REPORT ADRIATIC EUROREGION

Transcription

1 Strasburg, 5 May 2008 T Engl. nly EUROPEAN COMMISSION FOR DEMOCRACY THROUGH LAW (VENICE COMMISSION) UNIDEM CAMPUS TRIESTE SEMINAR "MODELS OF REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT" Trieste, Italy April 2008 REPORT ADRIATIC EUROREGION by Mr Orian OTOČAN (Istrian Reginal Gvernment Member in charge f internatinal c-peratin and Eurpean Integratin, Istria, Cratia) This dcument will nt be distributed at the meeting. Please bring this cpy.

2 - 2 - CONTENT A. Intrductin...3 B. Key infrmatin...5 C. Realized activities...5 I. The fundatin f the Adriatic Eurregin...5 II Assembly meeting f the Adriatic Eurregin...6 III. Wrking Cmmissin s Cnstitutin Cmmissin fr culture and turism Cmmissin fr fisheries Cmmissin fr transprt and infrasturcture Cmmissin fr envirnment Cmmissin fr prductive & ecnmic affairs...7 IV. Opening f the Liaisn Office in Brussels...7 V. Assembly meeting...7 VI. Cmmissins wrking cnference...8 VII. Prpsed prject ideas Cmmissin fr culture and turism Cmmissin fr fisheries Cmmissin fr transprt and infrastructure Cmmissin fr the envirnmental prtectin Cmmissin fr ecnmic/prductive affairs...9 VIII. First Jint Initiative...9 D. Future initiatives and challenges...10

3 - 3 - A. Intrductin 1. The initiative f setting up an Adriatic Eurregin has been launched by the Cngress f Lcal and Reginal Authrities (CLRAE) f the Cuncil f Eurpe with the supprt f the Regin f Istria (Cratia) and the Regin Mlise (Italy) and has received grwing internatinal, natinal, reginal and lcal supprt. A number f institutins acknwledged this initiative as highly deliverable, thereby helping t braden the verall cnsensus. 2. A series f internatinal cnferences, held in a number f cuntries in the Adriatic area, have, in their final declaratins, expressed a widely shared desire t ensure prper supprt fr the new initiative, generally seen as a tl fr c-peratin and a means f paving the way fr the Suth-East Eurpean cuntries t accede t the Eurpean Unin. "The Declaratin f Opatija" adpted n the initiative f the Littral-Muntain Regin, Istria Regin, Dubrvnik and Neretva Regin and the Autnmus Regin f Friuli-Venezia Giulia, in the curse f the "Adriatic summer schl" f the Assembly f Eurpean Regins held in the year 2002 in Opatija with the subject "Cntributin f the regins t the prcess f viability - innvative practice fr innvative plicies f reginal develpment" The decisins f the meeting f the presidents f the Cratian Adriatic Regins with the participatin f the representatives f the Italian Regin f Mlise, held in Mšćenička Draga, Littral-Muntain Regin, 25 Octber 2003 The reprt (CLRAE - AER) n cmmn activities fr interreginal cllabratin: aims and results f the Summer schl f the Assembly f Eurpean Regins and f the Prgram Centuri - Cngress f the lcal and reginal authrities f the Cuncil f Eurpe, Cnference held in Pula n 28 June 2004 which cnfirmed the need f prmting activities f cllabratin amng regins, seminar held in Dubrvnik n 06 September 2004 defining a series f sectrs such cllabratin includes (fisheries, envirnment, agriculture, turism and culture, infrastructure and transprtatin), withut excluding the pssibility f adding ther future fields f wrk; cnference in Chiggia frm September 2004 rganized by the Parliamentary Assembly entitled Twards Sustainable Develpment f the Adriatic: Cllabratin Amng Lcal and Reginal Institutins resulting in great cnsensus and winning a wide participatin f Parliamentary members frm varius parts f the regin, cnference in Termli frm Nvember 2004 at which the representatives f regins and municipalities f Albania, Bsnia and Herzegvina, Cratia, Italy, Serbia and Mnte Negr and Slvenia signed The Prtcl n the Establishment f the Adriatic/Inic Eurregin and cnsidered the first draft f the Statute f the new institutin; cnference in Pula dated 22 April 2005 at which the Prvisinal Cuncil f the Adriatic Eurregin adpted the first draft f the Statute; seminar in Brussels dated Nvember 2005 entitled Adriatic Eurregin: Means fr Eurpean Integratin aimed at presenting the initiative t the Eurpean Unin and getting its supprt; Cnventin in Venice dated 06 February 2006 which shaped the initiative by signing the cmmn plitical declaratin with the enclsed draft f the Statute f the Eurregin.

