Lille European Metropolis
Portrait of a metropolis: territory, skills and challenges
The Lille European Metropolis is France's 4th largest metropolis, at the crossroads of North-Western Europe (Brussels, London, Amsterdam). Serving the 95 communes that make it up, it acts on a daily basis for 1.2 million inhabitants in a territory that is both rural and urban.
With its 84-kilometer border with Belgium, the MEL is a cross-border conurbation of 2.1 million inhabitants, located at a strategic European crossroads from which it is working to increase its influence and appeal.
The MEL exercises its competences in areas essential to the service of users, such as :
- Territorial and social development: economy and employment, agriculture and food, digital development, citizenship, youth.
- Regional planning: development, transport, housing, urban planning, urban policy, soft modes of transport.
- Sustainable development: waste, energy, nature/environment, air quality, energy transition, carbon offsetting.
- Promotion of the region: sport, culture, tourism, Europe and international, MEL archives.
- Living environment: water and wastewater treatment, natural areas, heritage maintenance, public spaces and roads, shared spaces.
Through its major achievements, the metropolitan area has a national and international reputation. The European Metropolis of Lille implements major development projects, facilities within the scope of its competencies, mobility, accompanies the territory's digital transition and new challenges to meet the challenges of tomorrow.
🡪 www.lillemetropole.fr
MEL: home to major events
The Métropole has a long tradition of supporting top-level sport and encouraging sport for all. A land of major events, MEL has already hosted a number of GESI (Grands Événements Sportifs Internationaux), including the Euro Football Championship in 2016, the Davis Cup in 2018, a stage of the Tour de France in 2022, the Rugby World Cup in 2023, the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, and this year's Grand Départ of the Tour de France.
A land of major events, MEL boasts a unique facility in terms of its modularity, the 55,000-seat Stade Décathlon Aréna Pierre Mauroy, which over the past 10 years has enabled it to consolidate its ambition to attract numerous GESI.
🡪 https://www.stade-pierre-mauroy.com
Chairman of Métropole Européenne de Lille
The Tour de France, which we have had the pleasure of hosting on many occasions, is no exception. That's why, after an unforgettable stage in 2022, we wanted to dream even bigger with the Grand Départ in 2025. The warmth of our welcome is well known to all.
The party will be beautiful and popular.
Hosting major events has become a hallmark of the Lille European Metropolis. The Tour de France, which we've had the pleasure of welcoming on many occasions, is no exception. That's why, after an unforgettable stage in 2022, we wanted to dream even bigger with the Grand Départ in 2025. We're renowned for the depth and warmth of our hospitality.
The Tour will be the focus for a great popular celebration.
Vice President
With President Castelain, we didn't want to leave it at that, so we joined forces with the Hauts-de-France Region, the Nord Department, the city of Lille and all the stage towns concerned to host the Grand Départ of the Tour Lille Nord de France 2025.
MEL is proud to welcome back the world's greatest cycling race. Our metropolis has a rich history with the Grande Boucle, with 20 stage starts or finishes and four Grand Departures (Lille in 1960, 1994 and 2025, Roubaix in 1969) hosted on our territory.
Hosting the Grand Départ means affirming our love of cycling and giving meaning to our soft mobility policy. It's a chance to showcase the MEL to the world. It means confirming that we are one of the leading French metropolises capable of hosting the biggest international sporting events (Eurobasket 2015, Davis Cup, Rugby World Cup 2023, Paris Olympic and Paralympic Games 2024...).
We have a proven track record in organizing major events. Every time, it's a success and a celebration. A Grand Départ means major economic spin-offs for our region, as well as a magnificent free show for the people of Metropolitan France!