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Baden-Württemberg Presidency 2012 - 2013

Programme of the Baden-Württemberg Presidency

> Civil society and civic participation

For the priority theme of civil society and civic participation, the main focus should be on exchanging ideas for further possible means of participation and codetermination as a way of bringing forward democracy in the partner regions. Whent it comes to strengthening civil society and increasing civic participation, even on matters of European policy, the network's aim must be to combine the partner regions' current knowledge. This can help gain a better understanding of the European view of citizenship. To achieve this, one proposal is to found a working group on the topic of "Civil society and civic participation".

> Internationalisation of the Four Motors

For some years now the network has pursued a strategy of internationalisation which has been a great success, with annual joint political and economic missions and cooperation between the network and the "Four Motors for Mercosur". This strategy is to be continued. In addition, yet stronger links are to be forged between the "Four Motors for Europe" and the Danube Region.

> Young people and the Four Motors

The youth work camp held over the last few years in the Four Motors regions have proven effective. They encourage cultural and social exchanges between young people as well as helping them raise their professional and linguistic profiles. Under the presidency of Baden-Württemberg this will of course be continued.

> Vocational training and exchanges for trainees and teaching staff

In many European countries - including the other Four regions - cutting youth unemployment is an important topic. During its presidency Baden-Württemberg would therefore like to introduce a process for exchanging best practice examples to tackle youth unemployment. Another important topic is encouraging increased mobility for apprentices in the Four Motors regions.

> Increasing cooperation among institutes of higher education

Investing in education and research is one of the best possible ways to invest in the future of Europe. Baden-Württemberg aims to set an example for the European Idea along with its partner regions. For this reason, the region is proposing increased cooperation with institutes of higher education, teaming up to raise the chances of individual success when raising European research funding. Closer cooperation among Universities of Excellence could improve international competitiveness in various scientific fields. These steps are to be linked in with existing cooperative ventures between institutes of higher education in the Four Motors regions.*

 > Climate protection

As well as individual regional policies, solidarity is also needed among the international community of states if their ambitious goals to reduce greenhouse gas emissions are really to be achieved. In this context Baden-Württemberg, as a high-technology region, sees itself as having particular responsability: it must continue to play a leading role in limiting climate change while simultaneously introducing promising approaches and best practice at an international level to encourage successful climate policy.

> Other projects and fields of activity

Baden-Württemberg also proposes a continuation of the cluster dialogue, the exchange of ideas on new vehicle drive concepts (especially eletromobility) and a joint Four Motors initiative on EU structural policy from 2014. Baden-Württemberg is, morevover, putting forward a comparison of best practice in the fields of migration and integration, and aims to promote the exchange of ideas between business founders and spin-offs from the different regions. This is to be accompanied by activities in the field of innovative environmental technologies designed to preserve natural ressources. Apart from this, Baden-Württemberg also considers an exchange of ideas among the Four Motors worthwhile on the subject of union movements.