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5 The Adriatic Eurregin is an assciatin f units f territrial self-gvernments, as a rule f the first level belw state level situated n the Adriatic Sea. The AE has the quality f a nnprfit legal entity in accrdance with the laws f the Republic f Cratia. B. Key infrmatin President: Ivan Jakvčić, President f the Regin f Istria, Cratia Vice-president: Michele Iri, President f the Regin f Mlise, Italy Funded: 30 June 2006 in Pula, Cratia Cmpsitin: 23 member regins frm 6 Adriatic States Italy: Regin Friuli-Venezia-Giulia, Regin Venet, Regin Emilia-Rmagna, Regin Marche, Regin Abruzz, Regin Mlise and Regin Puglia. Slvenia: City f Izla. Cratia: Regin f Istria, Primrsk-granska Cunty, Ličk-senjaska Cunty, Zadar Cunty, Šibenik and Knin Cunty, Split and Dalmatia Cunty and Dubrvnik and Neretva Cunty. Bsnia and Herzegvina: Hercegvačk-neretvanski Kantn. Mntenegr: Municipality f Ktr. Albania: Qarku Fier, Qarku Shkder, Qarku Durres, Qarku Lezhe, Qarku Tirana and Qarku Vlre. Ppulatin: 22 millins Surface: 229, 028 km2 Gals: Prtectin f the cultural heritage Prtectin f the envirnment Sustainable ecnmic develpment in particular f turism, fishery and agriculture Slutin f transprt and ther infrastructure issues Cnslidatin f an area f peace, stability and cperatin Creatin f the jint framewrk fr better absrptin and mre efficient use f EU funds Supprt t all cuntries in the Adriatic area n their path twards the Eurpean Unin C. Realized activities I. The fundatin f the Adriatic Eurregin - Cnstitutin Cnference - 30 June 2006, Pula (Cratia) 4. The idea t launch a cncrete c-peratin between the reginal and lcal authrities in rder t cntribute t the develpment f the Adriatic area became a reality in Pula n the 30 th June 2006 the day when the funding Cnference f the Adriatic Eurregin tk place. The event was attended alngside with the representatives f the member-regins, representatives f the Cuncil f Eurpe and the Cmmittee f the Regins als by the President f the Republic f Cratia Mr. Stipe Mesić, by the President f the Republic f Bsnia and Herzegvina Mr. Sulejman Tihić and by the Vice Minister f Freign Affairs f the Republic f Italy Mr. Famian Crucianelli. 5. The Adriatic Eurregin is willing t becme an effective frum t accmmdate different interests n the Adriatic Sea. In the next year the gal is t develp the funding grunds f the rganizatin and t start achieving the cmmnly defined bjectives, namely, peace, stability

