news REGION MAGAZINE OF THE INSTITUTE OF THE REGIONS OF EUROPE • 50 / NOVEMBER 2018

Descendants of the founding fathers of the EU at the 14th Conference of What will become of Europe?

European Regions and Cities in

3 Asfa-Wossen 16 Traditional 18 Austrian State Secretary Asserate: reception in Brussels: Edtstadler in Kosovo: Is Europe‘s Future “Vojvodina, Great for Full support in the fight against Deciding in Africa? Business, Great for Life“ corruption FOCUS FOCUS 14th Conference of European Regions and Cities 14th Conference of European Regions and Cities

Asfa-Wossen Asserate Prince Asfa-Wossen Asserate is a business consultant for Africa and the Middle East, best-selling author and political analyst Panel „What will become of Europe?“ Broadcasted live on ORF III

f.l. Ivan Vejvoda, Institute of Human Sciences, Belgrade, Andrä Rupprechter, Former Minister, Principal Adviser to the General Secretariat of the Council, Vienna Karl-Heinz Lambertz, President of the European Committee of the Regions, Brussels, Prinz Asfa-Wossen Asserate, Political Analyst, Ethiopian-German Business Consultant The African migration can only be contained Manfred Perterer, Editor-In-Chief, Salzburger Nachrichten Enver Hoxhaj, Deputy Prime Minister, Pristina, Kosovo by improving the living conditions of Nini Tsikauri, Co-founder of “Pulse of Europe “, Artist, Musician, Singer and Author with Georgian roots, Vienna Genc Pollo, Former Minister, Chairman of the Committee for European Policy of the Parliament of the Republic of Africans on the ground! Panel „What became of the Europe of its founding fathers?“ If Africa is to have a future, Europe must say goodbye to its di- It is undisputed that Europe and the United States have done Descendants and confidants of the founding fathers of the described their personal memories and sastrous economic and trade policy. Europe must stop subsidi- much in the last 50 years to help Africa. But the biggest gift that discussed whether the European Union has developed in the spirit of the founding fathers. zing its agribusiness at the expense of developing countries. Im- Europe Africa can make in the future would be to finally end ports of dumping products that drain water from local farmers its appeasement policy towards African tyrants. The policy of f.l. Jürgen Elvert, Historian, Chair of History of the 19th and 20th Century with particular emphasis on and small producers must be stopped. concessions, restraint, appeasement, and accommodating to European Integration, Jean Monnet Chair for European History, University of Cologne, Germany African dictators, who ruthlessly exploit and oppress their own Michael Kilian, Private Secretary of Walter Hallstein Africa needs development assistance that is sustainable and peoples, cannot continue. Further assistance and support for Theda Aghina Mansholt, Daughter of Sicco Mansholt self-initiative. The promotion of small people through micro- African countries must go hand in hand with the demand for Sven Georg Adenauer, Grandson of Konrad Adenauer credits plays a key role here. Even small sums of money are of- good governance. False tolerance of inhuman potentates I see Christoph Takacs, Managing Director ORF Salzburg, Salzburg ten sufficient to enable people to develop their own source of as a betrayal of the universal values ​​of humanity, which also Jean-Gabriel Lieberherr, Grandson of Jean Monnet income. Above all, it is important to promote women - they are form the basis of the United Nations. Lord Watson of Richmond, Historian and personal friend of family Winston Churchill the key to Africa‘s future. Especially in the areas of health and education, women are particularly important. And the longer Prosperity and power sometimes appear in Africa today as the the girls go to school, the lower the number of their children will overlaying values. Accordingly, social, family, but also admini- be. strative relationships are highly monetized. But this problem does not exist only in Africa. The demon of greed and insatiabili- Africa is a huge challenge for Europe. If you want to contain the ty drives its mischief throughout our globalized world. migration, you have to improve the living conditions of the local people. An Africa without hunger is quite possible. However, we I believe it is our greatest task in the 21st century to reconcile the know that achieving this goal will require huge investment, for demands of the market with humanity. example in infrastructure and the energy sector. Most of all, ho- Thus, through common values defined and solidified in dialo- wever, is job creation for the young population in Africa, which gue, we may find ourselves in a common future and at the same accounts for 85% of the 1.2 billion people. In some sub-Saharan time back to our common root: Africa. countries, youth unemployment is close to 60%. In order to fight the causes of alignment in Africa, we must ensure that 20 mil- Speech at the 14th Conference of European Regions and Cities lion new jobs are created in Africa every year over the next ten years. Only if we succeed in bringing the hopeless African youth into bread and work, we can convince them to stay in their home countries.

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14th Conference of European Regions and Cities in Salzburg Europe‘s regions call for more co-determination in EU legislation

The Salzburg Summit, the 14th Conference of the Regions and Cities of Europe, organised by the Institute of the Regions of Europe from 30th September to 2nd October 2018, began with a vivid appeal to give regions and municipalities more co-determination and participation in decisions on EU-wide regulations.

