Two proposed cross-border development programs
The Nice Côte d’Azur Metropolis and the Province of Imperia have expressed their willingness to jointly pursue European cooperation projects. A meeting was held on Friday, May 19th in Nice between Christian Estrosi, Mayor of Nice, President of Nice Côte d’Azur Metropolis, Deputy President of the Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur region, and Claudio Scajola, Mayor of Imperia and President of the Province of Imperia.
During this meeting, a coastal cross-border development program and another program focused on the mountain region were proposed.
The coastal program: Improved mobility for 40,000 cross-border workers
The coastal program aims to improve the mobility of the 40,000 cross-border workers between the Liguria region and Nice Côte d’Azur Metropolis. The plan includes strengthening railway connections, with a direct train line between the future “Nice Aéroport” TGV station and Genoa, as well as the development of new mobility options to alleviate car traffic, such as a cross-border maritime shuttle between Nice, Monaco, and Ventimiglia.
Additionally, the extension of the Tyrrhenian cycle path, which currently connects Imperia to Ospedaletti, to Cagnes-sur-Mer, is being considered to promote daily mobility and sustainable tourism development between the two regions.
The mountain program: Priority on risk prevention, sustainable tourism, and biodiversity.
As for the mountain cooperation strategy, it would focus on risk prevention and management, sustainable tourism development, and the protection of biodiversity, with a common thread being the prevention of climate change disruption.
This program plans to support economic actors in order to help them anticipate and be better prepared for future crises. It also promotes sustainable tourism as an essential pillar of the mountain economy, particularly through the launch of the “Salt Routes.” The program plans to include actions to raise awareness among urban youth about the protection of wildlife and flora.
The Quirinal Treaty: Towards structured dialogue and resolution of local issues
Lastly, this meeting provided an opportunity to revive the issue of the transborder consultation committee between France and Italy following the signing of the Quirinal Treaty on November 26th by the Italian Prime Minister, Mario Draghi, and the President of the French Republic, Emmanuel Macron.
This committee aims to bring together, for the first time, representatives from both states and local authorities for structured dialogue and the resolution of local issues by local actors. Nice is a candidate to host the headquarters of this committee with the support of the Province of Imperia.
The Nice Côte d’Azur Metropolis and the Province of Imperia: already a successful cross-border cooperation
Christian Estrosi, Mayor of Nice, President of Nice Côte d’Azur Metropolis, and Deputy President of the Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur region.
“Since 2008, I have been working to develop harmonious cross-border cooperation that has a tangible impact. Since 2016, we have implemented 26 projects through the European funding programs INTERREG ALCOTRA and MARITTIMO in various areas such as sustainable tourism, gender equality, and rural economic development. Furthermore, in 2019, together with the Metropolis, we adopted the 2020-2030 Cross-Border Cooperation Framework, which was warmly welcomed by our Italian and Principality of Monaco partners. To further advance our collaboration, I have invited Claudio Scajola to the United Nations Ocean Summit in June 2025 in Nice, where we can work together towards greater cooperation. We share common identity markers: historically, gastronomically, and in terms of territorial and cultural specificities… Nice is Imperia, and Imperia is Nice; cross-border cooperation is who we are. Over the years, the Nice Côte d’Azur Metropolis has become a driving force in strategic cross-border development. In fact, it is the first and only Metropolis in France to participate in a monitoring committee of an INTERREG program, the ALCOTRA program, which recognizes our added value!”
Claudio Scajola, Mayor of Imperia and President of the Province of Imperia, believes that it is essential to strengthen the ties between the Province of Imperia and the City of Nice in order to build projects and implement joint actions for the development of their territories.
