1. Workshop 2.C: European Macro Regions
Inspire policy making by territorial evidence
ESPON Seminar
“Territories Acting for Economic Growth:
Using territorial evidence to meet challenges towards 2020”
Workshop 2.C: European Macro Regions
EU Strategy for the Alpine Region (EUSALP)
Dr. Frithjof Ehm, DG REGIO, Brussels

2. Macro-regional Strategy
REGULATION (EU) No 1303/2013 of 17 December 2013
Article 2 (Definitions), para. 31:
'macro-regional strategy' means an integrated framework endorsed by the European Council, which may be supported by the ESI Funds among others, to address common challenges faced by a defined geographical area relating to Member States and third countries located in the same geographical area which thereby benefit from strengthened cooperation contributing to achievement of economic, social and territorial cohesion;

3. Common questions the presenters should seek to address:
Are there certain standards that can be found in all macro regions? What are unique conditions for the European macro-regions?
How do macro-regions take on-board European and global development dynamics?
How could continuous territorial evidence and tailor-made benchmarking support efficient implementation and investments?

4. EUSALP
The European Council Presidency Conclusions of 19/20 December 2013 include at paragraph 50: "(…/…) the European Council invites the Commission, in cooperation with Member States, to elaborate an EU Strategy for the Alpine Region by June 2015".
5 EU Member States (Austria, France, Germany, Italy and Slovenia) and 2 non-EU countries (Liechtenstein and Switzerland), and 48 regions.

5. Core areas of MRS of the EU

6. THE PARTICIPATING COUNTRIES

7. Alpine Space, EUSALP and Alpine Convention

8. EUSALP and the capitals

9. AIMS OF THE STRATEGY
The EU Macro-regional Strategy for the Alpine Region aims to bring a new impetus for co-operation and investment to the benefit of all involved: States, regions, civil society stakeholders and, above all, European citizens. It will build on a long tradition of co-operation in the Alps, and will seek to complement, rather than duplicate existing co-operation structures. This also aims to ensure that this Region remains one of the most attractive areas in Europe, taking better advantage of its assets and seizing its opportunities for sustainable and innovative development in a European context.

10. WHAT WILL THE STRATEGY ADDRESS
Policy field(s): All major policy fields are concerned (transport, energy, environment, trade, employment, research, etc.)
Action-oriented pillars
Pillar 1. Fostering sustainable growth and promoting innovation in the Alps: from theory to practice, from research centres to enterprises. EUSALP: ACTION-ORIENTED PILLARS
Pillar 2. Connectivity for all: in search of a balanced territorial development through environmentally friendly mobility patterns, transport systems and communication services and infrastructures.
Pillar 3. Ensuring sustainability in the Alpine Region: preserving the Alpine heritage and promoting a sustainable use of natural and cultural resources.

11. THE 3 PILLARS

12. TIMELINE 16 July – 15 October 2014: public consultation
From 16 October 2014: Streamlining of data collected during consultation process
22 October: Committee of the Regions (COTER) and European Economic and Social Committee (EESC); debate concerning opinions
1/2 December: Stakeholder Conference in Milan
December 2014 – March 2015: Drafting of Strategy (EC Communication and Action Plan)
June 2015: Adoption of Strategy by the College of the Commissioners
Second semester 2015: Endorsement by the Council (Luxembourg EU Presidency)
Late autumn 2015: Conference concerning the adoption of the Strategy and kick-off of the implementation

13. THE PUBLIC CONSULTATION
Target group(s): Member States, regional and local authorities, inter-governmental and non-governmental bodies, public organisations, enterprises, civil society and European citizens
Period of consultation: From 16 July to 15 October 2014
Languages of consultation: English, French, German, Italian and Slovenian
Encouragement to participate by the Commission, Member States and Regions
Many National events to generate participation
EU Consultation, Italian consultation and Swiss consultation