Task Force „Subsidiarity“ should be but the eight week deadline is too short for all par- taken seriously ticipants. They require more time and equipment to carry out the subsidiarity check. Enlargement Commissioner wishes Europe needs answers to the The legal status of municipalities and regions in In addition, the distribution of responsibilities in the the EU as a global player simple questions the EU and in the Member States was the opening bodies of the EU and the states should not be static, theme of the Salzburg Summit. The power of the re- but subsidiarity should be applied dynamically, said The European Union has to develop the capacity to The founding fathers of united Europe would be gions could only develop if they had responsibilities, Innsbruck legal academician Anna Gamper. play a role in global politics commensurate with its concerned about the current development of the i.e. competencies and the necessary financial resour- An emphatic appeal, to structure Europe as a fede- economic importance. This demanded EU-Commis- Union. They would fight national populism and try to ces. However, that is precisely what is lacking, as was ration of regions, was addressed by German political sioner , responsible in the European find answers and solutions to people‘s most urgent made clear in the panel debate. Both IRE-Chairman scientist Winfried Böttcher to the conference. The Commission for Enlargement. „The founding idea of ​​ questions. This was emphasized by descendants and Johannes Hahn, Franz Schausberger and Reinhard Lopatka, mem- EU is not in a structural crisis but in a systemic cri- the EU, namely to secure peace, has been success- close confidants of the pioneers of the European uni- EU Commissioner ber of the Austrian parliament, praised the report of sis. It will only have a future as Europe of the regions. fully implemented, but has led to a strong focus on fication during the discussion round „What became for European the „Working Group on Subsidiarity“, but expressly Subsidiarity, as the right of smaller or lower units to internal affairs“. As a result, the EU has „lost the abi- of the Europe of its founding fathers?“ Neighbourhood criticized the fact that the President of the Commissi- lity to look at developments and changes globally“. regulate their own affairs, is also a matter of justice. Jean-Gabriel Lieberherr, grandson of Jean Monnet, Policy and on, Jean Claude Juncker, had not responded to this Thus, this is the challenge right now, as Hahn ex- And since much of this policy is being implemented emphasized his grandfather‘s constant effort to pin- Enlargement in his State of the Union speech. The regions of Euro- plained on the basis of a few comparisons. In 1900, at this level, regions and local communities should point problems at heart. Especially in difficult times Negotiations pe can currently scrutinize whether their responsibi- Europe accounted for 25 percent of the world‘s po- Lord Watson of be given more say, rather than being confronted simple solutions are rare. Currently the question is: lities and obligations are affected by draft legislation, pulation, today it is 6 percent, and in 2050 only 4 Richmond, author with EU regulations, as is currently the case. „Which countries want to move forward, want a fur- percent of the world‘s population will be in Europe. and confidant of the ther development and deepening of the Union“? Prof. Martin Rhonheimer emphasized that the bre- Furthermore, just a decade ago, Europe and the US Churchill family ach of the principle of subsidiarity is a violation of would have been responsible for two-thirds of world Lord Watson of Richmond, author and confidant of justice. The lower level is to assist in the performance trade, today it is only half and in another ten years the Churchill family, also criticized the EU‘s ability to of their duties. Subsidiarity is not top down but bot- only two-thirds of the global trade volume will go to www tom up and closely linked to financial autonomy. Un- the two transatlantic partners. Hahn on the changes fortunately, the EU is not interested in subsidiarity. in global economic dimensions: „In 2050, no single The problem is not the nation state but nationalism. EU Member State will belong to the G7 anymore“.

Alexander Miesen, President of the German-spea- In order to advance political projects, a common se- king Community in , is convinced: the more curity policy is needed and an EU foreign policy that Hard Brexit or soft Brexit? – No Brexit! member states are in the big EU construct, the more can be adopted by a qualified majority. The Europe- important is the application of the subsidiarity prin- an Commission has tackled this issue; Hahn stressed, Alan John Watson, Baron Watson of Richmond, Historian and personal friend of family Winston Churchill ciple. It‘s a matter of justice: I cannot explain to a craft and will come forward with new proposals in the au- business in my region that it has to pay dues if an tumn to decide on areas by qualified majority. international concern can choose. “ Martin Eichtinger, member of the Lower Austria regional government, called for more transparency Juliane Bogner- in the allocation of competences, why is something Strauß, Austrian Governor decided where. He criticized that EU directives are Federal Minister Wolfgang of Salzburg Winfried Böttcher, Political scientist, Martin Rhonheimer, Professor of Ethics becoming more and more detailed, thus narrowing in personal Sobotka, Wilfried and political Philosophy, Martin Eichtinger, Member of Regional Government the scope of the regions more and more. He called representation President of Haslauer of Niederösterreich, Franz Schausberger, Anna Gamper, Professor of Public for the continuation of cohesion policy and the fi- for Federal the Austrian welcomed the Law, Alexander Miesen, President of the Parliament of the german-speaking nancial resources for it, because only then regional Chancellor parliament international community of Belgium, Reinhold Lopatka, Member of the Austrian Parliament autonomy can live. Sebastian Kurz guests.

