www.bodenseekonferenz.org For further information please contact: Internationale Bodensee Konferenz (IBK) Head Office Benediktinerplatz 1 D-78467 Konstanz Telefon: +49(0)7531-52722 Telefax: +49(0)7531-52869 [email protected] www.bodenseekonferenz.org Picture credits Astrium GmbH Friedrichshafen, IBK-Archiv, Markus Mauthe, d-werk GmbH Ravensburg, THURBO Kreuzlingen, Bregenzer Festspiele, Werdenberg Tourismus Buchs, Deutsche Zeppelin-Reederei, Michael Häfner, St.Gallen- Bodensee Tourismus, Theo Keller, Anja Köhler, Roland Korner, Regina Kühne, Roland Rasemann, Rolf Schultes, Achim Mende Design d-werk GmbH Ravensburg Printed by Druckerei Berchtold, Singen 1st edition, december 2009 International Lake Constance Conference (IBK) Objectives – Organisation – Projects This publication is funded by: EUROPÄISCHE UNION gefördert aus dem Europäischen Fonds für Regionale Entwicklung IBK | grenzenlos | kreativ | vernetzt IBK | grenzenlos | kreativ | vernetzt IBK-member states and cantons IBK at a glance Federal states Cantons The International Lake Constance Conference (In - Baden-Württemberg Appenzell Ausserrhoden ternationale Bodensee Konferenz – IBK) is a joint Area: 35.752 km ² Area: 243 km 2 platform for the federal states and cantons that Population: 10,7 million Population: 53.500 border on Lake Constance. IBK undertakes to with the Districts of Konstanz, maintain and promote the region of Lake Con - Bodenseekreis, Sigmaringen Appenzell Innerrhoden stance as an attractive place to live and as a natu - and Ravensburg Area: 173 km 2 ral environment with a vibrant culture and Sigmaringen Population: 16.000 economy, and to create a sense of regional identity. Bayern IBK’s mission statement (Leitbild) for the region of Area: 70.550 km ² St.Gallen Baden-Württemberg Ravensburg Lake Constance is the basis for teamwork within Population: 12,4 million Area: 2.026 km ² the IBK and for the work of the seven commissions: with the Districts of Lindau, Population: 466.000 Konstanz education, science and research; culture; environ - Kempten Oberallgäu and the urban Bodenseekreis ment; transport; economy; health and social affairs; Freistaat Bayern municipality of Kempten Schaffhausen and public relations. The IBK’s commissions carry Area: 298 km 2 Lindau out or initiate joint projects: for example, the Inter - Vorarlberg Population: 75.000 Schaffhausen national Lake Constance University (Internationale Oberallgäu Area: 2.601 km 2 Bodensee-Hochschule IBH), projects to promote Thurgau Population: 370.000 Thurgau networks in the cultural sphere, activities to protect Area: 991 km ² the climate, the day ticket Euregio Bodensee, Appenzell Appenzell Population: 241.000 Ausserrhoden Innerrhoden Agenda 21, teaching material on Lake Constance Vorarlberg Zürich region, and the Lake Constance Statistics Platform. Zürich Area: 1.729 km 2 As a forum for local governments and administrati - Population: 1,3 million ons, IBK is at the heart of a network for cross-bor - St.Gallen Fürstentum Liechtenstein der cooperation in the region of Lake Constance with numerous committees and institutions at all Fürstentum Liechtenstein levels dealing with a huge range of topics from Area: 160 km ² water pollution control and conservation to the Population: 35.500 economy and labour market, tourism and trans - port, right up to politics, culture and society. IBK | grenzenlos | kreativ | vernetzt Objectives Mission Statement (Leitbild) IBK enhances the common bonds between the June 27, 2008) the heads of the local governments states and cantons around Lake Constance. It pulls around Lake Constance signed the IBK’s mission down barriers created by borders and helps to pre - statement. It sets joint development objectives and sent a uniform image. IBK is the lynchpin holding is governed by the idea of mutual responsibility, together the complex relationships arising from constructive collaboration and guided by the princi - cross-border cooperation. ples of sustainable development and subsidiarity. On track – with the combi - The purpose of the mission IBK welcomes the efforts of all forces to work to - The different fields of activity and objectives are ned efforts of its member statement is to provide di - gether to promote the region of Lake Constance. given equal priority. Conflicting goals are resolved states and cantons, IBK rection, create a sense of Everything it does is in accordance with the princi - in the spirit of consensus taking into consideration sets the course for future identity within the IKB, ple of sustainable development and aimed at inte - the interests of the different parties. A catalogue developments in the region and make its activities grated solutions. It helps to reinforce a shared of measures is provided to implement the mission of