Having organised the European Forum in Wachau eleven times already, Lower Austria has experience with European dialogue, Erwin Pröll, Governor of Lower Austria, said today at the opening session of the European subsidiarity conference “Europe begins at home” in St. Pölten. The theme of the first part of the conference is “Citizen-based policies: The contribution of the regions and local authorities”.
According to Pröll, the title of the conference expresses a sentiment that would determine the success or failure of the European path. The concept of 'Heimat', one’s home country, conveyed a feeling of security, of being understood, taken seriously and respected, as well as of having a say. Today, however, feelings of frustration and powerlessness, fear of the loss of independence and traditions, of individuality, distinct culture and opportunities for participation, were increasingly predominant. Increasing scepticism about the Union — the bigger the EU, the less protection for the interests of the individual – could not be the way ahead, he said.
The principle of subsidiarity and hence the precedence of the small units in Europe was an established concept, but rarely examined, monitored or implemented in practice, Pröll continued. Given that there were no binding provisions in the Constitutional Treaty either on taking account of the local and regional level, it was all the more crucial to ensure that the political work on the ground produced laws and regulations that individual citizens could identify with.
Pröll listed four points: firstly, there was a need for a subsidiarity approach at the centre of the Union, including a relinquishing of power and decision-making competences to foster a subsidiarity culture; secondly, a voluntary commitment on the part of the Commission to consult the regions before laws were adopted; thirdly, application of the basic principles of subsidiarity on the ground by the nation states before the Constitutional Treaty comes into force. Fourthly and finally, the regions themselves had not yet used all the opportunities available to practise subsidiarity.
Promising approaches that should be encouraged according to Pröll include the Committee of the Regions’ subsidiarity network with the pilot project on clean air in Europe and the initiative to support border regions, which had met with understanding and support from Brussels. Not least the Lower Austrian mobile telephony pact also showed that customised solutions were possible, if enough time and space were made available.
To conclude, Pröll said he hoped the conference would trigger a wave of debate, shape attitudes, take a critical look at existing instruments, encourage networking and open people’s eyes to what was possible: Europe will be a success if ruled by practical experience and common sense, rather than excessive regulation from the centre.
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