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www find and communicate clear positions. „If foreign and security policy to be indispensable. Ho- we want to move Europe forward, we have to make wever, as no consensus can currently be expected people feel that the EU is essential because it tries among the Member States, it would make sense to to answer the right questions“. The most impor- form a foreign and security union within the core tant issue right now is without a doubt the issue of area of the EU. This should decide its approach with „flight and migration“, but the EU does not just lack a majority in order to be taken seriously as a security a solution, but also a clear question. „One of Winston policy actor on the international stage. Churchill‘s greatest strengths has always been to get the feel for the ‘key point’, even with very complex problems”. Maria Romana De Gasperi, daughter of the Italian Is Europe‘s Future Deciding in Sven Georg Ade- Prime Minister Alcide de Gasperi, found in the po- Africa? nauer (Grandson of pulation of Europe a certain EU fatigue, which had to Konrad Adenauer) be overcome. A Europe of emigrants has become a Refugee flows and waves of immigration will con- Europe of immigrants. This problem should be con- tinue to dominate European politics in the years to sidered in peace and all states should contribute to come, requiring the utmost efforts of all states. a solution, De Gaspari demanded. „Not everything is allowed to get stuck in the Mediterranean states“, Prince Asfa-Wossen Asserate called for an end to presumably also the founding fathers of the EU the „disastrous economic and trade policy“ of Euro- would have thought so. pe. Ivan Vejvoda from the Institute for Human Sci- ences in Vienna advocated a kind of Marshall Plan for Antoinette Spaak, daughter of the Belgian states- Africa in the sense of a joint European action. man Paul-Henri Spaak, urged the EU today to be more inclusive and the younger Member States in Genc Pollo, chairman of the Europe Committee in Eastern Europe to engage in a dedicated process of the Parliament of Albania, referred to the potential of catching up on human rights, democracy, the rule of good and responsible politicians in Africa. Increased Theda Aghina law and transparency. „Some enlargement processes international networking and the creation of a close Mansholt (Daughter have simply gone too fast“, said the daughter of the EU-style African Union could massively strengthen of Sicco Mansholt) former Belgian foreign minister. these forces while giving the EU access to reputable contacts in Africa. Theda Agina Mansholt, daughter of former Europe- an Commission President Sicco Mansholt, recalled Austria‘s former Agriculture Minister and Principal the more than simple beginnings of the EU in 1958. Advisor to the General Secretariat of the Council Long meetings had already been held at that time, Andrä Rupprechter stated that only increased de- but the EEC was much more focused on common so- velopment aid efforts by Europe could combat the lutions and agreement despite its great differences root cause of emigration from Africa. Prince Asserate than today the EU. „Today, prosperity is highly deve- recently pointed to the need for trustworthy govern- Conference loped and protectionism is spreading“, according to ments in Africa. Any attempt by Europe to find part- partners: the findings of the Dutchwoman. ners in Africa (keyword: reception centers) will cer- tainly fail because of the corrupt structures in Africa, Even Sven Georg Adenauer, grandson of Konrad Asserate believes. Adenauer, noted that Europe had become satura- ted and Europe-tiredness prevailed. All of Europe‘s enthusiasts would have to stop the populists all Is European politics taking the problem of migra- the more. That would be the supreme credo of his tion seriously enough? grandfather, according to Adenauer. According to Nini Tsikauri, singer, artist and co- Michael Kilian (private secretary to Walter Hallstein, founder of the initiative „Pulse of Europe“ in Austria, the first Commission President of the EEC, 1958) took the problem of immigration is massively overvalued. the same horn. Hallstein, too, had experienced crises, „Many people, especially in the cities, have no pro- for example in the long and unsuccessful discussion blem whatsoever“, says the Georgian-born musician. on the majority principle. Yet, he has always known that discussion and divergent opinions in a commu- Karl-Heinz Lambertz, President of the Committee nity are necessary and normal, without questioning of the Regions in Brussels, however, warned against the EU itself. taking European fear of increasing migration seri- ously. „If you miss this, you are giving these people The historian Jürgen Elvert stressed, that the current to the populists“, says Lambertz. „People need to un- criticism of the EU may often be unfair and spring derstand immigration and pluralism as enrichment from irrational roots, but it is also behind the truth, to their lives and their country, and then migration namely the central concerns of Europeans. „The EU will not be a problem anymore“. But Europe needed must succeed in securing borders, creating econo- a strategy that would be borne by all EU states. mic and social stability and guaranteeing prosperi- ty“ pointed Elvert. It considers a reformed common For Andrä Rupprechter the Union still has a long

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Panel on the future of energy supply: f.l. Florian Ermacora, Angela Köppl, Nebojsa Nakicenovic, Moderator Stefan Veigl, Janez Kopač, Wolfgang Anzengruber, Ivo Milatić

way to go. As long as some countries like Hungary based mechanisms should be used. What is the big- or Poland categorically deny the admission of refu- gest growth potential? Anzengruber: „Unambiguo- gees or immigrants, one can neither talk about fixed usly in solar energy“. quotas nor about the question of which refugee or According to Ivo Milatić, State-Secretary for Energy immigrant may go to Europe and in which country. in Croatia, his government is now working inten- Enver Hoxhaj, Deputy Prime Minister of Kosovo, cal- sively towards the EU‘s 32 percent. Croatia is focu- led for a much broader view on migration. In many sing primarily on hydropower and solar energy with states of Eastern and Southeastern Europe there is a as many photovoltaic systems as possible. In Croatia, Wolfgang Anzengru- brain drain, which causes problems in the countries people will no longer focus on fossil energy sources ber, Chairman of the of origin. Migration has always been a European rea- in the future. Consumers must become prosumers Board, Verbund AG lity, according to Hoxhaj, and it does not only cause who can save as much energy as possible through irritation in the host countries. their own energy production.

Janez Kopač, Director of the Energy Community in Future of energy supply in Europe Vienna, is convinced that no new additional nuclear Main sponsors: power plants will be built in Europe. He justifies this

with the cost factor. He does not see nuclear energy The future of energy supplies in Europe is decentra- as the future of the energy community, coal-fired po- lized and market-based, with a high proportion of wer plants are dying out, incinerators in the member renewable energy and private households that un- states must be closed. In Serbia, these are eight coal- derstand themselves not only as consumers but also fired power plants, and in Macedonia and Montene- as producers of energy. gro one each. The European Union has clearly defined objectives Angela Köppl, a specialist in environmental econo- with regard to the energy transition, as Florian Er- mics and climate change in Vienna, sees transport as macora, Head of Unit in the Directorate-General one of the major problems in the climate and energy for Energy, explained. By 2030, energy efficiency is debate. The substitution of all internal combustion to be increased by 32.5 percent compared to 2007; engines by electric motors is not a solution. Not the share of renewable energies in the energy mix every type of mobility needs to be combined with should be 32 percent; and CO2 emissions are to be physical movement. Taxation requires the cost-truth reduced by 40 percent. „Without decarbonisation, of international equality. The term energy efficiency the fight against climate change will not succeed“, must be replaced by the term energy productivity. explained Ermacora. „CO2 emissions by 2050 must go down to zero“, stated scientist Nebojsa Nakiceno- vic: „If Europe wants to play a pioneering role; the EU must do it sooner”.

