Other institutions
To assert its interests in Europe, Tyrol engages in active networking with other regions and states and participates in the work of major pan-European regional associations, institutions and networks.
Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe
The Council of Europe has always emphasised the importance of autonomous and strong municipalities and regions for freedom and democracy in Europe. To represent their interests, it established the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities (the Congress).
The Congress issues recommendations to the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe and adopts resolutions addressed to the member states. These documents often contain proposals for the development of conventions and other legal instruments. The Congress comprises 306 delegates and an equal number of substitutes, appointed by local and regional authorities of the member states. Its work is carried out in two chambers: the Chamber of Regions and the Chamber of Local Authorities. President of the Tyrolean Landtag, Sonja Ledl-Rossmann, is a member of the Austrian delegation.
Assembly of European Regions (AER)
The Assembly of European Regions (AER), with 270 member regions from 33 countries, advocates for regionalism and federalism in Europe, as well as for the strong institutional involvement of regions in European affairs.
Association of European Border Regions (AEBR)
The Association of European Border Regions (AEBR) focuses on the unique challenges of border areas, including structural disadvantages and the day-to-day difficulties of living and working cross-border.
Regions with Legislative Powers: RLEG and CALRE
Under the initiatives of the Regions with Legislative Powers (RLEG) and the Conference of European Regional Legislative Assemblies (CALRE), regions with their own legislative authority advocate for greater political influence, decision-making capacity and the protection of their rights within the EU and their respective member states.
Pozuzo
The village of Pozuzo in Peru was founded in 1859 by settlers from Tyrol, the Rhineland and Bavaria. A second wave of immigration, again mainly from Tyrol and Bavaria, followed in 1968. Today, Pozuzo is officially referred to as “the only Austrian-German colony in the world”, as its own place-name sign says.
Tyrolean traditions, language and customs are still maintained in Pozuzo. Located in the remote province of Oxapampa, Pozuzo remains a kind of “Tyrolean oasis” in the Peruvian rainforest. A close partnership is currently maintained through the Tyrolean municipalities of Silz and Haiming.
Dreizehnlinden – Treze Tílias
In the late 19th century, many Tyroleans emigrated to Brazil, mainly for employment. Among the settlement sites, Dreizehnlinden (Portuguese: Treze Tílias) stands out. The town in the state of Santa Catarina was founded in 1933 by Andreas Thaler, a former Austrian Minister of Agriculture (1925-1933) from Wildschönau, Tyrol.
Tyrolean traditions and customs have been preserved in Dreizehnlinden to this day. Since its founding, the town has had its own traditionally Tyrolean music band, and German continues to be taught in schools, often in the Tyrolean dialect. The relationship with Tyrol is maintained mainly through a municipal partnership with Wildschönau, established in 2003.
Further Institutions and Partnerships
- Network of GMO-free regions in Europe
- German-speaking Community of Belgium
- Other bilateral relations with regions are project-based, primarily in the areas of education, culture and youth exchange.
Partnership Agreements and Memoranda of Understanding
- Joint declaration with the Province of Yogyakarta, Indonesia
- Partnership agreement with the Henan Province, People’s Republic of China
- Memorandum of Understanding with the Oblast of Ivano-Frankivsk, Ukraine
- Climate Alliance
- Global Marshall Plan
- Municipal partnerships of Tyrolean towns and communities