The EASTR

For over 20 years, the EASTR organizes annual meetings, "STRs European Days" or "Euro-Mediterranean Observatory of public territorial action" which have gathered about 3000 State territorial representatives - prefects, governors, Regierungspräsident , voïvodes or commissioners in 40 different European cities, through 20 countries. The European Days focus on the exchange of experience and professional best practices. The Observatory for its part seeks to promote better coordination of public and private actors for the development of territories.

Presentation & Activities
History
Member countries
Statutes

Presentation & Activities

The objective behind the European Association of State Territorial representatives is to allow exchange of professional experiences between State Territorial Representatives from European countries (whether belonging or not to the E.U). The European Days help to multiply the contacts between them, to facilitate a better mutual knowledge of the territorial public administration and the implementation of public policies on the territory.

The Association offers an exceptional frame (and the only one at this level) for high-ranking public officials to meet, exchange ideas and work together, since their functions usually keep them inside their national boundaries.

For this reason, the EASTR intends to contribute to the information and permanent training of these high-ranking officials, by giving them deeper knowledge of each other’s administrative cultures, through public officials responsible for national authorities in the internal affairs field.

The EASTR contributes to circulate better practices from the community law point of view.

Another aim is to encourage the exchange of information and experience among member countries’ national representatives, so that European policies and regulations are better applied within their state boundaries.

Exchanges of civil servants between countries are made possible thanks to the direct contacts built up during the meetings by the territorial representatives, as well as cooperations, twinnings, etc....

History

27 years of existence.

Launched as an experiment in 1993, the Days have met with such success that they have been organised year after year since.

1994 – 7 to 8 July -– Rome – Italy : Ist EUROPEAN DAYS : "The Role of State Territorial Representatives in Europe"

1995 – 29 to 30 June – Rome – Italy : IInd EUROPEAN DAYS : "State Territorial Representatives and local authorities"

1995 - 10 November - Brussels - Belgium : Liaison Committee

1996 – 15 April - Madrid - Spain : Liaison Committe

1996 - 4 to 5 July - Paris - France : IIIrd EUROPEAN DAYS : "Territorial Representatives faced with the necessary adaptation of the State"

1996 - 2 December - Helsinki - Finland : Liaison Committee

1997 – 28 April - Wiesbaden - Germany : Liaison Committee

1997 - 26 to 27 June - Rome - Italy : IVth EUROPEAN DAYS : "Administration at intermediate levels : the challenge of proximity"

1997 - 20 October - Brussels - Belgium : Liaison Committee

1998 – 27 April - Stavanger - Norway : Liaison Committee

1998 - 2 to 3 July - Lugo – Spain : Vth EUROPEAN DAYS : "The State Territorial Representative facing crisis"

1998 - 26 October - Munich - Germany : Liaison Committee

1999 – 12 April - Wroclaw - Poland : Liaison Committee

1999 - 17 to 18 June - Oulu - Finland : VIth EUROPEAN DAYS : "Territorial representatives and local elected authorities"

1999 - 18 October - Manchester - Great Britain : Liaison Committee

2000 – 27 March - Uppsala - Sweden : Liaison Committee

2000 - 29 to 30 June - Strasbourg - France : VIIth EUROPEAN DAYS : "The State Territorial Representative and Europe"

2000 - 30 October - Gent - Belgium : Liaison Committee

2001 – 26 March - Coïmbra - Portugal : Liaison Committee

2001 - 5 to 6 July - Rome – Italy : VIIIth EUROPEAN DAYS : "The State Territorial Representative, between Europe and territorial communities"

2001 - 22 October - Freiburg im Breigsau - Germany : Liaison Committee

2002 – 8 April - Toledo - Spain : Liaison Committee

2002 - 27 to 28 June - Oslo – Norway : IXth EUROPEAN DAYS : "The State Territorial Representative and security in periods of crisis"

2002 - 21 October - Paris - France : Liaison Committee

2003 – 7 April - Kiruna - Sweden : Liaison Committee

2003 - 3 to 4 July - Wroclaw - Poland : Xth EUROPEAN DAYS : "Role of the State territorial representative in Europe"

2003 - 27 October - Luxembourg : Liaison Committee

2004 – 16 February - Malaga - Spain : Liaison Committee

2004 - 1 to 3 July - Munich - Germany : XIth EUROPEAN DAYS : "STR’s role in civil crisis management"

2004 - 29 0ctober - Genoa - Italy : Liaison Committee

2005 - 8 April - Middelburg - The Netherlands : Liaison Committee

2005 - 7 to 9 July - Birmingham – Great Britain : XIIth EUROPEAN DAYS : “Role of the STR in the field of social cohesion”

