This year's General Assembly of the macro-regional EU Strategy for the Alpine Region (EUSALP) took place in Slovenia on November 14. In the presence of Foreign Minister Dominique Hasler, Slovenia handed over the chairmanship to Liechtenstein and Austria at the General Assembly.
This is the first co-chairmanship of EUSALP. The joint one-year chairmanship is an expression of the close and cross-border cooperation in the Alpine region and the particularly close partnership between Liechtenstein and Austria. Foreign Minister Hasler also used her stay in Slovenia for a bilateral exchange with the Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of Slovenia, Tanja Fajon.
The co-chairmanship of the EUSALP by Liechtenstein and Austria brings together 2 countries and 4 regions - on the Austrian side, the federal states of Carinthia, Salzburg, Tyrol and Vorarlberg are actively involved in the chairmanship. The joint chairmanship contributes to further deepening the already very good neighborly relations, also with the participating federal states. With the chosen motto "Cooperation empowers transformation", Liechtenstein and Austria are expressing the need for cross-border cooperation in order to overcome the diverse challenges in the Alpine region. The Alpine region is one of the most dynamic regions in Europe today. With its impressive nature, cultural diversity and economic strength, it makes a significant contribution to Europe's prosperity and identity. At the same time, it is one of the most sensitive regions. Central challenges such as the Mobility and energy transition or coping with natural disasters can only be mastered together. In her speech to the General Assembly, Foreign Minister Hasler therefore emphasized the importance of increased cooperation between the Alpine countries. She also drew attention to Liechtenstein's activities as part of the EUSALP co-chairmanship with Austria. The joint presidency will begin with a kick-off event in Liechtenstein in February 2025.
The EUSALP is one of the EU's four macro-regional structures and will celebrate its tenth anniversary next year. Seven countries are currently involved in the strategy: Germany, France, Italy, Austria, Switzerland, Slovenia and Liechtenstein. Although it is an EU strategy, Liechtenstein and Switzerland can participate in the EUSALP as an instrument of cross-border cooperation. As part of the co-chairmanship, Liechtenstein is taking over the chairmanship of the Alpine Space Strategy for the first time.
The subsequent bilateral meeting with the Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of Slovenia, Tanja Fajon, focused on multilateral topics such as security and peace, the reform of the UN Security Council and women in foreign policy, as well as relations between the EU and the EEA.