Alpine Space Programme Midterm Conference 16/17 June 2011 Grenoble, France How Does the Region of Rhône-Alpes Envisage Its Role on the European Stage?
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PROGRAMME AND PROJECT ABSTRACTS Alpine Space Programme MidTerm Conference 16/17 June 2011 Grenoble, France How does the Region of Rhône-Alpes envisage its role on the European stage? Rhône-Alpes is a major European region in terms of size, population, economic vitality and research potential. It pursues dynamic cooperation initiatives within the Four Motors for Europe (with Baden-Württemberg, Catalonia and Lombardy), the Alps-Mediterranean Euroregion (with its neighbour Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur as well as the Regions of Aosta Valley, Piedmont and Liguria in Italy), not to mention Malopolska in Poland and the South Danube Region in Hungary. The Region is also a partner of fi ve territorial cooperation programmes and is involved in the management of European Regional funds. These partnerships are a concrete manifestation of a Europe of the Regions that is fast becoming a reality. What part does the Region of Rhône-Alpes play in the Alpine Space Programme? Home to three mountain massifs - the Alps, Jura and Massif Central - Rhône-Alpes is not just a mountainous region, it is unquestionably an Alpine one which has to contend with the same mountain-specifi c problems as its neighbours (high tourist infl ux, environmental Jean-JacquesJean-Jack QUEYRANNE, concerns, accessibility, economic issues etc.). President, The Alpine Space Programme is helping to build Europe in very real terms and is a Rhône-Alpes Regional Council testament to our determination to fi ght the adverse effects of climate change on the Alps. In less than a century, the temperature has increased by approximately two degrees; glaciersHow doesare melting the at Regionsuch speed of that Rhône-Alpes the Bossons Glacier envisage has shrunk its by role more thanon 600the metresEuropean over a stage?period of one generation. TheRhône-Alpes aim of the ispartner a major Regions European in this region programme in terms is ofto createsize, population, a joint initiative economic to foster vitality the sustainableand research development potential. It ofpursues these territories,dynamic cooperation making sure initiatives to involve within the local the populationsFour Motors andfor Europeactors (within communal Baden-Württemberg, projects to bolster Catalonia the andpreservation Lombardy), of thetheir Alps-Mediterranean environment, the attractivenessEuroregion (with and its the neighbour accessibility Provence-Alpes-Côte of their territories. d’Azur as well as the Regions of Rhône-AlpesAosta Valley, leadsPiedmont the Silmasand Liguria Alpine in lakeItaly), management not to mention project Malopolska and also in partners Poland andthe co-fundersthe South ofDanube seven Regionother projects in Hungary. relating The to Regionenergy-effi is alsocient a building, partner theof fi modalve territorial shift, E-Health,cooperation the programmes promotion of and Alpine is involved meta-clusters in the management and the provision of European of homecare Regional services funds. toThese isolated partnerships people. are a concrete manifestation of a Europe of the Regions that is fast Overbecoming and abovea reality. the implementation of innovative governance methods, the projects undertaken provide an operational framework, consolidating the values which forge the AlpineWhat identity part doesof our regionsthe Region that we of are Rhône-Alpes determined to protect play andin the enhance. Alpine Space Programme? What are our future commitments? Home to three mountain massifs - the Alps, Jura and Massif Central - Rhône-Alpes is not Injust a acontext mountainous marked region, by the it isworld unquestionably economic ancrisis Alpine and one cuts which in publichas to funding,contend withthe Europeanthe same cohesionmountain-specifi policy, whichc problems will will as be its launched neighbours after (high 2013, tourist is an infl essential ux, environmental challenge Jean-Jacques QUEYRANNE, forconcerns, the region. accessibility, With its Four economic Motors issues partner etc.). regions and via the Rhône-Alpes Executive President, Committee, our Region contributes signifi cantly to the European Commission’s debate The Alpine Space Programme is helping to build Europe in very real terms and is a Rhône-Alpes Regional Council on the shape of European programmes in the future. testament to our determination to fi ght the adverse effects of climate change on the Alps. WeIn lessare thanstriving a century, to ensure the thattemperature the Alpine has Space increased Programme by approximately post 2013 twofavours degrees; the developmentglaciers are melting of our livingat such space, speed maintains that the Bossonsits quality Glacier and, with has the shrunk support by more of