For innovative and competitive mountain regions

The 3rd European Biennial Event of Highland Regions took place in Plombières-les-Bains (Vosges – France), on September 17th and 18th 2009, on « Water in mountains ». It brought together more than 330 mountain representatives from 12 European countries.

I want to thank them for supporting us in the organisation of the international gathering of European mountains and in our projects for the sustainable development of innovative, competitive and lively European mountain territories.

Moreover, I also wish to thank all of those contributed in the success of this operation, especially the speakers who led very high quality debates.

I invite you to download most of these presentations on our website. 

Once again, this convention led us to take several Commitments, which will guide the actions of our networks for the coming years.

These Commitments are tenfold:

1- Publish the proceedings of the 3^rd European Biennial Event of Highland Regions in French and in English and send them to all decision-makers and public groups concerned.

2- Open the European Mountain Economic Network and the Mountain Scientific Committee to Euro Mediterranean partners.

3- Organise a new Thésard Prize which will be awarded in 2011 to a research thesis on mountain areas.

4- Collaborate with the Parc Expo of Mulhouse to organise a professional and general public event on mountain areas.

5- Create an Internet website about mountain economy, promoting the projects of mountain economic networks.

6- Implement a grant to finance a PhD thesis about the adaptation of highland resorts to all-season tourism.

7- Organise a national competition on « innovation in mountains », in order to promote the quality and the competitiveness of mountain companies.

8- Lobby national and European authorities for the preservation of natural and economic resources in mountain regions.

9- Continue the current projects implemented by our networks (Scientific Committee, Club des CCI de Montagne, European Mountain Economic Network, and so on).

10- Organise a 4th European Biennial Event of Highland Region reaching a Euro Mediterranean dimension.

Considering the success of the third edition of our event, we have decided to renew the operation. Therefore, I have the pleasure to invite you to participate in the 4^th European Biennial Event of Highland Regions, which will take place on October 13^th and 14^th, in Gérardmer, on “Innovation in mountains”.