To achieve these goals, „we need the consumers“, said Chairman of the Board Wolfgang Anzengruber Dhurata Hoxha, (Verbund), who should also be provided sufficient Minister for European information: „If we want to replace the fossil energy, Integration of Kosovo, then we need more electricity“. This should come participated in the from renewable energy sources, such as hydropo- 14th IRE Conference of wer, wind power and solar radiation. The subsidies European Regions and should be taken out of the energy market; market- Cities.

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The future is digital parties involved, since digitization is not a software update, but an all-encompassing cross-sectional matter that affects everyone.

In his keynote, Jirl Burianek, Secretary General of the Committee Martin Bailey, Head of Unit F1, Development and Coordination of of the Regions, made it clear: „If we want Europe to be globally Digital Policies in the , added that digitiza- competitive in the digital age, we need active citizens with digital tion, in addition to clear regulation, widespread convergence and capabilities that are well integrated into the digital world“. well-considered investment across Europe, needs more positive communication for its successful implementation. Karoline Edtstadler, State Secretary at the Austrian Ministry of the Interior, confirmed this: „It takes all. And it needs the expansion to- Stefan Eder, Partner at Benn lbler Rechtsanwälte GmbH and share- wards 5G to strengthen the industry and the business location“. holder of Openlaws GmbH, underlined this: „We have a great star- She warned to keep the risks in mind, because cybercrime was the ting position in Austria and I believe that we have to understand fastest growing crime field. digitization as a process that is progressing slowly and that no one has to fear“. Anke Knopp, political scientist and blogger, also reiterated that the possibilities of digitization should be prepared in such a way This was joined by Lorenz Schöne, Head of Product Management Panel on Rural Depopulation: f.l. Franz Schausberger, Helmuth Falschlehner, Alois Steinbichler, Mario that citizens are involved and enabled to use them for new parti- & Digital Safes at Erste Group Bank AG: Digitization was taken out Winkler, Gertraud Leimüller, Michael Beismann, Nikolina Angelkova, Predrag Štromar, Bertold Meyer, cipatory formats. of abstraction and fear, and the focus was on new, great innova- tions and developments. Josef Plank, Niko Peleshi and Claus Reitan Christian Rupp, spokesman for the platform Digitales Austria in the Federal Ministry for Digitization and Business Location, pointed Burianek concluded with the words: „I hope that from these Salz- out that for the individual and for companies the further develop- burger rooms the call goes on the European level, which we need Broadband, tourism and much innovation Bertold Meyer, Mayor of Bollewick in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, ment of the „digital skills“ will become more and more important a real partnership, which thinks not only of the money, but a ge- from the outside underlined the importance of social and cultural offers to make ru- in the future. He called for horizontal communication between all nuine interaction of the local, regional and national levels and the ral areas more attractive. His community had succeeded, despite citizen tries. Only then can it succeed“. initially negative forecast (population decline of minus 20 percent The migration of mainly young people from rural areas to urban by 2030) to stop the rural depopulation. This is not due solely to centers connects the countries of Europe like no other phenome- tourism, attractive public connections and digitization - creative non of our time. opportunities for development and functioning social networks The rural area in Austria is characterized by low homogeneity, em- can also make rural areas attractive. phasized Josef Plank, Secretary General of the Ministry of Sustai- Bulgarian Minister of Tourism Nikolina Angelkova said that tou- nability and Tourism. Some areas of emigration, such as Upper Sty- rism was the main option for the development of rural areas in ria, could not have coped with the technical structural changes of Bulgaria. The sector is characterized by its high degree of effec- recent decades, while other rural areas were characterized by very tiveness, because all important decisions in politics, administrati- diverse employment opportunities and were also driven by tou- on and the tourism industry are taken autonomously on site. On rism. Rural areas must take advantage of their opportunities and the part of the government in Sofia, they limit themselves to three stay structurally up to date. One of the most interesting growth main supports: the provision of know-how, including through spe- options is currently the energy transition, because the potential of cial schools for young people, access to EU co-operation grants renewable energy lies in rural areas. and the creation of sensible tourist packages and incentives. F.l.: Martin Bailey, Stefan Eder, Jiří Buriánek, Karoline Edtstadler, Claus Reitan, Anke Knopp, Lorenz Schöne and Christian Rupp The innovation consultant Gertraud Leimüller called for a far-re- Niko Peleshi, Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development in aching rethinking and more involvement of the affected people. Albania outlined his government‘s efforts to bundle the limited „We offer far too little innovation space in the country. Our inno- financial resources as effectively as possible. Around 100 „flagship vation centers are urban because creative potential in the country villages“ are currently being developed among the approximately Kindly supported by cannot easily develop”, explained the Vienna Consulter. Austria‘s 3,000 villages in his country, which, in the sense of best-practice rural area and its inhabitants urgently need new models of design examples, can have an imitative character in terms of infrastruc- and participation, new attractions for young, knowledge-intensive ture, economic growth and tourism development. companies and dense social networks for young families. Pedrag Stromar, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Construc- Michael Beismann from the Regional Synergie GmbH Innsbruck tion and Regional Planning in Croatia, presented a whole packa- called for a departure from the idea of wanting to keep the rural ge of measures, with which his country has already successfully population on land. „Emigration can save the rural area“, said the fought against the exodus and has achieved an increase in salaries Tyrolean scientist, „but it must balance itself with immigration in rural areas. Because families tend to stay in the country when from the metropolitan areas. For rural areas lack impulses from childcare is secured, Croatia has greatly expanded the opening outside“. All studies on villages in Austria would show that the hours of care facilities with EU funding. Much was also invested innovative initiatives do not come from the villagers themselves. in the expansion of student transport in order to enable children Sponsors Fertilizing is therefore the exchange, not staying in their own bor- from remote regions to attend a secondary school in the metro- ders, so Beismann. politan areas. In addition, the increase in housing subsidies for Alois Steinbichler from Kommunalkredit Austria and Mario Wink- growing families in rural areas is becoming increasingly popular ler (Hagelversicherung) warned against seeing the consequences - the number of applications is steadily rising. An EU pilot project of rural emigration only from an economic point of view. It also that will reduce energy costs for rural investors for some years is threatens a huge loss of culture. Also the landscape care is thre- also having an impact, according to Stromar. According to surveys atened, because the soil consumption by traffic, trade and trade among young people, there is still room for improvement in the is enormous and deprives the producers the employment basis. expansion of rail and digital networks.

