ALPINE SPACE Margarita Jančič MOP - DEZI Kranj,

OP The Programme shall provide for: an active contribution to the achievement of the Lisbon objectives and Gothenburg priorities by EU cohesion policy give impulses with regard to the objectives of growth, employment, competitiveness, equality and sustainability

-increase competitiveness and attractiveness of the cooperation area - maintaine quality of life with regard to specific problems and requirements of the Alpine Space The main goals of the new Programme

Goals, objectives and priorities shall contribute - to foster the specific strengths - to make use of the opportunities - to reduce the identified weaknesses and threats of the Alpine Space

Three selected topics in the period competitiveness and attractiveness of the Alpine Space accessibility and connectivity environment and risk prevention

Analyses of the cooperation area the framework conditions as set out by the European Union the experience from the previous programme;the results of projects, the mid- term evaluation and the “Prospective Study”

Proactive approach to ensure that projects contribute to the realisation of the programme objectives to achieve stronger involvement of the different key actors

Summary of trends challenging the Programme – SWOT Analysis STRENGTHSWEAKNESSESOPPORTUNITIESTHREATS GROWTH, COMPETITIVENESS AND INNOVATION Basis for sustainable growth Economic assets Territorial balance of growth Environmental sustainability Social sustainability and human capital Economic resources Major tourism destination and strong tourism economy in the Alpine core. Environment as a key productive factor. Sectoral and territorial weaknesses apparent: agriculture, tourism. Some Alpine core areas rely too much on certain sectors (industry, tourism, agriculture). Adverse environmental impact of tourism in the Alpine core. Alpine productive cultures and networks as factors of adaptability and assets for growth. Development of innovative products, based on local resources (agro-food, construction techniques etc.). Tourism offer diversification with a wider range of products on wider seasonal basis. Development of other activities in territories relying heavily on single activities (e.g.industry or tourism) Changing energy paradigm. Threats on tourism: climate change, competition, increasing structural costs (accessibility, environment, water etc.), sensitivity to economic downturns.

STRENGHTS - M ajor tourism destination and strong tourism economy in the Alpine core - Environment as a key productive factor

WEAKNESSES Sectoral and territorial weaknesses apparent: agriculture, tourism Some Alpine core areas rely too much on certain sectors (industry, tourism, agriculture). Adverse environmental impact of tourism in the Alpine core.

OPPORTUNITIES Tourism offer diversification with a wider range of products on wider seasonal basis Development of other activities in territories relying heavily on single activities (e.g.industry or tourism)

THREATS Threats on tourism: climate change, competition, increasing structural costs (accessibility, environment, water etc.), sensitivity to economic downturns. Possible downturns in some economic sectors (industry or tourism). Increased micro-territorial discrepancies, especially in the Alpine core, threaten economic cohesion

Programme Strategy Enhancing endogenous potentials Capitalisation of experiences and results

Guiding Principles Innovation-oriented approach Integrated approach Mountain oriented approach

Strategic Dimension of the Programme -the main aim of transnational cooperation is to increase cooperation across partner states on matters of strategic importance -to foster the specific strengths and exploit the existing opportunities of the cooperation area whereby weaknesses and threats should be overcome

Added value dealing with the identified key issues, thus contributing to the overall Community goal of territorial cohesion; the programme shall concentrate on finding common and innovative solutions to concrete stakeholders’ needs transnational approach

Improvements the content of projects from the point of view of strategic relevance for the cooperation area the procedural point of view of project development

Special efforts to bring key actors or the various relevant fields together to stimulate the creation of (new) transnational and/or interdisciplinary networks and partnerships to involve non institutional actors

Project generation and implementation two-fold-approach is foreseen aiming at balancing bottom-up and top down generated projects ACP+ JTS support two step application procedure - tool to support this two-fold approach