Local Employability – Employabilité Locale International Conference of Serres 26 – 27 June 2004 The Management of economic opportunities and the risks

Local EmployabilityLocal Employability – Employabilité Locale – Employabilité Locale

International Conference of Serres 26 – 27 June 2004The Management of economic opportunities

and the risks for the Departments of Serres and Drama following Bulgaria’s accession to the E.U.

« Cross-border Co-operation :for more business opportunities,

more employment and social insertion »

Presentation by Mr. Alkis KalliantzidisGeneral Co-ordinator of the Project «L.I.F.E.S.»

17, Aggelaki Str. – 54621 ThessalonikiTel. : +302310228833 – Fax : +302310260350

E-mail : [email protected] – Site : www.emloc.gr

26/06/2004


What do we mean byWhat do we mean by Cross-border Cross-border Co-operation ?Co-operation ?

• A bilateral, trilateral or multilateral co-operation of local and regional authorities which are located in areas with common borders (i.e.Serres – Drama – Blagoevgrad). In this co-operation local private, social, semi-state, academic, political and athletic actors must be included who altogether will make up what we call a « Citizen’s society ».


To what does cross-border co-To what does cross-border co-operation contribute ?operation contribute ?

• For the European Union : to better integration and to restriction of economic & social splintering which the national borders necessitate.

• For the people : in the realization of « Citizen’s Europe » they will become better acquainted, learn to understand their differences (« Se connaître pour se comprendre ») thus mutual approximation, something which is more important than the approximation of the states themselves.


When is a productive cross-border co-When is a productive cross-border co-operation ensured ?operation ensured ?

When all those interested on both sides of the Borders benefit, in terms of• Modern infrastructures• New technologies & new know-how• Economy• Employment• Society• Culture• Administration


Thus when there is a « people’s foothold » and a profitable co-operation of all the interested parties on both sides of the Borders.

Otherwise the cross-border co-operation is consumed by an ephemeral exchange of good intentions « about enormous co-operation potential... » which however remains void.


What should be the intrinsic aim of the What should be the intrinsic aim of the cross-border co-operation ?cross-border co-operation ?

• The completion of a cross-border zone in order to become a distinct and reputable « Euroregion ». How then will the Serres – Drama – Blagoevgrad triangle acquire a common European identity in the enlarged European Union of 27 members ?

• The shared solutions to common problems, i.e. unemployment, economic decline, digital illiteracy, geographical isolation from the national and community Centre, etc.

• These are not our personal unsupported allegations. They are included in the C-192/37-12.8.2002 Opinion of the « Committee of Regions » of the European Commission in 2002.


Why the Enlargement of the E.U. to Bulgaria could and Why the Enlargement of the E.U. to Bulgaria could and should make up the ignition mechanism of a fertile should make up the ignition mechanism of a fertile

cross-border co-operation ?cross-border co-operation ?

• Because the region of the Departments of Serres & Drama as of 2007 will cease to be a community frontier geographical zone (extremity) of the E.U. of 27. It will find itself closer to the community Centre of Brussels in contrast to the Bulgarian seafront regions.The centre of gravity is altering easterly.

• Because the region of Blagoevgrad, that makes up an external border region of the E.U. of the 25 member states of today, as of 2007, it will find itself closer community wise to the same community Centre in contrast to Sofia the capital of Bulgaria. Because these two border zones have the opportunity to be transformed into a « Euroregion », by means of a gradual development of a fertile Cross-border Co-operation.


Can we however talk seriously about a Can we however talk seriously about a « « EuroregionEuroregion » » without high competivity ?without high competivity ? NO of course not. NO of course not.

What makes up the competivity of each region ?What makes up the competivity of each region ?

• The level of training of its people on which their employability depends today.

• The continuous adaptability of its enterprises and its employees to worldwide mutation.

• The level of its attractiveness for new investments and for creative people (Local government) What is its infrastructure ? What is its cultural and recreational life ? What is its environment ?


In order to gradually form a distinct, recognized and competitive « Euroregion » Serres – Drama - Blagoevgrad, these 3 common synthetical elements (individual, enterprise, local government) must co-operate in harmony and also combine horizontally with :


Horizontal Supplementary Components Horizontal Supplementary Components Cross-border Co-operationCross-border Co-operation

• A developed proximity financing.• An unobstructed cross-border mobility of

labour & local enterprises.• A wider exploitation of Information &

Communication Technologies.• Equal opportunities for men, women and those

with special needs.• Multi language learning activities (Greek,

Bulgarian) and transcultural understanding and exchange.


On these components 20 months ago we built our On these components 20 months ago we built our collective Cross-border Project L.I.F.E.S approved by the collective Cross-border Project L.I.F.E.S approved by the European Commission and under realization for the past European Commission and under realization for the past

14 months.14 months.

