LORRAINE. Location and geography

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1 LORRAINE Location and geography The Lorraine region, located in the North-East of France, is the only French region sharing borders with 3 countries: Belgium, Germany and Luxembourg. Consequently, Lorraine and her border partners have developed a strong cooperation in a structured area called the Great Region ( km 2, 11;2 million inhabitants, more than people working in another region). Lorraine is also situated at the heart of the Wealthiest European Area: within a 600-km / 375-mile radius, Lorraine is in the centre of a 200-million-consumer market with concentrates 50 % of the European GDP. Its km 2 surface area, i.e. 4.3% of national territory, gathers 4 departments (=counties): Meurthe-et-Moselle (54), Meuse (55), Moselle (57) and Vosges (88). To the west, Lorraine corresponds, in geological terms, to an extension of the Paris Basin. It is here that Lorraine s main north-south lines of communication came into being the valleys gouged out by the rivers Meuse and Moselle.

2 The eastern part of Lorraine consists of the Vosges uplands. The changeover from plain to mountain is gradual, with regular increases in altitude right up to the topmost ridge. Sandstone replaces marl and limestone here and the conical hills are carpeted with forest. Since there were no natural barriers to the extension of woodland, Lorraine became a leading area for forestry. Woodlands now cover 36% of its area, compared to a national average of 21%. Indeed, Lorraine is France s second largest timber producer after Aquitaine. Population There are 2,3 million inhabitants in Lorraine (about 4 % of French population) with a population density of 99.2 inhabitants per km 2 (France 112,9). Almost 25 % of the Lorraine inhabitants are less than 20 but on the other side the population keeps aging due an increasing life expectancy and a drop in births. This trend, corresponding to the national and European ones, as well as demographic imbalances (between the central area and the rest of the territory) and a weak net migratory rate generate problems which are at the heart of the CREATOR programme. Lorraine counts towns and the 2 most populated suburbs are Nancy ( inhabitants) and Metz ( inhabitants). Lorraine infrastructures The means of communication and transports in Lorraine form all together a dense and efficient network of: Roads: the region is a European crossroad for the large, north-south and east-west road networks, which allows connections to all the other European countries (1 870 km of motorways and A- roads). Railways: since 2007, with the high-speed train (TGV), Metz and Nancy are less than 90 mns from Paris. Lorraine represents one quarter of the SNCF freight and has the largest wagon marshalling yard in France at Woippy, connected to the main French and European marshalling yards. Air transports: Lorraine has a regional airport (Metz-Nancy-Lorraine) located midway between Nancy and Metz and is close to many international important airports such as Luxembourg, Frankfurt, Basle and even Paris with the TGV (direct connection in 1 hour and 10 mns). Waterways: there are 689 km of navigable waterways and 36 river ports spread across Lorraine. The Moselle channel connects Lorraine to the larger European navigation networks (Rhine, North Sea, Danube), opening the passageway for motorized barges of 3,000 tons or more without a change of carrier. Economy As far as wealth creation is concerned, Lorraine has GDP of 57,5 billion euros in 2008, i.e euros per inhabitant, ranking 11 th French region.

3 The working population in Lorraine accounts for people, employed in the following sectors: services (60 %), industry (20 %), trade (13 %), construction (6 %), agriculture (1 %). Economy in Lorraine is based on a strong industrial tradition. Former coal and steel region, Lorraine had to cope with the decline in its traditional industrial activities in the 1980 s. Attempts at redevelopment and redeployment were undertaken with pragmatic determination, and Lorraine succeeded to put itself back to its feet. Although some prestigious activities still contribute to a world famous image of Lorraine, the region has opened itself to other fields of activity such as automotive, electronics or plastics industries. Today Lorraine has shifted to one of the most diversified economies in France. Lorraine also has strongly focused on the service, in particular regarding logistics (taking advantage of its geographical position) and customer relation management. Export Lorraine has become a most privileged and attractive region for foreign investments, due mainly to its unique strategic location and skilled workforce. The international trade of Lorraine is characterized by a positive balance. In 2009, the exports represented 14,9 billions of euros and the imports amounted to 11,6 billions, which classify Lorraine to the 8 th rank of French exporting regions. Skilled workforce and new technologies With its students (5 % are foreign students), Lorraine has many higher education places among which 4 Universities, 8 University Institutes of Technology (8th national ranking), 16 engineering schools (2nd national ranking), 120 Laboratories, nearly 4000 scientists... Major research projects are famous worldwide, namely in the following sectors : process, materials, computer sciences, public health care and micro-surgery, information, communication, linguistics, water science and technologies, timber, industrial systems management, agri-food, molecular chemistry, safety... Hence, a favourable environment encouraging large industrial groups to set up their research centres. Lorraine also has famous technology centres facilitating transfer technologies between regional companies and research centres. Eleven Innovation and Technology Transfer Centres (CRITT) offer their technical means and know-how to companies in various fields. Lorraine s traditional industries can also generate innovation, as showed by the so-called pôles de compétitivité (centres of competitive excellence), kind of super clusters gathering public and private research, technological and economical intermediaries, regional institutions, universities and companies. They allow the formation of innovation projects thanks to the networking of all of these actors.

