About EUSALP

EU Strategy for the Alpine Region
The Alpine region is characterised by unique geographical and natural features.

 

Did you know that…

… the Alps are home to over 4,500 plants, of which 400 only occur in the Alps? The most famous alpine flower, which has also become the symbol of the Alps, is the edelweiss.

… the average temperature in the Alps has risen by nearly 2° in the last 120 years? This is almost twice as much as the global average.

… there are over 80 four-thousand-metre peaks in the Alps? The highest peak of the Alps is the Mont Blanc with an altitude of 4,810 metres.

… the Alps are the source of many important rivers in Europe, such as the Rhine, the Po or the Rhone? Before the water of the Alps is fed to four different seas (North Sea, Mediterranean, Adriatic, Black Sea), it is allowed to form some well-known lakes. The largest is Lake Geneva.

… more than 40% of the Alpine area is not permanently or not at all populated?

… 4.77 million trucks roll over the Alps every year, half of them over the Brenner Pass?

The EU Strategy for the Alpine Region offers the opportunity to meet the special challenges of the Alpine Space with innovative initiatives. It brings together seven states (Germany, France, Italy, Austria, Slovenia, Switzerland and Liechtenstein) and 48 regions.

The EU Strategy for the Alpine Region focuses on three priorities: competitiveness and innovation, environmentally friendly mobility and accessibility, and sustainable management of energy, natural and cultural resources.

The participating states and regions as well as the EU coordinate in nine thematic action groups and develop concrete projects. In addition, they are dedicated to the cross-sectoral goal of governance.

Ort: Fieberbrunn
EUSALP implements nine actions under four objectives of particular importance for the Alpine region.

 

Objective 1
Fair access to job opportunities, building on the high competitiveness of the Region
Objective 2
Sustainable internal and external accessibility
Objective 3
A more inclusive environmental framework and renewable and reliable energy solutions for the future
Objective 4
A sound macro-regional governance model in the Region (to improve cooperation and the coordination of action)
Four EUSALP institutions ensure that states and regions do all they can to preserve and improve the future of the Alpine region.

 

In the General Assembly, the political representatives of the 7 member States and 48 member Regions lay down the general political guidelines for the Strategy. The General Assembly meets once or twice a year, mainly at the EUSALP Annual Forum.

The Executive Board consists of the representatives of the States and Regions, mainly civil servants from national and regional administrations. The Executive Board oversees implementation, coordinates the Strategy and prepares the General Assembly meetings. The Executive Board meets at least twice a year.

Within the 9 Action Groups of EUSALP, national, regional and local representatives as well as NGOs and other stakeholders coordinate policies, identify and develop concrete projects and search for funding. The Action Groups meet at least twice, preferably four times a year.

The Presidency organizes and chairs the meetings of the General Assembly and the Executive Board and draws up the agenda and the minutes. It elaborates, together with the Action Groups, a presidency program with concrete projects and events that is implemented during the presidency year. The Presidency rotates annually. In 2021, France has the presidency of EUSALP.