Brussels, 11/02/2014 (Agence Europe) - Macro-regional strategies have the wind in their sails: after the launch of preparations for the Adriatic and Ionian region last week, the European Commission is planning to launch a public consultation for the Alpine region this summer, European Commissioner for Regional Policy Johannes Hahn told ministers in Brussels on Monday 10 February. According to the Commission, this fourth macro-regional strategy could be set up in summer 2015.
Informal ministerial meeting. The commissioner met with Italian, Slovenian, Austrian, German and French ministers to discuss the matter, as well as with the ambassadors of Switzerland and Lichtenstein which are also affected by the Alpine macro-regional strategy. He informed them that he intended to “launch an online consultation in July and, depending on the results, propose a concrete action plan whose adoption by Parliament and the Council would be planned for the middle of next year”. This macro-regional strategy for the Alpine region would be the fourth, following those already developed for the Danube, Baltic and Adriatic and Ionian regions. Hahn said that there was no need to “reinvent the wheel” and the focus should instead be on the strategy's added value. The three priorities envisaged at this stage are competitiveness and sustainable development, accessibility and sustainable management of natural and cultural resources.
Support at national level. Just he had done recently with ministers involved in the Adriatic and Ionian strategy, Hahn stressed that the European Commission would mainly act as a facilitator. In this context, he appreciated that the initiative for this strategy came from the regions themselves and called for “a political commitment at a national level as well”. A European source indicated that ministers had demonstrated their enthusiasm about the timetable and priorities. Some delegations are even prepared to commit personnel to this project. (MD/transl.fl)