What is the main message that you put forward? How is it perceived in the Member States and at European level?
Our main message is very simple: Europe’s mountain areas are among the last reservoirs of diversity, not only biodiversity but diversity of culture, craft and local products. In this age of globalisation and standardisation, mountain communities represent a precious but fragile economic and social asset for Europe. It is therefore not just morally wrong to neglect mountain areas but also economically irresponsible. There are indications that this argument is affecting both the Member States’ perception of mountain issues and the European institutions’ strategy. Along with islands and sparsely populated areas, mountains were identified in the Second European Cohesion Report as a regional policy priority for the Union. In June 2004 the draft European Constitution adopted by the Convention on the Future of Europe also mentions mountains and joins the concept of Territorial Cohesion to Economic and Social Cohesion as the central tenets of European Regional Development. However, we cannot s
