Sustainability – a Must for Regional Policy
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news REGION MAGAZINE OF THE INSTITUTE OF THE REGIONS OF EUROPE • 42 / NOVEMBER 2016 12th Conference of European 12 Four cities Regions and Cities: join the IRE network: Borjomi, Maribor, Trebnje and Piła Sustainability 15 Focus Ukraine: Meeting with the – a must for Foreign Minister 17 Discussing the regional policy digital agenda: EU Commissioner Oettinger visited the IRE FOCUS 12 Conference of European Regions and Cities Franz Schausberger Chairman of the Institute of the Regions of Europe Former President of Land Salzburg „Sustainability“ was the theme of the 12th IRE Conference of European Regions and Cities. This does not mean doing politics to win the next elections but to shape the future for the next ge- neration. The regions and municipalities play a fundamental role in almost every area of sustainable policy as has resulted from the contributions of the outstanding speakers and the vivid discussions. Whether it is sustainable energy policy, sustainable transport policy, sustainable refugee and integration policy, everything ultimately ends up at the regional and local level. This also applies to sustainable European policy in general. If the policy of the European Union is not supported by the political representatives in the regions, cities and municipalities, the Euro- pean project will not be successful and certainly not sustainable. This is why it is necessary for the enlargement countries to get a European perspective by the EU and actively involve their regions and municipalities in the EU accession efforts from the very beginning. If they do not, their accession process is likely to be delayed and the absence and ignorance of the regional and local level will backfire, in particular in acquiring financial subsidies from EU funds. Therefore, as newly-appointed Special Adviser of the European Commission for the enlargement 12th Conference of European Regions and Cities: countries, in close consultation with EU Commissioner Johannes Hahn, I will devote myself to the preparation of the regions and municipalities in the enlargement countries for EU integration. Europe is currently going through an extremely difficult and crucial phase. Many see the peace project seriously threatened by the rise of national egoisms and extreme populism. Nationalism was always poison to Europe, which destroyed it from within. Salzburg Summit on Sustainability The Institute of the Regions of Europe (IRE) has been successfully working for over ten years to counteract this development and to strengthen the regions and municipalities in Europe. Ideal- ly, we are supported by prominent personalities from all over Europe who are members of our „Board of Patrons“. How regions and cities benefit from the „Juncker Plan“ The IRE, with more than 130 partners (regions, cities, companies), will continue to address urgent issues for regional and local self-governments. The benefits of a membership are clear: The IRE How possible investments can be implemented at lion Euros and invests a total of 315 billion Euros in members are part of a European-wide network and constantly receive updates and information regional level, what instruments are available and order to stimulate economic development within on relevant topics and thus strengthen their know-how in an increasingly complicated Europe. how the regions and cities can access them was the EU. The management of the fund is a key factor discussed at the panel discussion „European Fi- for the EIB. nancing of Sustainable Projects“ at this year‘s 12th Funds are available but there are no qualified pro- Conference of European Regions and Cities. The jects. The economic and financial crisis has given conference was organized by the Institute of the the market a bad shock. According to Wilhelm Regions of Europe (IRE) and took place in Salzburg Molterer, the Managing Director of the EFSI, the from 25 September to 27 September 2016. You can find us on Facebook www Wilhelm Molterer https://www.facebook.com/institut.ire The discussion focused on the European Fund for Strategic Investments (EFSI), also known as the „Juncker Plan“. With this initiative the European With the European Fund for Strategic Investments IMPRESSUM Media owner and publisher: Institute of the Regions of Europe, A-5020 Salzburg, Nonntaler Hauptstraße 58, Tel.: +43/662/843288-0, Fax: +43/662/843288- Commission and the European Investment Bank 5050, www.institut-ire.eu, [email protected] • Editor and layout: printmedia & pmverlag, 5020 Salzburg • Photos: ire, Neumayr, Wikipedia • Print: druck.at, A2544 Leobersdorf (EFSI), also known as the „Juncker Plan“, the European Com- 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 (EIB) mobilize the private sector with aids of 21 bil- men and women on equal terms. mission stimulates economic development. 