Transcript C1_Onida_Presentation - Alpine Space Programme 2007-2013

The Alpine Convention and the perspectives of
cooperation in the framework of the Alpine Space
Programme
Marco Onida
St Johann im Pongau, 28 June 2007
© Permanent Secretariat of the Alpine Convention 2007, www.alpconv.org
The Alpine Convention
– An international Treaty for the sustainable development of
the Alpine space
– Contracting parties: The eight Alpine states and the EC
– The Treaty: A framework Convention and eight thematic
protocols
– The Organs: the conference of Ministers (Alpine Conference),
the Permanent Committee, the Compliance Committee, the
Permanent Secretariat, the Working Groups and Platforms
– The steps:
•
•
•
•
1992:
1995:
2002:
2003:
Signature of the framework Convention
Framework Convention in force
Eight protocols in force among the first Contracting Parties
Establishment of the Permanent Secretariat
© Permanent Secretariat of the Alpine Convention 2007, www.alpconv.org
The Alpine Convention Thematic Protocols
Land planning and sustainable development
Mountain agriculture
Nature protection and landscape tending
Mountain forests
Tourism
Soil protection
Energy
Transport
© Permanent Secretariat of the Alpine Convention 2007, www.alpconv.org
NATURE OF THE ALPINE CONVENTION
AND ITS PROTOCOLS
– Focus on cooperation (in particular, on research)
– Environmental protection but under a development
perspective
– Efforts required at various levels: national, regional and
local
– Dynamic aspect: Implementation requires a continous
effort from the Contracting Parties + not all areas of
competence have been covered (e.g. air, waste)
© Permanent Secretariat of the Alpine Convention 2007, www.alpconv.org
„NOT ONLY PROTOCOLS“
– Ministerial Declaration on climate change in the Alps,
Alpbach, November 2006. Requires adoption of an
action plan with concrete measures + calendar.
– Ministerial Declaration on Population and Culture in the
Alps, Alpbach, November 2006. Calls for initiatives on a
wide range of topics. Much focus on the local and
regional level.
© Permanent Secretariat of the Alpine Convention 2007, www.alpconv.org
Main Instruments of the Alpine
Convention
– Activities of the Working Groups
– Multilateral projects of the Contracting Parties
– Activities of the Permanent Secretariat
• Informing and communicating
• Observing and understanding
• Exchanging experiences
► Cooperation with networks and other partners is
essential
► The Alpine Space programme is an essential
opportunity for finding partners in view of developing
an Alpine-wide approach to development as well as an
essential source of funding for cooperation
© Permanent Secretariat of the Alpine Convention 2007, www.alpconv.org
The Multi-Annual Work Programme
2005-2010: four key priorities
– Mobility, Accessibility, Transit
– Society, Culture, Identity
– Tourism, Leisure, Sports
– Nature, Agriculture and Forestry, Landscape
© Permanent Secretariat of the Alpine Convention 2007, www.alpconv.org
Ideas for ALPINE SPACE from the Alpine
Convention key priorities:
Mobility, Accessibility, Transit
– First Report on the State of the Alps (RSA), on the
subject of transport and mobility (to be published in
July 2007).
Main challenges highlighted
• Development of a coherent inter-modal policy aiming at reduce
road freight traffic
• Integrate the need to reduce the structural need for transport
into spatial planning policies
• Improve public passenger transport across and within the Alps
• Promote sustainable tourism mobility
• Ensure safety of transport in the Alps
© Permanent Secretariat of the Alpine Convention 2007, www.alpconv.org
Ideas for ALPINE SPACE from the Alpine
Convention key priorities:
Mobility, Accessibility, Transit
– Activity of the Working Group on Transport
- Sustainable mobility of persons
- Long distance transport-services supply (in particular to
agglomerations and touristic sites)
- Costs and tariffs related to transport services and
infrastructure
- Optimisation of important rail corridors
- Impact of transport on air quality
– New forms of „mobility and accessibility“
(e.g.: diffusion of broad band technologies)
© Permanent Secretariat of the Alpine Convention 2007, www.alpconv.org
Ideas for ALPINE SPACE from the Alpine
Convention key priorities:
Society, Culture, Identity
2006 Population and Culture Declaration (highlights)
• Community awareness and cooperation (e.g. identity,
transparency and participation, public services)
• Cultural diversity (e.g cultural heritage, linguistic pluralism,
artistic production)
• Life space, quality of life, equal opportunities (e.g.
