Interpol threatened to pack up and leave due to insufficient space in its Lyon offices. Established in 1985 on the edge of the Tête d'Or park, the organization had to relocate some of its teams to the Cité Internationale, far away from the confidentiality of its headquarters. As early as 2017, with rising staff numbers and financial pressures, the idea of moving to the Middle East or Singapore became a real threat.
A tense negotiation between Paris and Lyon
The discussions saw a clash between the green-leaning city hall and the Ministry of the Interior for several years. In 2021, Gérald Darmanin called for financial involvement from local authorities, which Mayor Grégory Doucet refused without clear guarantees. To add to the tension, there was controversy surrounding the election of Ahmed Naser Al-Raisi, the controversial president of Interpol, which further complicated the situation.
The compromise reached in 2023
A four-party agreement has finally sealed the fate of the headquarters. The State commits to financing 61.2 million euros, the Region and the Metropolis contribute 9 million each, while the City of Lyon brings to the table its land contribution: a plot of 6,557 m² estimated at 15.8 million euros, transferred to the State for a symbolic euro. In return, Interpol benefits from a long-term lease until 2084, with the right to build.
A major urban project for 2029
The extension work is expected to start after the building permit is submitted, planned for 2026. The delivery is anticipated by 2029, strictly following the Urban, Architectural, Landscape, and Environmental Quality Charter of the City. The challenge is twofold: to provide Interpol with office space.x lives up to its ambitions and asserts Lyon's place as the world's capital of police cooperation.
Source : Le Figaro