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F.l.: Joachim Fritz Provincial Councilor Stefan (IRE-Secretary Schnöll: Infrastructure and traffic General), Franz Schausberger, are the main challenges for Lisa-Marie Smart Regions Stauffer (IRE- Staff) and Smart Regions is not only about solving the diffi- Johannes Hahn cult traffic problems of the provincial capital and (EU-Commis- its surrounding communities, but also about mo- sioner) bility in the district capitals, such as Zell am See or St. Johann in Salzburg, explained the Salzburg provincial council Stefan Schnöll during a wor- king visit to the Institute of the Regions of Europe EU-Commissioner Johannes Hahn visited the IRE on 18th of September 2018. The government mem- ber responsible for transport and infrastructure in The strengthening of regional structures and self-government in the munici- Justin Cionca and Franz Schausberger the Salzburg state government emphasized that palities and cities in the six enlargement countries in the Western Balkans is an in his work he relied heavily on experts and best important prerequisite for their rapprochement with the European Union, said practice examples from other European regions. Commissioner for Enlargement Johannes Hahn during a working visit to the In- He therefore highly appreciates the work of the IRE-Chairman Franz Schausberger in Arad/Romania stitute of the Regions of Europe (IRE) on 28th of August 2018. For the future imple- IRE because, at its expert conferences, it always mentation of EU policies, it is essential to have strong and well-resourced political endeavours to promote the exchange of know- and administrative institutions at regional and local level. how and experience among the various regions IRE conference on common Central European In the meeting, the EU Commissioner thanked the Institute of the Regions of on various essential topics in the regions. Europe for the numerous activities, especially in the area of Eastern and Sou- IRE Chairman Franz Schausberger pointed out theastern Europe. Above all, the many conferences and seminars in the Western that it is precisely to promote the creation of good cultural heritage planned 2019 in Arad Balkans contribute to improving the capacity of sub-national administrations. transport infrastructure and public transport to Franz Schausberger pointed out that the Local Self-Government Charter provi- remote regions that are able to largely stem the outflow from rural peripheral areas which can be th ded a valuable frame of reference for the municipalities and cities; a correspondi- Franz Schausberger met on 5 of October 2018 with EU funding has enabled many observed throughout Europe. the president of the Arad County Council, Justin important projects in Arad ng Regional Self-Government Charter had been missing for years, but would be Cionca, for a detailed conversation. The main topics very helpful for the Western Balkan enlargement countries. discussed were the intensification of cooperation Issues of European values, mobility within the EU, between the Arad district and the Institute of the the education system, EU support for the regions, Regions of Europe (IRE). Arad has been a member of decentralization and much more were the focus of the IRE for many years, having held several events in a European People‘s Party (EPP) Local Dialogue in Referendum on the name of Macedonia Arad. It was agreed to hold a conference in Arad in Arad City Hall (Romania) on the 5th of October 2018. The large numbers of students present were highly 2019, which will focus on the restoration of the im- On 27th of July 2018 Franz Schausberger met with the Minister of Foreign Affairs of interested in the question of study opportunities portant cultural heritage and its tourist use in Arad Macedonia, Nikola Dimitrov. The main topic of the meeting was the referendum in other EU countries and which education system and its neighbouring regions. It is about the com- on changing the name of Macedonia (Former Yugoslavian Republic of Macedo- would offer them the best career opportunities. mon Central European heritage, especially from the nia) to “North Macedonia”. 37 percent of eligible voters took part in the referen- Schausberger pointed out that the education sys- time of the Austro-Hungarian Monarchy. Arad Coun- dum, 94 percent of them were in favour of the name change. In the meantime tem had to orient itself above all to the needs of the ty is planning closer cooperation with neighbouring the Macedonian parliament has confirmed the change of the name with majority. regions in Hungary and Serbia, as well as neighbou- economy and administration of the region. There ring regions in Romania, as part of an „Activarium“ was particular interest in the ERASMUS program and platform. However, this would require greater finan- internships abroad. The political representatives of cial autonomy of the regions. the National Liberal Party, notably Gheorghe Falcă, Mayor of Arad, and Justin Cionca, president of Arad County Council, pointed out that decentralization is not only between the EU and its Member States, but also within the states must be done. Above all, a fair financial decentralization is important, since in Decentralization must be done also within Romania, the distribution of funds is currently taking the states. And above all, a fair financial place, especially on the part of political parties. Ho- wever, Arad‘s politicians highlighted the huge finan- decentralization is important. cial support from the EU funds that made possible the renovation of important cultural monuments Justin Cionca, President of the Arad County Council “ and cultural facilities, such as the Concert Hall and Provincial Councilor Stefan Schnöll and IRE Moise Nicoara College. Chairman Franz Schausberger