Local Intervention for the Future of Employment and socio-cultural Development

in the departments of Serres & Drama


For us the Enlargement constitutes For us the Enlargement constitutes

NEITHER AN ONCOMING HELLNEITHER AN ONCOMING HELL

NOR AN IMPENDING PARADISE NOR AN IMPENDING PARADISE

It is an inevitable community development It is an inevitable community development

which contains possible risks

but also MANY OPPORTUNITIES :


Freed from insecurities, fears and over rated protectionisms of immobility, we consider that the ENLARGEMENT of the E.U.to the neighbouring Bulgaria in 2007 means theoretically the development of CROSS-BORDER CO-OPERATION, of course on the condition that a constituted and cohesive CROSS-BORDER CO-OPERATION STRATEGY will be formed.For the first time not only Greece but also the Departments of Serres and Drama will have open ground economic borders within breathing distance,with the community country of Bulgaria,


Instead of putting great emphasis on« How and when Bulgaria will accede to the E.U. », we should be more concerned with

« What will happen after Bulgaria’saccession ? » and « what policies are required in our area for the Enlargement of the E.U. to Bulgaria ? », particularly in the field of

LOCAL EMPLOYMENT.


Bulgaria’s accession to the E.U. meansBulgaria’s accession to the E.U. means : :

Abolishment of the economic Borders of Greece – Bulgaria. Meaning free circulation of individuals, goods, services and capital.

It means potential development of Cross-border Co-operation, if it is desired both by the local population on both sides of the Border and also by their representative actors : Local authorities, Chambers, Syndicates, non-government organizations etc.

It means that the factors that obstruct and those that promote Cross-border Co-operation must be researched.


What factorsWhat factors OBSTRUCTOBSTRUCT

the Cross-border Co-operation ?the Cross-border Co-operation ?

• The lack of political free will of local actor officials.

• The language barriers, cultural differences and modern phobias (xenophobia, economic migration, etc.).

• The legal restrictions which are enforced through national and community legislation.


What factorsWhat factors OBSTRUCTOBSTRUCT

the Cross-border Co-operation ?the Cross-border Co-operation ?• The differences relevant to the

responsibilities of the limited administrative ranks on both sides of the border.

• The problems relative to the adaptation of the partial financial sources, i.e. the lack of transfunctioning of the Interreg III & Phare / CBC programmes.

• The limited experience of Cross-border Co-operation and implementation of developmental and management programmes.


What factors What factors PROMOTEPROMOTE


• The political voluntarism of the local actor officials.

• The mutual trust and co-operation based initially on company relations and mutual benefit.

• The establishment of a cohesive Cross-border Co-operation Project for dealing with common problems and also the realization of common visions.


What factorsWhat factorsPROMOTEPROMOTE


• The creation and development of common cross-border mechanisms (structures) within whose framework the Cross-border Co-operation will be realized.

• The disposition of adequate financial sources through the community initiative INTERREG III & PHARE / CBC for example.


The PRINCIPALS The PRINCIPALS of a fertile Cross-border Co-operationof a fertile Cross-border Co-operation

The mutual understanding of both sides and co-operation with third parties.

The co-operation to be propelled « from the base upwards ». The higher administrative ranks must ensure the appropriate legal and financial conditions for the production of the Cross-border Co-operation.


The PRINCIPLE GUIDELINES of a fertile The PRINCIPLE GUIDELINES of a fertile Cross-border Co-operationCross-border Co-operation

The greater aim of the Co-operation must be the improvement of competivity of the frontier regions on both sides of the borders. To examine the possibility of shrinking the programmes INTERREG III & PHARE / CBC into one.

The local and regional authorities must gain more power and responsibility in order to develop their border regions.


Some specific ideas for successful Some specific ideas for successful Cross-border Co-operationCross-border Co-operation

The development of « Cross-border Bridges » (Transregional structures), i.e. communication and exchange networks, such as : the railways, the vertical axle of the Egnatia Highway, telecommunications, etc., such as : cultural development & common historical tradition, such as : the protection & development of the cross-border environment (Kozlontoui, the waters of the rivers of Strimonas & Nestos).

The establishment of the « European Passport » for the abolishment of the border controls.


Some specific ideas for successful Some specific ideas for successful Cross-border Co-operationCross-border Co-operation

The common method of « qualification recognition for tertiary education ».

The creation and development of a « Cross-border Audiovisual Space » with the contribution of local MM, such as : DIAVLOS TV Rodolivos, STAR TV Drama, ORBEL TV Petritch, MASTER FM, etc. which will promote the Cross-border Co-operation.


Some specific ideas for the success of Some specific ideas for the success of Cross-border Co-operationCross-border Co-operation

The establishment of a fortnightly cross-border television programme (in Greek & Bulgarian) supply & demand of labour on both sides of the border.

The publication of a common « Tourist, Museum & Recreational Guide » (in Greek, Bulgarian, English) for the common promotion of the local touristic,cultural & recreational « industry ».


Some specific ideas for the successSome specific ideas for the successof Cross-border Co-operationof Cross-border Co-operation

The common « Presentation of the Frontier Beles Mountains » (description of the geographical, architectural, cultural heritage).

The Cross-border Co-operation at university level between the Technological Training Institutes (TEI), of Serres - Kavala – Drama and the university of « Neofit Rilski » of Blagoevgrad.

Documents

Local Employability – Employabilité Locale International Conference of Serres 26 – 27 June 2004 The Management of economic opportunities and the risks