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Prelude to subsidiarity conference at the Lower Austrian Parliament: Governor Pröll feels it is in the interests of European development

Dr Erwin Pröll, the Governor of Lower Austria, is extremely keen to strengthen the regions and develop a subsidiarity approach within Europe. On Tuesday and Wednesday a two-day conference on subsidiarity is taking place at the Lower Austrian Parliament; it involves hundreds of participants from all the EU Member States – members of governments as well as members of parliament and numerous experts.

In a joint initial press conference with Chancellor Dr Wolfgang Schüssel and Parliamentary President Dr Andreas Khol, Dr Pröll began by emphasising the significance of Lower Austria as the site of European dialogue. As an example he mentioned the Wachau Forum on Europe which has been taking place for 11 years. Lower Austria is the place "where old and new Europe meet".

In view of the increasing scepticism towards the EU evident across the whole of Europe, he felt it to be both necessary and worthwhile to "develop a subsidiarity approach" and to strengthen identification with it by sustaining typical ways of life and cultural traditions. Specific regional circumstances would also serve to guarantee a varied Europe. The nation states in addition had the task of insisting on subsidiarity. The regions for their part had to be aware of the opportunities that were associated with it. At any rate Dr Pröll sees positive signs which now need encouragement. This conference, which puts Lower Austria "at the focal point of the European issue", is designed to make a contribution.

For Chancellor Schüssel it was important to take up the concerns of citizens and counteract the "creeping centralism". It was important to do everything possible to enliven the discussion on Europe and help "the added value inherent in Europe" to come through in a new common approach.

President Khol for his part saw the state parliaments as guardians of state subsidiarity. It was also necessary to show the role of the state parliaments in the correct light. This necessitated a suitable division of tasks.