Franz Schausberger
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27 institut der regionen europas dec 2012 institute of the regions of europe newsregion Holiday Greetings and best wishes for a New Year 2013 of happiness in a world of ✸peace! Orthodox cross in the wooden church at the open-air museum of Piteşti Viviane Reding IRE chairman Franz Schausberger has been appointed to elaborate the official opinion of the Committee of the Regions (CoR) about the decentralization process in the EU member states. Vice-President of the European Commission Regions and Cities are the heart Devolution and self-governance in of the European Year of Citizens Europe – a survey The European Year of Citizens 2013 will be an oppor- 2. Inviting our citizens to join the debate 27 member states, 27 different sys- the focus lays on political and fiscal de- tunity to make people aware of their rights. An oppor- Today, only one in three citizens thinks that their voice tems. If it comes to their territorial centralization as well as on the concept tunity to show how European policies affect their lives. counts in the EU. Just one in three. This situation must organization, there is no conformi- of multi-level-governance»“ And the best moment to look together for the best change. Today, many people feel that politics is some- ty within the single member states Two major occurrences shaped the de- way to our common future. thing done behind closed doors, in places far away of the European Union. In this con- centralization in the recent past. The Lis- from them, by people who are nothing like them. text, united in diversity, a central bon Treaty not only formalized the sub- 1. Building a better Europe for citizens And this brings me to my second point – we must in- European leitmotif becomes the- sidiartiy principle but also made a clear Today, peoples‘ overriding concern is the crisis. 9 out vite citizens to join the debate. But we must not just refore an existing reality. As official commitment to the regional and local of 10 Europeans cite unemployment or the economic invite people to come to us. We are coming to listen to representation of the regions and level. Nevertheless, this strengthening situation as one of the most important issues currently them! And we expect them to tell us what they want, cities within the EU, the Committee has been challenged very soon alrea- dy in 2008 by the upcoming economic facing their region. what they wish. of the Regions (CoR) has a major and financial crisis, which by 2010 had And what do citizens expect from us? According to a The Commission has started a series of debates or interest in monitoring the process become a crisis of the European public recent Eurobarometer survey, Europeans‘ foremost ex- townhall meetings – and I would like to invite you to of decentralization and giving a pectation of the EU is that it should fight the crisis. In- come to those and also to organise additional ones to debts. As part of their respective austeri- Ivan Vucic (President of the Karlovac detailed overview about the state ty programs, many central governments Region, Croatia) and Franz Schaus- deed, over half of our citizens give this response. They join the debate. of the art in the member states in have lived the effects of the failed recipes of the past: Let me tell you one more thing about these Debates: initiated a latent process of re-centrali- berger. this regard. zation, cutting the competences and fi- Of national decisions with international consequences. • They are not just in Brussels. nancial means of the regional and local in observing the decentralization pro- • They have seen how the economic difficulties of • They are not just in national parliaments. The opinion „Devolution in the Europe- level. „This is by far the most dangerous cess in Europe and should therefore some Member States spread unchecked to neigh- • They are not just in Capital cities. an Union and the place for local and re- development we can observe in the last strengthen the mutual cooperation, bouring countries. gional self-government in EU policy ma- years. The CoR must demonstrate its said Kiefer. • They recognise that we need European answers to 3. Informing our citizens of their rights king and delivery“ has the duty to fulfill strong opposition against such policies“, Regarding the principle of multi-level- European problems. And this brings me to my third point. In one month‘s this interest, presenting a survey about said Schausberger. Indeed, he gets sup- governance, the opinion will stress the • They recognise that Europe will emerge stronger, time the European Year will begin. 2013 will also be the decentralization and multi-level- port by the European Commission. A re- need of more initiatives on the national th not just in spite of the crisis, but because of it. Accor- the 20 anniversary of the concept of EU citizens, first governance in the EU. Franz Schaus- cent report by the DG ECOFIN on the pu- and sub-national local. This is a prere- ding to a recent poll, over half of Europeans agree enshrined in the Maastricht Treaty. berger presented a first working docu- blic finances of the European Monetary quisite to achieve a coordinated action that our Union will be stronger in the long-run as a Whilst many might „feel“ like European citizens, only ment of the opinion on 4 December at a Union (EMU) gave empirical evidence of by the European Union, the Member consequence of the crisis. a minority actually know the rights that this grants meeting of the CIVEX commission in the the fact, that own taxes and dues lead States and local and regional authori- The European Union has already acted. We have taken them. Raising awareness on the status of European ci- CoR. In the forefront of the meeting the to a more responsible behavior with the ties. The first draft opinion will be voted unprecedented steps to provide these „European an- tizenship will be a key challenge for the European Year. he had several consultations with vari- public budgets. Nonetheless, a majority in the CIVEX meeting of February 2013, swers“ that our continent, our countries and our regi- European citizenship must be to the Political Union ous stakeholders and representatives of countries still rely on transfers for the whereas the final opinion may be ap- ons desperately need.Today, the European Commissi- what the Euro is to the Monetary Union: A lived, con- from the European Commission. Rap- financing of the sub-national bodies. proved at the CoR plenary session of on went one important step further. We presented our crete reality. porteur Schausberger emphasizes the At his presentation, Schausberger em- April 2013. main challenge: „The last opinion on this Blueprint for a deep and genuine Economic and Mo- phasized the political consequences of topic has been elaborated in 2005. Since netary Union. It is an ambitious, but realistic document A further challenge will be overcoming final obstacles an inadequate financial framework for that time, many aspects in the field of that shows where we can and should go in the next 5-6 to citizens enjoying their rights. This means „filling in sub-national entities. „Catalonia recei- devolution and decentralization have years: to a stronger fiscal, economic and banking union the gaps“ to ensure that citizens can travel, work and ves only 1/3 of the regional tax-income. changed and need to be taken in con- If the government in Madrid is not dis- in the euro area. reside anywhere in Europe. sideration in this opinion. Thematically, We need to be ambitious and go ahead. And we need I am very glad to see that the regions will be at the posed to gain better conditions it is not astonishing that claims for independen- to make sure that stronger powers and competences heart of this: cy and separatism of the region become at European level go hand in hand with stronger de- • You have the local expertise. attractive for the political parties. Similar mocratic legitimacy at the European level. A Political • You have a strong understanding of Europe‘s diver- tendencies can be observed in Scotland Union where every citizen, from the smallest village to sity. and other European regions.“ A special the largest city, feels their voice counts in shaping our • You can help in building a brighter future for Europe. focus lays also on the cooperation with continent‘s future. the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe. Its (Extract of the speech of Commissioner Reding at the Forum of the Committee of the Regions / Brussels/ 28 November 2012) Secretary General, Andreas Kiefer, took Andreas Kiefer, Secretary General of part the CIVEX meeting in Brussels de- the Congress of Local and Regional IMPRESSUM Media owner and publisher: Institute of the Regions of Europe, A-5020 Salzburg, Franz-Josef-Kai 1, Tel.: +43/662/843288-5010, Fax: +43/662/843288-5050, www.institut-ire.eu, [email protected] • Editor and layout: printmedia, 5020 Salzburg • Photos: ire, Neumayr, Wikipedia, Friess, Petrisch, Schausberger, Fritz, Titelseite: Karte: Olgierd Geblewicz (Marshall of Za- clared the support of the Congress to Authorities of the Council of Europe, http://ec.europa.eu/regional_policy/what/index_en.cfm, Source: Eurostat • Print: Druck & Digitale Medien, Salzburg-Hallwang Aaron Gottardi, appointed political 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 chodniopomorskie, Poland) and the opinion. Both institutions, the Con- men and women on equal terms.