Slovenians in Udine and Posočje talk cooperation options
Bovec, 19 January - Representatives of Slovenians from the Italian province of Udine and the Slovenian region of Posočje held their annual meeting in Bovec on Saturday to confirm the desire to bring the two areas closer together by establishing an European grouping of territorial cooperation (EGTC). They also discussed the issue of population ageing.
Bovec
The 53rd annual meeting of Slovenians from the Italian province of Udine and the Slovenian region of Posočje.
Photo: STA
The keynote speaker at the 53rd meeting was Slovenian Minister for Solidarity-based Future Simon Maljevac, who also met with mayors from both sides of the border and representatives of the umbrella organisations of Slovenians in the Udine province and development institutions in Posočje at a round table before the meeting.
The common thread was the establishment of an EGTC, with the idea of such integration coming up at last year's meeting. This year, the Posočje Development Centre and the Torre and Natisone Mountain Community were tasked as the institutions that will promote the idea further.
In his address, Maljevac said that "through solidarity programmes, inter-institutional cooperation and the promotion of integration, we want to create conditions where people on both sides of the border can live quality and equal lives."
We are a ministry in one country, but the unifying intention remains," said the minister, who also talked to the mayors about the challenges in elderly care, as both sides of the border face the issue of population ageing.
Maljevac said that his ministry can help with basic infrastructure, adding that the construction of a new care home in Bovec will begin this year.
Simon Škvor, the Posočje Development Centre, said that cross-border cooperation could improve with the EGTC, noting that this year they plan to analyse development initiatives and determine priority areas.
"We find that the development needs in the area are relatively large and similar, but we are modest in drawing the available EU funds together," he said.
According to Škvor, there are opportunities for cooperation in tourism, care for the young and elderly, and entrepreneurship and business.