12 newsregion 50 / nov18 newsregion 50 / nov18 13 FOCUS IRE NetworkCommittee – Members of the & RegionsCooperations (CoR) „Was bringt uns die State Secretary Karoline Edtstadler (centre), IRE- Industrie Chairman Franz Schausberger (left), IRE Secretary General Joachim Fritz (right) with staff denn über- and interns of the IRE haupt?“ Main Topic Cyber Security State Secretary in the Austrian Ministry of the Interior, Karoline affected by it in some form. It mainly affects small and medium- Edtstadler paid a visit to the IRE on 25th of July 2018. The State sized enterprises (SMEs), which often do not have the opportunity Secretary and the Chairman of the IRE, former Governor Franz to effectively prepare for such attacks. Schausberger, agreed that the issue of cyber security is an extre- Across Europe, better cross-border cooperation and a clear defi- mely important area of digitization across Europe. nition of what cybercrime is necessary. Therefore, State Secretary Almost every week there are cyber attacks on banks. Edtstadler Edtstadler advocates that the cyber security package be com- pointed out that the number of cyber attacks is skyrocketing pleted this year during the Austrian EU Presidency. and that in 2017, 80 percent of European companies have been

2 von 3 Federal Minister Heinz Faßmann: Centralism increases emigration from rural areas

Strongly centrally organized countries have much more problems regional disparities. Decentralization and sensible dismantling of Arbeitsplätzen with the migration of the population from rural areas and border centralization measures in the periphery would therefore make areas as decentralized or federal states, said the Austrian Federal sense in terms of regional policy, explained Minister Faßmann. Minister of Education, Science and Research, Heinz Faßmann on The chairman of the IRE, Franz Schausberger, pointed out that in the occasion of a visit to the Institute of the Regions of Europe a federal state, political leaders in the regions felt obliged to create on 17th of September 2018. Faßmann, himself University Professor liveable conditions for the people in the remote rural areas. After in Österreich. of Applied Geography, Spatial Research and Regional Planning, all, they wanted to be re-elected in the next regional elections. Key has been confirmed by several scientific projects in the Danube requirements included good transport links and an excellent sup- region. He cited Serbia as a special example, a highly centralized ply of fast broadband connections. country where migration from rural areas to the central region of Federal Minister Faßmann welcomed the numerous activities of Belgrade or even abroad is particularly serious. It shows - so Faß- the IRE on the subject of rural depopulation with the aim of provi- Und was ist Ihre Frage? mann - that there is a direct connection between centralism and ding solutions for particularly affected regions. iv.at/dialog Strategic Partner of the IRE Eine Initiative der Industriellen vereinigung

Federal Minister Heinz Faßmann with Franz Schausberger

14 MEINE ARBEIT. UNSEREnewsregion INDUSTRIE. 50 / nov18 newsregion 50 / nov18 15

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Traditional reception of the Autonomous Province of Vojvodina in Brussels “Vojvodina, Great for Business, Great for Life“

Within the framework of the European Week of Regions and Ci- The hosts of the event, which took place at the Mission of the Re- ties, AP Vojvodina hosted the traditional reception on 8th October public of Serbia to the EU, were Đorđe Milićević, Vice-president 2018, whose guest was David McAllister, EU Parliament’s rappor- of the Provincial Government, István Pásztor, President of AP teur, Franz Schausberger, Chairman of the CoR-Working Group Vojvodina Parliament, and Ognjen Bjelić, Provincial Minister for Western Balkans, Ana Hrustanović, Ambassador of the Republic Regional Development, Interregional Cooperation and Local Self- of Serbia to the European Union, moreover MEPs, representatives Government. The event “Vojvodina, Great for Business, Great for of EU institutions, a number of regions and cities, as well as the Life“, was organized by the European Affairs Fund of AP Vojvodina business community. and the Vojvodina European Office in Brussels, with the support of RESORT | SPA | BERGE the Vojvodina Development Agency. Đorđe Milićević, Vice-president of the Provincial Government, em- phasized that Vojvodina had made an excellent step, and that the presence of a large number of officials from European institutions testified that Serbia and Vojvodina were on the right track and that Für alle, the reforms implemented in Serbia were successful. „I believe that we’ve managed to present all the potentials, of which there are a lot, in the best way possible, and tonight‘s reception shows that die Erholung mit the reputation of Serbia and its province of Vojvodina is high,“ said Vice-president Milićević.

István Pásztor, President of the Assembly of AP Vojvodina, under- Erlebnissen ver- From left ro right: Ognjen Bjelić (Provincial Minister lined that Vojvodina had a lot of friends among the European regi- for Regional Development), Franz Schausberger ons and that it was of common interest to build partnerships and (IRE-Chairman) and István Pásztor (President of the trustworthy relationships. He added that common ideas related to binden wollen. Provincial Parliament Vojvodina) joint projects allowed European regions to progress. An agreement on cooperation between the Vojvodina Chamber of Commerce and the Walloon Union of Companies has been signed in Brussels at the Mission of the Republic of Serbia. Die 20.000 m2 große SPA Wasser- & Saunawelt mit 11 Pools, 10 Saunen & Dampfbädern, einem eigenen Kinder- und IRE is Treatmentbereich sowie bester Kulinarik sorgt für (ent-)spannende Momente. sponsored by Đorđe Milićević (Vice-President of the Provin- cial Parliament Vojvodina) and Franz Schaus- berger T +43 6547 2040-0 www.tauernspakaprun.com16 newsregion 50 / nov18 newsregion 50 / nov18 17 FOCUS FOCUS Western Balkans Western Balkans

Franz Schaus- berger visited the monastery Franz Schaus- Gračanica. berger, Karoline Left: One of Edtstadler, Deputy the numerous Minister Enver frescoes inside Hoxhaj and Aus- the 14th century trian Ambassador Gračanica Mo- Gernot Pfandler nastery.