2005 - 24 October - Kiev and Lougansk - Ukraine : Liaison Committee

2006 – 7 April - Lausanne - Switzerland : Liaison Committee

2006 - 5 to 8 July - Paris - France : XIIIth EUROPEAN DAYS : “The STR in the management of rural space”

2006 - October - Brussels - Belgium : Liaison Committee

2007 – 23 March - Paphos - Cyprus : Liaison Committee

2007 - 4 to 7 July - Castile and Leon - Spain : XIVth EUROPEAN DAYS : “Security, citizen and the STR”

2008

I - 29 to 31 May - Venice - Italy : XVth EUROPEAN DAYS : “Role of the STR in the European integration”

II - 23 to 25 October - Paris and Dijon - France : 1st European Observatory of State Territorial Action : “Relations between STR, territorial elected representatives and development agencies”

2009

I - 7 to 9 May - Stockholm - Sweden : XVIth EUROPEAN DAYS : "The STR and water management"

II - 22 to 24 October - Leuven - Belgium : 2nd European Observatory of State territorial Action : "The STR and the regional fact"

2010 - 30 september - 2 October - Lausanne - Switzerland : XVIIth EUROPEAN DAYS : "The STR facing the economic and financial crisis : assessment and lessons"

2011
I - 19 to 21 May - Budapest and Lake Balaton - Hungary : XVIIIth EUROPEAN DAYS : "The STR in the relations between central power and regions with a measure of autonomy"

II - 27-29 October - Marrakesh - Morocco : 3rd Euro-Mediterranean Observatory of State Territorial Action : "Sustainable urban development"

2012 - 15 to 17 March - Paris - France : XIXth EUROPEAN DAYS : "The STR facing the metropolitan fact"

2012 - 28 September - Bologna - Italy : Steering Committee

2013 - 6 to 8 June - Bergen - Norway : XXth EUROPEAN DAYS : "Between development and environment what regulation for the STR ?"

2014 - 24 January - Rome - Italy : Steering Committee

2014 - 12 to 14 June - Liège - Belgium : XXIst EUROPEAN DAYS : "Security and energy : role of the STR towards the citizens"

2014 - 21 November - Paris - France : Steering Committee

2015 - 28 to 30 May - Istanbul - Turkey : XXIInd EUROPEAN DAYS : "Profession STR"

2015 - 30 October - Montreux - Switzerland : Steering Committee

2016 - 21 to 23 April - 's-Hertogenbosch & Maastricht - The Netherlands : XXIIIrd EUROPEAN DAYS : "STR and innovation"

2016 - 18 to 19 November - Antwerpen - Belgium : Steering committee

2017 - 15 to 17 June - Oulu - Finland : XXIVth EUROPEAN DAYS : "The STR facing threats to security"

2017 - 17 to 18 November - Rust - Germany : Steering committee

2018 - 31 May to 2 June - Lyon - France : XXVth EUROPEAN DAYS : "The STRs role on public involvement of the infrastructures or sensitive events"

2018 - 16 November - Banska Bystrica - Slovakia : Steering committee

2019 - 13 to 15 June - Leuven - Belgium : XXVIth EUROPEAN DAYS : “Smart region: What possibilities for STRs to promote the use of Big Data and means of digitalization? Development of their own role in this context?”

2019 - 7 to 9 November - Gödöllö - Hungary : Steering committee

2021 (Days of 2020 year) - 28 to 30 October - Florence - Italy : XXVIIth EUROPEAN DAYS : “The role of the STRs in the cities of art security and in the heritage protection” AND “The role of the STRs in the Covid19 crisis management”

Growing Europeanization.

From the first Days, as can be seen from the programme and list of participants, the event took on a truly European character, due as much to the number and diversity of countries represented as to the European Commission’s participation.

The Franco-Italian origins of the whole idea have not at any time lessened the European character of the event.

Right from the start, the number of countries represented has continued to increase and the delegation sizes have grown in proportion to the population sizes of states represented (apart from the host country, which is traditionally and understandably over-represented).
The European character is further illustrated by the systematic inclusion, in the Day’s programme, of a theme concerning the life of the European Union and by the fact that a European Commission representative regularly takes part in Liaison Committee meetings. In addition, during the actual Days, one or two people from the Commission, at directorial level, have always been invited to speak.

Lastly, the General Secretariat, based in Paris, operates at the service of all participating countries.

A European Association.

During the first years, the Days were organised from one session to the next, with the success of the last session pushing towards organisation of the next one. The «European Days for State Territorial Representatives» are now not just an interesting idea but also a unique opportunity for contacts and exchanges : such is in the opinion of national representatives, who have participated in some sessions, and also of representatives from the European Commission (who have expressed this publicly more than once).

