TIROLER TAGESZEITUNG, editorial: “Tyrol must rethink Brussels”, by Peter Nindler

2024-01-28 21:00:31

Edition from Monday, January 29, 2024

Innsbruck (OTS) – It is necessary to clash with the European Union on transport issues, for example. However, Tyrol has neglected a diplomatic European policy in recent years. The relaxation with Bayern could be a model for changing something.

Tyrol has a lot to catch up on in terms of European policy. The EU office in Brussels with South Tyrol and Trentino has been thinking for years that it urgently needs innovative impulses there. The President of the Chamber of Commerce, Barbara Thaler, was able to set political priorities as an EU representative. Especially in transport policy. The elections to the European Parliament on June 9th must nevertheless be an opportunity for the black-red state government to reorganize its relationship with Brussels and to focus Tyrol’s European policy more clearly. Playing Europe alone with transport and wolf policy is not enough.
The fact that State Governor Anton Mattle (VP) sought détente with Bavaria and finally gave up on taming the “Bavarian lion” was an important and diplomatically successful step in transport policy last year. That’s just how Europe works and Tyrol can learn a lot from Bavaria. Of course, the conflict zones remain, as they are with the planned Fernpass toll, but currently our Bavarian neighbors are sounding moderately critical. This can be built on in a solution-oriented manner and Italy’s Transport Minister Matteo Salvini and his bluster against Tyrol can be tolerated more easily.
What is it about for a country like Tyrol in Europe? To have as much independence and understanding as possible for the Alpine regionality with all its challenges and differences to the large European countries. Political escalation in land, transport, environmental or agricultural policy is sometimes necessary to create awareness. However, Tyrol has neglected positive lobbying for this in the past. Knocking on the table is easy, but it hardly facilitates the necessary solutions. But Tyrol needs allies and must join forces. Just with Bavaria.
Sometimes Tyrol gets bogged down in too many organizations such as ARGE Alp or the EU Alpine Strategy (EUSALP) and loses sight of Brussels in the process. The music only plays there and not at the umpteenth EUSALP meeting.