MINISTARSTVO REGIONALNOG RAZVOJA, ŠUMARSTVA I VODNOGA GOSPODARSTVA TRANSNACIONALNI PROGRAM JUGOISTOČNA EUROPA Karlo Gjurašić, državni tajnik za regionalni razvoj Zagreb, rujan 2010.
Esteemed representatives of European Commission, national, regional and local authorities of the countries participating in the South East Europe Program, dear guests! It is my great honor to welcome you on behalf of the Ministry of Regional Development, Forestry and Water Management of the Republic of Croatia. As the part of the European Territorial Cooperation Objective, this Trans-national Programme is a unique instrument for improvement of integration and competitiveness in the area involving 16 participating countries with a population of more than 200 million. In addition to geographical coverage, the programme is also unique due to the case that there are not only 8 EU Member States participating, but an equal number of non EU countries candidate s countries such as Croatia, potential candidate countries and third countries. 2
The general aim of trans-national cooperation is to foster a balanced territorial development and territorial integration by increasing cooperation across member states on matters of strategic importance. It supports the transnational partnership towards improving territorial, economic and social integration, as well as it contributes to cohesion, stability, good-neighborly relations, economic development and competitiveness within the region in accordance with Lisbon and Gothenburg priorities. Regional cooperation in South East Europe is essential for the stability, prosperity and security of the region and we are all here to ensure successful cooperation among our countries. The results of social, economic and other relation which will be developed from this initiative will surely beneficiary influence areas and population involved in this transnational Program. For this reason it is a great honor for Croatia to participate in this Program and to co-chair it this year. 3
In the light of this SEE Annual Event 2010, I would like to emphasize that Croatia among other, strongly supports the initiative for stimulation of innovative proposals for future strategic co-operation activities. Croatia defines itself as an Adriatic, Central European and Danube country. The additional dimension it can offer within the framework of the future Danube Strategy, is to serve as the bridge between the Danube area and the Adriatic i.e. the Mediterranean. This may provide such prospects to the overall cooperation within the area that can contribute significantly to the development of neighbouring countries, particularly in the sense of strengthening the trade and transportation. I would like to point out that successful implementation of trans-national cooperation is in direct correlation with national strategy of regional development of each country. Only if a country has clearly defined its national strategy of regional development it can successfully participated in 4
territorial cooperation programmes aiming to fulfil the global strategic priorities of the whole region. Croatian Government recently approved the Strategy of Regional Development which was created by the Ministry of Regional Development, Forestry and Water Management in partnership with local, regional and national authorities, non governmental organization and economic and social partners. The main aim of the Strategy is to ensure sustainable and balanced development of all Croatian regions. The Strategy is completely in accordance with European cohesion policy and principles of solidarity, subsidiary and partnership. In the light of expected Croatian accession to EU the Strategy can be considered as a milestone for even better territorial cooperation, and within that trans-national cooperation. It will, for sure, contribute to the ultimate goal of European cohesion policy cohesion among people. 5
Finally, I hope that we will all leave Thessalonica enriched with new experiences, friendships and new opportunities for partnerships in future co-operation in the SEE and MED program. 6