Opening event "Migration, a welcome development?" (Grainau | 22 - 23 January 2016)
On 22 and 23 January 2016 in the Kurhaus (spa hotel) in Grainau, Germany, representatives from Alpine municipalities in Germany, Austria, Italy and Slovenia discussed various aspects of immigration and emigration in the Alpine region:
- Migration influenced by amenity
- Life in areas with high levels of out-migration
- Willkommenskultur in practice
- Migration of refugees to rural areas
Depending on the particular region, municipalities throughout the Alps are affected by different aspects of immigration and/or emigration. The demands placed on municipalities in this regard are very high and are especially topical now with the current influx of refugees to rural areas.
The discussion on migration was the opening event of the "Living together in the Alps" project (Zusammen.Leben in den Alpen), which is being supported by the Federal Environment Ministry under the German Presidency of the Alpine Convention. The project strives to find strategies that show municipalities how to support and shape the co-existence of cultures and the creation of bonds to the special living environment in the Alpine region whilst also taking the interests of the local population into account.
The exchange of experience between the Alpine municipalities will continue throughout 2016. The project outcomes will be presented during Alpine Week on 14 October 2016 in Grassau. The measures presented in the report on measures to promote affordable housing by Federal Minister Barbara Hendricks were also brought into the exchange of experience between the Alpine municipalities.
The network of municipalities "Alliance in the Alps" is an association of local authorities and regions from seven Alpine states. The Alliance was founded in 1997 and currently has 317 member municipalities - 53 in Germany, 64 in France, 66 in Italy, 73 in Austria and Switzerland and 4 in Slovenia.
"Exchange - Address – Implement" is the main idea behind the Alliance’s activities in which cooperation and exchange of experience across borders are the key instruments used. Since 2012 the German municipality Übersee has held the chair with its Mayor Marc Nitschke as chairperson.