Salzburg/Novi Sad, 29 September - President of the AP Vojvodina Assembly, Juhász Bálint, assessed today in Salzburg at the 21st Europe Summit organised by the Institute of the Regions of Europe (IRE), that active participation in the processes of regional cooperation and exchange of experience is of great importance for the AP Vojvodina.
The AP Vojvodina Assembly delegation, which in addition to Juhász included also Aleksandra Maletić, the Vice President of the AP Vojvodina Assembly and dr Sandra Stojković, Secretary General, is taking part in the activities of this important event gathering the leading representatives of European regions, political and academic community and business institutions.
During the Summit, President Juhász engaged in discussions on potential new joint initiatives and the deepening of regional cooperation with Prof. Dr. Franz Schausberger, President and Founder of the Institute of the Regions of Europe (IRE), as well as with representatives from various European regions and institutions.
“This traditional forum is a platform where dialogues is fostered, shared solutions are sought and partnerships are developed. For Vojvodina, active participation in such processes is of great importance since regional cooperation brings tangible benefits to citizens. I am confident that this year’s meeting will open up new opportunities for cooperation”, said Juhász.
President Juhász also emphasised the importance of Vojvodina being recognised as a distinct and reputable region on the EU map, highlighting that the province already enjoys a positive image in Europe and Brussels—despite occasional differences in views on specific issues.
Prof. Dr. Franz Schausberger pointed out that one of the many advantages of regional cooperation is the ability of regional representatives to often reach mutual understanding and practical solutions more easily than it is sometimes possible at the national level. He underscored the interest in organising a joint conference in Novi Sad in cooperation with the AP Vojvodina, focusing on current issues related to regional policies and the advancement of the interregional cooperation.
This year’s Europe Summit gathered numerous leading representatives of European regions, governments, parliaments and business community. The programme featured sessions dedicated to key topics, including demographic challenges, the future of democracy, energy supply security, circular economy and mobility. Among the speakers were Claudia Plakolm, Austria’s Federal Minister for Youth and European Affairs, Tibor Navracsics, Hungary’s Minister for Public Administration and Regional Development and Johannes Hahn, former EU Commissioner.
The Institute of the Regions of Europe (IRE) was founded in 2004 in Salzburg with the aim to promote regional cooperation in Europe and strengthen the role of European regions and local authorities in the European decision-making processes. IRE is a platform for the exchange of experience and the examples of best practice between regions, cities, municipalities and different economic sectors.