Security governance in the largest border‐metropolis of the schengen area: The Lille ‘eurodistrict’ case study

Abstract

This paper describes and explains where the Schengen area stands in terms of controlling and securing the border‐metropolis of Lille, from its inception in 1993 with the Single Market and its well‐known consequences on the internal European border security. It will present the traditional security actors and systems, i.e. polices, border and custom patrollers, and the action of the new Common Cooperation Centre of Polices and Customs based in Tournai (BE). Secondly, the action of some new public and private operators and systems, i.e. the “Eurodistrict” organization, the bi‐national security commission, and internal cross‐border public transport securitization, are introduced. We focus on stakeholders’ participation in the implementation of cross‐border security governance. This analysis leads to conclusions on the necessary reorganization of the security regime and its consequences on traditional political and administrative frames.