Euroregions in South East Europe
A Successful Instrument for Regional Development

The Assembly of European Regions (AER), in collaboration with the Hanns Seidel Foundation and the Salzburg Institute of the Regions of Europe, invited on 28th March to a conference on Euroregions in South East Europe. This event was hosted by the EU Liaison Office of the Euroregion Tyrol/South Tyrol/Trentino in Brussels.

The conference evaluated the success and the challenges of the concept of "Euroregions", which will also soon be celebrating its 50th anniversary. The panellists representing Euroregions in South East Europe reported in a first panel from their experiences during the last years. Mr. Oriano Otocan (Istria-HR), who presented the challenges for the 'Adriatic Euroregion', underlined the importance of interregional collaboration on the shores of the Adriatic, but also pointed out the need for sustained action and common objectives for the participating partners.

A second panel focussed on the future necessary changes of the concept of 'Euroregions' in order to keep it alive and effective. While it was agreed that Euroregions will continue to play an important role for improving cross-border relations in South East Europe, the discussion also examined the opportunities of new forms and instruments, such as the 'European Grouping for Territorial Cooperation' (EGTC) which has the potential for a more intensified collaboration between regions in and outside the EU.

The contributions of the speakers will be available soon on the AER and the Hanns Seidel Foundation websites.

The Assembly of European Regions-AER (www.a-e-r.org) is the political organisation of Regions in Europe and their spokesperson at European and international level. Its vocation is to defend the Regions' interests In the political process and develop interregional cooperation. AER brings together 250 Regions from 32 European Countries and 14 interregional organisations.

AER Contacts: Sergio Nava, Spokesperson, s.nava@a-e-r.org - Mobile: +33 678695235, Tel.: +33 3 88 22 74 36; Francine Huhardeaux, Press Officer, f.huhardeaux@a-e-r.org - Mobile: +33 678 695203, Tel. +33 3 88 22 74 49
Martin Mühleck, Policy Coordinator, m.muehleck@a-e-r.org. Tel.: +33 3 88 22 7447