Marco Onida St Johann im Pongau, 28 June 2007

1. 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

2. 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: Signature of the framework Convention • 1995: Framework Convention in force • 2002: Eight protocols in force among the first Contracting Parties • 2003: Establishment of the Permanent Secretariat

3. The Alpine Convention Thematic Protocols Land planning and sustainable development Mountain agriculture Nature protection and landscape tending Mountain forests Tourism Soil protection Energy Transport

4. 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)

5. „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.

6. 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

7. The Multi-Annual Work Programme 2005-2010: four key priorities • Mobility, Accessibility, Transit • Society, Culture, Identity • Tourism, Leisure, Sports • Nature, Agriculture and Forestry, Landscape

8. 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

9. 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)

10. 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)

11. 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

12. 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)

13. Ideas for ALPINE SPACE from the Alpine Convention key priorities: Nature, Agriculture and Forestry, Landscape • Next Report on the State of the Alps, on WaterSome 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

14. 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

15. 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)

16. 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

17. 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

18. 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