Welcome to the Committee of the Regions

1. Regional Policy: Benefits from Satellite Information and Services European Union Welcome to the Committee of the Regions Gerhard Stahl,Secretary General, Committee of the Regions Eurisy Conference, Brussels, 11 September 2008

2. Presentation overview • Today’s discussion agenda • Increased role of the Regions • The Regions’ use for satellite information and services (SIS) • EU Initiatives and support for SIS • The Committee of the Regions’ commitment

3. Today’s discussion agenda • The objective of today’s conference is to introduce a Position Paper, drafted by Eurisy and the Assembly of the European Regions • The Position Paper contains the mid-term conclusions and recommendations of Eurisy’s Programme for Local and Regional Authorities (LRAs)

4. Today’s discussion agenda • In particular, the Position Paper introduces feedback from local and regional authorities • This feedback shall highlight mechanisms that can be put in place, by policy-makers, in order to facilitate their access to the benefits of satellite information and services • The feedback was gathered during the Programme’s inaugural conference in Barcelona and the subsequent thematic workshops

5. Today’s discussion agenda • Respective best practice examples which will be presented in the course of today’s conference shall point out, how satellite information and services can be used to the benefit of sustainable urban transport management, flood mitigation and pollution alert

6. Augmenting role of the Regions • While national policies are decreasing their influence on economic and regional development, there are increasingly more responsibilities for the EU and for Local and Regional Authorities in the European Economic and Monetary Union • Ongoing “devolution” and “decentralisation” processes have led to the regions becoming the source for 60% of public investment in the European Union

7. Regional expenditure share • This importance of the subnational level is clearly visible in the budget figures, expressing the Sub-national public expenditure as percentage of public expenditure in 2005 Source: Dexia

8. Use for Satellite Information and Services • Local and Regional Authorities are among the priority users and beneficiaries of Satellite Information and Services (SIS) • Satellite infrastructure-based services fulfil a number of direct management tasks in areas linked to: (urban) transport, environment (pollution, spatial planning, traffic management), agriculture, emergencies and security (flooding, fire, tracking of hazmat) etc.

9. Advantages on Use of SIS for LRAs • Concerning Infrastructure • Mobile broadband coverage – accessible anywhere, anytime • Immediatedeployment • Interoperability with other technologies (e.g. 3G networks) • Complementary system for terrestrial infrastructures • Economically effective way of reaching large audiences, spread on a wide territory

10. Advantages on Use of SIS for LRAs • Some examples for applications: • Support to traffic flow monitoring and environmental monitoring • Emergency alerting on land, at sea and in the air even when the terrestrial networks are out of action • Viable infrastructure for public safety & first-responder services … last but not least • Satellite is a ‘green’ technology, since it is powered by solar energy with no negative environmental impact on earth

11. Challenge to create a value added by using SIS • As satellite infrastructure-based services help to face common risks (flooding, earthquakes, technological crises, etc.) over the boundaries of States, they can help European LRAs to find trans-regional solutions and thereby create a mutual value added • The future challenge for the European regions will be to create an even bigger value added by having satellite information and services even more directed towards their own interest

12. The need for territorial cooperation • Regions can further these benefits by coupling their strengths to achieve even more effective usage trails, by • addressing optimal functional areas of intervention, which cross the traditional administrative boundaries and national frontiers; • grouping authorities from different institutional level and nationality, responding to variable composition of needs and blend of competencies;

13. The need for territorial cooperation • Sharing costs, multiplying benefits: • In terms of satellite information and services, costs may be very high, while the payback is often higher • Territorial cooperation allows the regions to climb over financial barriers by sharing the high initial investment, as well as, running costs • This may allow the regions to profit from otherwise too expensive, however highly efficient services (like satellite information and services)

14. Interregional projects where SIS can help • The following Graphic shows interregional cooperation in respect to flood related projects within the EU Source: ESPON-INTERACT study on environmental hazards and risk management (2006), page 26

15. Interregional projects where SIS can help • The following Graphic shows interregional cooperation in respect to forest fire abatement projects within the EU Source: ESPON-INTERACT study on environmental hazards and risk management (2006), page 26

16. Regions as demanders of SIS Several EU LRAs are using satellite for a wide range of applications: • Piedmont region committed to bridging the digital divide throughout its territory by the end of 2008, using satellite to guarantee full broadband connectivity of all of its municipalities for consumers and enterprises

17. Regions as demanders of SIS Several EU LRAs are using satellite for a wide range of applications: • Zaragoza province is using satellite technology to provide citizens with free broadband access to public service amenities and on-line documentation • Sardinia addressed to satellite solutions to monitor and control its water supply system

18. Regions as demanders of SIS • Being natural users of the satellite information and services,regions have a direct impact on demand: • Either as direct beneficiaries, or • By providing services and infrastructure to the regional economy

19. Regions as innovative drivers of SIS • Regions are the basis for the formation of clusters supporting innovation of satellite infrastructure-based services • SME cooperation and networking at European level has been promoted within the EU‘s Sixth Framework Research program, which allocated at least 8% of its funding to this end

20. EU support for satellite navigation application • So far, total annual public and private spending in Europe on research concerning satellite navigation applications has been over € 100 Mio. • This in turn shall ensure an appropriate supply of Satellite information and services in respect to regional needs

21. EU Initiatives: Galileo and GMES • Galileo and the Global Monitoring for Environment and Security Systems (GMES) offer a broad international public service as demonstrated by the number of countries willing to cooperate inside and outside of the EU • The Galileo satellite radio navigation system and GMES are initiatives launched by the European Union through the Commission and the Council on the one hand and the European Space Agency (ESA) on the other hand

22. EU Initiatives: Galileo and GMES • The Committee of the Regions (CoR) has strongly supported the completion of GALILEO within the current Financial Perspectives • Individual Regions are working with value-added companies for GMES service development (PROMOTE, PREVIEW, …) • Thereby, the CoR has also underlined that local and regional authorities can play a key role in the preparation process, introduction of the system, development of applications and promotion

23. The Committee of the Regions’ commitment • In terms of satellite information and services, the CoR helps the regions to build up a better and long-standing structure for cooperation (e.g. NEREUS) • The Lisbon Monitoring Platform: The CoR’s Lisbon Monitoring Platform allows an exchange of best practice and mutual learning

24. The Committee of the Regions’ commitment • EU Cohesion Policy: CoR has stressed the importance of orienting this policy to sustainable and balanced development.

25. The Committee of the Regions’ commitment • To support territorial cooperation projects, the European Grouping of Territorial Cooperation (EGTC) was established • The EGTC is a stable legal structure with autonomous legal personality constituted by territorial authorities (national, regional, local, other bodies) from at least two Member States to deliver cooperation actions across the borders

26. The Committee of the Regions’ commitment • European Grouping of Territorial Cooperation • The goals of the EGTC are to realize cross-border infrastructures or running cross-border services, (e.g. transport, health-care, education, SME support, environment, energy, etc.) • The EGTC projects are co-financed by EU cohesion policy, EU funding, or other public or private funding

27. Thank you very much!More information on:http://lisbon.cor.europa.euwww.cor.europa.eu/egtc.htm