Focal points: stability and security in the region, further progress in the fight against corruption and strengthening the role of women in society State Secretary Edtstadler in Kosovo: Full support in the fight against corruption

Two politicians from „Mayors help mayors“ Salzburg for Europe and against rural depopulation! Austria in Kosovo As a special advisor to the European Com- The Secretary of State at the Ministry of boost women‘s self-esteem. That is also mission for the Western Balkans, Franz the Interior, Karoline Edtstadler, visited on a big concern for me. As part of the Task Schausberger completed his own visit 4th and 5th September 2018, together with Force on Criminal Law, I want to support program to find out more about the situ- the Special Adviser of the European Com- women who are victims of violent and ation of the communities in Kosovo. He mission for the EU enlargement countries sexual offenses, so they dare to file com- completed a „ministerial marathon“: Mahir Franz Schausberger, Kosovo. The purpo- plaints and turn to victim protection insti- Yagcillar, Minister of Public Administrati- se of this working visit was to strengthen tutions“, said the State Secretary. on, Rasim Demiri, Minister of Rural Deve- From left: Sazan Ibrahimi, Secretary security and stability in the region and to lopment, Rozafa Ukimeraj, Secretary Ge- Austrian Ambassador Gernot Edtstadler and Schausberger also met General, Agim Veliu, President of the assist the Republic of Kosovo in the fight neral of the Ministry of Local Government, Pfandler, European Minister of Kosovo‘s Deputy Prime Minister Enver Kosovo Association of Municipalities, against corruption. „Corruption can erode and Agim Veliu, President of the Municipal Kosovo Dhurata Hoxha, Karoline Hoxhaj and discussed the current situati- Franz Schausberger, Felix Rathje, Policy a state and jeopardize it in the long term. Union of Kosovo. „Without efficient and Edtstadler and Franz Schausberger on surrounding the negotiations between Officer, EU-Office in Kosovo. The fight against corruption is also crucial democratically led communities, people in Serbia and Kosovo. Hoxhaj and Schaus- for Kosovo in terms of the EU integration their homeland will not want to see a fu- berger agreed that the ultimate goal must process. Austria would like to help with ture and emigrate“, said Schausberger. The The municipal administrations are some- be to reach a legally binding, sustainable their expertise in order to make further rural depopulation to the cities or abroad times far from the European standard. The agreement between Serbia and Kosovo as progress“, said Edtstadler in an interview can only be counteracted by strengthe- use of financial resources alone is not a su- soon as possible. This is crucial not only for stainable solution unless local politicians with the Kosovar Minister of the Interior, ning rural communities. In Kosovo, there Minister of Public Administration Mahir the Western Balkans, but for peace throug- and local government officials have the Bejtush Gashi, as well as during her visit to are only 38 municipalities, which means Yagcilar and Franz Schausberger hout Europe. the Agency for Combating and Preventing that they are much too large and the pro- necessary knowledge and experience of Corruption. As Kosovar Interior Minister Gashi empha- ximity to the local representatives is not a well-functioning community and proper sized, 90 percent of Kosovars who emigra- nearly as big as in Austria. Moreover, the local policies. In addition to a visit to the Serbian Ortho- ted to Western Europe in 2014/15 have problem of the four Serbian communities in He therefore intends to launch an action dox monastery church in Gracanica, a visit since returned to Kosovo. Cooperations northern Kosovo is completely unresolved. „Mayors help mayors“ through his Institute to the Jahjaga Foundation (founded by the with 22 countries and its own „returnees To fulfil the conditions of Kosovo on the of the Regions of Europe (IRE), which is not former Kosovar President Atifete Jahjaga) program“ would have contributed to that. way to a common Europe, the municipali- about profit, but about knowledge trans- and the Kosovo Women Network was also A third of the Kosovars already live legally ties play an important role. However, they fer and exchange of experience, explained part of the State Secretary‘s program. Both in Western Europe since the years after the can only fulfil conditions if they have the Schausberger. He wants to find mayors of organizations are committed to strengthe- necessary capacities and know-how. In the Salzburg’s municipalities who are willing Franz Schausberger, Karoline war on the Western Balkans. ning the role of women in society. „The communities of Kosovo, there is a lack of to invite mayors from the Western Balkans Edtstadler and Minister of Interior Kosovo Women Network and the Jahjaga Kosovo is also involved in the Task Force on professionalism, experience and know- to show them well-functioning local go- Franz Schausberger met with Rasim Bejtush Gashi Foundation are doing valuable work to the fight against smuggling. ledge, which makes a community work vernments using the example of their own Demiri, Minister of Rural and Regional well, said Schausberger. community. Development.

18 newsregion 50 / nov18 newsregion 50 / nov18 19 FOCUS FOCUS Western Balkans Europe & Brussels

