The Valencian Region: an example of successful and efficient management of environmental projects and sustainable development

The Assembly of European Regions (AER) acknowledges the efforts being made by the Valencian Region in terms of sustainable development. The promotion in the development and application of clean renewable energies has gained the approval from the Assembly, which represents more than 250 regions all over Europe.

The Assembly of European Regions had already recognized this effort three years ago by regarding the Valencian region as the European region that most respects the environment, thanks to the results drawn by the Qualitur project .

The support from the Valencian Regional Government to the 'Declaration of European Regions for Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Sources', during the World Sustainable Energy Days held in Wels (Austria) –which has been only signed by eight European regions - makes clear the commitment of the Valencian Regional Government with clean renewable energies and energy efficiency.

An innovative working methodology

The Valencian Regional Office in Brussels has reached its goals by implementing an innovative working methodology, based on actively participating in European projects, sharing know-how on best practices and exchanging contacts through the Project Forum Corner. This methodology has placed the Valencian Region among the most dynamic European regions in the way of search for alternative energy sources that respect the environment.

Green Week 2006

Parallel to the European Green Week 2006, the Valencian Regional Office in Brussels has organized several activities, as for example an exhibition of best practices in biodiversity and sustainable development at the Valencian Region through dissemination of European projects and a Networking Forum Corner to promote the exchange of contacts interested in future European initiatives related to sustainable development. The Valencian Region is participating in the Green Week as a European leading region in environmental projects, after obtaining 30% of LIFE-Environment funds granted to Spain in 2005.

In terms of environmental goals, the Valencian Region has also led the kick off meeting of the Wateregio network. This platform, whose forthcoming meeting will be held during the Green Week 2006, is made up of regions that suffer from lack of water. It aims to transfer knowledge between the participating regions within the European context and to search for technological solutions and infrastructures for the efficient use of water. The total of sewage waters treated in the Region of Valencia in 2005 amounts to a total of 370.000.000 m3, of which 270.000.000 m3 are recycled which means an average of 71'3%.

The Valencian Region has increased by nine its protected areas in the last eight years, which has turned it into one of the European regions with more protected areas, after having risen from 3% to 28%.

It should be also stressed that the Valencian Region is speaker in both Sustainable Development and Regional Policy AER Committees and is the only Spanish region participating in the Centurio programme, driven a decade ago by the above mentioned Assembly to promote sustainable development through the exchange of experiences among regions. In this sense, Valencia hosted in April the IV Centurio Dissemination Conference, organized in close collaboration with the ARE.

The Valencian Region also collaborates with the ARE through the Eurodyssée Exchange Programme. At the moment, the Valencian Regional Office in Brussels is developing a training programme in its environment and energy unit aimed at young European citizens.




<sup>The Assembly of European Regions (AER) 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 255 Regions from 30 European Countries and 13 interregional organisations (www.a-e-r.org)


AER Contacts: Agnès Ciccarone, Policy Coordinator for Committee ‘Regional policies', a.ciccarone@a-e-r.org or Estelle Delangle, Assistant, e.delangle@a-e-r.org - Tel: +33-3-88 22 74 37/38 - www.a-e-r.org</sup>