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NEWS PLENARY ROUND-UP Counciller calls on regions to boost single market target EUROPE’S REGIONS AND LOCAL authorities can do more to ensure that the EU’s single market is completed successfully, to the benefit of everyone, according to David Parsons, a local councillor from Leicestershire in the UK. Speaking to the Regional Review in Rome, where his report on the single market was endorsed by members of the Committee of the Regions, Parsons said that regions should take the bit between their teeth and start to forge partnerships with their counterparts across the EU. “We are very positive about the development of the single market in our region, the English East Midlands,” he said. “We have already forged relationships with the newest EU member states – Romania in particular – focusing on cooperation in a number of areas of mutual importance, both in the UK and eastern Europe. These focus mainly on the service sector, and we believe that if we all work together this can be to everyone’s advantage. Local and regional authorities should not wait for national governments to make the first move, but should start making their own links with countries such as China and India as well as the rest of the EU.” But the most important role for regional authorities in supporting the development of the single market was not working with their counterparts elsewhere in the EU but communicating with the people living in their region. “Communication about the EU is the most difficult challenge in the whole of EU,” he said. “For most people, they need to see some direct impact from EU policies first before they become interested in talking about them – and this so often means that the EU is seen as a threat rather than an opportunity.” Although his report was endorsed by the CoR plenary session, Parsons admitted that his views on the benefits of the single market were not shared by all his colleagues. “I would encourage my French colleagues in particular to look closely at the benefits of the single market,” he said, stressing that many French local and regional politicians remained highly sceptical, not least because of the implied social impact of market liberalisation. Parsons’ report took many of these issues on board, calling for impact assessments to measure the regional, social and environmental effects of EU legislation and guaranteed social and consumer rights at the same time as allowing service providers to operate freely within the EU. Parsons, whose report is part of the policy review being carried out by the European commission this year, stresses the importance of local and regional authorities in the development of the single market, since they are the major providers of public services. But he remains somewhat sceptical about whether EU and national authorities will listen to his calls for greater coordination between each level of government. “I am hopeful rather than confident that the commission will act on my recommendations,” he said. “But this report is the first to be published as part of the commission’s policy review, so at least we have the advantage of being first in the field, and I shall certainly be pushing for my views to be taken on board.” 12 REGIONAL REVIEW June 2007 Issue 5 June 2007 INSIDE: Mercedes Bresso Working together Vladimir Å pidla on creating jobs and tackling discrimination in Europe’s regions Ken Livingstone Inconvenient truth? Kay Twitchen, Bernd Vögerle and Lenie Dwarshuis on the role of regions in combating climate change The European Investment Bank Europe’s bank for the regions European Investment Bank 100, Bvd Konrad Adenauer L-2950 Luxembourg 3 (+352) 43 79 1 – 5 (+352) 43 77 04 U infodesk@eib.org – www.eib.org www.beeproject.eu Partners in South Sweden and the Kaliningrad Region intensify their cooperation o o o Building arenas for better environment and energy solutions Finding new methods for practice oriented environment education Developing strategies for further enhanced bilateral cooperation A mai Some time ago, the Vesuvius National Park launched a strategy aimed at encourage the exchange of knowledge and competences between protected areas and institutions operating in the field of environmental planning and protection of the ecological networks. Thanks to all the project work that has been Issue 5 June 2007 Working together Regions and cities from across the EU are hosting a variety of events to mark the European year of equal opportunities for all, but in reality there is still much to do before Europe can boast full employment for everyone, no matter what their background. We look CONTENTS COUNTRY FOCUS PORTUGAL 79 Creating regions from scratch The Portuguese government has finally embraced the concept of regions and is