Plenary session of the European Committee of the Regions CEO Andreas Klauser is a new member of the IRE- Reduce European regulatory Economic Board ClaudiaSchmidtEU density The Institute of the Regi- ons of Europe th th th- On the 4 and 5 of July 2018 at the 130 Franz Schausberger expressed the hope and above all plenary session of the Committee of the that „what was painstakingly worked out its IRE Chair- Regions (CoR) in Brussels Franz Schaus- by the Task Force on Subsidiarity will not man Franz berger stressed: „The priorities of the Aus- be diluted too much.“ For us, the topic of Schausberger trian Presidency are very important for the shifting back many detail regulations from are pleased regions, cities and municipalities, and from European areas of competence is particu- to announce our point of view, the slogan „less but more larly important to the Member States and that Andreas efficient” always resonates with “subsidiari- their regions, in order to reduce excessive Klauser, CEO ty” and continued ,“all of the priorities that regulation”. of Palfinger AG, joined the IRE-Econo- Austria tackles within the program for the The program of the Austrian EU Presiden- mic Board. EU Presidency are important topics for cy was presented by Austria‘s Minister for Born in 1965, Andreas Klauser took us, and at the same time they are closely Women, Families and Youth, Juliane Bog- over as CEO of PALFINGER AG in interwoven: the issue of decentralization ner-Strauß. The representative of the Land June 2018. For many years PALFIN- plays an important role, above all in the Salzburg in the Committee of the Regions GER has been one of the world’s Western Balkans which are currently doing and IRE Chairman Franz Schausberger leading manufacturers of innova- a lot in the area of ​​migration, so migrati- thanked the Austrian Minister for the clear tive lifting solutions for use on com- on is just as important to the countries of and concise presentation, pointing out mercial vehicles and in the maritime the Western Balkans as it is to Austria.“ As a that there would have been easier times field. As a multinational group head- further important priority of the Austrian for an EU Presidency than at present. He quartered in Bergheim, Austria, the Presidency from the point of view of the supported Minister Bogner-Strauss‘ state- PALFINGER Group, which has approx. regions, cities and municipalities, he em- ment that the motto of the Austrian Pre- 10.212 employees, generated total re- phasized the digitization, which is „utterly sidency „For a Europe that protects“ is not venue of approx. EUR 1.471,1 million necessary“ especially for municipalities. only about migration issues, but is meant in 2017. In a discussion with the Member of the in a comprehensive sense, including eco- Task Force Subsidiarity, Reinhold Lopatka, nomic and social security. Extension of the IRE Board of Patrons

From left: Franz Schausberger (Representative of Land Salzburg), State Lord Alan Watson of Richmond, Councilor Doris Kampus (Styria), Federal Minister Juliane Bogner-Strauß, Historian and personal friend State Councilor Barbara Eibinger-Miedl (Styria), Governor Peter Kaiser (Ca- of family Winston Churchill rinthia) und Municipal Councilor Peter Florianschütz (City of Vienna)

Prince Asfa-Wossen Asserate, “United in diversity” should not only be Political Analyst, Ethiopian- German Business Consultant, a motto, it needs to be lived! Bestselling Author (“African From left to right: Michael Schneider, Barbara Eibinger-Mied, Reinhold Exodus: Mass Migration and Therefore, regional cooperation and exchange Lopatka, Franz Schausberger und Michaela Petz-Michez the Future of Europe“) 20 have to be more than pretty words.newsregion 50 / nov18 newsregion 50 / nov18 21

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Franz Schausber- Schausberger met ger with the Vice- the Deputy Prime Oberösterreich. President of Sicily, Gaetano Armao in Minister of Croatia, Land der Möglichkeiten. the plenary session of the Committee Predrag Štromar of the Regions in Brussels. Both are IRE-Chairman Franz Schausberger also Vice Presidents visited on the 21st of August 2018 the of the EPP in the Deputy Prime Minister of Croatia and CoR Minister of Construction and Plan- ning, Predrag Štromar. Schausberger brought the Croatian Vice-President a MEHR INFORMATION. personal invitation to the Conference On the credibility of the EU: of European Regions and Cities in Salz- burg. Stromar spoke on the subject of Quickly implement proposals from “rural depopulation”, which is an emi- MEHR MÖGLICH. nent problem especially in Croatia. the Task Force on Subsidiarity!

It is essential for the credibility of the EU to and the subsidiarity case have hardly been www.land-oberoesterreich.gv.at rapidly and effectively implement the pro- used in practice, Schausberger noted. posals of the EU‘s „Subsidiarity“ Task Force. hat für jede und jeden etwas: Now, the Task Force on Subsidiarity has People do not want more than absolutely been set up, involving the European Com- necessary to be decided in Brussels. The mission, national parliaments and the CoR. regions, cities and municipalities must The European Parliament unreasonably Aktuelle Infos und Leistungen von A bis Z play a more important role in the EU of the refused to participate. Unfortunately, af- future, said the representative of the Land ter presenting the report of the Task Force Salzburg in the CoR and IRE Chairman with concrete proposals to the President Serviceangebote und Förderungen auf einen Klick Franz Schausberger in the plenary session of the European Commission, in his an- in Brussels on the 9th of October 2018. nual speech to the European Union, he Downloadcenter für Formulare In 2009, the Treaty of Lisbon formally did not mention this topic at all. In order strengthened the subsidiarity principle, as to give the EU more credibility, it was the- Predrag Štromar with Franz well as the regions and local authorities, refore urgently necessary to implement Schausberger Broschüren online bestellen but in reality the development has been the proposals of the Task Force as quickly quite different. Over the last ten years, and concretely as possible, demanded E-Government-Dienste nutzen many European countries have been cen- Schausberger. It is not enough to confess tralized and not decentralized, the EU‘s to the principle of subsidiarity in Sunday regulatory density and bureaucracy have speeches, without taking measures for increased enormously, and the opportu- concrete implementation. Facebook: nities created by the early warning system www.facebook.com/institut.ire

Twitter: www.twitter.com/Institut_IRE

Flickr: From left ro right: Brigitta Pallauf, President of the regional www.flickr.com/photos/institut_ire parliament of Salzburg, Franz Schausberger and Michaela Linkedin: Petz-Michez, EU Liaison Office of www.linkedin.com/company/ institut-der-regionen-europas-ire- the Province of Salzburg

IMPRESSUM Media owner and publisher: Institute of the Regions of Europe, A-5020 Salzburg, Nonntaler Haupt- straße 58, Tel.: +43/662/843288-0, Fax: +43/662/843288-5050, www.institut-ire.eu, [email protected] • Editor and layout: printmedia & pmverlag, 5020 Salzburg • Photos: IRE, Neumayr, Wikipedia / Mihajla Pupina • Coverphoto: Lisa-Marie Stauffer • Print: druck.at, A2544 Leobersdorf Insofar as this publication features only personal designations in their gender-specific forms, they relate – insofar as this can be considered with regard to the content – to men and women on equal terms.

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