Bezoek aan Oostenrijk en Hongarije: eurocommissaris Hübner verwelkomt succesverhaal grensoverschrijdend project op gebied van vernieuwbare energie (en)
Danuta Hübner, European Commissioner for regional policy, is visiting Burgenland in Austria today to see first-hand how European cohesion policy investment is helping the region to develop cutting-edge technologies in the renewable energy sector and to strengthen cooperation with its neighbouring regions of Nyugat-Dunántúl and Közép-Dunántúl in Hungary.
"Burgenland is a shining example of the added value of European investment, especially in new technologies. Our input creates a huge leverage effect: for every euro invested by Europe, another three euro is being invested by the national and regional authorities, together with the private sector. Burgenland is also a fertile breeding ground for cross-border cooperation, which will create great opportunities for further development and strengthen ties between administrations, politicians and citizens in all fields," said Danuta Hübner.
The Commissioner's visit, organised at the invitation of the President of Burgenland, Hans Niessl, will start with a presentation in Pamhagen on the "100 Worte in 100 Tagen" initiative. The aim of the project (EU contribution: €29.000) was to encourage listeners of Radio Burgenland to learn 100 words in Hungarian and 100 words in Croatian within 100 days.
Tourism projects between Austria and Hungary
With support through the former INTERREG programme, the region has developed joint tourism projects with Hungary such as the "the Pannonian pilgrim routes", with signposting of nearly 20 paths for hikers between Eisenstadt and Sopron (EU contribution: €86.000). Local businesses were encouraged to back the project as part of a wider tourist package. The "European Spa World" initiative, aimed at promoting spas and wellness centres in the area, also benefited from INTERREG support (€582.700).
A model for renewable energy policy
Güssing is a model for the forward-looking renewable energy policy at local level that is driving the economic development of the whole region. Using wood from local forests in its biomass heating plant, the town produces more electricity than it consumes and is able to provide power for the entire region. Over 50 companies and 1.000 jobs have been created in in the renewable energy sector alone and, since 1995, Güssing has reduced its carbon dioxide emissions by 93%. Peter Vadasz, mayor of Güssing, said EU funding (€461.000) was an essential lever for triggering the additional national and regional funding needed to make this ambitious project happen.
During her trip, the Commissioner will also see a renewable energy biomass plant in Oberwart, before travelling to Eisenstadt where she will deliver the closing address at the "SO-FAR" conference (Sustainability, Opportunities - Focus, Achievements and Results or Solutions, Obstacles - Future, Aims and Results).
She will also visit St. Margarethen, scene of the August 1989 "Pan-European Picnic", when authorities temporarily opened the border gates between Austria and Hungary in a symbolic gesture. A month later the border was opened permanently.
The Commissioner will then cross over to Sopron and the second part of her trip in Hungary. The Commissioner will meet Gordon Bajnai, Minister for Development Policy, and representatives of the regional development councils of the West Pannon and Central Transdanubia regions. She will then attend the opening of the Szombathely wastewater treatment plant, as well as meeting representatives of the Pharmapolis "Quality of Life Cluster" which develops therapeutic and curative-diagnostic products for the pharmaceutical industry.
"I am pleased to see that Hungary, one of the main beneficiaries of the European Union's cohesion policy, has made remarkable progress in both programming periods. This is reflected by the high financial performance of the 2004-2006 programmes and the number of calls for proposals launched and projects already selected (more than 6.000) for the 2007-2013 period. However, implementation of ISPA [Instrument for Structural Policies for Pre-Accession] and Cohesion Fund projects still need to be pursued rigorously," Commissioner Hübner said ahead of the visit.
Note for editors
The new regional programme for 2007-2013 for Burgenland within the framework of the Cohesion Policy will channel around €167 million in Community investment (€125 million through the European Regional Development Fund). The programme will trigger a total investment of €432 million (almost four times the Community assistance), install additional renewable energy capacity of 8.5 mega watts and decrease the greenhouse gas emissions by 95 000 tonnes/year. (MEMO/07/170)
Cross-border cooperation between Austria and its neighbours in 2007-2013 represents a total EU investment of €224 million. The first projects are being jointly selected by all the Member States involved.
The Cohesion Policy will invest € 463 million in Nyugat-Dunántúl region and € 597 million in Közép-Dunántúl in 2007-2013.
For more information:
http://www.phasing-out.at/de/aktuelles
http://ec.europa.eu/regional_policy/atlas2007/austria/index_en.htm