Preparations have reached a
milestone for a brand new macro-regional strategy to support cooperation
among 8 countries in the Adriatic and Ionian region. Hosted by the
Greek Presidency of the Council of the European Union and the European
Commission, a high-level Stakeholder Conference takes place in Athens
on 6-7 February. It marks the end of a wide consultation that has
involved civil society and stakeholders across the 8 countries.
This will feed into a formal
proposal later this year from Regional Policy Commissioner Johannes
Hahn, for a tailor made strategy that reflects the needs and the
capacities of the region. It follows a request from EU leaders in
December 2012 to deliver the new macro-regional strategy by the end of
2014.
This week at the conference,
Commissioner Hahn and Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Commissioner Maria
Damanaki are joining Foreign Ministers from the countries involved. They
currently form part of the existing Adriatic Ionian Initiative. More
than 500 representatives from the national, regional and local
administrations, businesses, civil society, academia, media and regional
associations will be contributing to the discussions in the conference.
Antonis Samaras, Prime Minister of Greece, will open the conference
This is the first time in a
macro-regional strategy that there has been an equal balance of EU
countries (Croatia, Greece, Italy, Slovenia) and non-EU countries
(Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, Serbia) working together
to meet common challenges and build on shared strengths. Crucially in a
region that has seen some of Europe's most serious conflicts, the
strategy will help to bring the Western Balkans closer to the European
Union. Its focus will be above all on blue growth, transport,
sustainable tourism and protecting the environment. Through this, it
will contribute to creating prosperity and jobs in the region.
Speaking ahead of the conference in Athens, European Commissioner for Regional Policy Johannes Hahn commented: "We
are at a crucial stage in our preparations for a tailor -made strategy
for the Adriatic and Ionian macro-region. Thanks to the extensive
consultation with its bottom up approach, it should focus on the precise
needs and challenges of this part of Europe and the people who live
here. With four EU members and four non EU countries the strategy will
also contribute to the further integration of the Western Balkans by
offering the chance to work alongside neighbours on areas of common
interest. This is Europe's third macro-regional strategy, and we have
learnt the importance of political commitment and of participating
countries focusing their efforts in the macro-regional approach. This
will be key to this Strategy's success."
Maria Damanaki, Commissioner for Maritime Affairs and Fisheries added: "As
our Blue Growth strategy highlights, seas and oceans have the potential
to generate huge economic growth and much needed jobs. The Adriatic
Ionian nations have already shown that they share the will to address
the region's challenges together: since 2007 there have been 135
projects of cooperation on marine and maritime issues, worth almost half
a billion in total. I am looking forward to the discussion with the
Member States and stakeholders on how we can build on this success and
give the process the push to overcome remaining challenges to ensure the
most productive and sustainable use of what our seas and coasts offer."...
The Maritime Strategy for the Adriatic and Ionian Seas,
adopted by the Commission on 30 November 2012, is integrated in the
Strategy which will be structured around four key areas: marine and
maritime growth, connecting the region (transport and energy networks),
environmental quality and sustainable tourism. In addition, capacity
building as well as research, innovation and small and medium side
enterprises will inform the four key areas.
The stakeholder consultations
were conducted between September-December 2013. Two countries, a Member
State and a non-EU country, were responsible for coordinating the
consultation for each of the 4 pillars: Greece and Montenegro on marine
and maritime growth, Italy and Serbia on transport and energy, Slovenia
and Bosnia and Herzegovina on environment and Croatia and Albania on
tourism. From October 2013-to January 2014 a general on-line public
consultation on the strategy was also launched by the Commission.
Background
Under the
leadership of Commissioner Johannes Hahn, a new approach for regions
working together has been successfully developed. Macro-regional
strategies assist countries in tackling common issues together such as
pollution, crime, missing transport links and lack of competitiveness.
The European Council of 13-14 December 2012 formally
requested the European Commission to bring forward an EU Strategy for
the Adriatic and Ionian Region before the end of 2014, building on the
positive experiences of the Danube and Baltic Sea regions. The request by the European Council was subject to the evaluation of the concept of macro regional strategies, adopted by the Commission in June 2013 and endorsed by the EU Council on 22 October 2013
These strategies are supported through Member States' regional funding allocation under Cohesion Policy, inter alia.
In the case of non- EU members, pre accession funds (IPA) are
available. The reform of Cohesion Policy for 2014-2020 promotes this
macro-regional approach and makes it easier to combine different
European funds across borders and within projects.
