Until 1 October 2023, Trentino will hold the Presidency of the EGTC European Region Tyrol-South Tyrol-Trentino, when South Tyrol will take over the Euregio Presidency for two years.
At a press conference at the Euregio headquarters in the Waaghaus (Weigh House) in Bozen/Bolzano, the future President of the Euregio, South Tyrol's Governor Arno Kompatscher, presented the programme of the South Tyrolean Presidency until 2025. This sets the course for the implementation of the programme of the two-year South Tyrolean Euregio Presidency, which - building on the goals and measures of previous Presidencies - aims to promote sustainability through a series of projects.
The future of the Euregio lies in sustainability, Governor Kompatscher emphasized, both socially, ecologically and economically. "It is the vision of a European region that creates a common project on the basis of historical Tyrol: a project of the people, not of politics," says Kompatscher.
South Tyrol can build on the work of the Trentino Presidency
Governor Kompatscher thanked his counterpart Fugatti for the almost two years of work of the Trentino Euregio Presidency, "in which the reform of the Euregio was also implemented, which aims at a strong involvement of citizens through appropriate councils, including the increased involvement of the municipalities and the provincial parliaments". Under the motto "The Euregio is young", the European region has developed very well during this time. The South Tyrolean Presidency can now build on the excellent work of the Trentino Presidency, the South Tyrolean Governor stressed.
Maurizio Fugatti, President of the Euregio and Governor of Trentino, underlined: "When the Trentino Presidency comes to an end in September, we will take stock definitively. We can already say that we have worked intensively over these two years to continue and implement the reforms undertaken under the Tyrolean Presidency. This continuity is important in order to continue on the path of broad democratic participation and decision-making in the Euregio bodies. We have done this - in accordance with our motto - in schools, among young people, but also among mayors and municipalities."
Tyrol's Governor Anton Mattle added: "The European Region Tyrol-South Tyrol-Trentino is a prime example of successful cooperation. I would like to thank Governor Fugatti for his commitment as President of the Euregio and wish Governor Kompatscher all the best. Sustainability is the order of the day, especially in times of climate change and inflation, and is therefore rightly in focus."
"Overcoming borders" as a leitmotif
"We will make the slogan 'Overcoming Borders' the leitmotif of our upcoming presidency," Kompatscher announced. The aim is to concentrate on new projects that allow people to be closer to the citizens, bring people together and overcome borders. The joint commitment to shared goals with a European orientation and a special focus on the population of the Euregio remains in the foreground. This also includes the effort to "imperceptible borders".
Unlimited mobility: Euregio Ticket
Following the successful introduction of the Euregio2Plus Ticket and the Euregio Ticket Students for "borderless" mobility within the three parts of the European region, a further step towards the integration of local public transport in the Euregio is to be taken in close coordination with the responsible departments and transport associations of the member regions of the Euregio: the Euregio Ticket, a uniform subscription for public transport in the Euregio, that is available and affordable for all citizens.
Sustainable Innovation: Euregio Job Exchange
Anyone looking for employees or a job or internship experience in the European Region across borders will receive help in the future: As part of the "Euregio Job Exchange" project, a tool is to be created that will connect the three job placement platforms of Tyrol, South Tyrol and Trentino and provide them with a uniform search mask for jobs in the Euregio. The aim is to increase the reach of job advertisements and to ensure cross-border transparency for employers, employees and jobseekers in the three labour markets of the European Region through the digital integration of the databases.
Social sustainability: Euregio Solidarity Award
With its focus on social sustainability, the Euregio wants to put people and society even more at the centre of its efforts over the next two years. Social responsibility and solidarity are strongly anchored in the vibrant civil society of all three Euregio countries. Associations, institutions, projects and initiatives in the Euregio Tyrol-South Tyrol-Trentino have always generated social sustainability. This is to be made visible and honoured with the presentation of the Euregio Solidarity Award, an award for outstanding cross-border solidarity culture. The prize shall consist of a sum of money and be presented in a festive setting. The first award is scheduled for 2025.
Continuation of successful cross-border projects
In addition, established events and cross-border projects in the fields of youth, education and culture are to be continued or newly implemented. In the future, the successful project of the EuregioFamilyPass is to be given even more visibility, so that families in the entire European region of Tyrol-South Tyrol-Trentino can enjoy local and cross-border advantages in their everyday life and leisure activities even more than before.
Source: South Tyrolean Press Agency, red/mpi