Cooperation With International Organizations
The Conference of Peripheral Maritime Regions (CPMR)
Ajara Autonomous Republic has become a full member of the Conference of Peripheral Maritime Regions (CPMR), as well as its Black Sea and the Balkans Commission that enables the region to be fully involved in CPMR policy work and cooperation projects.
The Conference of Peripheral Maritime Regions brings together some 160 Regions from 24 States from the European Union and beyond. Through its extensive network of contacts within the EU institutions and national governments, the CPMR has, since its creation in 1973, been targeting its action towards ensuring that the needs and interests of its Member Regions are taken into account in policies with a high territorial impact.
It focuses mainly on social, economic and territorial cohesion, maritime policies and blue growth, and accessibility. European governance, energy and climate change, neighborhood and development also represent important areas of activity for the association.
Within CPMR there are six Geographical Commissions: The Atlantic Arc, the Baltic Sea, the North Sea, the Intermediterranean, the Balkan and Black Sea and the Islands.
The Black Sea and Balkans Commissions were created in 2002 and 2003 respectively. They merged in 2004 in order to develop joint projects.
It aims at helping the European Commission and the eight concerned Member States to take into account the priorities of Regional Authorities in its four pillars: Maritime Issues, Transport, Environment and Tourism.
Official web page: www.cpmr.org
Assembly of European Regions (AER)
The Assembly of European Regions (AER) was established in 1985 with the aim of enhancing the voice and the position of Europe’s regions.
AER is the largest independent network of regions in wider Europe, bringing together 270 regions from 34 countries and 16 interregional organizations
governed by the President Mr. Magnus Berntsson.
In 1997 Ajara Autonomous Republic became a full member of the Assembly European Regions. After joining the organization, the region has
benefited from several AER programs, including „Youth Regional Network“ and the youth exchange program "EURODYSSEY" (Since 2006, up to 150 young
people increased their professional qualifications).
In the scope of cooperation with the Assembly of European Regions, the Government of Ajara Autonomous Republic has twice hosted AER
"Black Sea Summit" (2011/2016).
AER mission and objectives:
- Ensuring regional policy, economy,
social development;
- Promoting regional interest in Europe
and abroad;
- Supporting the inter-regional
cooperation, etc.
AER Programs:
- Eurodyssey
- Youth Regional Network (YRN)
- Summer Academy
- Transatlantic Leadership Initiative
- Regional Innovation Award (RIA)
- Observatory on Regionalism
Official web page: https://aer.eu/
Institute of the Regions of Europe (IRE)
Institute of the Regions of Europe (IRE) was established in 2004 in Salzburg as a economic and scientific institution. Currently, more than 130 member regions,
municipalities, cities and towns as well as enterprises from 23 European countries comprise IRE network. Ajara Autonomous Republic joined IRE in 2012.
The goal of the Institute of the Regions of Europe is to establish a network of cooperation between regions and municipalities and to support their interests within the public and economic activities.
IRE offers all stakeholders various conferences and symposiums on regional and political issues. The Institute organizes thematic congresses in the field of energy, tourism, health and transport.
IRE offers young people a one-month-long Internship Program at the office in Salzburg. Interns work on a research paper regarding European or regional policy and publish them in the IRE monographic series.
Official web page: http://www.institut-ire.eu/de/