A public institution for inter-communal co-operation, created under the law of 31st December 1966, Lille Urban Community has existed since 1st January 1968. 
Lille Métropole unites 87 communes (620 km²) for a population of nearly 1.2 million inhabitants. 
The Council, presided by Pierre MAUROY, consists of 155 members. 
All the communes within the metropolis are represented.

As defined by law, these concern:

* The planning and operation of urban development

* Public services: 
- Water, drains, household waste
- Urban passenger transport
- Emergency services and fire service (until end 2000)

* Public installations:
- Public works department, signposting and marking
- Parking facilities
- Crematorium, market classified of national interest 

Moreover, the Lille metropolis provided the specific competencies to create and manage:
- The Lille Métropole Museum in Villeneuve d'Ascq, modern and contemporary art and primitive art
- The Lille Métropole stadium.

The budget attains nearly 8 billion French francs. 

For 1999, it is made up as follows: 
Main budget           4,684,346,210.00 FRF
Operating                2,583,672,058.00 FRF
Investment              2,100,674,152.00 FRF

Secondary budget   3,011,621,148.00 FRF
Operating                1,184,333,219.00 FRF 
Investment              1,827,287,929.00 FRF 

Total                        7,698,967,358.00 F

Thanks to its traditional methods of intervention and the new areas of competence it wishes to obtain, the intention of Lille is to construct a balanced metropolis at the beginning of the third millennium, in a logic of solidarity and sustainable development and its three primary principles: economic development, solidarity, and respect for living conditions via the economic management of its resources. 

Within this general frameworks, community projects are mainly focused on:
- Balancing and stimulating the economic fabric,
- Balancing and reclaiming land: the renewed city,
- Balancing and improving the living conditions for its inhabitants,
- Balancing and providing support for actions that contribute towards the promotion of Lille. 

As of 1987, following a debate on 26th March, the Community's Council decided to join the R.A.F.H.A.E.L. network as a founder member. 

Lille Métropole - which also unites several other towns present within the network in their own right (Lille, Roubaix, Tourcoing, and Villeneuve d'Ascq) takes part in the network's activities, and particularly in the area of economic promotion and the development of tourism and culture.

Lille Métropole communauté urbaine
1, rue du Ballon
59043 Lille cedex
France
Tél. : +33 (0)3 20 21 22 23
Fax : +33 (0)3 20 21 22 99

www.cudl-lille.fr