The ‘Alsace European Authority’: a new step in the ‘territorial differentiation’ in France

    Par
    Jean Cavailhès
    -
    (), Volume 29 (2), pp. 312-328

     Présentation (FED) : Les auteurs étudient la mise en place d’une nouvelle région Grand Est rapprochant les deux départements Bas-Rhin et Haut-Rhin. Ce processus a provoqué de fortes tensions politiques avec le Conseil régional du Grand Est et la gouvernance territoriale est devenue plus complexe. Un accord a permis de créer la « Collectivité européenne d'Alsace », nouvel organisme alsacien au sein de la région Grand Est. Sa création traduit une évolution vers une plus grande « différenciation territoriale », principe qui remet en cause l'uniformité de l'organisation institutionnelle d'un État unitaire comme la France, pour mieux s'adapter aux spécificités de chaque territoire. Cette étude de cas ne confirme que partiellement les approches théoriques existantes.

    Abstract (authors) : Alsace is a former regional authority which has been amalgamated into a new Grand Est (Greater East) region. After attempts to prevent the dissolution of their region, many elected representatives in Alsace implemented a rapprochement of the two Departments incorporating the former region, Bas-Rhin and Haut-Rhin, in order to continue to pursue a territorial policy throughout Alsace. This process caused high political tensions with the Grand Est Regional Council, where the Departments wished to retain some involvement despite the legal obligation to waive this jurisdiction. Territorial governance became more complex. An agreement was nevertheless reached at the end of 2018 to create the ‘Collectivité européenne d’Alsace’ (Alsace European Authority), a new Alsatian body within the Grand Est region following the merger of the two departments, entrusted with specific jurisdictions due to the importance of cross-border issues. This new type of body sets a precedent in mainland France (except Corsica). Its creation reflects, to a certain extent, an evolution towards greater ‘territorial differentiation’, a principle which calls into question the institutional organization uniformity of a unitary State such as France, to better adapt to specificities of each territory. This case study confirms only partly existing theoretical approaches.

    Lien : https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/09654313.2020.1751086