of State to the Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs, with responsibility for European Affairs of the French Republic; Corinne Cahen, Minister for the Greater Region

    © SIP/Claude Piscitelli

  27. 6e réunion de la Commission Intergouvernementale franco-luxembourgeoise pour le renforcement de la coopération transfrontalière, le 19 octobre 2021

    (de g. à dr.) Clément Beaune, secrétaire d'à tat auprès du ministre de l'Europe et des Affaires étrangères, chargé des Affaires européennes de la République française ; Henri Kox, ministre de la Sécurité intérieure ;

    © SIP/claude piscitelli

  28. 6e réunion de la Commission Intergouvernementale franco-luxembourgeoise pour le renforcement de la coopération transfrontalière, le 19 octobre 2021

    (de g. à dr.) Tom Gantenbein, conseiller, ministère de la Culture ; Laurent Jomé, premier conseiller de gouvernement, ministère de la Santé ; Pol Henrotte, conseiller de gouvernement adjoint, Direction de la Sécurité civile, ministère de l'Intérieur ; Henri Kox, ministre de la Sécurité intérieure ; François Bausch, Vice-Premier ministre, ministre de la Mobilité et des Travaux publics ; Corinne Cahen, ministre à la Grande Région ; Claude Meisch, ministre de lâ à ducation nationale, de lâ Enfance et de la Jeunesse, ministre de lâ Enseignement supérieur et de la Recherche ; Martine Schommer, ambassadrice du Grand-Duché de Luxembourg à Paris ; Carlo Fassbinder, directeur, Direction fiscalité, ministère des finances ; Christophe Langenbrink, ministère du Travail, de lâ Emploi et de lâ à conomie sociale et solidaire ;

    © SIP/claude piscitelli

  29. 6e réunion de la Commission Intergouvernementale franco-luxembourgeoise pour le renforcement de la coopération transfrontalière, le 19 octobre 2021

    (de g. à dr.) Frédéric Remay, directeur général adjoint de lâ Agence régionale de santé Grand Est ; Corinne Cahen, ministre à la Grande Région ;

    © SIP/claude piscitelli

  30. 6e réunion de la Commission Intergouvernementale franco-luxembourgeoise pour le renforcement de la coopération transfrontalière, le 19 octobre 2021

    Patrick Risser, président de la Communauté de communes Pays Haut Val d'Alzette ; Patrick Weiten, président du département de la Moselle ; Georges Mischo, président de lâ asbl Esch2022 ; Chaynesse Khirouni, présidente du département de Meurthe-et-Moselle

    © SIP/claude piscitelli

  31. (fr. l. to .r) Jean-Baptiste Djebbari, Minister Delegate of the Minister for Ecological Transition, responsible for Transport of the French Republic; François Bausch, Deputy Prime Minister, Minister for Mobility and Public Works

    © SIP/Claude Piscitelli

  32. Photo de groupe

    © SIP/claude piscitelli

  33. (fr. l. to r.) Clément Beaune, Secretary of State to the Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs, responsible for European Affairs of the French Republic; Claude Meisch, Minister for Education, Children and Youth, Minister for Higher Education and Research

    © SIP/Claude Piscitelli

Cross-border cooperation between Luxembourg and France has continued to intensify since the signing of the Franco-Luxembourgian agreement on strengthening cross-border cooperation on 26 January 2010. The original ten-year agreement was extended for another ten years in 2020.

Against the backdrop of the interconnectedness of living spaces in the Greater Region and, in particular, the ever-increasing number of cross-border workers living in France and working in Luxembourg - more than 110,000 in the first quarter of 2021 - the two parties reaffirmed their commitment to this intergovernmental framework to ensure the proper coordination of public policies and to define joint initiatives aimed at improving the daily lives of border residents and promoting the harmonious joint development of this common space.

The Covid pandemic19 brought the two partners even closer together, both in terms of continuity of cross-border flows and cooperation in health and civil protection. A new French-Luxembourg agreement on cross-border cooperation in health was signed, as was a cooperation agreement on emergency medical assistance.

A local implementation protocol between the Grand-Ducal Fire and Rescue Service (CGDIS) and the Regional Health Authority (ARS) is to be signed before the end of the year.

