On Tuesday, September the 15th 2009, the first meeting of representatives of communities from Carinthia, Slovenia and Italy took place in a well known resort Velden am Woerthersee. The Communal forum was organised by the Department for communities country Carinthia, Forum Velden, the Alps-Adriatic Centre for Cross-border Co-operation (AACC) in Klagenfurt and ECC from Villach.
Numerous participants were able to attend lectures of different experts on the fields of financing the projects, the mayors presented the cases of “good practice”, also businessmen were involved in the discussions. The purpose of this international meeting of mayors and communal politicians, representatives of companies, banks and educational institutions is getting to know each other, establishing of inter-regional network of communities, exchanging of opinions and experiences and discussing the possibilities for cooperation and networks.
(see interview dr. Franz Sturm)

Cover photo:
from the left: Franz Sturm (country government), Marjan Sturm (AACC), Bernard Sadovnik (AACC), Bojan Šrot (mayor Celje), Josef Martinz (country counsellor), Ivan Štular (mayor Naklo ), Franz Jožef Smrtnik (mayor Eisenkappel) and Filip Warasch (AACC). More information on website:
www.forumvelden.at

Photo and Text: Mirko Štukelj

Last week the President of the AACC Bernard Sadovnik, Secretary-General Filip Warasch and Financial Assistant Štefan Lesjak informed Minister for Slovenians Abroad Boštjan Žeks on a working meeting about the diversified activities of the Alps-Adriatic Centre in Klagenfurt.
The representatives reported about establishing contacts and cooperation with Slovenian communities, especially they emphasized the example of good practice between the communities Bled and Velden am Woerthersee , where cooperation is already going on for five years.
On the basis of the profound experience on the field of communal activities-upon initiative of the AACC- in Velden (Austria) the first Alps-Adriatic Communal forum with international participation will be held.
The minister promised the representatives of the AACC all possible support in their future activities. The State Secretary for Slovenians abroad Boris Jesih was also present at this meeting.

From left: The State Secretary Dr. Boris Jesih, Minister Dr. Boštjan Žekš

The Slovenian minister for labour, family and social affairs Ivan Svetlik and the Carinthian social deputy Christian Ragger met recently upon initiative of the Alps-Adriatic Centre for Cross-border Co-operation from Klagenfurt (AACC). The subject of the meeting was discussing the possibilities of mutual social politics in the border region. Plans are that the institution for bodily disabled in Globasnitz would be used mutually. Furthermore the possibilities of cross border cooperation on the field of medical nursing of patients at their homes were discussed.
The social deputy Ragger said that for mutual cross border projects the promotion funds of European Union could also be used. The minister Svetlik had the opinion that it would be very significant to exploit the regional resources of both countries. Regretfully there are different obstacles on the field of labour law which must be put away.
The representative of the AACC mag. Stefan Lesjak was also present at the meeting, he will coordinate the project proposals in the future.

Photo: Bureau LR Ragger