EPP Group In The European Committee Of The Regions

European Union Committee of the Regions

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Group Meetings and Seminars

The role of the EU Strategy for the Adriatic and Ionian Region (EUSAIR) in increasing prosperity and security in Europe

  • 28.10.2016 0:00 am / 23:59 pm
  • Salles Mare 1 & 2, Dubrovnik Palace Hotel / HR
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LIVE STREAMING:

EPP local and regional leaders call for the close involvement of cities and regions in securing the success and tangible results from the EU strategy for the Adriatic and Ionian Region (EUSAIR). Nearly 80 EPP-CoR Members gathered in an external meeting in Dubrovnik on October 28 to debate the challenges and opportunities for the Adriatic-Ionian region with local leaders and experts. The EPP Group gives its full support to the development of the EUSAIR and its four pillars of blue growth, environmental quality, sustainable tourism and connecting the regions. However, as Nikola Dobroslavić, President of the Dubrovnik-Neretva region in Croatia and host of the meeting stressed
these four pillars should be supported by a fifth one on security as our macro-region is at the heart of many of our current challenges, including the refugee crisis. These pillars need to be supported by strong roots on the ground and the active involvement of the local and regional authorities. Moreover, we must ensure the crucial transport links in the macro-region - primarily the implementation of the Adriatic-Ionian highway, Ravenna-Brindisi railway as well as road and overseas connection from west to east.
  EPP-CoR President Michael Schneider stated that
the economic crisis has left its mark also on this region, especially through falling public and private investments, and the EPP Group underlines the need for stronger focus on targeted investment based on local needs to stimulate sustainable growth and job creation. We must have more synergy between EU, national, regional and local funding as well as more public and private partnerships, and the local and regional level must be closely included in guiding these processes.
  President of the European Committee of the Regions, Markku Markkula, emphasised in his address the importance of both macro-regional strategies and the partnerships in delivering a new vision of Europe:
we need a new approach to the way we work and think. Scaling up good ideas and cooperating across borders is exactly this. Macro-regional strategies offer the right platform to exchange knowledge and experiences; to share innovation and new technologies; to co-create European projects. To build a new vision of Europe that works from the bottom up.
  DUBROVNIK DECLARATION

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