6 - 6 - and wealth fr its citizens. Fllwing the funding cnference f the Adriatic Eurregin, the ffice f the Secretariat was slemnly pened in Pula. On this ccasin a classical music cncert cnducted by Maestr Riccard Muti was held in Pula's amphitheater. II Assembly meeting f the Adriatic Eurregin - 22 Nvember 2006, Ancna (Italy) 6. The secnd Assembly meeting represented the end f the preparatry phase f the Adriatic Eurregin; frm the 22 nd Nvember 2006 the cnstitutive bdies have been elected and the Adriatic Eurregin was able t start its wrk independently. 7. The members f the Executive Bard are cmpsed f a balanced presence f representative s frm bth sides f the Adriatic, namely, the Italian Regins Friuli-Venezia Giulia, Venet and Marche, the Cratian Cunty f Split and Dalmatia, Mntenegr and Albania supprted in its wrk by the President and Vice-president f the Adriatic Eurregin. The Executive Bard hlds regular sessins at least nce in six mnths and every time in a different member state. 8. Decisins f the Executive Bard shall be in effect prvided the presence f the majrity f its members. The Executive Bard is cnvked by the President f the AE by his/her decisin, r at the demand f the Vice-President, r else when it is demanded by ne third f the members f the Executive Bard r the Supervisry Bard. The Supervisry Bard supervises the implementatin f acts adpted by the bdies f the AE and the regularity f material and financial business activities. The Bard is cmpsed by ne Albanian representative, ne Cratian (Dubrvnik-Neretva Cunty) and ne Italian (Regin Puglia) Regin. 9. The II Assembly meeting brught the prpsal t cnstitute the Adriatic Eurregin s Cmmissins. The aim is develp the activities f the Adriatic Eurregin in 5 thematic areas, i.e., fishery, envirnment, transprt & infrastructure, culture & turism and prductive/ecnmic affairs. Alngside with the mentined Cmmissins an imprtant rle is played by the Cmmissin fr Institutinal matters, chaired by the Italian Regin Abruzz. III. Wrking Cmmissin s Cnstitutin - 16 th & 17 th April 2007, Brijuni Islands (Cratia) 10. In accrdance with the prpsal taken during the 2nd Assembly meeting held in Ancna t fficially cnstitute the thematic Cmmissins f the Adriatic Eurregin the initiative was rganized by the Secretariat in cllabratin with the Regin f Istria n Brijuni Islands (Cratia). The tw-days meeting represented the first gathering f that kind, which gruped plitical and technical representatives f member-regins. The aim was t give a presidency and vicepresidency t each Cmmissin which will be in charge f drafting the annual wrking prgramme and crdinate the Cmmissins wrk and activities. Every Adriatic Eurregin member has the right t be represented in each f the 5 Cmmissins with at least ne member. 11. The agreed Cmmissins' cmpsitin is as fllws:

7 COMMISSION FOR CULTURE AND TOURISM Presidency: Regin Puglia, IT Vice-presidency: Regin f Istria, HR Vice-presidency: Qarkut Lezha, ALB 2. COMMISSION FOR FISHERIES Presidency: Zadar Cunty, HR Vice-presidency: Regin Venet, IT Vice-presidency: Qarkut Vlre, ALB 3. COMMISSION FOR TRANSPORT AND INFRASTURCTURE Presidency: Primrsk-granska Cunty, HR Vice-presidency: Qarkut Shkder, ALB Vice-presidency: Regin Mlise, ITA 4. COMMISSION FOR ENVIRONMENT Presidency: Emilia-Rmagna, IT Vice-presidency: Cunty f Šibenik and Split, HR Vice-presidency: Municipality f Ktr, CG 5. COMMISSION FOR PRODUCTIVE & ECONOMIC AFFAIRS Presidency: Qarku Fier, ALB Vice-presidency: Regin Marche, IT Vice-presidency: Municipality f Ktr, CG IV. Opening f the Liaisn Office in Brussels -11 th June 2007, Brussels (Belgium) 12. After the imprtant achievements reached in this year, the pening f the liaisn ffice in Brussels the 11 th June 2007 represented the definitive next step. The pening event was attended by imprtant plitical and diplmatic persnalities, the Secretary General f the Cmmittee f the Regins Mr. Gerard Stahl, the Cratian State Secretary Mrs. Marija Burić Pejčinvić, the Vice Minister f Freign Affairs f the Republic f Italy Mr. Famian Crucianelli, representatives frm DG REGIO, which cntributed t enrich the prgramme thrugh enhancing the diversity f perspectives and cntent represented. The ffice is lcated in the in the premises f the Reginal representatin ffice f the Regin Mlise. V. Assembly meeting - 21 st September, Shkder (Albania) 13. The third assembly meeting f the Adriatic Eurregin rganized in cllabratin with the qarku f shkder and the albanian ministry f interir was a definitive step twards the frmalizatin f the wrk and activities f the assciatin. the event was attended by prminent representatives f the Cuncil f Eurpe, Albanian Gvernment and the Albanian President Rami Tpi. During the 3rd Assembly meeting the President f the Adriatic Eurregin was recnfirmed fr a mandate f 2 years in the persn f Mr. Ivan Jakvčić, President f the Regin f Istria (HR). The Vice-president, Mr. Michele Iri, President f the Regin Mlise (IT), was reelected fr a mandate f 2 years as well. The Cmpsitin f the Executive and Supervisry bard was recnfirmed as in the previus temprary mandate. The Wrking Prgramme fr 2008 was unanimusly accepted by all members, stressing the imprtance f integrated and crdinated

