Salzburg/Novi Sad, 20 October - President of the AP Vojvodina Assembly, Juhász Bálint, attended today in Salzburg the official ceremony marking 20 years since the establishment of the Institute of the Regions of Europe (IRE).
Congratulating the founder and president of the Institute of the Regions of Europe, Franz Schausberger PhD, on this impressive jubilee, President Juhász mentioned the long-standing connection and partnership between AP Vojvodina and this organisation based in Austria, which advocates for regionalisation, decentralisation and connection of European regions, through its activities and initiatives .
“The Institute of the Regions of Europe and AP Vojvodina have been cooperating since the founding of this European organisation, fostering a partnership and open relationship over the years. The presence of high-ranking officials from many European countries and the host Austria at the celebration of two decades of the Institute‘s work is a clear indication of the importance and influence by which the IRE established itself as a significant and influential partner in the field of promoting regional cooperation and encouraging regional development”, Juhász pointed out.
In addition to Schausberger PhD, the governors of the Austrian federal states of Salzburg, Tyrol and Upper Austria also delivered addresses at the ceremony marking the great jubilee of the IRE, while the President of Austria, Alexander van der Bellen, also greeted the attendees by a video message.
The following day, President Juhász will participate in the jubilee 20th European Summit organised by the Institute of the Regions of Europe, during which numerous panels will be used to discuss the present and future of the European Union, regional policy, EU enlargement, as well as energy sector.
The Institute of the Regions of Europe (IRE) was founded in 2004 in Salzburg, with the aim of promoting regional cooperation in Europe and strengthening the role of European regions and local authorities in European decision-making processes. The Institute is also a platform for the exchange of experiences and best practices between regions, cities, municipalities and different economic sectors.