The EUSALP brings together 48 regions from seven countries (Germany, France, Italy, Austria, Slovenia, Switzerland and Liechtenstein) with a total population of over 80 million. Given the unique natural and geographical conditions of this territory, the challenges of the 21st century have a particularly intense impact on the Alpine region. These include demographic development and climate change, economic globalisation, which requires the region to remain highly competitive and innovative, and the need to develop a sustainable transport policy.
The European Union Strategy for the Alpine Region offers the opportunity to overcome these particular challenges of the Alpine region by implementing and strengthening innovative initiatives in the fields of trade, industry and energy, infrastructure, transport and environmental and resource protection through macro-regional cooperation between Alpine states and regions, but also with non-state actors. EUSALP therefore offers the opportunity to develop sustainable and innovative solutions for the Alpine Space, one of the largest natural and economic living spaces in Europe, in order to jointly face the challenges of a globalised world. The comunication and the action plan on the EU strategy for the Alps were formally adopted by the European Commission on 28 July 2015 and by the European Council on 28 June 2016.
Thematically, the EU Strategy for the Alpine Region focuses on three priorities: competitiveness and innovation, environmentally friendly mobility and connectivity, and sustainable management of energy, natural and cultural resources. The participating states and regions and the EU coordinate in nine thematic action groups and develop concrete projects. It also has the horizontal objective of governance.
The objectives of the strategy can be broken down as follows:
The European Region Tyrol-South Tyrol-Trentino is one of the founding members of EUSALP and has been actively involved in it since its inception. The European Region leads Action Group 4 on mobility and works with other Alpine states and regions to develop sustainable transport solutions for the future of the Alpine Space. The Autonomous Province of Bolzano leads Action Group 9 on energy and Trentino is the leader of Action Group 3 on education.
In 2018 the Land of Tyrol also chaired the EUSALP, thus assuming a central role in the implementation and further development of the EUSALP. During the year of its presidency, Tyrol took important steps to further achieve the objectives of the EUSALP. The focus was on the modal shift of freight and passenger transport from road to rail, international passenger information, dual education, sustainable and balanced use of Alpine resources, natural hazard management and the energy sector.
The main theme of the Italian Presidency, assumed by the Lombardy Region in 2019, is the development of the competitiveness of the macro-region, focusing on the sectors of green economy and innovation, promoting the creation of new employment opportunities in these sectors. At the same time, priority is given to reducing the socio-economic gap between rural and urban areas, promoting a concrete alliance sealed by the collaboration for innovation and protection that generates new businesses even in the inland, mountainous and remote areas of the macro-region.
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