Roissy Meaux Aéropôle: betting on the future

That year, four Seine-et-Marnaises intercommunalities (Pays de Meaux, Roissy Pays de France, Plaines et Monts de France and Pays de l'Ourcq) decide to join forces to accelerate the economic development and ecological transition of their territory, relying on the airport platform of Paris-Charles-de-Gaulle. Six years later, this common commitment was consolidated with the support of the departments of Seine-et-Marne and Val-d'Oise. A look back at a unique politico-economic project looking towards the future.

Roissy Meaux Aéropôle represents four intercommunalities, 110 municipalities in Seine-et-Marne and Val-d'Oise and more than 500,000 inhabitants. The territory in which this public interest group is located is also distinguished by the presence of numerous sectors with, in particular, 13,320 private jobs in industry, 20,780 in aeronautics, air transport and airports or even 3,400 jobs in the agricultural and agri-food sectors. This GIP has the main objective of converging public policies in terms of mobility, employment and sustainable development.

2018, the launch

It is under the impetus of Jean-François Copémayor (LR) of Meaux and president of the Pays de Meaux agglomeration community, a public interest group bringing together the intermunicipalities of the North-East Seine-et-Marne was born in 2018. This decision was based on a simple observation: this territory did not appear in the plans of the Grand Paris project, it was necessary to unite to continue to exist with the State. A political will quickly approved by the Prefecture of Seine-et-Marne.

“It is a collective, ambitious, but above all unique adventure. We can be extremely proud of the progress we have made since 2018. By bringing together our four territories, two departments and more than fifteen public and private partners, Roissy Meaux Aéropôle is on the way to establishing itself as a key player in the “Is Ile-de-France,” enthuses Jean-François Copé, who chairs this GIP. His colleague Pascal Doll, mayor (LR) of Arnouville (Val-d'Oise) and president of the Roissy Pays de France agglomeration community, says nothing else. “I deeply believe in collective intelligence. Sharing our experiences, our skills and our know-how allows us to move forward faster and better.”

2021, the pivotal year

In January 2021, while the health crisis had a hard impact on the airline sector, elected officials from Northern Seine-et-Marne still chose to partner with Groupe ADP (formerly Aéroports de Paris). What drives them is to match the needs of the airport platform and businesses with those of the region in terms of employment and training.

Nine months later, in September, a new step was taken: the GIP Inter Scot was renamed Roissy Meaux Aeropole. With this change of name, elected officials and Groupe ADP wanted to create a new dynamic. The following year, in 2022, during the 4^e edition of the airshow “Meaux Airshow“, a new agreement will be signed between RMA and its various partners (Groupe ADP, Dassault Aviation, Île-de-France Region, Ministry of National Education, Gustave Eiffel University, Air France, Caisse des Dépôts, etc.) with a view to expand their areas of action, for the benefit of the aeronautical, airport and air sectors.

Areas of development

RMA, however, initiates actions in areas other than air travel. First there is mobility, in collaboration with the Department of Seine-et-Marne and Île-de-France Mobilités (IDFM). The aim is to improve the living and working conditions of residents and employees, by developing the already existing public transport offering in a logic of proximity between employment and housing. Hence joint work concerning, for example, the construction site of eastern Ile-de-France road barwhich will connect Roissy airport and Meaux in less than 30 minutes from 2028.

Still in terms of serving its territory, RMA is also mobilized with the Île-de-France region and the State on other projects (opening of line 17, construction of a Meaux-Roissy bus line and electrification of the Trilport-La Ferté Milon axis) within the framework of the State-Region plan contract ( CPER) 2021-2027. There is also the development of a land strategy linked to the needs of the airport platform via an agreement signed with the Paris Region Institute (IPR) in 2022, as well as a desire for economic diversification, in order to determine the sectors to be deploy on the territory. Finally, training is favored with learning aeronautics professions at the Baudelaire and Coubertin high schools in Meaux. In this latter school, an avionics hall was inaugurated last September.

An active network

Launched in October 2023 in Meaux, with the arrival of Bruno Le Maire (then Minister of the Economy and Finance), the first edition of the “Roissy Meaux Aéropôle Meetings” was a real success. This communication operation was therefore renewed on October 15, with new conferences devoted to hydrogen and the energies of tomorrow, a major issue for the elected officials of Roissy Meaux Aéropôle (read box). This time, it is the former Prime Minister and current mayor (Horizons) of Le Havre, Édouard Philippewho was the guest of honor. The presidents of Airbus, Safran, EDF, Engie, Air France and civil aviation were also present. In total, this meeting, now annual, brought together 1,200 people according to its organizers.

A great sounding board for the GIP and its territories. “This is a fantastic opportunity to consolidate our network with key players in new energies and mobility. With our partners, we are fully mobilized to move the lines with a view to creating a real hub of initiatives and projects that meets social, economic and environmental imperatives,” specifies Jean-François Copé. Also present, in June, at the traditional Paris-Le Bourget international aeronautics and space show, the elected representatives of Roissy Meaux Aéropôle continue their flight.