23.05.2020 – 13.30 – To promote the economic revival of the Euregio area in the post-lockdown phase and the reopening of the Italian-Austrian border: these are the main themes of the meeting held by videoconference between the Governor of Friuli Venezia Giulia Massimiliano Fedriga, the Governor of Carinthia Peter Kaiser, the Vice-Governor Gaby Schaunig, and the region of Veneto, represented by the Councillor for the Environment and Civil Protection Gianpaolo Bottacin and the Councillor for Economic Development Roberto Marcato.
Fedriga, assisted by the Councillor for Productive Activities and Tourism Sergio Emidio Bini, has expressed concern about the hypothesis of an “asymmetrical” opening of the borders, which would be the case if the Austro-German border was freed before the others. ”
“This would objectively cause serious problems regarding our relationship within the European Union,” explained the governor, recalling how Friuli Venezia Giulia, like Slovenia, is currently a territory with a low contagion index. The evolution of the pandemic and the diagnostic strategies put in place allows Friuli Venezia Giulia to be optimistic.
Peter Kaiser expressed his support and committed to make this issue clear to the Austrian government.
As pointed out by Councillor Bini, who was present at the videoconference with the director of Promoturismo FVG Guido Gomiero, Austria, with its 9.1 million recorded visits in Friuli Venezia Giulia in 2019, plays a particularly important role for the tourism sector, which in turn accounts for 13% of Friuli Venezia Giulia’s GDP. “It is important that Austrians are not scared,” said the councillor, “and have the opportunity to enjoy their holidays or possibly their second home in our region.
Finally, the governor’s proposal to organize a dialogue between the three regions involving the business world was welcomed “useful to create trilateral meeting points with our companies in order to put in place common strategies and to exploit the available European resources”. The enlarged meetings will be prepared immediately and the first conclusions will be drawn in a new videoconference scheduled for June 10.
Michael Guggenbichler translation
