Hot Issue Nr. 373

Closer cooperation between the Institute of the Regions of Europe and the Regions of Georgia

At a meeting between the Georgian Ambassador Dr. Konstantine Zaldastanishvili, former Minister of Trade and Economic External Relations, and Prof. Dr. Franz Schausberger, Chairman of IRE, the possibilities of intensifying the cooperation between the regions of the Republic of Georgia and the Institute of the Regions of Europe were discussed in Vienna on 13 January 2015.
Georgia and its regions are very Europe-oriented and interested in contacts with regions of European countries, said the ambassador. The IRE is already cooperating with the Autonomous Republic of Adjara for some years.

Georgia is divided into nine regions, the capital region Tbilisi and the two autonomous republics of Abkhazia and Adjara. Abkhazia is not governed by the central government but controlled by an internationally not recognized separatist government.

Adjara has carried out numerous reforms, which have contributed to the remarkable improvement of the investment climate in the region. Tourism and gastronomy have developed rapidly and already led to an increase of international guests, business people, delegations and investments. Tourism accounts for 43 percent of the economic sector. Numerous measures such as the rapid development of the infrastructure, settlements of international hotel chains, actively promoting the region as a tourist destination, no license for operating businesses in the tourism sector, no license for the opening of a casino in hotels with more than 100 rooms and no VAT on revenues from tourists have helped to revive the economy of Adjara.

The second most important economic sector is agriculture as almost 50 percent of the population works for an agricultural company. Since 2004, large investments have been made in agriculture and in the food processing industry, mainly in the processing of tea and citrus fruits at local farms.

Other important sectors include energy and transport. IRE chairman Schausberger offered to support the regions of Georgia in the search for investors and in providing information on investment opportunities.

map: Furfur & Aivazovsky
photo: diplomatic-press

Regional and Local Elections 2016 in Europe

Local and regional elections will be held again in various European countries in 2016. The Institute of the Regions of Europe (IRE) has already researched all available dates and presents the following list. The strongest months for regional and local elections are March, May and September.

Changes to the list may occur due to new appointments on short-notice or unexpected events. The IRE will keep you updated.

February:
28 February	Municipal elections	Tirol (not Innsbruck)	Austria
March:
6 March	Local elections	Hessen	Germany
13 March	Regional election	Baden-Württemberg	Germany
	Regional election	Rheinland-Pfalz	Germany
	Regional election	Sachsen-Anhalt	Germany
April:
17 April	Municipal election	St. Pölten	Austria
May:
5 May	Mayoral election	London	UK
	Election to Northern Irland Assembly	Northern Irland	UK
	Election to Welsh National Assembly	Wales	UK
	Parliamentary Election Scottland	Scottland	UK
September:
4 September	Regional election	Mecklenburg-Vorpommern	Germany
11 September	Local elections	Niedersachsen	Germany
18 September	Election to House of Representatives	Berlin	Germany

(All information is given without guarantee and subject to change without notice.)

What Wroclaw and San Sebastian have in common:

European Capitals of Culture 2016

The city of Wroclaw in south-western Poland and the northern Spanish city of San Sebastian were appointed Capitals of Culture for 2016. The European Capital of Culture is a title, which is awarded annually by the European UnionThroughout the year many cultural events take place and contribute to the wealth, diversity and common cultural heritage in Europe.

Preparing a European Capital of Culture can be an opportunity for the city to generate considerable cultural, social and economic benefits and it can help foster urban regeneration, change the city's image and raise its visibility and profile on an international scale.

The opening ceremony was held last week in Wroclaw with around 100 cultural events and more than 2,000 artists. Wrocław's 2016 motto is "Spaces of Beauty" - combining ideas of beauty and metamorphosis with the city's history of transformation. Highlights for the year include: Wrocław becoming UNESCO World Book Capital, International Jazz Day, the Singing Europe Festival and the International Theatre Olympics.

In San Sebastian (also known under the Basque name of Donostia) kicks off with a five-day edition of the city's traditional drum festival, the Tamborrada, on 20 January. The opening ceremony takes place on Saturday 23 January and will be followed by a concert. San Sebastián 2016 is built around the idea of "Cultura para convivir" (Culture to live together). It explores how art and culture help people and communities live together. Over the course of 2016 the Peace Treaty exhibition, the Travelling Embassies project and the Waves of energy programme will take place.

For more information:
http://www.wroclaw2016.pl/
http://dss2016.eu/en/

photo Wroclaw: Velishchuk/Fotolia
photo San Sebastian: Javier Larrea Roa