Programme of Presentations

10:30

Welcome "Experience Europe "

Karlheinz Rüdisser, State Governor of Vorarlberg
Rudolf Lerch, Chairman of the Regional Development of Vorarlberg

11:00

Success factors for the region

Erwin Mohr, Member of the EU-Committee of the Regions

It is obvious that regions develop economically, socially differently. The question is: why is that and what is in the hands of the regions, countries and the EU. Out of own experience as mayor and the discussions in the Committee of the Regions Erwin Mohr gives suggestions to shape the future on a local level.

11:30

Added value of a reinforced and direct cooperation between regions in Europe

Ulrich Krause-Heiber, Division for Austria and Slovenia DG Regional Policy

The policy of cooperation between states and regions in the EU has high value. This begs the question: How can communities benefit from the EU cohesion policy and how can they get involved? Local mandataries learn more about various examples of how a European engagement in communities and regions bears fruits.

12:00

Goals of EU 2020 and their concrete in the member states

Markus Hopfner, Ministry of Life, national Leader-Coordinator

The EU Member States have defined goals in the framework of the EU2020-Strategy. The Structural Funds and the rural development are significant regional economic instruments. The lecture presents on the example of Austria, the development, coordination and implementation of the national partnership agreement. It shows possible eligible regional development issues and what is to consider.

12:30

Lunch break

13:30

European and national networks "Tracking the Future"

In a panel discussion, the results of the Forum "Tracking the Future " and the national and transnational networks are presented which support the regions and municipalities in implementing their pro jects.

On Podium:

- Thomas Fleury, EU Alpine Space Program

- Christian Jochum, Günter Salchner, Netzwerk Land Austria

- Anke Wehmeyer, German Network Rural Areas

- Robert Lukesch, ÖEAR Regional Management

14:00

We are getting older, we are getting less and we are getting more colourful – a reason for looking ahead into the future

Albert Geiger, Head of Sustainable Urban Development, Ludwigsburg

Along with citizens as well as people from politics and administration, the city of Ludwigsburg has worked out an integrated concept for urban development. It has also implemented this new concept. Now, Ludwigsburg is a city that represents the example of a sustainable Germany. Experiences of the planning process of these concepts as well as know-how about the implementation are presented.

14:30

From the experience into the future of local development strategies

Walter Vögel, Programme Officer Regional Office Vorarlberg

The local program planning 2014-20 is around the corner. The experiences of the last 15 years have brought very much positive but also Wicked into light. The lecture gives some practical advice which should be considered within future projects which will be promoted.

15:00

Cross-community cooperation of communities, inventory and approaches

Gerald Mathis, Head of a college course site and regional management, FH-Vorarlberg

The merging of communities is considered to be a promising cost-cutting measure in some countries. But is not the cooperation between communities a more effective measure?

15:30

Meaning of citizen councils, citizens’ forums and civic participation

Manfred Hellrigl, Head office for questions about the future state of Vorarlberg

Open planning processes and civic participations need concrete structures and methods. The Büro für Zukunftsfragen (office for questions concerning the future) of the state of Voararlberg has been dealing with this topic for years. Experiences from certain pilot projects give an insight into efficient measures to form civic participation.

16:00

Discussion