Seven years ago, Luxembourg and France signed an agreement to formalise their co-development efforts, with an assigned budget of 220 million euros equally funded by both countries.
The budget was later increased to 440 million euros, with the sole aim of financing mobility infrastructure in France, particularly in terms of rail travel and park + ride facilities.
Now, Meurthe-et-Moselle senator, the Socialists’ Olivier Jacquin, is campaigning to rethink the co-development agreement, as France is struggling to cooperate. “We see that where there is such a difference in wealth between the two countries, any projects on the French side are struggling to secure funding from local authorities”, he says. Although some projects have seen the light of day in Thionville, Longwy and along the rail network, the planned financial targets have not been reached.
As Luxembourg is considered the “main beneficiary” of the French-Luxembourgish relationship, Jacquin argues the two countries should not be considered on par with each other. “Luxembourg is much wealthier than France,” he says, or at least, the Grand Duchy has more financial leeway than its neighbour, which is stuck in a budget with little room for manoeuvre.
The senator proposes continuing the co-development on the condition that Luxembourg makes more effort than France, suggesting that the Grand Duchy shares 80% of the budget, while France funds 20%.
He adds that the challenge is to extend the budget to projects outside the transport sector, such as childcare centres – an idea proposed for several years by Thionville mayor, Pierre Cuny, as simply increasing transport routes will create labour shortages, he says. The senator hopes that other projects required on a daily basis will be integrated into the joint effort.
“We can adapt it according to the project,” argues Jacquin. “For example, we can provide 80/20 funding for a park + ride facility, but reduce the cost for a nursery, especially if it is located further from the border and therefore does not only benefit families of cross-border workers.”
The senator also hopes that Luxembourg will soften its position on projects to be financed, such as the A31 motorway link, which the Grand Duchy does not want to pay for, as it retains the right of oversight on the use of its money.
On 17 July, a French-Luxembourgish co-development consultative committee chaired by the prefectures of Meurthe-et-Moselle and Moselle voted in a small group on a motion to exceed the established co-development.
The vote, though largely symbolic, has the meeting on 17 September in its sights, in which the French side will seek to negotiate on a number of hot issues with Luxembourg, including the revaluation of the unemployment contribution, which is advantageous for the Grand Duchy. The French also hope to introduce a 40% working from home scheme for cross-border workers.
The Grand Duchy still needs to be convinced on these issues, in particular foreign minister Xavier Bettel, the architect of the agreement signed in 2018. “As a parliamentarian, it’s not up to me to convince Luxembourg. I’m counting on Benjamin Haddad, Minister Delegate to the Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs,” says the senator.
On the French side, Jacquin believes there is “a convergence” for this improved co-development, but it is necessary to wait until September and the meeting between the two governments to know if the idea has gained support in the Grand Duchy.