2 newsregion 42 / nov16 newsregion 42 / nov16 3 FOCUS FOCUS 12 Conference of European Regions and Cities 12 Conference of European Regions and Cities Integration is an opportunity for the regions of Europe From left: Wolfgang Kainzmeier (PORR AG), Martin Brunkhorst (European Investment Bank), Igor Mirović, (President of the Auto- How can integration be successful - and can inte- nomous Province of Vojvodina), Claus Reitan gration be an opportunity for the regions in times of (freelance Journalist), Wilhelm Molterer rural migration? Three main points were highlighted (European Fund for Strategic Investments ), by former Austrian vice-chancellor Michael Spinde- Claudia Schmidt (Member of the European legger, now director of the International Center for Parliament) and Christoph Mühlbacher-Blum Immigration Policy Development (IMCPD): „Langua- (Erste Bank Group AG). ge, education and integration into the community - exactly in this order.“ Melissa Siegel, a member of the Maastricht Eco- nomic and Social Research Institute for Innovation www and Technology at the United Nations University, investment gap amounts for up to 500 billion Eu- projects. pointed out the importance of fast-paced integra- From left: Lelia Hunziker (Integration Aargau), Melissa Siegel (United Nations ros in comparison to the pre-crisis years of 2007/ University), Stefanie Schenker (Bezirksblätter Salzburg) and Christian Hlatky Molterer advocated the idea of sustainable eco- tion measures. „Integration has to happen quickly, a 2008. The task of the EFSI is to stimulate the econo- (Bürgerstiftung Rosenheim). nomic development. It has long been agreed that welcoming atmosphere in the host society is just as my and entrepreneurial commitment. projects must be environmentally and socially important as the start of intensive language training Debt is a major obstacle to new investment for the compatible. „But we forget the economic sustai- on the first day.“ Two best-practice examples were sion, which also organizes meetings between refu- public sector and hinders new activities. There- nability, without which we cannot answer environ- presented by Christian Hlatky from Rosenheim in gees and civil society. This is exactly what happens in fore, an Advisory Hub was established within the mental and social questions,“ argued the former Bavaria and Lelia Hunziker from the Swiss canton of the project of the Rosenheim Citizens‘ Foundation. framework of the EFSI for consulting services, that Austrian vice-chancellor. Aargau. „With the hot spot Aargau, we offer counse- „We are a partnership operator between refugees support the administrations in installing a PPP-task ling service for all questions regarding integration.“ and local people who volunteer for sponsorships,“ The three-day conference dealt with sustainability force. In addition, the bureaucracy must be simpli- The institution is an association with a political mis- explained Christian Hlatky. in several fields such as financing, land use, water fied in order to implement projects more easily. management, integration and tourism. „Sustaina- Municipalities also have the opportunity to coo- bility in political terms means thinking about the perate with neighboring communities in multiple next generation not only the next elections,“ said IRE chairman Franz Schausberger. „The European Five EU billions for the Western Balkans project can only succeed if regions and municipa- lities will actively be involved in European policies.” Hungary‘s former Minister of Economy and Infra- in the control institutions and the administrative ca- The task of the EFSI is to stimulate economy and The conference takes place annually and brings structure Szabolcs Fazakas is currently member of pacities of the countries. The European Court of Au- entrepreneurial commitment of the private sector with aids of together around 200 political and economic repre- the European Court of Auditors and has conducted ditors has therefore formulated very clear guidelines 21 billion Euros and investments of 315 billion Euros. sentatives from different regions of Europe. the auditing of the „Instrument for Pre-Accession As- for the IPA II successor program: the targets and on- sistance“ (IPA) for the West Balkans region. With this the-spot checks will need to be made even more EU program € 5.1 billion have been allocated to the precisely and measurable. Western Balkans between 2007 and 2013. The mo- In the establishment and reformation of the admi- ney was mainly invested in infrastructure, economic nistrative apparatus (in contrast to the fight against Igor Mirović: „We are ready for