Transcript Slide 1

Inspire policy making by territorial evidence
ESPON Seminar
“Territories Acting for Economic Growth:
Using territorial evidence to meet challenges towards 2020”
Workshop 2.C: European Macro Regions
EU Strategy for the Alpine Region (EUSALP)
Dr. Frithjof Ehm, DG REGIO, Brussels
Macro-regional Strategy
REGULATION (EU) No 1303/2013 of 17 December 2013
Article 2 (Definitions), para. 31:
'macro-regional strategy' means an integrated framework
endorsed by the European Council, which may be supported
by the ESI Funds among others, to address common
challenges faced by a defined geographical area relating to
Member States and third countries located in the same
geographical area which thereby benefit from strengthened
cooperation contributing to achievement of economic, social
and territorial cohesion;
Common questions the presenters should seek to address:
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Are there certain standards that can be found in all macro regions? What
are unique conditions for the European macro-regions?
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How do macro-regions take on-board European and global development
dynamics?
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How could continuous territorial evidence and tailor-made benchmarking
support efficient implementation and investments?
EUSALP
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The European Council Presidency Conclusions of 19/20 December 2013
include at paragraph 50: "(…/…) the European Council invites the
Commission, in cooperation with Member States, to elaborate an EU
Strategy for the Alpine Region by June 2015".
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5 EU Member States (Austria, France, Germany, Italy and Slovenia) and 2
non-EU countries (Liechtenstein and Switzerland), and 48 regions.
Core areas of MRS of the EU
THE PARTICIPATING COUNTRIES
Alpine Space, EUSALP and Alpine Convention
EUSALP and the capitals
AIMS OF THE STRATEGY
The EU Macro-regional Strategy for the Alpine Region aims
to bring a new impetus for co-operation and investment to
the benefit of all involved: States, regions, civil society
stakeholders and, above all, European citizens. It will build
on a long tradition of co-operation in the Alps, and will
seek to complement, rather than duplicate existing cooperation structures. This also aims to ensure that this
Region remains one of the most attractive areas in Europe,
taking better advantage of its assets and seizing its
opportunities for sustainable and innovative development
in a European context.
WHAT WILL THE STRATEGY ADDRESS
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Policy field(s): All major policy fields are concerned (transport, energy,
environment, trade, employment, research, etc.)
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Action-oriented pillars
 Pillar 1. Fostering sustainable growth and promoting innovation in the
Alps: from theory to practice, from research centres to enterprises.
EUSALP: ACTION-ORIENTED PILLARS
 Pillar 2. Connectivity for all: in search of a balanced territorial
development through environmentally friendly mobility patterns,
transport systems and communication services and infrastructures.
 Pillar 3. Ensuring sustainability in the Alpine Region: preserving the
Alpine heritage and promoting a sustainable use of natural and
cultural resources.
THE 3 PILLARS
TIMELINE
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16 July – 15 October 2014: public consultation
From 16 October 2014: Streamlining of data collected during consultation
process
22 October: Committee of the Regions (COTER) and European Economic
and Social Committee (EESC); debate concerning opinions
1/2 December: Stakeholder Conference in Milan
December 2014 – March 2015: Drafting of Strategy (EC Communication
and Action Plan)
June 2015: Adoption of Strategy by the College of the Commissioners
Second semester 2015: Endorsement by the Council (Luxembourg EU
Presidency)
Late autumn 2015: Conference concerning the adoption of the Strategy
and kick-off of the implementation
THE PUBLIC CONSULTATION
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Target group(s): Member States, regional and local authorities, intergovernmental and non-governmental bodies, public organisations,
enterprises, civil society and European citizens
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Period of consultation: From 16 July to 15 October 2014
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Languages of consultation: English, French, German, Italian and Slovenian
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Encouragement to participate by the Commission, Member States and
Regions
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Many National events to generate participation
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EU Consultation, Italian consultation and Swiss consultation
CONTRIBUTIONS
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Contributions received on the webpage of the Commission: 193
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English: 52
French: 21
German: 62
Italian: 50
Slovenian: 8
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Contributions received from Italy: 129, received on http://www.alpineregion.eu/
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Contributions received from Switzerland: […]
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All in all: aprox. 340 (including some contributions by email)
Common questions the presenters should seek to address:
Are there certain standards that can be found in all macro regions? What are
unique conditions for the European macro-regions?
