The 9th edition of the MOT Guides highlights the issues facing and expectations of stakeholders with regard to the topic of the observation of cross-border territories. Three levels of issues are highlighted:

- At local level the purpose of cooperation is to develop services for the benefit of the cross-border populations; observation is a prerequisite, as for any type of territory, for political action in order to provide a common understanding of the issues.

- The observation of cross-border regions is a major aspect of spatial planning at national level and its development requires coordinated work at this level.

- The cross-border territories are at the heart of European community policies: the EU 2020 strategy, the single market, territorial cohesion.

The brochure also addresses the following issues: What is cross-border statistical observation? The development of observation procedures on French borders, and the example of an experimental approach at national level and the political aspects of observation. Four experiences on the ground are described concerning the Lille metropolitan area, the France-Vaud-Geneva space, the Upper Rhine and the Öresund region.