Opening the Nice Côte d’Azur Metropolis to the European Union to benefit from its subsidies. This is the objective of Christian Estrosi’s policy as he launches the “Thursdays of Europe” on March 1st. To achieve this, the Azurean territory relies on lobbying in Brussels and partnership with its Mediterranean neighbors.
“We are the second-to-last region in France in terms of using European funds,” states Gaston Franco, European deputy (UMP) and president of the European and Euro-Mediterranean Affairs Commission, during the first “Thursdays of Europe” at the Mediterranean University Center in Nice.
Benefiting from ERDF credits
European structural funds are exactly what the Azurean agglomeration needs to develop its major projects and attract large companies to establish themselves in the region. “The resources of the Metropolis come from corporate taxation,” explains Christian Estrosi, “we must increase the attractiveness of the area to attract companies and investments.” All this in the framework of smart, sustainable, and inclusive growth as required by the orientations of European authorities. With the 2007-2013 programming of European structural funds coming to an end soon, the metropolis intends to be listed among the upcoming intermediary bodies for the 2014-2020 period to benefit from ERDF credits.
Creating cross-border partnerships
To achieve this, Nice Côte d’Azur is opening up to its European neighbors through cross-border cooperation. Its main partner remains Genoa. Christian Estrosi announces his goal of creating a large coastal metropolitan area between Nice and Liguria, structured around the railway network. This also includes the creation of a free parking vignette for decarbonized or hybrid vehicles, free transportation between Nice and Genoa for network subscribers, and a project for an international transit eco-tax on the A8 for heavy trucks. Another partner is the region of Cuneo, with which the metropolis has launched two major projects on drinking water management. Christian Estrosi will also meet with its president, Gianna Gancia, on March 23rd. In parallel, the metropolis intends to strengthen its cooperation with the cities of Turin, Milan, and Rome.
Integrating major influencer networks
The other major axis of this openness policy is involvement in major European networks, notably Euromed (chaired by Christian Estrosi) and Eurocities. The latter brings together 140 of Europe’s largest cities and is today the most influential interlocutor with the European Commission in guiding the Union’s policy. It is within this network that the metropolis intends to invest through progressive responsibility, “by doing the necessary lobbying,” explains Gaston Franco. Nice will host, from October 3 to 5, one of the annual Eurocities forums on the theme of energy efficiency.
This first “Thursday of Europe” was also an opportunity to sign a letter addressed to the Prime Minister, François Fillon, where Christian Estrosi “intends to make this ambition known to the highest European and national authorities.”