All macro-regions have common items:
 Specific geographic setting (sea, river basin, mountains);
 Common and mutually recognised domains of common interest;
• Competitiveness/Prosperity/Growth/Research/Innovation
• Transport, Environment, Energy
 Action Plan of each strategy defines all elements previously discussed.
 Necessity of added value
 Operational embedding
Common questions the presenters should seek to address:
Are there certain standards that can be found in all macro regions? What are
unique conditions for the European macro-regions?
Governance
 General governance setting:
• 3 NOs (no new structures, no new institutions, no new legislation)
• Making best use of existing structures, institutions and legislation)
 Overarching and interrelated objectives/pillars;
 Further to these objectives/pillars are translated into working structures:
• platform for discussions among participating states: meetings of National Contact Points
(EUSBSR and EUSDR); EUSAIR Governing Board;
• Priority Areas and Horizontal Actions (EUSBSR); Priority Areas (EUSDR); Thematic Steering
Groups (EUSAIR);
 One size does not fit all
 Top-down and bottom-up
EUSBSR – Priority Areas and Horizontal Actions
Danube Strategy (EUSDR)
The Danube Region Strategy addresses a wide range of issues; these are
divided among 4 pillars and 11 priority areas (see image). Each priority area
is managed by 2 Priority Area Coordinators (PACs).
Pillars and Topics of EUSAIR
EUSALP
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EUSALP Stakeholder Conference – Milan, 1st December 2014, Milan
Declaration of the Alpine States and Regions
Para. 8:
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To put in place a governance structure for the Strategy which is in accordance with the Grenoble Political
Resolution, the principles of multi-level governance and the Council Conclusions of 21 October 2014, and is
based upon:
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a) a General Assembly to be held on a regular basis, gathering the high level political representatives of States
and Regions involved in the Strategy, and representatives of the Alpine Convention and Alpine Space
Programme as observers, and which will be responsible for laying down general political guidelines;
b) a standing Executive Board in charge of overseeing the implementation of the EUSALP Action Plan, formed by
representatives of the States and Regions and including representatives of the European Commission, the Alpine
Convention and the INTERREG Alpine Space Programme as observers;
c)Action Groups, to be defined in greater detail depending on the content of the Action Plan, which will be
responsible for implementing the actions.
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Common questions the presenters should seek to address:
How do macro-regions take on-board European and global development
dynamics?
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MRS provide a specific framework that needs to be adapted to the national needs
Many managing authorities try to implement the broad lines of EU policy
Examples
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Sea pollution (EUSBSR): situation is aggravated by the following facts: Baltic sea is very shallow,
limited water circulation, in addition to all that – dense traffic;
Climate change (EUSALP): the Alpine area is exceptional, since it has to deal with twice as fast
temperature rise in comparison to other areas on the globe;
Russian gas (EUSBSR);
Youth unemployment (EUSALP);
Tourism (EUSALP);
Common questions the presenters should seek to address:
How could continuous territorial evidence and tailor-made benchmarking
support efficient implementation and investments?
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Danger of too many actions (slim strategy);
Relation of MRS to regional OPs (often not enough flexibility) and transnational programmes;
Relation of MRS to transnational programmes;
Action Plans include goals, targets, indicators and measurement approaches or indications on
how goals, targets, indicators and measurement approaches will be developed for each Priority
Area and Horizontal Action (EUSBSR); Priority Area (EUSDR); Thematic Steering Group (EUSAIR);
It is an on-going work in progress. Monitoring is done or envisaged to be done with a variety of
data available: e.g. HELCOM data for EUSBSR, Eurostat potentially for EUSAIR;
Soft measures: multilateral cooperation, exchange of information and best practices, e.g., Roma
inclusion initiative (EUSDR);
Thank you for your attention!
Dr. Frithjof Ehm