Lake Constance. transparent. sense of regional identity among the people who statement. This is updated regularly and governs live here and is committed to safeguarding and de - the work of the seven specialist IBK commissions. veloping the cultural and natural landscape of the Lake Constance region. The mission statement is directed first and fore - most at the local governments of the members of IBK strives to position Lake Constance as an inter - IBK, and is then sent as a recommendation to par - nationally linked region with a dynamic and compe - liaments, communes, associations, and other or - titive economy, a high quality of life and attractive ganizations with responsibility in the region of Lake leisure opportunities. Constance as well as their consortiums. IBK | grenzenlos | kreativ | vernetzt Organisation Conference of Heads of Government The heads of government meet regularly to discuss joint political issues and goals in the region. They decide on the focus of the work plan, determine Conference of Heads of Government budgets, adopt resolutions for the member states and make recommendations to the national go - vernments of the countries involved and to institu - IBK is structured to ensure tions for European cooperation. that joint decisions are Standing Committee Standing Committee substantiated and imple - The operational body of IBK meets three times a mented at project level. year. It comprises the top representatives of the local authorities. The committee is responsible for Commissions ongoing business; it also appoints commissions and project groups, coordinates their work, moni - • Education, science and tors the budget and maintains contacts with other research institutions. • Culture Commissions • Environment IBK currently oversees seven commissions in the IBK head office following areas: education, science and research; • Transport culture; environment, nature and energy; transport; • Economy economy, employment and tourism; health and so - • Health and Social affairs cial affairs; and public relations. Special project teams and working groups deal with current issues. • Public Relations Chairmanship and head office IBK is chaired by a different member state or can - ton every year on a rotational basis. The chairper - son manages day-to-day business for the Project teams and working groups Conference of Heads of Government and the Stan - ding Committee and is supported in this task by the IBK head office. IBK | grenzenlos | kreativ | vernetzt Education, science and research IBK actively contributes to cultivating an attractive, Examples of projects competitive and coordinated educational, scientific • Promoting the International Lake Constance and research area of international standing. University (ILCU) as a network of universities, universities of applied science and educational Education, science and research are fundamental colleges in the region. prerequisites for economic growth, as well as for • Performance agreement with the ILCU with a employment and cultural and social cohesion. They focus on knowledge and technology transfer, Education, science and re - are an investment in the future. The aim now is to energy and mobility as well as regional develop - search are imperative for consolidate previous achievements and sustain ment, among others. economic growth. them at an international level by enhancing cross- • Supporting the Nobel Laureate Meetings in border cooperation and supporting and developing Lindau (Lake Constance) activities. IBK | grenzenlos | kreativ | vernetzt Culture IBK promotes Lake Constance as a region with a Examples of projects rich cultural heritage and active cultural life, thus • Supporting outstanding projects and networks contributing to the shared identity and internatio - in the cultural sphere, for example the recent nal flair of the region. Triennial for Contemporary Art • Promoting direct contact between artists and Culture and history together play a key role in for - organizers of art in various categories through ging a common identity in the region of Lake Con - its annual IBK awards and at the IBK Artistic En - Experimental folk musici - stance. IBK strives to preserve and cultivate this counters and the IBK Culture Forum, which al - ans meet at IBK’s Artistic legacy, while at the same time supporting present- ternate every two years. Encounter. day cultural activities in all their diversity, con - necting them and promoting them beyond the region. Culture and history are the cornerstones for a common identity in the region of Lake Constance. IBK | grenzenlos | kreativ | vernetzt Environment, nature and energy IBK promotes the conservation of the region as an the quality of life of present and future generati - attractive place to live