14. CONTRIBUTIONS
Contributions received on the webpage of the Commission: 193
English: 52
French: 21
German: 62
Italian: 50
Slovenian: 8
Contributions received from Italy: 129, received on
Contributions received from Switzerland: […]
All in all: aprox. 340 (including some contributions by )

15. Common questions the presenters should seek to address:
Are there certain standards that can be found in all macro regions? What are unique conditions for the European macro-regions?
All macro-regions have common items:
Specific geographic setting (sea, river basin, mountains);
Common and mutually recognised domains of common interest;
Competitiveness/Prosperity/Growth/Research/Innovation
Transport, Environment, Energy
Action Plan of each strategy defines all elements previously discussed.
Necessity of added value
Operational embedding

16. Common questions the presenters should seek to address:
Are there certain standards that can be found in all macro regions? What are unique conditions for the European macro-regions?
Governance
General governance setting:
3 NOs (no new structures, no new institutions, no new legislation)
Making best use of existing structures, institutions and legislation)
Overarching and interrelated objectives/pillars;
Further to these objectives/pillars are translated into working structures:
platform for discussions among participating states: meetings of National Contact Points (EUSBSR and EUSDR); EUSAIR Governing Board;
Priority Areas and Horizontal Actions (EUSBSR); Priority Areas (EUSDR); Thematic Steering Groups (EUSAIR);
One size does not fit all
Top-down and bottom-up

17. EUSBSR – Priority Areas and Horizontal Actions

18. Danube Strategy (EUSDR)
The Danube Region Strategy addresses a wide range of issues; these are divided among 4 pillars and 11 priority areas (see image). Each priority area is managed by 2 Priority Area Coordinators (PACs).

19. Pillars and Topics of EUSAIR

20. EUSALP
EUSALP Stakeholder Conference – Milan, 1st December 2014, Milan Declaration of the Alpine States and Regions
Para. 8:
To put in place a governance structure for the Strategy which is in accordance with the Grenoble Political Resolution, the principles of multi-level governance and the Council Conclusions of 21 October 2014, and is based upon:
a) a General Assembly to be held on a regular basis, gathering the high level political representatives of States and Regions involved in the Strategy, and representatives of the Alpine Convention and Alpine Space Programme as observers, and which will be responsible for laying down general political guidelines;
b) a standing Executive Board in charge of overseeing the implementation of the EUSALP Action Plan, formed by representatives of the States and Regions and including representatives of the European Commission, the Alpine Convention and the INTERREG Alpine Space Programme as observers;
c) Action Groups, to be defined in greater detail depending on the content of the Action Plan, which will be responsible for implementing the actions.

21. Common questions the presenters should seek to address:
How do macro-regions take on-board European and global development dynamics?
MRS provide a specific framework that needs to be adapted to the national needs
Many managing authorities try to implement the broad lines of EU policy
Examples
Sea pollution (EUSBSR): situation is aggravated by the following facts: Baltic sea is very shallow, limited water circulation, in addition to all that – dense traffic;
Climate change (EUSALP): the Alpine area is exceptional, since it has to deal with twice as fast temperature rise in comparison to other areas on the globe;
Russian gas (EUSBSR);
Youth unemployment (EUSALP);
Tourism (EUSALP);

22. Common questions the presenters should seek to address:
How could continuous territorial evidence and tailor-made benchmarking support efficient implementation and investments?
Danger of too many actions (slim strategy);
Relation of MRS to regional OPs (often not enough flexibility) and transnational programmes;
Relation of MRS to transnational programmes;
Action Plans include goals, targets, indicators and measurement approaches or indications on how goals, targets, indicators and measurement approaches will be developed for each Priority Area and Horizontal Action (EUSBSR); Priority Area (EUSDR); Thematic Steering Group (EUSAIR);
It is an on-going work in progress. Monitoring is done or envisaged to be done with a variety of data available: e.g. HELCOM data for EUSBSR, Eurostat potentially for EUSAIR;
Soft measures: multilateral cooperation, exchange of information and best practices, e.g., Roma inclusion initiative (EUSDR);

23. Thank you for your attention!
Dr. Frithjof Ehm