Intervention of the Mayor of Patras, Mr Andreas Fouras in the “2nd Forum of Cultural Routes of the Council of Europe”

Actes du séminaire sur les Itinéraires culturels. Préparation à l'installation de l'Institut européen des Itinéraires culturels au Grand-Duché de Luxembourg. Delphi Saturday 17th April 2010 European Cultural Centre of Delphi Morning Session Subject : “ Regional development and border cooperation” 

Ladies and gentlemen, European policies for cross-border cooperation , not only among the member-states of the Union, but also between member-states and neighbour countries, have a long tradition within the years. The timeframes of my intervention, do not allow me to present the relevant policies as a whole , but there are some points that I have to remind you. 

The opening time , throughout the last years, for cross-border cooperation , was the Convention of Madrid, established in 1980. In that Convention commitment was taken for “concession of jurisdiction in regional and local authorities for cross-border co operations.” 

We should point out that till then, cross-border co operations ,were referring almost exclusively in international level , but after the Convention of Madrid , a progressive procedure started for regional and local involvement. (in cross-border co operations) Next significant station for cross-border cooperation is the well-known European program “INTEREG” , which started in 1990 and it's still valid. At the same time, many other European Programs for cross-border cooperation, were developed. In any case, the “INTEREG” Program , during the different phases and its modifications, has played a significant role. 

 Simultaneously, about this program we have a notable experience , which give us the right to proceed in general comments. The first observation is that the most powerful and significant structures in cross-border co operations, appeared and still exist in Northern and Western Europe. It is probable, that is due to the high level of financial development and permeability at geographical and political conditions, for specific neighboring regions. 

 If this comment is for fact, we can conclude that the depth, the quality and the results of the cross-border cooperation, are highly depending on the general level of development and permeability for each cross-border zone. It’s a fact that the declared goals of all the relevant European Programs , are ment to ban borders from being obstacles in cross-border mobility and development. However, the reduction of barriers in borders , motivates market powers and this motivation causes development on one hand but on the other hand , produces winners and losers in a geographical area and in economy. This dimension in all the existing European programs of cross-border cooperation has been underestimated and this is the reason why we should underline it s importance , in order to take it, under consideration from now on. 

 Now, we can see what tools we have in our favor: Cross-border cooperation with time limit the year 2013 , is a European priority which is materialized through European Neighbourhood Policy (ENP). The ENP turn it’s interest in East Europe, South Caucasus and South Mediterranean. 

It’s a wide area beginning from Algeria, and includes Armenia , Occupied Palestinian Territory, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Egypt, Georgia, Israel, Jordan, Lebanon, Libya, Morocco, Moldova, Syria, Tunisia, Ukraine and Russia. The ENP aims at economical and social enlargement for the neighbor regions , for mutual deal of common challenges in sector such us environment, public health, fight against organized crime, guarantee for safe and functional borders and promotion of the local activities. The funding for the period 2011-2013 are estimated up to the 535 millions euro and we have to wait and see not only the intermediate but also the final evaluations , concerning the success of the expected results. 

 Ladies and gentlemen, At the program of this Forum I am presented with my double status : As Mayor of the city of Patras and as a member of the Committee of Regions (CoR). Allow me to mention some points of the action of CoR about cross-border cooperation. Just a few days ago, precisely on 13th of April, initialised “the dialogue for European macro-regions” , took place. This brand new idea ,at it s first phase, is about the Baltic Sea Region while has begun the consultancy on “A strategy for Dunabe”. In real terms we discuss , in cooperation with European Commission , to set the priorities in big geographical regions with a strategy for cross-border cooperation. 

Our goal is the effective management of the existing resources ,in order to improve transport and energy networks , face up matters of pollution ,social cohesion , immigration and security policies. The report “Strategy for the Baltic Sea Region” was discussed during the plenary session in Brussels , on 14-15th April. According to the adopted report , local and regional authorities must have a central position in establishing priorities , in setting the coordinating bodies and choosing the key partners , who are going to take on these initiatives. At the same time, the Committee of Regions undertakes the political commitment for composing interregional groups that will promote discussions for strategies concerning certain macro-regions. 

These discussions have already started , in the Commission For Territorial Cohesion (COTER) , where I have got the honor to be a member. We are concerning about the progress of the two strategies , the one for the Baltic Sea Region and the other for the Danube ,but at the same time, we investigate the possibility of taking on , proportional strategies for the Balkans and the Southeast Mediterranean. Except these recent developments, there is also in progress the European Grouping for Territorial Cooperation (EGTC). 

This tool was established in 2008 , after the initiative of the Committee of Regions and it enables regional and local authorities from different member states to cooperate more effectively, and organises cross-border, trans-national or interregional cooperation. The existence and actions of the European Grouping Territorial Co operations have already been integrated in our national legislation , and they can contribute in the development of cross-border transport systems, health management and even more, in common projects management or programmes funding by the European Regional Development Fund. This is one more possibility for development of the cross-border cooperation. Ladies and gentlemen, As Mayor of the city Patras , among other things, I have the experience of the participation of our city , in the Adriatic-Ionian Forum, for the last ten years. 

The Forum gave us perspectives and interesting relations , which partly are involved with the suggestions we made for the sub-program “Greece-Italy” through “INTEREG” . These are projects relevant to environment, tourism, culture, sustainable ways of transport , new technologies and volunteering. At the same time, we maintain a strong interest about the creation of a Euro-Mediterranean Union, since our city , which is historically the gate of Greece to the West, has as natural space the Ionian and Adriatic. Dear friends, The various forms of cross-border cooperation , in which the local and regional authorities have a leading role , is not just a modern trend. The ancient desire and need of people to live across borders in order to meet each other , to get to know and to cooperate, is always alive. This is actually the specific and deep need we are called to serve in modern ways , with various forms and with one and final goal: bring people across borders together with the conviction that from this meeting there will be only mutual benefits in all levels. 

Thank you very much.

Photos Delphi. MTP.