Just one year after the accession into the EU, all eight regions of Slovakia will have their joint representation in Brussels. After more than a year preparation of this unique project, Presidents of Slovak regions will inaugurate the joint representation under the heading “House of Slovak Regions” on 26 May at Avenue de Cortenbergh 89.
According to Mr. Rudolf Bauer, President of Kosice Region, who took the coordination role in the project, “ benefit of the joint Representation of Slovak Regions will be in a more effective promotion of regional interests in the centre of European institutions. Moreover, the joint representation will also mean a better presentation and coordination of PR activities, more efficient use of information, and an increased number of covered European policies.”
Regional Presidents expect more simplified coordination of their work in the national delegation to the Committee of the Regions. Joint service management and maintenance should also provide an economic merit. The approach of Slovak regions is seen as a very positive signal towards European institutions thanks to the bottom-up creation of the joint representation - an initiative of the regions themselves. A similar project has been tried to be accomplished by a number of Member States of the EU, yet the House of Slovak Regions is the second of its kind after the Dutch House.
The Opening Programme on 26 May 2005
The inaugural programme will commence by press conference at 12,00, followed by a symbolic cutting of the ribbon, a showing of the new premises, and an official toast. The Official Opening will be preceded by the first ever meeting in the new premises of the House of Slovak Regions. The meeting of Slovak regional presidents with a delegation of the European Investment Bank led by Vice President Mr. Ivan Pilip will take place in the morning of 26 May at Avenue de Cortenbergh 89.
The Official Reception hosted by Presidents of Slovak regions will continue the Opening in the nearby premises of the Permanent Representation of the Slovak Republic to the European Union at 13,00 on Avenue de Cortenbergh 79. The Official Opening will be attended among other distinguished guests also by Commissioner responsible for Regional Policy Mrs. Danuta Hübner, Minister for Construction and Regional Development of the Slovak Republic László Gyurovszky, ambassadors to the EU, Belgium, and the NATO, Members of the European Parliament, Director General of the DG REGIO Graham Meadows, representatives of more than 60 European regions, Members of the national delegation to the Committee of the Regions, and officials of the EU institutions based in Brussels and Luxemburg. About 80 guests from all regional parliaments and offices of the self-governing regions of Slovakia will also arrive for the Official Opening.
Making it real –from the idea to the realisation
The House of Slovak Regions is an outcome of the idea of Presidents of regions, which arose during regular meetings of the national delegation to the Committee of the Regions. This idea was supported by already established regional representational offices of Bratislava, Kosice, and Presov Regions in Brussels.
The realisation of this project commenced in the autumn last year. After locating suitable premises President of the Kosice Region, Mr. Rudolf Bauer initiated signing of bilateral agreements with other Slovak regions in order to cooperate in operating the joint representation. Under this basis the Kosice Region rented the office space of 415 square metres and became a coordinator of the whole project.
The premises of the House of Slovak Regions were acquired at the handy location, indeed in the centre of the European Quarter nearby Rond-Point Schumann, and just two houses upwards from the Permanent Representation of the Slovak Republic to the European Union. The premises of the House of Slovak Regions comprise three floors of the modern administrative building at Avenue de Cortenbergh 89.
Preparation and technical works of the premises of the joint Representation of Slovak Regions started in the mid of January 2005. This included modification of the partition for eight offices, a workplace for Communication Manager, two bureaus for trainees, a meeting room of 35 seats capacity, and entrance halls. The project also contained the development of infrastructure including a telephone switch-board, PC network, and internet connection. As from the beginning of May office premises have been arranged for appointed regional representatives.
Since 1 March 2005 a new joint position of Information and Communication Manager has been filled. Manager is responsible for functioning of the House, and coordination of internal and external information flows. The costs of the project are shared equally by eight regions, in fact each region pays monthly rent less than 1000 EUR and about 500 EUR per month for commonly provided services. The initial costs of project reached 3.6 mil. SKK.
Marek Kolarcik
Head of Office
Kosice Region in Brussels