8 - 8 - actins in the whle Adriatic area. VI. Cmmissins wrking cnference - 3 rd and 4 th December 2007, Venice (Italy) 14. The wrking meeting f the Adriatic Eurregin s Cmmissins tk place in Venice (Italy) the 3 rd and 4 th December 2007 rganized in c-peratin with the Regin Venet. The meeting was attended by member-regins frm 6 Cuntries; mrever the prefecture f Crfu (Greece) and the Cuncil f Eurpe were present as bservers. During each f the 5 Cmmissins' meetings, namely, Cmmissin fr Culture and Turism, Cmmissin fr Transprt and Infrastructure, Cmmissin fr Envirnment, Cmmissin fr Fisheries and Cmmissin fr Ecnmic affairs, the wrking plan fr 2008 was presented and sme prject ideas were shared between its partners. 15. Thse prject prpsals are the result f the technical crdinatin and the harmnius wrk between the Cmmissin s members; mrever, they represent the cmmn needs f the Adriatic regins and are aimed at slving issues which may affect all the members. The prject results will have integral effect fr the Adriatic as a whle. The final say cncerning the best prjects was given by the Members f the Executive Bard. At present it is up t the Cmmissin s members t develp and extend thse prpsals fr the beginning f The cmmn will f the Adriatic Eurregin s members is t candidate the prjects thrugh the new instrument IPA CBC and thers. VII. Prpsed prject ideas 1. COMMISSION FOR CULTURE AND TOURISM Lng term prgramme f sustainable turistic develpment in the Adriatic area and the develpment f the Adriatic Brand Gurmet Adria Presentatin f typical prducts and plates f the Adriatic regins Itineraries and places in the culture f the Adriatic Sea Creatin f a virtual Médiathèque f visual and audi-visual prductin f the Adriatic regins & technical assistance in the prcess f digital prductin Prject f c-peratin in the field f archaelgy Creatin f an audi and visual archive f the ppular musical prductin and ral traditin f the Adriatic Eurregin Adriatic Underwater museum 2. COMMISSION FOR FISHERIES E.COMP. Develpment and innvatin f enterprises in the fisheries field & qualificatin f its peratrs INITIA 013 Lgistic and infrastructure fr the fisheries sectr ECO.SEA Management and imprvement f the maritime ecsystem & f the crss brder natural resurces PRO.ACQUA Sustainable develpment f the peripheral areas related t water thrugh the turism Cnstructin f a prt f embarkatin fr fishery bats n the island f Vis 3. COMMISSION FOR TRANSPORT AND INFRASTRUCTURE SEEMS Integrated transprt management f the maritime highway f the Suth-

