Crossing the borders

“Adriatic, Balkans, Europe. Challenges and opportunities in the framework of proximity policies”. This was the topic of the tenth plenary meeting of the Forum of the Cities on the Adriatic and Ionian Seas held September 26-27 in Durres (www.faic1999.net). The conference was attended by representatives of some fifty local and government bodies, officers from regional development agencies, university professors, civil society representatives of the seven Member States (Albania, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Croatia, Greece, Italy, Montenegro, Slovenia) and of other nations (Spain, France and Poland) marked by cross-border coordination networks.Adriatic, gateway to Europe. The two days were centered on themes of mutual interest, such as the Ionian and Adriatic identity, the EU-adhesion process of Balkan States, the use of pre-adhesion funds allocated by the Union for the Balkans, tourism viewed as a development tool for maritime cities and regions, the principle of subsidiarity and intercultural dialogue. “The path leading to Europe crosses the Adriatic”, explained Luciano D’Alfonso, outgoing president of the Forum in his opening remarks. The mayor of Pescara (Italy) referred to the common historical and cultural identity of the Countries bordering the sea and which for the past years have been registering different forms of cooperation, with the establishment of institutions representing the urban areas, the provinces, the universities and the chambers of commerce. Vangjush Dako, mayor of Durres, neo-elected President of the Forum for the next two years, remarked: “Before the challenges placed by globalization, concrete forms of cooperation between our cities and nations ought to be set up”. “The support of the EU, the landing place of Albania and the Balkans, will enable the implementation of interventions for the environment that will boost economic development, infrastructures and education”. A wide range of experiences. The President of the European Parliament, Hans-Gert Poettering conveyed his appreciation for the initiative (“this topic addresses one of the priorities of the EU Parliament”), as did also the secretary general of the Council of Europe Terry Davis (“the conference falls within the activities of the Council of Europe”). Participants expanded the topic of “networking” in terms of a regional development tool, along with other matters such as “Adriatic culture”, tourist development possibilities along with landscape enhancement contributing to “Europe’s bottom-up development” that is closer to citizens, to local communities and enterprises. Further transnational cooperation experiences were conveyed during the meeting. Maciej Lisiki, deputy-mayor of Gdansk (Poland), illustrated the Union of Baltic States with 105 member townships from ten different States. The Baltic Union “promotes economic development, environmental sustainability, sport and tourism”, “in line with European Union policies”. Joan Parpal introduced the experience of Medcities, a network of cities bordering on the Mediterranean with its headquarters in Barcelona (Spain). The speaker reported on the measures for “sea environmental protection, the quality of life in urban areas, telecommunications networks, support to production and employment” implemented by Medcities. Parpal highlighted “cooperation between public and private players” and emphasized the need for local administrations “to lobby national governments and international organizations”, thus stepping up the scope of their intervention. Key words. The director of the Cultural centre of Bar (Montenegro) Cazim Nikezic, remarked, “the Countries that are represented here today have close relations. However, this wasn’t the case until a few years ago”. Recent events, especially since the end of the Second War, triggered divides between Eastern and Western Europe. “Today we view the Adriatic as a large cultural space – Nikezic continued – which at the same time is not marked by just one culture. This is why it is necessary to identify the common traits notwithstanding the different and local realities” pertaining to each land and people. The various networks undertaken to “shorten the distances” between European shores were equally confirmed in Durres. In fact, a number of participants called for joint action and less representatives. The key words of the conference were spoken loud and clear: historical identity; cultural diversity and exchange: common challenges; development; partnership; subsidiarity and Europe. In the final statement participants declared that the Forum of the cities of the Adriatic and Ionian Seas “contributes to the stability, development and prosperity of South-Eastern Europe and of Europe as a whole”. “It endeavors to promote strategies enabling EU adhesion of Western Balkan States”. The townships that embraced the project will involve national and European MPs in supporting their initiatives.