infrastructures, basic services, education, recreational supply,
communication)
• Economic space (e.g. regional development, employment)
• Role of cities (e.g. relations between cities and rural areas, role
of rural areas)
© Permanent Secretariat of the Alpine Convention 2007, www.alpconv.org
Ideas for ALPINE SPACE from the Alpine
Convention key priorities:
Tourism, Leisure, Sports
– Alpine Tourism faces new challenges
• Climate change
• Transport (effects of road transport, underdeveloped
alternatives to road transport)
• Changes in the global transport and tourism markets
• Competition among destinations
© Permanent Secretariat of the Alpine Convention 2007, www.alpconv.org
Ideas for ALPINE SPACE from the Alpine
Convention key priorities:
Nature, Agriculture and Forestry, Landscape
– Adaptation to climate change: effects on landscape
management, nature conservation, agriculture and
forest management
– Structural changes: decrease of rural areas,
abandonment of certain mountain areas
– Forests management as possibility for CO2 capture
– Links with cultural identity (e.g. Agricultural products)
© Permanent Secretariat of the Alpine Convention 2007, www.alpconv.org
Ideas for ALPINE SPACE from the Alpine
Convention key priorities:
Nature, Agriculture and Forestry, Landscape
– Next Report on the State of the Alps, on Water
Some key issues:
• Water management in the Alps: tension between nature
conservation policies and energy needs
• Ecological status (e.g. river continuity)
• Protection against natural hazards, taking climate change into
account
• Safeguard of water supply also in light of climate change
© Permanent Secretariat of the Alpine Convention 2007, www.alpconv.org
Role of the Permanent Secretariat of the
Alpine Convention (PSAC)
– Despite the difference in the geographical scope of
application between the Alpine Convention and the
Alpine Space Programme, the PSAC has a very strong
interest:
• Alpine population will be the first beneficiary of a
good use of Alpine Space resources
• Alpine Convention success is strongly dependent
on initiatives at regional and local level
• Past cooperation on a number of projects
© Permanent Secretariat of the Alpine Convention 2007, www.alpconv.org
Role of the Permanent Secretariat of the
Alpine Convention (PSAC)
– PSAC will be an observer in the Programme Committee
– PSAC will have no direct involvement in projects but
will direct energies towards specific initiatives (e.g.
ongoing research for best practices on prevention and
adaptation to climate change)
© Permanent Secretariat of the Alpine Convention 2007, www.alpconv.org
Role of the Permanent Secretariat of the
Alpine Convention (PSAC)
Example: best practices of regional and local authorities
in relation to climate change
– Internet call for proposal. Deadline 5 September 2007
– Seminar on 5-6 December 2007 in Bozen/Bolzano
– Information in http://www.alpconv.org/climate
© Permanent Secretariat of the Alpine Convention 2007, www.alpconv.org
Role of the Permanent Secretariat of the
Alpine Convention (PSAC)
– PSAC will feed back to programme bodies in view of
good correspondence of projects with Alpine
Convention priorities and also in view to contributing
to a coherent use of structural funds
• Projects leading to concrete actions to be preferred to new
theoretical studies
• Avoid duplications, ensure that good projects are followed up by
action
• Ensure geographical balance (Alpine wide perspective)
• Avoid project “nationalism” (at both national and regional level).
Added value of the project can be more important than its origin
and “parenthood”
• Advice on “strategic” calls
© Permanent Secretariat of the Alpine Convention 2007, www.alpconv.org
Role of the Permanent Secretariat of the Alpine
Convention (PSAC)
Contribution towards coherent use of funds
– Filling of gaps
– Coordination with other cooperation instruments (e.g.
Regions for Economic Change)
– Facilitate implementation of European policies
© Permanent Secretariat of the Alpine Convention 2007, www.alpconv.org