preparing to create a new regional structure as it takes on the rotating EU presidency. Filipe Rufino reports 102 Green compatibility Protecting the enviro W OMEN ON THE W AY TO E NTREPRENEURIAL S UCCESS FEMALE ENTREPRENEURS ’ MEETINGS IN THE BALTIC SEA REGION The partnership of the project is comprehensive, there are 35 partners in seven countries including among other regions, municipalities, universities, development agencies, local women’s reso Cultivating Entrepreneurship – Baltic Entrepreneurship Partners BEPART “Entrepreneurship is first and foremost a mindset.” (EU Green Paper on Entrepreneurship). BEPART gives priority not to hardware but to ‘human software-development’ for entrepreneurship. BEPART Network As universities an NEWS PLENARY ROUND-UP Regions call for “bond of trust” to boost EU future EUROPE’S FUTURE DEVELOPment depends on creating a “bond of trust” between citizens and institutions, according to Committee of the Regions members meeting in Rome in March to celebrate the EU’s 50th birthday. Ret PLENARY ROUND-UP NEWS Regional politicians want greater role in EU future MEETING IN ROME FOR THE plenary session in March, the four political groups within the CoR gave their overwhelming support to calls for greater involvement of regional and local politicians in pushing the EU agenda. The four NEWS PLENARY ROUND-UP Counciller calls on regions to boost single market target EUROPE’S REGIONS AND LOCAL authorities can do more to ensure that the EU’s single market is completed successfully, to the benefit of everyone, according to David Parsons, a local councillor from Leicestershire in PLENARY ROUND-UP NEWS Structural funds “crucial” for success of Europe EU STRUCTURAL FUNDS – THE money allocated from the EU budget to help develop Europe’s regions – have helped promote economic development throughout Europe, according to a report by Manuel Chaves González, president o DEVELOPMENT OF A TOOL FOR REGIONAL DECISION-MAKING SUPPORT: THE DEPURE PROJECT the Basque Government, together with other strategic instruments, as a tool to promote intraregional cohesion in the Basque Country. At the end of 2006, the second subproject of DEPURE started with the aim of developing PLENARY PREVIEW NEWS Regions to call for rethink on postal services EUROPE’S REGIONAL AND LOCAL politicians will be asked to lend their support to calls for a more measured approach to postal sector liberalisation at the Committee of the Regions’ June plenary session in Brussels. CoR members w NEWS PLENARY PREVIEW Sustainable development on regions’ agenda THE SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT pillar of the EU’s Lisbon strategy must not be forgotten at the expense of boosting jobs and growth, regional politicians will debate at the CoR plenary in Brussels. The report on the European strategy PLENARY PREVIEW NEWS Regions want freedom for involvement in EU development programmes REFORM OF EUROPE’S DEVELOPMENT policy needs to take into account the effectiveness of decentralised administration, argues a report from Juliette Soulabaille, mayor of Corps-Nuds in France. Soulabaille, who wa BALTIC FORT ROUTE Monuments for Peace, Culture and Tourism INTERREG-III-B-project for trans-national cooperation to develop a new cultural route and to rescue fortifications as a cultural heritage • Development of fortresses into attractive centres of culture, art, leisure, tourism and nature an PLENARY PREVIEW NEWS Regions back calls for economic modernisation OVER THE NEXT SEVEN YEARS, THE EUROPEAN commission plans to focus, in partnership with the member states, on two key regional policy programmes – interregional cooperation and the urban development network programme – and in pa NEWS PLENARY PREVIEW Regions to call for EU reboot EUROPE NEEDS TO DRAW A line under the achievements of the past and focus on developing a prosperous future, according to a report to be debated at the CoR’s June plenary. The report, by Antonio Paiva, the mayor of Tomar in Portugal, highlights t The STRAIR airport regions development project invites you to its Final Conference Stockholm, 14 June STRAIR (Strategic development and co-operation among airport regions) is an INTERREG IIIC-supported project with eight partners from seven regions across Europe:  PROEXCA, the Regional Developmen NEWS CROATIA BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA PLENARY PREVIEW | ENLARGEMENT SERBIA MONTENEGRO KOSOVO F.Y.R.O.M. ALBANIA . TURKEY Ready for growth? The future enlargement of the EU will be the main focus at the June plenary session of the CoR, with three key reports up for debate, reports Chris Jones W i PLENARY PREVIEW | ENLARGEMENT NEWS democracy and stability among others,” he says. “As the EU becomes larger, it must tie its enlargement policy to its capacity to maintain its