“The European community of Alsace was born, this desire for Alsace is materializing today in a formal way”, had previously welcomed Yves Le Tallec, 79 years, which opened in Colmar this “historic” inaugural session in his capacity as senior citizen. “I know you will meet the expectations that the rebirth of Alsace also arouses among our German and Swiss neighbors”, he underlined to the address of the new “Alsace advisers”, concluding in Alsatian: “Now let’s go! Alsace is back ”.
Strong demand from Alsatians
The CEA responds to a strong demand from the Alsatians, many of whom considered their identity diluted in the vast Grand-Est region which has since extended 2015 to the distant Champagne-Ardenne. However, it remains in its fold. This community now brings together nearly 1.9 million Alsatians as well as 310 municipalities in the departments of Bas-Rhin and Haut-Rhin which remain with their two prefectures, Strasbourg and Colmar.
It inherits the skills conventionally devolved to departmental councils: management of colleges, social assistance and senior citizens, fire and rescue services … But it is also endowed with new skills in cross-border cooperation with neighboring Germany and Switzerland, in areas such as cross-border links or health. It will also have free rein in terms of French / German bilingualism, being able to recruit teachers, but also tourism or on departmental and national roads as well as non-licensed highways.