1^st General Assembly of the “Black Sea Euroregion” Association

Constanta (Romania), 26 November 2008

Speech by Ludmila Sfirloaga, President of the Chamber of Regions, Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe

Mr President

Dear colleagues

Ladies and Gentlemen

As President of the Chamber of Regions of the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe, I am very pleased to participate at the first General Assembly of the Black Sea Euroregion – an initiative which was launched here in Constanta 2 years ago.

Establishing forms of direct co-operation between local and regional authorities beyond their borders allows, without any doubt, to better satisfy the specific needs of border populations. Since the integrated management of local services has repercussions beyond borders, transborder co-operation can have a positive impact in many different areas. As just a few examples I can cite the co-ordinated control of frontier traffic and pollution, joint initiatives in response to natural catastrophes and social security for transborder workers. The populations living on either side of a border necessarily establish economic and social ties: this creates a climate of confidence and improves tolerance, mutual understanding and good neighbourly relationships.

As you know, the Congress took up the challenge of the local and regional authorities of the Adriatic and Black Sea maritime basins which wanted to develop direct inter-municipal and inter-regional co-operation projects. The high economic, social and environmental stakes represented by these maritime areas required much closer co-operation between the cities and regions in order to improve the prosperity, stability and security of their populations.

We wanted to create a new generation of Euroregions: we thought of structured multilateral co-operation between cities and regions which do not necessarily share common borders; co-operation between regions of the European Union and regions outside the Union; co-operation not exclusively territorial, but also ‘maritime’.

These Euroregions have taken the form of ‘not-for-profit’ associations whose objectives are to allow local authorities to meet in order to find methods of sustainable management for their maritime basins. [In the future, there is nothing to prevent these Euroregions from becoming a European Grouping for Territorial  Cooperation (EGTC) – a type of euroregion proposed by the European Union. This is especially true in the light of the fact that EGTCs are also open to regional authorities from non-EU countries.]  

The setting up of these Euroregions aims at permitting the exchange of knowledge and experiences at a european level: local and regional authorities will be able to launch concrete co-operation projects (within the limits of the competences accorded to them by their respective national legislations), ensure their socio-economic development and reinforce local and regional democracy and territorial cohesion.

The Adriatic Euroregion, which at present comprises 24 sub-state members, has already developed a programme of activity centred, notably, on transport, fishing, agriculture, environmental protection, sustainable tourism and cultural and social co-operation. This Euroregion currently receives financial support from the European Union. 

In a similar way, the Congress has worked for the creation of a Black Sea Euroregion, which we are celebrating today on the occasion of its first General Assembly. You know that the Black Sea region has become one of the most sensitive regions in Europe from a political, socio-economic and environmental point of view. It is an area where many different cultures co-exist. Via the Danube and the Mediterranean basin, it is closely linked to central and eastern Europe in economic, social and environmental terms. Here too, the idea is to improve the prosperity, stability and security in the area through transborder and inter-regional co-operation projects. Local and regional authorities, co-operating within the framework of this Euroregion, can consider taking efficient initiatives on financing specific co-operation projects.

However, the time has also come to consider the Euroregion in operational terms. Allow me to suggest some points for reflection: environmental protection; the creation of renewable energy sources; preventing the discharge of petroleum products and waste water; the management of risks relating to maritime transport; the promotion of sustainable tourism; the development of initiatives on intercultural exchange and social cohesion; the management of migration – all these are domains in which partnerships between local and regional authorities can contribute to the well-being of their citizens.   

The Congress is also ready to give its support to the Black Sea Euroregion with its operational structures and networks:

In the field of training with ENTO (The European Network of Training Organisations for Local and Regional Authorities);

With national associations of local and regional authorities such as the NALAS network in South-East Europe for developing co-operation and partnership initiatives;

And finally with the Association of Local Democracy Agencies (ALDA), situated in the countries of South-East Europe and the Caucasus, which can act in favour of parternships between local and regional authorities.

I believe it is vital to ensure that municipalities, provinces and regions are able to meet within a structured entity to build common projects: with the Black Sea Euroregion we have done just that. From now on, the authorities concerned will have to exchange their opinions, launch initiatives and build common projects. The Congress is of course ready to contribute to these activities in synergy with the partner-members of the Euroregion.

As an honorary member of the Black Sea Euroregion, the Congress will be honoured to take part in this important Euroregion venture.