those than who 600 livemetres there, over secure a period our mountains’of one generation. future. IThe am aim delighted of the partner that Rhône-Alpes Regions in this is programmehosting the is Alpine to create Space a joint Programme initiative to fosterMidTerm the Conference.sustainable developmentOn June 16 andof these 17, territories,we shall come making together sure to to involve refl ect the upon local the populations future of theand Alps actors which in communal we cherish projects and take to fullbolster measure the preservationof the cooperative of their actions environment, rolled outthe throughoutattractiveness the andAlpine the territories. accessibility of their territories. Rhône-Alpes leads the Silmas Alpine lake management project and also partners the crédits photos Christel VIVANT co-funders of seven other projects relating to energy-effi cient building, the modal shift, E-Health, the promotion of Alpine meta-clusters and the provision of homecare services 2 to isolated people. Over and above the implementation of innovative governance methods, the projects undertaken provide an operational framework, consolidating the values which forge the Alpine identity of our regions that we are determined to protect and enhance. What are our future commitments? In a context marked by the world economic crisis and cuts in public funding, the European cohesion policy, which will will be launched after 2013, is an essential challenge for the region. With its Four Motors partner regions and via the Rhône-Alpes Executive Committee, our Region contributes signifi cantly to the European Commission’s debate on the shape of European programmes in the future. We are striving to ensure that the Alpine Space Programme post 2013 favours the development of our living space, maintains its quality and, with the support of those who live there, secure our mountains’ future. I am delighted that Rhône-Alpes is hosting the Alpine Space Programme MidTerm Conference. On June 16 and 17, we shall come together to refl ect upon the future of the Alps which we cherish and take full measure of the cooperative actions rolled out throughout the Alpine territories. 2 Why does European Territorial Cooperation play such an essential role for the territories? European programmes help territorial collectivities, socio-economic institutions and associations capitalize on their assets and complementarities while exploiting their synergies and strengthening their development strategies. This essential contribution, achieved through cross-border and transnational cooperation, promotes the harmonious development of territories and transforms our regions into competitive and sustainable living spaces. Midway through the 2007-2013 European Alpine Space Programme, where do you think we stand? The Alpine Space Programme has honoured its pledges by supporting a plethora of quality projects for the benefi t of the territories involving some 51 million Euros of ERDF funding. The outcomes so far have been positive for both the project holders and transnational institutional partners who have collaborated on the projects. As far as France is concerned, in conjunction with the General Secretariat for Regional Affairs (SGAR) under my authority and with co-fi nancing from the Regional Council, Europe backs and funds projects in the Jean-François CARENCO, fi eld of economic development, innovation and transportation as well as the fi ght against Prefect, the effects of climate change, for instance by encouraging energy-effi cient building and Prefecture of water management in the Alps. the Region Rhône-Alpes The project holders have succeeded in developing well-targeted and dynamic networks, gathering precious information from exchanges of experiences and good practices and performing truly innovative actions. As the coordination Prefect, in charge of carrying out French commitments under the Alpine Space Programme, I am delighted to host the MidTerm Conference which will spotlight the achievements of the 25 on-going projects and also shape the future of this cooperation initiative post 2013 in collaboration with our partners from Austria, Germany, Italy, Switzerland, Slovenia and Liechtenstein. Are the French partners strongly involved in the programme? More than 30 French partners from the associate regions of Alsace, Franche-Comté, Rhône-Alpes and Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur are participating in the 25 projects which were launched following the fi rst two calls for projects. There are more projects to come, as funding is open until 2013. crédits photos Pascale SAVEY 3 Programme At the mid-way of the programming period 2007-2013, partners from the seven countries cooperating under the EU transnational programme for the Alps come together at a major event. Stock will be taken on where the Alpine Space Programme stands on its course for sustainable regional development