International Conference on “Regional Cooperation in the Black Sea and Danube Regions: Addressing Challenges and Providing Perspectives”

Sofia, Bulgaria, 16-17 November 2007

Speech by Yavuz Mildon, President of the Cahmber of Regions, Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe

Mr Chairman,

Excellencies,

Ladies and Gentlemen,

The ancient Greek seafarers initially knew the Black Sea under the name Pontos Axeinos, or “inhospitable sea”. Over the centuries, however, the name was changed to Pontos Euxeinos – “hospitable sea”. Our conference today is a perfect reminder to all of us not only of the hospitality of our Bulgarian hosts, but also of the hospitality of the Black Sea itself on whose shores rest the historical traditions of enormous length – the traditions of commercial and cultural exchanges, the traditions of co-existence of civilisations and religions, the traditions of discovery and exploration.

The name of the ancient God Pontos is reminiscent of the Latin word for “bridge”. Today, as we are discussing synergies to reinforce cooperation in the Black Sea and Dnube regions, our aspirations are to build bridges between the peoples living in this area, between the countries, regions and municipalities of the Black Sea basin in the political, economic, social and cultural spheres. The fact that this conference enjoys such an important high-level representation shows the political will of your governments to boost such cooperation, which should also involve the regional and local level. It also shows the awareness of your governments of the need to join our forces in developing these regions and bringing more stability and more economic and social cohesion to the region.

The Council of Europe Congress of Local and Regional Authorities, which I represent as President of its Chamber of Regions, has acted as a real engine for launching several “euro-regional” initiatives. The Congress wished to contribute in particular to tackling the challenges of European semi-closed seas by promoting an increase in co-operation between local and regional authorities located in proximity to these seas.

We all know that the ecosystems of the European semi-closed seas are becoming increasingly fragile and the Congress wishes to reinforce local and regional co-operation within the social, economic, cultural and environmental fields. The creation of Euro-regions around the European seas can be considered as a tool to achieve greater economic and social cohesion at the level closest to the citizen and to establish better economic and cultural links.

The first step taken by the Congress was the creation of the Adriatic Euro-region established in Pula (Croatia), last June. This Euroregion brings together national, regional and local authorities of both EU and non-EU member states of the Adriatic. The idea lying behind the Adriatic Euroregion was to give to give local and regional self-government authorities a permanent co-operation framework for working together. With the aim of bringing together the authorities concerned by the protection and evolution of the Adriatic region, the Adriatic Euroregion has become a permanent structure for the conception of co-operation projects in policy areas of great importance for the development of the basin and for the rational management of the riparian states' common resources. The Euro-region's activities are also be linked to those of institutions and organisations coordinating and supporting co-operation initiatives, which also serve sustainable development, economic and political integration and cultural rapprochement objectives.

The Adriatic Euroregion is developing inter-regional co-operation in five strategic sectors: fishing; environment protection; agriculture; tourism and cultural co-operation; and transport infrastructures.

Thanks to the Euroregion, the entire Adriatic area will benefit from the existence of this permanent, broad-based organisation for the co-ordination of co-operation initiatives between riparian states. The Euroregion will create synergies between operators in several fields with a view to implementing sustainable development strategies.  It will also be an actor in the promotion of new cross-border and transnational co-operative initiatives, as well as a means of channelling already existing initiatives into a broader, more harmonious framework, thereby avoiding any duplication of efforts and dispersion of resources.

After the Adriatic one, the Congress has launched the Black Sea Euro-region initiative, which is now in advanced stage after three international conferences held in Constanta ( Romania), Samsun (Turkey) and Odessa (Ukraine).

During these conferences, several problems were analysed to which local and regional authorities are confronted in the Black Sea Basin:

·         the protection of environment;

·         the investment for renewable energy  production;

·         the protection of the sea and of the rivers of the Black Sea through preventing oil-spills and the discharge of waste water;

·         the management of maritime transport risks;

·         the integrated management of coastal areas;

·         the promotion of sustainable tourism;

·         the development of inter-cultural and social cohesion co-operation initiatives;

·         the migration management;

·         the establishment of good governance practices for consolidating democratic stability;

·         the efficient use of regional resources for helping local authorities to discharge their management duties; and

·         the need for effective exchange of information in order to find financial resources for co-operation projects.

Given the impact of these challenges and the role of the actors involved, a concerted and integrated approach to the Basin’s problems is necessary. The need for enabling the cities and regions bordering the Black Sea to contribute jointly to a better management of the Basin is strongly needed. Closer co-operation between local and regional authorities can in fact contribute to a cautious use of the “Black Sea Resource” while, at the same time, providing stability and welfare for the population of the Basin.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

The "Black Sea Euroregion" which the Congress aims to create should bring together the administrations of the regions surrounding the Black Sea, with a view to meeting the needs of the inhabitants. This co-operation platform will also promote and encourage regionalisation processes and play an important role in developing the management skills of local and regional authorities.

The initiative could also benefit from the support of the Organisation of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation (BSEC) and its related bodies. Considering the importance of the Black Sea for the whole of Europe, reinforcement of the co-operation between international, national and regional levels in the area could be highly desirable.

The following are just some of the activities which could be attributed to the Black Sea Euroregion: consolidation of good governance; improvement of the management skills of territorial authorities; establishment of the citizen’s right to participate in public administration; development of fruitful dialogue between residents; promotion of an “environmental care” culture: improvement of sustainable tourism; fostering of cultural exchange and the launching of common projects.

For this ambitious project the involvement of several partners is needed. But a first step has already been taken, namely, strong political support for the Black Sea initiative already has already come from the national governments of the Black Sea. Several national authorities have expressed the political will to co-operate: the representatives of national governments of the Black Sea countries adopted, at the Constanta Conference, a Political Declaration along the same lines.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Of course, in pursuing our efforts for more interregional cohesion, we need to work in synch with our partners, first and foremost with the European Union and its Committee of the Regions, to speak in one voice of territorial democracy, while keeping the distinct approach of the Congress as a pan-European organisation representing more than 200,000 territorial communities of Europe. We also rely on support of organisations such as BSEC and others represented here at this conference. Pooling our resources is a prerequisite for effective cooperation in the Black Sea and Danube regions which, in turn, is a response to the regions’ challenges.

This is why events such as this conference are so important, and I wish to thank the Bulgarian authorities for this excellent initiative. I am sure that the conference will be another step on the road to greater cohesion in these historic regions, but also of greater cohesion of efforts of all actors involved. I wish it every success.

Thank you.