specific institutional, financial and political structure. It is vital that future enlargement must not cause this st PLENARY PREVIEW | ENLARGEMENT NEWS “The commission should provide the text of its annual report on EU candidate and potential candidate countries in the language spoken by the people of these countries, thereby enhancing the quality of the accession process by enabling citizens to take part in t NEWS GORENJSKA RESEARCH SPENDING POMURSKA KOROSKA PODRAVSKA SAVINJSKA ZASAVSKA GORISKA OSREDNJESLOVENSKA SPODNJEPOSAVSKA OBALNOKRASKA NOTRANJSKOKRASKA JUGOVZHODNA SLOVENIJAT Research role Europe’s regions need to devote more of their efforts in promoting and investing in research and tech TRENTINO ALTO ADIGE VALLE DAOSTA FRIULI VENEZIA GIULIA LOMBARDIA VENETO ERIK PERMONTE LIGURIA EMILIA ROMAGNA NEWS TOSCANA UMBRIA MARCHE FAROE ISLANDS FINLAND ABRUZZI LAZIO Pulling the plug MOLISE CAMPANIA PUGLIA BASILICATA CALABRIA SHETLAND ISLANDS ORKNEY ISLANDS HERBRIDES Gotland SWED IWA World Water Congress & Exhibition IA WD Regional Partner 7 – 12 September Why is the IWA World Water Congress in Vienna? How can we be involved? Delegates Individuals, companies and organisation can improve their store of knowledge on the latest global water industry science, technology and REGIONAL NEWS NEWS Regional groups respond to transport proposal EU TRANSPORT COMMISSIONER Jacques Barrot has given his blessing to proposals designed to accelerate the creation of so-called motorways of the sea. Speaking at the European conference on the future EU maritime policy in Bremen, Germa The ‘Biologic@’ project is funded through INTERREG IIIC Sud Community Initiative Programme The lead partner of the project is based in PÏŒvoa de Lanhoso, Portugal. Other partners include the regions of Draedm (Portugal), Baronia (Italy) El Hierro (Canary Islands), South-East Regional Authority, REGIONAL NEWS NEWS European cities moving too slowly on sustainable development EUROPE’S REGIONS NEED TO move faster towards creating sustainable communities, according to participants in a public hearing at the European parliament in Brussels in early May. Member states agreed in 2005 to share NEWS REGIONAL NEWS EU divided over social impact of internal market THE ADVANTAGES OF THE internal market need to be explained better in response to the fears of citizens who worry it is a threat to Europe’s traditional ‘social model’ and the protection it offers to the most vulnerable, accor REGIONAL NEWS NEWS Regions improve communication on immigration flows REGIONAL AND LOCAL AUTHORITIES WILL have a direct link to the European commission on issues relating to immigration following the creation of a new European centre for migration policies. The centre was officially launched on 18 NEWS REGIONAL NEWS Regions to help construct future Europe GERMAN EU PRESIDENT ANGELA MERKEL HAS confirmed that she wants to reaffirm the key role to be played by regional and local authorities in the future of Europe. In a letter to CoR president Michel Delebarre, Merkel said that the Berlin decla BALANCE – a cross-sectoral and transnational approach to marine spatial planning Today, a set of technical constrains hinders the use of an ecosystem-based approach to the management of the Baltic Sea. These include the inaccessibility to data, tedious data exchange, inconsistent data formats, lac NEWS REGIONAL NEWS Regional employers call for “less Europe”, more dialogue REPRESENTATIVES FROM local and regional governments in Europe have called for EU legislators to take a more flexible approach to labour law if they want the Lisbon agenda for jobs and growth to succeed. In a response to Project MOSES Improvement of flood management system EU Community Initiative INTERREG III B CADSES Neighborhood Programme 4th Call: Measure 4.3 Promoting integrated water management and prevention of floods Lead Partner: Contact Person: Web site: Slovak Hydrometeorological Institute, Hydrology, Jesà NEWS COHESION REPORT FAROE ISLANDS SHETLAND ISLANDS ORKNEY ISLANDS HERBRIDES Gotland FINLAND SWEDEN ALAND ISLANDS ESTONIA LATVIA LITHUANIA DENMARK IRE LAN D UNITED KINGDOM POLAND NETHERLANDS GERMANY BELGIUM CZECH LUXEMBOURG REPUBLIC KIA SLOVA AUSTRIA SLOVENIA HUNGARY ROMANIA FRANCE ITALY COHESION REPORT NEWS REGIONAL PER CAPITA GDP IN THE EU27 – 2004 FIGURES (EU27 = 100) The fifteen regions with the highest GDP 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 Inner London (UK) Luxembourg (LU) Bruxelles-Cap. / Brussels Hfdst. (BE) Hamburg (DE) Wien (AT) ÃŽle de France (FR) Berkshire, Buckingh Next Business Generation (NBG) NBG is a project which is co-financed by the European Commission as part of the INTERREG IIIC West Programme; the project seeks to provide information on good practice examples of instruments supporting business succession. 62, B-1040 Brussels) where all results of th FLIGHT OF THE EARLS ROUND-UP DONEGAL DENY TYRONE Belfast ANTRIM FERMANAGH SLIGO ARMAGH DOWN MONAGHAN LEITRIM CAVAN LOUTH MEATH From Donegal to Rome KERRY MAYO ROSCOMMON LONGFORD GALWAY WESTMEATH OFFALY KILDARE CLARE DUBLIN LAOIS WICKLOW CARLOW LIMERICK TIPPERARY KILKENNY WEXFORD WAT Increased understanding leads to improved cooperation. Cooperation between official servants ore private companies in the Kaliningrad region and south Sweden – how can that be facilitated? sectors has been established. The ambitions is: to (a) place South Sweden and Kaliningrad Region in a global, Sustainable Transport in the Barents Region-Phase II 26 project partners from Finland, Sweden, Norway and North-West Russia in joint cooperation aims at • Bringing the recommendations of the first phase of STBR into concrete solutions concerning all modes of transport • Facilitating cost-effect Sustainable Access www.sustaccess.org Dirk Harmsen +46 70 5144977 info@sustaccess.org Sustainable transport of passengers & goods. Timber on transport, Sweden Flows of goods move swiftly from global door to global door, almost taken for granted. From somewhere, to somewhere, in between ships, ha COVER STORY: WORKING TOGETHER With the EU celebrating both the year of equal opportunities for all and the annual Employment Week event, we look at how regional, national and EU authorities are tackling discrimination and getting people back to work 46 Vladimír Å pidla argues that flexicurity is th COVER STORY WORKING TOGETHER | COMMISSIONER FAROE ISLANDS SHETLAND ISLANDS ORKNEY ISLANDS HERBRIDES Gotland FINLAND SWEDEN ALAND ISLANDS ESTONIA LATVIA LITHUANIA DENMARK IRE D LAN UNITED KINGDOM POLAND NETHERLANDS GERMANY BELGIUM CZECH LUXEMBOURG REPUBLIC KIA SLOVA AUSTRIA SLOVENIA HUNGARY R WORKING TOGETHER | COMMISSIONER COVER STORY reinforcing the social model dominated press coverage. EU leaders highlighted the need to strengthen economic and social cohesion, underlining that social objectives should be better taken into account by member states within the EU’s strategy for grow 04 Planning Systems 03 BSR Glossaries 11 national Glossaries 150-300 spatial planning and development terms per country description for each term in national language and English English Glossary ca. 130 English terms, mostly incl. source and quoted description from EU and other transnational docume WORKING TOGETHER | CoR RAPPORTEUR COVER STORY NORTHUMBERLAND TYNE & WEAR DURHAM CUMBRIA CLEVELAND OF MAN NORTH YORKSHIRE Breaking down barriers DEVON CORNWALL ISLE LANCASHIRE WEST YORKSHIRE GREATER MANCHESTER SOUTH YORKSHIRE HUMBERSIDE Sheffield DERBYSHIRE SH IR E HAM PTO N HEREFORD & COVER STORY WORKING TOGETHER | CoR RAPPORTEUR “I have long been of the belief that cultural activities, particularly music and sport, can play a major part in breaking down barriers between different groups and can be used to promote equal opportunities and inclusion” Peter Moore is a member o Good practice of transnationality in regional development planning regions choose to act in different ways despite having the same goals. Through the Defris project, the five regions are today better equipped to meet problems and to utilise the opportunities that an increasing dependency on the surr COVER STORY WORKING TOGETHER | FLANDERS ANTWERPEN WESTVLAANDEREN OOST VLAANDEREN FLANDERS FLEMISH BRABANT BRUXELLES LIMBURG WALLOON BRABANT LIEGE HAINAUT NAMUR LUXEMBOURG Regional role model Flemish labour market policy could be used as a role model for the regions in delivering the Lisbon a WORKING TOGETHER | FLANDERS COVER STORY The Flemish government’s approach in combating unemployment is based on an active and preventive approach which aims to offer each jobseeker a ‘new start’ (in the form of counselling, training, etc.) before they fall into long-term unemployment. Inspir Objectives of the European project Qualicities Qualicities partnership Partners in charge of the setting up of the quality process: The city of Anderlecht (Belgium) lead partner, the city of Arles (France), the city of Ubeda (Spain), the city of Cosenza (Italy), the city of Evora (Portugal), the cit WORKING TOGETHER | CHILDREN’S RIGHTS COVER STORY DONEGAL DENY TYRONE Belfast ANTRIM FERMANAGH SLIGO MAYO ARMAGH DOWN MONAGHAN LEITRIM CAVAN LOUTH MEATH DUBLIN ROSCOMMON LONGFORD GALWAY WESTMEATH OFFALY Protecting the future Improving the rights of children should be a top priority for Euro COVER STORY WORKING TOGETHER | CHILDREN’S RIGHTS of young people in the Irish constitution, and will have a clear and positive impact on the lives of our children by increasing the ability of the state to protect them. Such positive steps have also been mirrored recently at the EU level with a co The Praxis Network – Regions Making Europe Work The Praxis network is a grass-roots initiative by local and regional authorities to make the most of opportunities for local communities stemming from the enlargement of the European Union (EU). It was launched in Budapest in December 2001 by Essex COVER STORY WORKING TOGETHER | LONDON MAYOR Enfield Barnet Harrow Haringey Waltham Forest Redbridge Havering Barking & Dagenham Brent Hillingdon Ealing Camden Islington Hackney Newham Tower Wes tmin City of Hamlets Hammersmith ster London & Fulham Kensington Southwark & Chelsea Lambeth Wandsworth WORKING TOGETHER | LONDON MAYOR COVER STORY “I am determined that London will be showcased as a beacon of best practice in relation to its mainstreaming equality and diversity agenda, demonstrating how we respect difference, embrace and celebrate diversity and fight discrimination, prejudice and REGIONE LAZIO BEACHMED-e Regional Framework Operation “Strategic management of beach protection measures for the sustainable development of Mediterranean coastal areas” www.beachmed.it The Outputs The results for the Operation will be collected in 3 Technical Books and published as and when eac NPP SAFETY AT SEA The Northern Periphery Programme Safety at Sea Project (NPP S@S) aims to enhance maritime safety in the more remote northern areas of Europe by improving awareness of maritime developments and the risks inherent in the maritime environment. The project is a partnership between The COVER STORY WORKING TOGETHER | CHILD CARE TRENTINO ALTO ADIGE VALLE DAOSTA LOMBARDIA FRIULI VENEZIA GIULIA VENETO PIEDMONT LIGURIA EMILIA ROMAGNA TOSCANA UMBRIA MARCHE ABRUZZI LAZIO MOLISE CAMPANIA PUGLIA BASILICATA Flying start A universal childcare system is vital if the EU is get back to wor WORKING TOGETHER | CHILD CARE COVER STORY for female labour market participation and to encourage full employment. In March 2006, the European council reiterated its commitment to the attainment of the Barcelona targets in the European pact for gender equality and the European commission’s subse REDETRAL – Regional Development and Transport Logistics for establishment of ecological sustainable logistics park; AMAVE Accessibility Study using Geographic Information System (GIS). Except specific solutions of pilot projects there are also general suggestions to be made within the above mentio TRENTINO ALTO ADIGE VALLE DAOSTA FRIULI VENEZIA GIULIA LOMBARDIA VENETO WORKING TOGETHER | DISCRIMINATION COVER STORY PERMONTE LIGURIA EMILIA ROMAGNA TOSCANA UMBRIA MARCHE FAROE ISLANDS FINLAND ABRUZZI POR TUGA L Teaming up to tackle discrimination LAZIO MOLISE CAMPANIA PUGLIA BASILICAT COVER STORY WORKING TOGETHER | DISCRIMINATION Klaus Klipp is secretary general of the AER ing the current excessive fragmentation of competences. It is currently the commission’s department for freedom, security and justice that deals with immigration and asylum issues, while employment, profess On 2 nd of June 2005 the BSR INTERREG III B Steering Committee approved the project “ReMiDo – Sustainable reintegration of post-Soviet military residential areas as a challenge and opportunity for regional development”, which was submitted by the Lead Partner – State agency “Housing agency COVER STORY WORKING TOGETHER | PARLIAMENT FAROE ISLANDS SHETLAND ISLANDS ORKNEY ISLANDS HERBRIDES Gotland FINLAND SWEDEN ALAND ISLANDS ESTONIA LATVIA LITHUANIA DENMARK IRE D LAN UNITED KINGDOM POLAND NETHERLANDS GERMANY BELGIUM CZECH LUXEMBOURG REPUBLIC KIA SLOVA AUSTRIA SLOVENIA HUNGARY ROM WORKING TOGETHER | PARLIAMENT COVER STORY ployment benefit. Moreover, to make workers willing and capable of facing changes on the labour market, we need to invest more in training and active labour market policies. To a large extent, the debate on flexicurity has been the framework for the discus GATE Gaining Added value for Timber in Europe Making a real difference in how Europe sees its timber By Mike Over, GATE Project Manager ate some of the most sustainable, energy efficient homes, offices and large scale housing complexes. Technical experts have shared the latest methods of using tim IUWMM – Integrated Urban Waste Management Model M unicipal solid waste-management (MSW) is a key issue within the EU. As EU society becomes wealthier it creates more waste. Urban areas face more and more similar waste-management problems. Among them, municipal solid waste [MSW] is a category in The cohesion policy in Slovenia The programming documents have already been prepared. Slovenia will achieve the objectives of the National Strategic Reference Framework with the implementation of the three operational programmes (OP): 1. OP for strengthening regional development potentials Minister PLAN D/COUNTRY FOCUS: PORTUGAL As Portugal prepares to take over the EU presidency on 1 July, we profile one of the few EU countries with no official regions – and look at how the EU’s message is being spread there 76 More than 20 years after Portugal first joined the EU, the people there are we Initiative to a Contingency Plan for fl ooding The aim of the project Chain of Safety is to facilitate cooperation, exchange of experience and mutual assistance between North Sea Regions in the event of coastal fl ooding. Since fl ooding disasters do not stop at local, regional or even national bor PLAN D PORTUGAL VIANA DO CASTELO BRAGO PORTO VISEU VILA REAL BRAGANCA AVEIRO GUARDA COIMBRA LEIRIA CASTELO BRANCO SANTAREM PORTALEGRE LISBON SETUBAL EVORA BEJA Going local FARO More than 20 years after Portugal first joined the EU, the people there are well aware of what they have gained fro PORTUGAL PLAN D feature regular information or interviews on EU matters. This is a new situation that did not exist in the Portuguese press until very recently. This is all part of our strategy of going local.” It is hard to go anywhere more local in Portugal than Tavira, a small town of 25,000 CONNECTING THE BALTIC SEA REGION www.connectnordic.com FACTS: Project title: CONNECT Baltic Sea Region Plus (follow-up project) Acronym: CBSR+ Lead Partner: Oslo Teknopol IKS Project period: 2005-2007 Project budget: € 1,105,000 Funding: BSR INTERREG III B RESULTS: − Over 500 Springboards plus 4 PORTUGAL COUNTRY FOCUS VIANA DO CASTELO BRAGO PORTO VILA REAL BRAGANCA Creating regions from scratch The Portuguese government has finally embraced the concept of regions and is preparing to create a new regional structure as it takes on the rotating EU presidency. Filipe Rufino reports A quiet COUNTRY FOCUS PORTUGAL “Portugal is a country that has always had a municipal tradition as opposed to a regional one since its very foundation (in 1128)” – Portuguese diplomat Regional embryos? CCDRs are decentralised commissions for control of regional development with concrete competences BALTIC FORT ROUTE Monuments for Peace, Culture and Tourism INTERREG-III-B-project for trans-national cooperation to develop a new cultural route and to rescue fortifications as a cultural heritage • Development of fortresses into attractive centres of culture, art, leisure, tourism and nature an COUNTRY FOCUS PORTUGAL | MADEIRA PORTO MONIZ SÃO VICENTE CALHETA PONTA DO SOL RIBIERA BRAVA CÅMARA DE LOBOS SANTANA MACHICO SANTA CRUZ FUNCHAL Moving forward Europe will only win back the support of its citizens through its regions, argues Alberto João Jardim I n the last week of March in Ro PORTUGAL | MADEIRA COUNTRY FOCUS proposal to add “and the defence” of said market – a refusal that is perhaps understandable. My third proposal, which was also rejected, was that the CoR should not renounce the demands it made at the European convention. The current atmosphere is all too pol European Island Farm Landscapes Network A trans-national co-operation project under Leader+ • CASE STUDY: Farm Diversification Our projects promote diversification and sustainability of farm income and landscape management. Local studies include island farm products, indigenous breeds, organic far Knowledge Network “Governance in Action” in long-term strategy plans and visions and by improving methods to listen to the needs of residents. • to involve our investors and companies by stimulating investors to invest in society, by developing public-private partnerships and by creating an in POLICY FOCUS: ENVIRONMENT This year’s EU Green Week event will focus on 50 years of the EU and the environment and the challenge for the next 50 years. We look at how regional and local authorities are – or are not – playing their part in tackling climate change and promoting sustainable devel POLIECO CONSORTIUM: ITALIAN EXCELLENCE IN THE PLASTIC RECOVERY/ RECYCLING SECTOR ������� ������� A ������� ������� ������� ������� ������� ������� ������� ����� TRENTINO ALTO ADIGE VALLE DAOSTA FRIULI VENEZIA GIULIA LOMBARDIA VENETO ENVIRONMENT | CLIMATE CHANGE POLICY FOCUS PERMONTE LIGURIA EMILIA ROMAGNA TOSCANA UMBRIA MARCHE FAROE ISLANDS FINLAND Time for action LAZIO MOLISE CAMPANIA PUGLIA BASILICATA CALABRIA ABRUZZI SHETLAND ISLANDS ORKNEY POLICY FOCUS ENVIRONMENT | CLIMATE CHANGE “Seven member states failed to achieve their domestic CO 2 reduction targets despite the implementation of additional measures or the use of Kyoto mechanisms or carbon sinks” Kay Twitchen is the CoR rapporteur on climate change tives, and yet too oft Enhance Health Environmental and Health Surveillance System in urban areas near incineration plants and industrial complexes Operation n.2E0040I, INTERREG III C East Programme http://thaleia.westgate defining the goals of the communicative process identifying the subjects involved, considering the POLICY FOCUS ENVIRONMENT | CLIMATE CHANGE UPPERAUSTRIA Vienna LOWER AUSTRIA BURGENLAND VORARLBERG TYROL SALZBURG STYRIA CARINTHIA Joining the fight Local and regional authorities must play their part in the fight against climate change, says Bernd Vögerle I n recent months, the EU has com ENVIRONMENT | CLIMATE CHANGE POLICY FOCUS struggle to obtain recognition at EU level. Concerning the European commission’s “energy package”, on which I am the Committee of the Regions’ rapporteur, the crucial role of this tier of government, being the closest to the citizens, is not suffic POLICY FOCUS WEST FRISIAN ISLANDS FRIESLAND GRONINGEN ENVIRONMENT | CLIMATE CHANGE DRENTHE NOORDHOLLAND FLEVOLAND OVERIJSSEL UTRECHT ZUID-HOLLAND Rotterdam GELERLAND NOORD-BRABANT ZEELAND LIMBURG A role for everyone The role that cities and regions can play in tackling climate change is bein ENVIRONMENT | CLIMATE CHANGE POLICY FOCUS EU regions should form partnerships with regions in other countries, such as China, to tackle global warming I strongly believe that the local and regional dimension of climate change and climate policy needs more attention. The vulnerability of European Urban II Community Initiative Programme Ballyfermot, Dublin, Ireland Bringing about positive change in partnership with the community − Support has been given to the Cherry Orchard Equine Training Centre, giving young people with an interest in horses an opportunity to return to education − The ENVIRONMENT | REGIONAL ENVIRONMENTAL CENTRE POLICY FOCUS ESTONIA LATVIA LITHUANIA The key to a greener future The successful implementation of regional environmental policies will depend not only on EU finance, but also on getting private companies to invest in environmental improvements, says Joa POLICY FOCUS ENVIRONMENT | REGIONAL ENVIRONMENTAL CENTRE Joanna Fiedler is senior project manager for environmental financing at the regional environmental centre for central and eastern Europe regional authorities, regions will “New challenges are arising for European be able to position thems URBAMAS Qualification project Coofinanced by ERDF The URBAMAS Project concerning an integrated system of management of city sustainable development with special emphasis put on the spatial aspects and realised in frame of the URBACT Programme is an original project prepared by the network of Polish POLICY FOCUS ENVIRONMENT | REGIONAL FUNDING FAROE ISLANDS SHETLAND ISLANDS ORKNEY ISLANDS HERBRIDES FINLAND DENMARK IRE LAN D UNITED KINGDOM POLAND NETHERLANDS GERMANY BELGIUM CZECH LUXEMBOURG REPUBLIC KIA SLOVA AUSTRIA FRANCE ITALY Corsica FRANCE SPAIN BALEARIC ISLANDS Sardinia ITALY t ENVIRONMENT | REGIONAL FUNDING POLICY FOCUS Poland’s decision to build a road through the protected Rospuda river valley reflects Warsaw’s approach to sustainable development up the funding plans in the new EU countries than in the old member states. “Environmental NGOs across the analysed POLICY FOCUS ENVIRONMENT | ELO FAROE ISLANDS SHETLAND ISLANDS ORKNEY ISLANDS HERBRIDES Gotland FINLAND SWEDEN ALAND ISLANDS ESTONIA LATVIA LITHUANIA DENMARK LAN D IRE UNITED KINGDOM POLAND NETHERLANDS GERMANY BELGIUM CZECH LUXEMBOURG REPUBLIC KIA SLOVA AUSTRIA SLOVENIA HUNGARY ROMANIA FRA ENVIRONMENT | ELO POLICY FOCUS chief source for wood supplies. This is why Euroforenet will both promote sustainable production of wood energy and act as a register of good practice guide with examples intended for private and local authority owners as well as other interested parties. Euroforenet POLICY FOCUS NORTHUMBERLAND TYNE & WEAR DURHAM CUMBRIA CLEVELAND ENVIRONMENT | REGIONAL COOPERATION OF M AN NORTH YORKSHIRE ISLE LANCASHIRE WEST YORKSHIRE GREATER MANCHESTER SOUTH YORKSHIRE DERBYSHIRE SE MER HUMBERSIDE CHESHIRE LINCOLNSHIRE NOTTINGHAMSHIRE STAFFORDSHIRE SHROPSHIRE EAST M REGIONAL COOPERATION |ENVIRONMENT POLICY FOCUS “All local authorities in the East Midlands are now committed to addressing climate change challenges and the [Nottingham] declaration is now viewed as an international marker for local government on climate change issues” Derbyshire Peak Distric TREND project: an innovative experience of multilevel governance T he regional framework operation TREND (Territories et Régions Ensemble pour le Développment), within the programme Interreg III C South, inspired by the analysis and development of the experiences of the partner regions belonging BEST PRACTICE/LOCAL KNOWLEDGE 108 Cities across Europe are working together to develop sustainable futures based on their cultural and geographical heritage, writes Alex Melbourne 112 Regions from throughout the world have joined forces to create a world regional network to make the voice of regions BEST PRACTICE EUROPEAN URBAN ECONET NORTHUMBERLAND TYNE & WEAR DURHAM CUMBRIA CLEVELAND OF M AN NORTH YORKSHIRE ISLE LANCASHIRE WEST YORKSHIRE SOUTH YORKSHIRE HUMBERSIDE MER SEYS ID GREATER MANCHESTER E DERBYSHIRE NOTTINGHAMSHIRE LINCOLNSHIRE Chester CHESHIRE STAFFORDSHIRE SHROPSHIRE LEIC the Urban Econet project links directly with the broader European programme for promoting sustainable and dynamic communities at the trans-national level. The Urban Econet programme will also develop strategic spatial frameworks (so-called “place shaping” programmes) to provide cities with both Seagull II: Strengthening institutional structures and spatial development capacities of Euroregion Baltic o Business environment, including the SME platform, rural development and tourism, o Transport infrastructure, o Social dimension with specific focus on the common labour market, o Environment MARKETPLACE SOUTH BALTIC SEA Baltic Gateway a pilot project of high European interest Baltic Gateway and other Interreg projects are playing a vital role as components in EU regional policy and in transport development. As stated by EU Commissionaire Danuta Hübner “ Another impressive initiative LOCAL KNOWLEDGE WORLD REGIONS FAROE ISLANDS SHETLAND ISLANDS ORKNEY ISLANDS HERBRIDES Gotland FINLAND SWEDEN ALAND ISLANDS ESTONIA LATVIA LITHUANIA DENMARK IRE LAN D UNITED KINGDOM POLAND NETHERLANDS Global vision BULGARIA Rhodes GERMANY BELGIUM CZECH LUXEMBOURG REPUBLIC AUSTRIA SLOVENI WORLD REGIONS LOCAL KNOWLEDGE “In a world where differences are considered an obstacle, regions demonstrate that diversity and exchanges of experiences do deliver positive results” Tuscany president Claudio Martini important and can help regions to act in a more coordinated way.” Bruce Jenk BALTIC EUROREGIONAL NETWORK (BEN) Photo: Johannes Jansson B order regions often lag behind in socialeconomical development because of their geographical location. Many of border regions in the Baltic Sea region (BSR) suffer from low GDP growth and high unemployment rates compared to more centrall Proven qualities of larch trees and wood for the benefit of Europeans The SIBLARCH.net network of R&D institutes and authorities has explored and documented properties of the tree species larch and its wood. Siberian larch is the most widely spread tree species on earth, vastly unknown to science an RESCUE: A catastrophe RESponse and reCovery transport and logistics decision sUpport system comparatively analyzed to identify areas for joint activities. The Decision Support System includes a Knowledge Based Expert System (KBES) developed for addressing needs of knowledge management. KBES is link IMMIGRATION LA PALMA LOCAL KNOWLEDGE LANZAROTE FUERTEVENTURA GRAN CANARIA TENERIFE LA GOMERA United we stand Immigration is a challenge the EU must face together, warns Adán Martin Menis E urope is currently facing one of the greatest humanitarian crises in its history. This is not happening LOCAL KNOWLEDGE IMMIGRATION Adán Martin Menis is president of the Canary Islands autonomous government community authorities to take rapid decisions – the key to coping with emergency situations. In geopolitical terms, it is important for the EU to grasp the significance of its maritime border Programme Interreg III A Corsica-Toscany-Sardini Coopération franco-italienne Le Parc Marin International des Bouches de Bonifacio Situé entre la Corse et la Sardaigne, le détroit des Bouches de Bonifacio constitue lun des plus beaux sites de la Méditerranée occidentale. En 1993, la France et LOCAL KNOWLEDGE URBAN TRANSPORT FAROE ISLANDS SHETLAND ISLANDS ORKNEY ISLANDS HERBRIDES Gotland FINLAND SWEDEN ALAND ISLANDS ESTONIA LATVIA LITHUANIA DENMARK LAN IRE D UNITED KINGDOM POLAND NETHERLANDS GERMANY BELGIUM CZECH LUXEMBOURG REPUBLIC KIA SLOVA AUSTRIA SLOVENIA HUNGARY ROMANIA FRA URBAN TRANSPORT LOCAL KNOWLEDGE “The EU should encourage national governments to take some responsibility for urban transport. This should not only mean a higher contribution to financing urban transport but also to supporting the preparation of integrated urban development strategies” Budapes LOCAL KNOWLEDGE URBAN TRANSPORT The Tyne and Wear region in the UK is currently piloting a road pricing scheme which, according to John Shipley, leader of Newcastle city council, might provide a solution. He said that, as is the case for several provincial metropolitan cities, the prevailing struc in association with Nominations close on June 1 st . For more information see www.regionalreview.eu/a Sponsorship opportunities are still available. Contact james.varcoe@dods.co.uk philip.beausire@dods.uk or call +44 (0)20 7091 7500 BG Group A world leader in natural gas, BG Group aims to bring competitively priced supplies to Europe by pipeline and ship from increasingly diverse sources, including Trinidad, North and West Africa, the Middle East and Norway. Help us strengthen gas supply security by supporting the European Comm