Tyrol in Europe
The Federal State of the Tyrol, as a regional administrative body with legislative power, has an interest to exert influence on the EU legislation. One has to know that 75% of the European Union legal acts have to be transposed at local and regional level. The Representation of the Tyrol in Brussels, which is organized in the governmental department of South Tyrol and External Relations, tries to ensure this influencing control by intensive lobbying and networking. Director Christian Bidner is the head of the Representation. A further important element to bring Tyrolean requests into the European Union legislation process is the activity of MEP Richard Seeber and MEP Eva Lichtenberger.
The region Tyrol is represented in the Committee of Regions by its president of parliament Herwig Van Staa or his deputy the provincial governor Günther Platter. Local and regional administrative entities are represented by this consultative body in the institutional structure of the European Union. In case of legislative proposals which have effects at local and regional level, the Commission and the Council have to request the Committee of the Regions for an opinion. Among other things, this is necessary for Tyrol in important policy areas such as traffic, environment, economic and social co-operation, employment policy and infrastructural networks.
The guidelines of the Tyrolean EU-policies are summarized in the annual report of the Governor on European integration and external relations. This report describes the strategies concerning the EU-policies and the position of the Tyrolean government as regards the most important issues.
You can ask for the report writing to the following address:
Abteilung Südtirol, Europaregion und Außenbeziehungen
Eduard-Wallnöfer-Platz 3
A - 6020 Innsbruck
Moreover you may find the report on the following webside:
http://www.tirol.gv.at/themen/tirol-und-europa/tirolereuropapolitik/tiroler-europapolitik/