9 - 9 - East Eurpe CRISE Risks and crss brder maritime security management f the Adriatic Eurregin Creatin f a Centre fr Infrmatin and Cmmunicatin fr the Adriatic Eurregin 4. COMMISSION FOR THE ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION Mnitring and research f mucilage, eutrphicatin and climate change in the Adriatic ADRIAGIZC Integrated management f the castal areas 5. COMMISSION FOR ECONOMIC/PRODUCTIVE AFFAIRS A.R.A.NET Adriatic Reginal Agencies Netwrk Research prject n the typical autchthnus lives in the Adriatic area Develpment f typical prducts in the rural and marginal areas f the Adriatic Eurregin Human resurces, wrker s mbility and entrepreneurship VIII. First Jint Initiative Prject Adri.Eur.O.P. Financed by the Eurpean Unin 16. The prject Adri.Eur.O.P. aims at ffering peratinal supprt (in technical-administrative terms) t the plitical prcess fr the establishment f an institutinal bdy f the Adriatic Eurregin (AE), created in rder t prmte sustainable develpment in territries f the Adriatic regins. The gal f the prject is t realize the activities necessary fr the start-up f the Adriatic Eurregin in the shrt term. The main activities, which are integrated and implemented by all partners, can be utlined as fllws: Supprt the wrk crdinatin between the crss-brder bdies invlved in the AE prject Relatinships with internatinal Eurpean bdies and institutins Establishment f technical-administrative service structures Start up f the Adriatic Eurregin thrugh rganizatinal and structural prcesses in the initial phases Assessment f the in itinere situatin regarding the AE sectrs f interest Strategic design and new Gvernance n which t realize the EA structure Creatin f a cmmunicatins and infrmatin strategy Realize a true Partnership in the Area Adri.Eur.O.P. is an integrated prject which is under Pririty 3 (Actin f Strengthening f Cperatin), Measure 3.2 ( Cperatin and Strengthening in Cmmunicatins, Research and Systems Harmnizatin between Institutins ) fr the creatin f service structures in rder t prmte activities between Adriatic partners. Mrever, the will is t encurage the relatinships between the latter and the Eurpean Unin in rder t establish a netwrk f lcal bdies (municipalities, Chambers f Cmmerce, universities, research centres, etc).

10 PROJECT PARTNERS: ITALY, Adriatic Regins Mlise (Lead Partner), Abruzz, Marche, Emilia Rmagna, Puglia, Venet and Friuli Venezia Giulia. Eastern Adriatic Cuntries - Cratia, Regin f Istria (Primrsk-granska regin, Regin f Split and Dalmatia and Regin f Dubrvnik and Neretva), Mntenegr, Municipality f Ktr. TIME SCHEDULE: Implementatin date: frm January 2007 t June TOTAL AMOUNT: 1, D. Future initiatives and challenges 17. We may cnclude that the Adriatic Eurregin has already justified its reasns fr establishment in this initial phase, namely; AE has becme a well-knwn and unique institutin in the Adriatic area in line with the cntemprary scietal and plitical requirements The dialgue between reginal and lcal plitical actrs n bth sea banks f the Adriatic, in six different states, has been fstered AE has develped int an inevitable plitical instrument fr the rethinking f the Adriatic future AE represents the institutinal backgrund fr the identificatin and slutin f shared prblems AE has acquired an institutinal frm, legal identity, the rganizatinal structure and has accmplished in the fundatin f its rgans Tw ffices have been pened in Pula and Brussels, the Secretariat is successfully running, the basic funds fr its peratin have been btained and its mdus perandi has been well accepted These pints represented the precnditins fr the cntinuatin f the future activities, which are fcusing n the fllwing: Further empwerment f the financial, rganizatinal and staff capabilities Further presentatin and prmtin f the activities f the Adriatic Eurregin befre the EU institutins and ther internatinal bdies Further strengthening f mutual dialgue and cperatin between the member regins Cntinuatin with the wrk f the thematic Cmmissins and the additinal creatin f cncrete prjects with integral impact Detect further financing pssibilities fr the implementatin f jint ideas 18. As it is clear frm this shrt utline, the Adriatic Eurregin is still develping and grwing in the Eurpean scenari, its psitive accmplishments and future utcmes will depend n the cntinuatin f the effective wrk f its members. A new mdel f cperatin n the Adriatic has been develped as well as a new cnstructin mdel fr a stable Eurpean Adriatic hme. Furthermre, the Adriatic Eurregin may be distinguished as an instrument fr faster integratin f the Suth Eastern Eurpean states int a cmmn Eurpe and as an example f a mdern reginal Eurpean plitical infrastructure a mdel that culd be implemented n ther Eurpean maritime area. 19. This brchure represents a means f public infrmatin and an utlk f what has s far been achieved and in which directin the Adriatic Eurregin is willing t prceed.

11 CONTACTS The Secretariat Liaisn ffice in Brussels Flanatička 29, Rue de Tuluse 47, Pula, Cratia (HR) 1040 Brussels, Belgium (B) Kristina Tanger adviser Gennar Di Gregri - referent kristina.tanger@istra-istria.hr g.digregri@adriaticeurregin.rg Tel: Tel: Fax: Fax: