Häupl seeks to increase Federal Council’s powers
Federal Council appeals on subsidiarity issues
Struggle to increase the power of municipalities and regions in the EU
Cities as economic driving force for the regions and for Danube region strategy
Stimulus for technology and innovation
Monday, 26 April 2010
Mayor Michael Häupl during his recent visit to the Wien-Haus in Brussels with Michaela Kauer, head of the mission, at the microphone
Michael Häupl, who was in Brussels in mid-April as president of the Council of European Municipalities and Regions (CEMR), called for a strengthening of the role of the Federal Council, the chamber representing the provinces in the Austrian parliament, by granting it the right to make appeals on subsidiarity issues in addition to a veto in revenue sharing matters. “If we want a regional policy that makes sense, the role of the Federal Council needs to be strengthened, particularly in the light of the Treaty of Lisbon,” he said.
At a press conference Häupl said that the role of municipalities in the framework of the EU regional policy had been strengthened by the new EU reform treaty. He called on the federal government to involve the Austrian Association of Cities and Towns, of which he is also president, in regulations connected with appeals on subsidiarity issues.
CEMR president Häupl said that “better living” for citizens and a better quality of life should be included as elements of the various national strategies. Economic growth alone should not be the main strategy for dealing with the continuing international crisis. Slogans were of no use without new perspectives that took greater account of the interests and needs of citizens at the municipal and regional levels.
The new Europe 2020 strategy also lacked vision and seemed to be nothing more than a list of technical initiatives and actions. Europe needed a strategy “that clearly indicates the direction for sustainable development, creative industry, innovation and research”. The new strategy was unambitious, much like the current European Commission, which no longer fulfilled its role as the motor of the Community. The CEMR feared that heads of state and national government were “dominating the agenda-setting of the EU”. Häupl called for consultation on the new Europe 2020 strategy. The municipalities had been upgraded through the new reform treaty, but the Commission still considered local and regional governments as “other organisations” together with NGOs, academic organisations and religious groups. It was “high time” for the EU to establish a system of multi-level governance from the Council and Commission to the EU Parliament and the municipalities/regions.
CEMR president Häupl, who was accompanied by Elisabeth Vitouch (right), chairperson of the European Commission in the Vienna City Council, called for a greater say for representatives of the cities, municipalities and regions in EU institutions
During his visit to the Wien-Haus, Häupl told journalists that he welcomed the appointment of Johannes Hahn from Vienna as the new EU Regional Policy Commissioner in Brussels and the importance of the role of cities that Hahn had emphasised at a meeting in the European Commission. Cities were the economic driving force for the regions and their structural centre, said Häupl. He had also spoken with Hahn about the new EU Danube region strategy, which called for a reconciliation of business and the environment, the social sector, cultural exchange, regional development and a shared European vision. The philosophy should also integrate the Balkans, thereby making a greater contribution to lasting peace. In that regard, Häupl also stressed the importance of good cooperation with the mayor of Belgrade.
He also stressed the importance of encouraging investment, particularly in science, research and technology. A further intensification of investments in technology and innovation would be of decisive importance for Vienna’s future, he said. He would like to have seen the development “much earlier” of Vienna as a rail hub for the north-south route from Berlin to northern Italy and Slovenia. The east-west route was “somewhat better”, but the rail connection from Vienna to Prague, Dresden and Berlin brought a “small tear” to his eye. As a citizen he would like to see “more Europe at a faster pace”.
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