The
European Commission has welcomed the endorsement today by EU leaders of
the new EU Strategy for the Adriatic and Ionian Region (EUSAIR).
Today's decision by the European Council gives the green light to the
Strategy which was proposed by the European Commission last June (IP/14/690).
Preparations for the Strategy
are already underway with the aim of promoting prosperity and growth in
the region, improving its attractiveness, competitiveness and
connectivity. With four Western Balkan countries involved, the Strategy
is also set to play an important role in bringing them closer to the EU.
The Strategy covers four EU
Member States (Croatia, Greece, Italy and Slovenia) alongside Albania,
Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro and Serbia. The non-EU members are
equal partners in the governance and implementation of the Strategy.
Organisations representing civil society and private companies are also
involved in the specific actions and projects in the framework of the
new strategy.
Johannes Hahn, Commissioner for Regional Policy, commented: “Today’s
endorsement of the EU's Adriatic and Ionian Strategy is an important
milestone. The aim is to tackle common problems together and make the
most of the opportunities we share with our partners in the Western
Balkans. It is now the responsibility of the Adriatic and Ionian
countries, regions and stakeholders on the ground to work together to
translate the strategy into results. Work should start as soon as
possible. Success in the Adriatic Ionian Region will contribute to the
prosperity and security of Europe as a whole".
Maria Damanaki, Commissioner for
Maritime Affairs and Fisheries, commented: "With this strategy, the
Adriatic Ionian nations have in their hands the opportunity to move on
from the crisis and to put the whole region back on track to future
sustainable prosperity. Our Blue Growth strategy has already shown that
seas and oceans have the potential to generate huge economic growth and
much needed jobs. I’m confident that this macro-regional strategy will
be the blueprint for future initiatives in the sea basin and that it
will be watched with interest by Mediterranean countries".
Comprising some 70 million
residents, the EU Strategy for the Adriatic and Ionian Region(EUSAIR)
paves the way for closer cooperation among the member countries in four
key areas: 1) Blue Growth, 2) Connecting the Region, 3) Environmental
Quality, and 4) Sustainable tourism.
Building on the experience of the existing macro-regional strategies: the EU Strategy for the Baltic Sea Region and the EU Strategy for the Danube Region,
EUSAIR offers a framework for mobilising and aligning existing EU,
pre-accession and national funding instruments, with commonly agreed
strategic objectives.
The participating countries are
currently identifying the national and sectoral coordinators that will
take care of the Strategy's implementation at a national and
macro‑regional level. A Launch Conference
organised by the Italian Presidency of the Council in cooperation with
the European Commission, will take place in Brussels on 18 November.
Background...
The Commission adopted on 17 June 2014 a Communication on the EU Strategy for the Adriatic and Ionian region, accompanied by an Action Plan. The new Strategy incorporates the Maritime Strategy for the Adriatic and Ionian Seas, adopted by the Commission on 30 November 2012.
From September to December 2013,
a wide stakeholders' consultation on the content of the Strategy Action
Plan was conducted across the region by the participating countries.
The European Commission's Directorate-General for Regional and Urban
Policy also launched a public consultation on the Strategy The
consultation was closed by a high-level Stakeholder Conference in Athens on 6/7 February, jointly organised by the Greek Presidency of the Council and the European Commission.
The European Council has also
invited the Commission, in cooperation with Member States, to develop an
EU Strategy for the Alpine Region (EUSALP) by June 2015. Austria,
France, Germany, Italy, Slovenia, Liechtenstein and Switzerland,
comprising some 48 regions and 70 million people would be involved. A
stakeholder conference is scheduled for 1-2 December to close the
consultation process. The Commission will present a proposed
Communication and Action Plan by June 2015.
