Seminar on “Adriatic and Black Sea Euroregions: the reasons for a Cooperation”

Rome, FORUMPA, 12 May 2009

Speech of Ludmila Sfirloaga, Chair of the Chamber of Regions of the Congress of the Council of Europe

Ladies and gentlemen,

Allow me first to thank the organizers - the Molise Region, the Forum of the Public Administration - for the organization of this event.

We are all aware of the fact that public administration is basically a State competence but it is increasingly becoming also, an international challenge.

The interaction between European, national and regional public administrations has been fundamental also for the launching of the Adriatic Euroregion and of the Black Sea Euroregion.

In order to enter directly today’s debate, allow me first to give you a brief overview of the challenges we perceived when we decided to launch these two initiatives:

the protection of maritime resources, the prevention of ecological deterioration, the management of maritime transport, the promotion of sustainable tourism, the development of inter-cultural initiatives, the management of migration flows represented the main concerns in these areas.

The Congress  looked into these “maritime” challenges and wanted to involve local and regional authorities in tackling them.

Given the broad impact of the problems raised, we felt that integrated approaches for both the Adriatic and the Black Sea basins were necessary. There was a strongly felt need to enable the cities and regions bordering these seas to jointly contribute to a better management of their areas .

Majors, provincial councillors and governors were aware of the fact that they could intervene beyond borders, acting together in a coordinated manner. The high economic, social and environmental stakes represented by these semi-closed seas required the creation of a more thorough co-operation between the cities and regions situated around them, in order to improve the prosperity, stability and security of their populations.

One of the main objectives of the Congress, which brings together representatives of territorial authorities belonging to the 47 European States, is precisely to promote co-operation between local and regional authorities; hence the Congress decided to build the Adriatic Euroregion and the Black Sea Euroregion to optimise the synergies between  local and regional actors.

The idea of the Congress was to create new types of Euroregions as a contribution to European integration. We  wished to reinforce local and regional co-operation within the social, economic, cultural and environmental fields.

We considered the creation of these Euroregions around these seas as a tool for establishing better economic and cultural links – thus achieving greater cohesion – among the populations living in these areas.

In addition, the Congress felt it was important to bring together, within these fora, partners belonging to both the European Union and those outside the European Union territory. 

Finally, in line with the principles of a good governance, we decided to open participation in the Euroregions not only to the so-called regions, but also local, national and European institutions and associations.

The Congress’ Euroregions contained innovative elements: a structured multilateral co-operation between cities and regions which did not necessarily share common frontiers; a co-operation between regions of the European Union and regions outside the European Union; a co-operation not exclusively territorial, but also,  let’s say,  ‘maritime’.

In concrete terms the Statutes of the Euroregions aimed at allowing an exchange of knowledge and experiences at a European level for local and regional authorities who wished to launch concrete co-operation projects, while ensuring their socio-economic development and reinforcing local and regional democracy on their territories.

The co-operation platforms proposed had the aim of developing the management skills of local and regional administrations; pioneering multilateral initiatives and providing support for advanced forms of trans-frontier co-operation based on EU financial instruments, and last but not least, promoting and encouraging the processes of regionalisation.

We were persuaded - and with the Euroregions we’ve had confirmation - that direct co-operation between local and regional authorities bordering these seas would have allowed to better satisfy the specific needs of frontier populations.

Populations living in the same area - even if separated by a border or by a sea - establish social and economic ties: this creates a climate of confidence and mutual understanding, improves tolerance, creates good neighbourly relationships and increases the standard of living of the citizens.

As a matter of fact, borders are coming down. Thanks to the improvements in transport and communication networks, the distances between the populations are being more and more reduced. The seas are no longer a barrier and, if correctly managed, they can represent a common resource and a common opportunity!

Allow me to say rather proudly, that thanks to the engagement of their partners, the initiatives Adriatic Euroregion and Black Sea Euroregion have been a success.

I believe that these Euroregions, by seizing the opportunities open to them, are succeeding in improving the prosperity and the stability and of the people living in these areas.

I think that they should continue to do so !