Four Motors for Europe

The designation Four Motors for Europe represents a multilateral working group between the German state of Baden- Württemberg, Catalonia, Lombardy region of the Italian and the French region of Rhône -Alpes. The Partnership Agreement between the four regions was signed in 1988. Since 1990 when the Canadian province of Ontario and British Wales region selectively participate in the activities of the four engines. The cooperation group has no independent institutional structures. The focus is on strengthening the regional economy and the increase in the political influence of the four regions within the European Union.

Form of cooperation

The four engines embody an inter-regional cooperation between sub-national authorities across the boundaries of nation states away. The four regions belong to the EU each with different Member States and have no common boundary line. In their national states, the regions are among the economic leaders. However, their economic performance varies in the inter-regional comparison. Since its foundation forms evolve alongside the transnational cooperation between regional governments cross-sectoral cooperation between actors from the regions.

Establishment of the working group

The establishment of bilateral cooperation agreements between the four regions preceded the establishment of the Working Group. On June 17, 1986, the regions of Baden -Württemberg and Rhône -Alpes decided in a joint statement, the existing cooperation in the fields of research and technology policy, economic cooperation of small and medium-sized enterprises, the education and training as well as the youth - and to intensify cultural exchange. Identical cooperation agreements or arrangements, Baden- Württemberg on 30 May 1988 Lombardy and on 3 November 1988 with Catalonia. In addition, the Baden-Württemberg partner regions connected with each other bilateral cooperation agreements: Rhône -Alpes and Lombardy on April 9, 1987, Catalonia and Lombardy on 1 March 1988 and Catalonia and Rhone -Alpes on 24 March 1988 In addition to the bilateral cooperation relations. between the four regions of the multilateral working group was established four engines on 9 September 1988. In the memorandum establishing the working group cooperation objectives are identified:

  • Development of infrastructure ( in particular telecommunications and transport infrastructure )
  • Deepened cooperation in research and technology policy
  • Development cooperation with economically weaker regions
  • Enhanced cooperation in the area of ​​arts and culture
  • Mutual representation of interests in economic and scientific activities outside Europe
  • Joint presentation of the exhibition Four Motors for Europe

The initiative to develop a network of bilateral cooperation relations and the establishment of four engines went out by the then Prime Minister of Baden-Württemberg, Lothar Späth.

Organizational structures

The Association has no independent institutional structures. The execution of organizational tasks falls to the region, which has the presidency of the four engines. The change of the Presidency shall be made annually. The programmatic decisions of the working group are taken by the presidents of the four partner regions. To this end, they gather on an annual conference attended by the ministers and also officials from the ministries. The decisions of the President be adopted in the form of memoranda. For the creation and implementation of cooperation projects four commissions were set up that can be categorized into several groups and subgroups. The management of a commission responsible for implementing a region. In the groups sent by the regional government officials and representatives from industry and academia are represented. The Commissioners meet at least once a year.

  • Commission on Culture and Social Affairs 4 ad hoc groups formed for the various convocations of the Social Conference
  • Group Arts and Culture
  • Commission Education and Youth Commission Higher Education and Research
  • Group education and vocational training
  • Group Youth and Sports
  • Commission's economic Group work and family
  • Economic group
  • Agriculture
  • Commission landscape systematization Group Transportation and communication
  • Environment Permanent Environmental Commission
  • Sub-group education and information
  • Subgroup water control - Leadership
  • Subgroup conservation

Extension of the working group

The Association maintains four engines with the regions of Ontario and Wales since 1990 cooperative relations. On 25 June 1990, the Canadian province of Ontario was accepted as an associate member of the Association. From this cooperation, European regions promise access to the North American market. The signing of a bilateral cooperation agreement between Baden- Württemberg and Wales on 27 June 1990, this UK region involved in selected projects of the Association. However, Wales does not have the status of an associate member. Operated by the Baden-Württemberg state government extension tests the network of cooperation to the Belgian region of Flanders in 1988 failed initially vetoed the French partner and in the case of the Portuguese Centre Region (from Catalonia proposed in 1990) to the opposition of the central government in Spain. The veto for Flanders was repealed and the community hopes that Spain withdraw its blocking against the Portuguese center region.

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