Towards an alpine macroregion Francesco Dellagiacoma Autonomous Province of Trent,, Italy
Interregional cooperation in the Alps - 2 working communities exist since long: ArGe ALP (founded 1972, 10 regions) and Alpe Adria (founded 1978, 11 regions, 7 with alpine land) - Initiatives of cross-national cooperation evolving toward European Grouping for Territorial Cooperation: Alps-Mediterranean, Tyrol, Alto Adige/South Tyrol, Trentino, Senza Confini -The Alpine Convention between the 8 states with alpine territory - interest of the regional governments in cooperation and exchanges with other regions, and will to play a bigger role in the definition of alpine policies
Growing role of the European Union - European funds play an important role in the regional development policies: social fund, regional development fund, rural development fund, territorial cooperation - it contributed to re-defining the roles of regions, states and Union in the development policies - through territorial cooperation projects it helped to establish links between regions, to test and appreciate cooperation
Alpine territory -Consistent omogeneity in large areas within the Alps and different states, larger than between different territories within same states - major problems and opportunities are in environment and landscape protection, effects of climate change, sustainable development in mountain areas, energy and green economy - In France, Germany and Italy alpine territory, and even more people, is a small minority and issues are underrepresented; the same thraetens to happen in large regions (Bavaria, Piemont, Lombardy, Veneto, AlpACA, Rhone Alps)
In the Alps favourable conditions for an EU macroregional strategy exist - territory, environment and development have consistent similarities and are perceived as similar by the local population and administrators - there is a positive attitude toward an EU strategy for the alpine macroregion: -in march ministers of Bavaria, Salzburg, Tirol, Vorarlberg, South Tirol/Alto Adige, Trentino and the head of the swiss federal office for landplanning signed a document pleading for an EU macroregional strategy for the Alps; - also in march technical representative of 14 regions issued a declaration, stating that the constitution of an alpine regions net could be a contribution to the idea of an alpine macroregion - this initiative is also a sign of interest and a contribution to the on going discussion
Interest in the Baltic model There is interest in understanding the result of the experimentation of an EU macroregional strategy in the Baltic, analysing the condition of success and the reason of difficulties There is interest in a regional policy where the territorial omogeity weighs more and the national membership less
Favourable conditions in the alpine macroregion (1) - The territory and many major issues are similar in the entire area: mountain environment, physical limits for agricolture and the communications, natural hazards, fragile environmental balance, high natural and landscape values to be preserved -Development opportunities are also similar: environment and life style quality, recreation opportunity, natural and cultural heritage, natural resources, energy (green economy), role of tourism - good governance and a solid tradition of local autonomy: wide-spread perception of a common alpine culture and tradition, with a strong link to the territory and self-government
Favourable conditions in the alpine macroregion (2) - Opportunities of cooperation and common reference thruogh the EU - existence of cooperations, common projects and experience exchanges between alpine regions - development of knowledge and advanced production centers within the region (Grenoble, Chambery, Annecy, Lugano, Chur, St. Gallen, Varese, Bolzano, Trento, Gorizia, Bregenz, Innsbruck, Salisburgo, Klagenfurt, Kempten) - opportunities and threats of the position between the richest and most developed areas in Europe (Marseille, Lyon, Geneve, Piemont, Lombardy, Veneto, Lubljana, Vienna, Muenchen, Bavaria)
Elements for an EU strategy for the Alps (1) -The central issue is environment: conservation of the rich biodiversity, nature values and landscape in the very fragile environment. These values are essential to the Alps and have to be preserved - Climate change poses an additional threat to the delicate balance (glaciers, extreme weather events, echosistems at their limits) - Sustainable development can be based on relevant natural resources: water, forests, praries, natural and seminatural landscapes - all sectoral policies and planning are to be tuned to the mountain conditions: natural limitations and handicaps have to be considered in order to pursue the objectives
Elements for an EU strategy for the Alps (2) - a sustainable development of tourism, urban areas and transport is essential to control and reduce the environmental impact and allow local development in the long run - in setting the objectives local people have to be involved, balancing general interest and local priorities: the Alps cannot be degraded to transit or recreation area of the people of the (rich) sorrounding area - existing institutions and cooperations must be involved in the process of defining the strategy; regions have to coordinate existing initiatives - local institutions, associations, civil society must be involved in the process
Definition of the alpine area (1) The Alpine convention defines a territory of 190.000 skm, with a population of 14 million inhabitants. Many large regions have only a small part of their territory within the alpine area and a even smaller part of their population The EU program alpine space defines an area of 450.000 skm (2.4 times larger) where 70 million people live (5 times the population of the covention area)
Definition of the alpine area (2) No doubt the instituitions representing the people living in the alpine macroregion in the process of regional development are the administrative institutions with the capacity to decide in the relevant matters, as defined in the national systems: states, regions, provinces, länder, cantons Nevertheless the territory of the macroregion must be that of the convention, possibly enlarged to near mountain areas with similar characteristics. Considering the whole area of involved regions would mean the loss of territorial homogeneity, the sheer reason of the proposed macroregional strategy
Definition of the alpine area (3) Considering the core area does not mean closing it: relations to the sorrounding areas are essential, exchanging goods, energy and services. But doing it on the basis of the interest of the people liiving in the Alps Is the Area to small? 14 Million people not enaugh for an EU strategy? We consider the homogeneity and specificity of the region more important. In addition we should consider the world importance of the Alps, perceived as plainly the mountain; the natural values; the 100 Million annual visitors. In this vision the Alps deserve an EU strategy We think that in the future EU approach to macroregion homogeneity must be the prevailing criterion. Large regions, with territory belonging to different macroregion should be involved in more macroregional strategies.