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South Tyrol President wants enlarged autonomy, opens door to Euroregion "sovereignty"

 
Kompatscher argues both Tyrols, Trentino share "political will" to progress towards greater integration · South Tyrolean leader says powers over enviornment and universities should be devolved from Rome

Should euroregions have sovereignty, even if only partially? South Tyrol President Arno Kompatscher believes that there will be a need to discuss this issue in the future. And the Alpine regions could become a testing ground for that.

The Tyrolean Euroregion is made up of the land of Tyrol (Republic of Austria) and the autonomous provinces of South Tyrol and Trento (Italian Republic). Since it was established in 1996, the three territories have hold joint parliamentary sessions, have kept a common representation to the EU, and have carried out several cross-border cooperation projects on matters such as railways, university and culture.

Kompatscher believes room for greater integration exists. The Tyrolean Euroregion "has its own legal personality" and "in the future it may be delegated sovereignty," Kompatscher yesterday said during his 2014 year review. According to the South Tyrolean President, "a common political will" between the governments of the three territories exists on this issue.

The Euroregion territory more or less matches that of the Austro-Hungarian Empire's old county of Tyrol, which existed until the end of the First World War. At the end of the conflict, Tyrol was divided: the northern and eastern parts remained within Austria, while the southern part and Trentino were annexed by Italy.

Further powers: environment and university

For the time being, these are just plans for the future. Meanwhile, Kompatscher believes South Tyrol should be granted further autonomous powers within the Italian Republic. The South Tyrolean President says the statute of autonomy should be amended in order to achieve three goals: "Taking back some powers that have been called into question by some Constitutional Court rulings, protecting the autonomy from future interference by the [Italian] state, and identifying possible new powers" to be devolved to South Tyrol. Among these, Kompatscher quotes environment and universities.

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