Multilateral Relations

Regional Leaders Summit of the seven 'Power Regions'

The Regional Leaders Summit is a forum that comprises the seven regions of Bavaria, Georgia, Québec, São Paulo, Shandong, Upper Austria und the Western Cape, stretched over four continents. In this summit, the perspectives and strategies for a sustainable world are discussed under the headline "Politics for Generations".
All together, the regions have 170 Mio. inhabitants and they represent a Gross Domestic Product of more than 3.000 billion US dollar.

Committee of the Regions

The Committee of the Regions (CoR) is an advisory body of the European Union which consists of representatives of the regional and local administrative bodies; the committee was founded in 1994 and has 344 members, 12 of which are from Austria. The work is done in six commissions.
Upper Austria is represented in the CoR by the Minister for European Affairs and by the President of the state parliament and is member in the Commission for Education, Youth, Culture and Research (EDUC) as well as the Commission for the Environment, Climate Change and Energy (ENVE). The purpose of the CoR is to include the points of view of the regions and municipalities in the regulations by commentaries. In some cases the consultation of the CoR is compulsory, but it can also take action on its own initiative.

Working Community of the Danube Regions

Already in 1982, the founding of a "Danube Region" was suggested by Lower Austria as a discussion forum for all regions along the Danube. By the end of 1982, the first meeting of the chief officers was held. In 1989, the Working Community of the Danube Regions was formally founded.
Since the founding of the Working Community of the Danube Regions on May 17, 1990 in the Wachau in Lower Austria, many projects could be discussed, prepared and successfully implemented. The purpose thereby is to contribute to the cooperation of all the members of the Working Group, to a development on all sides in the interests of its inhabitants and to a peaceful collaboration in Europe.
To achieve these aims, the Community has the working groups "Culture and Science", "Regional Development and Environment Protection", "Traffic and Navigation", "Economy and Tourism", and "Youth and Sports".

Assembly of European Regions

The Assembly of European Regions (AER) is an umbrella organisation of European regions and has its seat in Strasbourg. It was founded in 1985 and consists of 250 regions from 35 countries and 16 organisations such as the Working Community of the Danube Regions.
The purpose of the AER is the promotion of regionalism and federalism in Europe.

Upper Austria is a regular member since 1991 and represented in the general essambly by Governor Josef Pühringer and in bureau (directorate) by the President of the state parliament  Viktor Sigl.

Congress of Local and Regional Authorities

The Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe (COE) is the institutional representation of the local and regional authorities of the 47 member states of the Council of Europe. The Congress consists of two chambers, the Chamber of Local Authorities and the Chamber of Regions, and has its seat in Strasbourg.

The Upper Austrian membership offers a platform for exchange and discussion with other European regions and serves as a voice for regional interests in the Council of Europe.

Institute of the Regions of Europe

The Institute of the Regions of Europe (IRE) is an economic and scientific institute with its seat in Salzburg. It was founded in the fall of 2004 and regards itself as supra-regional and politically independent institution.
The IRE serves as provider of networks between regions, municipalities and other areas of public activity as well as the economy for the assertion of their interests.