4 Two centres of competitive excellence were labeled in Lorraine in 2005 by the inter-ministerial Committee of development of the territory (CIADT): - the Innovative Materials and Process (Materalia) centre which associates the regions of Lorraine and Champagne-Ardenne. - the Greater-East Fibres centre (fibres sector, fibrous materials, eco-materials) which associates the regions of Lorraine and Alsace. Supported by the State, local and regional authorities, the centres contribute to the creation of wealth and job development in the territory. Quality of life, culture and tourism Lorraine's medium sized towns of 50,000 to 400,000 residents provide a pleasant lifestyle without the hassles of big cities. Lorraine offers a wide range of cultural and tourist activities, thanks to its diversified landscapes, rich natural and water resources and its location in the heart of Europe. Thus, many activities are available to occupy nature lovers and those fond of the outdoors. Lakes and rivers abound (welldeveloped fluvial tourism and spas, as Contrexéville and Vittel are two well-known mineral water sources), and one third of the region is forest. Lorraine has nature trails for hiking and walking, as well as excellent skiing in the Vosges mountains. With 3000 years of History, Lorraine has a rich heritage, and is very attractive with its numerous monuments, museums, military sites and art industries, such as string instruments, crystal and embroidery. It also has a long-standing and deep-rooted cultural tradition, developed by vectors like music, theatre or dance. Without forgetting gastronomy (Lorraine is France's leading producer of mirabelle plums and the region of the famous «quiche lorraine», which is one of the French s favourite specialities). Around 6 millions people visit Lorraine each year, among which the majority are French. Almost 50% of foreign tourists visiting Lorraine come from its border countries (i.e. Germany, Belgium, Luxembourg). As far as tourism is concerned, Lorraine expects a lot from the Centre Pompidou-Metz which is the Paris Centre Pompidou s first decentralized cultural centre. The Centre Pompidou-Metz shares the vocation of the original Centre Pompidou which is to be a major centre for exhibitions and artistic initiative, and a reflection of contemporary creation. Regional Political Structure In France, there are three basic administrative units: the commune (created in the 12th century), the department (administrative unit created at the time of the French Revolution) and the region. The decentralization process in France resulted in the shifting of a degree of administrative power from Paris to regional local bodies, especially in the 1970s and 1980s, and led to the creation of the 26 administrative regions in 1982 which are overseen by regional councils. Under the authority of its President, assisted by vice-presidents (15 in Lorraine), the Assembly of the Regional Council (73 members in Lorraine) is elected for 6 years to lays down and implements

5 the regional policy: makes decisions, votes on the regional budget and strategy, etc. The Commission Permanente (Standing Committee, 57 members) is elected by the Regional Councillors and meets once a month to implement the regional policy on behalf of the Assembly. The Standing Committee is assisted by the Economic and Social Committee, which is a consultative assembly made up of representatives of businesses, the professions, trade unions and other employees' organisations, regional voluntary organisations, etc. Each administrative unit is dealing with its own scope of competence and with the passing years, the decentralization process has reinforced the region s responsabilities. Today, the Lorraine Region is fully able to intervene in the areas of: Economic development (SME, business and craft industry) Agriculture Innovation and technology transfer Higher education and research Secondary education Apprenticeship Continuing education Professional integration Transportation infrastructures Territorial planning Sustainable development Culture Sport Tourism Why Lorraine has chosen to participate in CREATOR As it was already said before, demographic challenges have a huge importance for Lorraine (ageing population, demographic imbalances, weak net migratory rate). Lorraine is one of the first five regions for which the ageing will be the most marked in France. The region is going to accuse in the future years an acceleration of the ageing and especially the strong decrease on behalf of the young people. As regional authority, the Regional Council of Lorraine is acting in numerous legal competences among which many have direct links with demographic issues (economic development, education and training, professional integration, land planning). The President of the regional council is in charge of the public action and needs to anticipate the future evolution of the populations in order to make essential decisions in the field of equipments of health, services addressed to the old persons. Participating in Creator, the Lorraine Region wishes to improve regional policies in relation with demographic challenges and learn more from new models and strategies thanks to best-practises developed by partner regions or EU experiences. Moreover, Lorraine also is in capacity of sharing interesting experiences such as tools dedicated to demographic challenges target groups like a financial tool encouraging the development of new services and creation of SME, or the use of ICT in new services to people.