During the health crisis, the two countries were able to reach agreements on taxes and social security to facilitate telework. Telework has become an integral part of the daily lives of cross-border workers and has positive effects on reducing travel and the environmental footprint. In this context, the Commission welcomes the willingness of the two governments to work towards raising the tolerance threshold for tax purposes from 29 to 34 days. They will determine the possible modalities within 6 months. The Commission also welcomes the willingness to cooperate on the tax treatment of telework at European and international level (EU, OECD).

The mobility of cross-border workers is at the centre of interest of the IGC. Both parties emphasise collective and sustainable transport as the only way to ensure sustainable solutions for the growing flow of cross-border workers. Following its financial commitment of EUR 120 million in 2018, the Luxembourg side commits to providing an additional amount of EUR 110 million for the following railway measures:

  • Construction of a maintenance centre in the metropolis of Metz and its connection to the network, with the Luxembourg contribution set at EUR 50 million;
  • The automation or partial automation of train control and the associated communication system to improve robustness and/or capacity, provided that opportunity studies confirm interest (part of the ground infrastructure). In the event that interest is confirmed, the parties agree to meet in due course to decide on the deployment and funding strategy for this technology;
  • To continue work on the railway projects financed under the 2018 Memorandum of Understanding.
  • In this way, the two parties reaffirm their commitment to the principle of equal co-funding of infrastructure projects of common interest, adopted at the Franco-Luxembourg government seminar of 20 March 2018.

In addition, many new projects are in the pipeline:

  • Commissioning of the P&R in Thionville-Metzange in spring 2021 and reorganisation of bus services, continuation of work on the P&R in Longwy and continuation of studies for the P&R at Thionville station;
  • Currently studying the possibility of partially extending the free bus service on the Luxembourg side to 5 km beyond the Luxembourg border;
  • Establishment of a working group to create a high volume cross-border bus corridor linking Esch-sur-Alzette (LU) with Audun-le-Tiche (FR), in good coordination with the multimodal mobility strategy of the cross-border metropolitan area, ensuring complementarity and interoperability of transport networks in the cross-border region;
  • Establishment of cross-border cycle paths.
  • The Luxembourg party also confirmed its willingness to continue funding the cross-border bus services operated by Luxembourg, which currently amounts to around 14 million euros per year.
  • Both sides welcomed the dynamism of their cooperation in the field of training, where numerous projects are being developed:
  • Reform of training courses preparing for the health professions in Luxembourg to meet the growing demand for health professionals;
  • Strengthening of the training offer for nurse's aides by Luxembourg;
  • Signing of an agreement to promote multilingualism, which concerns in particular the implementation of Luxembourgish language and culture courses in Lorraine by Luxembourgish teachers and the creation of an online offer to learn Lëtzebuergësch;
  • Strengthening inter-university and hospital-university cooperation in the fields of medicine and healthcare by extending the additional protocol on scientific and university cooperation signed in 2018;
  • Commitment from the Luxembourg side to finance the costs of clinical training of medical students from the 3rd year of the Bachelor of Medicine at the University of Luxembourg and the wish that the exchange will continue for the other years of training concerned;
  • Development of a centre of excellence in Longwy for training in digital and new technologies, with the aim of networking and developing complementary training offers.

Both parties are pleased to sign the framework partnership agreement for Esch 2022, the European Capital of Culture, involving the Luxembourg municipalities Pro-Sud and the Communauté de Communes du Pays Haut-Val d'Alzette (CCPHVA). This is a good example of the joint development of culture, tourism and economy.

The Commission recognises the importance of the theme and history of the Cultural Route of the Fortified Towns of the Greater Region and supports the efforts currently being made to obtain certification of the Cultural Route by the Council of Europe.

The two parties also stressed the quality of their cooperation in the field of internal security, which is constantly being developed with the aim of protecting citizens. This willingness has led to the signing of several texts, including an agreement on cross-border radio communications with Belgium and the Memorandum of Understanding between the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg and the French Republic on the setting up of a working group on police and customs cooperation under the auspices of the IGC. The Parties continue their regular exchanges on energy and security issues.

Aware of the importance of cross-border issues, the two Parties have undertaken to closely and regularly monitor the implementation of the conclusions adopted by this 6th Commission and to convene the next Commission in France in 2022.

Press release by the Ministry of Family Affairs, Integration and the Greater Region

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Event date

19.10.2021