This is why it has been decided by the member countries that these Days will be given a structure that will be more stable and also more equitable. The member countries pay a national annual contribution, unique set price (allowing an undetermined number of participants) of 4 500 euros. Federal status countries such as Germany or Switzerland pay an annual contribution of 2 000 euros (per member Land or Canton)

Eventually, the « European association of State territorial representatives –EASTR » has been created in 2000, in order to give a juridical basis to the European days. The Association is based in Brussels.

Member countries

Statutes

For about 27 years now, the “European Days” have assembled territorial representatives from more than twenty European States.

The «Days» bring together public officials whose function is to represent their Government and see that laws are applied in an area of their country’s territory, even though they may not all have the same power invested in them : some may represent a central State (e.g. Italy), others a decentralised State
(as is the case with Germany, for instance, where they represent a Land). Central administration executives also participate to the European Days, as well as experts.

The Board of Directors brings together prefects, governors, regierungspräsidenten, regional directors of government offices, district commissioners, Queen’s commissioners, civil governors from the following countries :

Belgium
Finland
France
Germany
Hungary
Italy
Netherlands
Norway
Poland
Slovakia
Spain
Sweden
Switzerland
Turkey

Some of them are already grouped together in national associations : this is the case for Finland, France, Italy, Norway, Sweden and Turkey.

Euro-Mediterranean countries also join in our debates : Morocco.

The “Euro-mediterranean Observatory of State territorial action”, more recently created, organised with the support of OECD, has a vocation to welcome delegations from all European countries, whether they have or not State territorial representatives.

Ruling Organs - 01- 05 -2021

EXECUTIVE:

President: Mrs. Anneli HULTHEN, Governor of Skane county – Sweden

Vice-president: Mr. or Mrs.

Treasurer: Mr. Denis MATHEN, Governor, province of Namur – Belgium

Secretary: Mrs. Terrtu SAVOLAINEN, General Director, Regional State Administrative Agency for Norhtern Finland – Finland

EASTR's Secretary General : Mr. Pierre-Etienne BISCH – France

Members of the Board:

ACPHFMI (Association du Corps Préfectoral et des Hauts Fonctionnaires du Ministère de l’Intérieur) – France, represented by, Mr. Michel CADOT, Regional Prefect of Ile-de-France, ACP's president

ANFACI (Associazione Nazionale dei Funzionari dell’Amministrazione dell’Interno) – Italy, represented by its Secretary general, Mr. Ignazio PORTELLI, Prefect

TID (Association of Turkish governors) – Turkey, represented by its president, Mr Saffet Arikan BEDÜK, governor

Mrs. Ina ADEMA, King’s Commissioner, Province of Noord Brabant – The Netherlands

Mrs. Anneli HULTHEN, Governor, county of Skane – Sweden

Mr. Roland BERDOZ, Prefect of Riviera district Pays d’Enhaut – State of Vaud – Switzerland

Mrs. Brigitte LINDSCHIEID, Regierungspräsidentin of Darmstadt – Land of Hessen – Germany

Mr. Denis MATHEN, Governor, province of Namur – Belgium

Mrs. Elisabeth Vik ASPAKER, Governor, County of Troms – Norway

Mrs. Terttu SAVOLAINEN, Director, Regional administrative Agency for Northern Finland – Finland

Mr. Sandor SZABO, Commissioner of administrative government – Hungary

Mr. Janusz ZALESKI, Professor, Regional development Agency of Wroclaw – Poland

Associated members

IHEMI - Institut des Hautes études du ministère de l'Intérieur – France

NKE - National Public Service University – Hungary

Members of honour

Mrs. Tora AASLAND – Norway

Mr. Thierry AUMONIER – EASTR managing director 1994-2015

Mr. Herman BALTHAZAR – Belgium

Mrs. Solange CARMONA – EASTR secretary general 1994-2015

Mr. Andreas CHRISTODOULIDES – Cyprus

Mr. Michel FORET – Belgium

Mrs. Ann-Cathrine HAGLUND – Sweden

Mr. Sven LINDGREN – Sweden

Mr. Kari MARKLUND – Sweden

Mr. Carlo MOSCA – Italy

Mrs. Véronique PAULUS DE CHATELET – Belgium

Mr. Hans J. ROSJORDE – Norway

Mrs. Pierrette ROULET-GRIN – Switzerland

Mr. Charles RICQ – Switzerland

Mr. Eino SIURUAINEN – Finland

Mr. Lodewijk DE WITTE - Belgium