Euregio Tyrol-South Tyrol-Trentino | First study drafted by the „Euregio Observatory“ (Eurobs)

First study drafted by the „Euregio Observatory“ (Eurobs)

Innsbruck, 25 February 2005. The founding members of the "Euregio Observatory", (Eurobs), the Bank of Trento and Bolzano and the Universities of Bolzano, Trento and Innsbruck, on this occasion represented respectively by the Director General, Aldo Dante, Dario Zadra, Enrico Zaninotto and Gottfried Tappeiner, presented "Euregio: the dynamics of export", the first study drafted by the observatory, to the authorised press.

Eurobs was formally constituted at the beginning of January 2005, after a year of intense work by the study group, made up of the founder members and also supported by the Autonomous Provinces of Trento and Bolzano and by Land Tirol.

The objective of Eurobs is to extend knowledge of interrelations and economic and cultural currents existing within the aforementioned areas adopting a methodological and scientific approach and to act as a permanent point of reference for consultation, available to institutions and socio-economic moving forces.

Some interesting data which emerges from the study concerns export quotas, understood as a percentage of the gross regional product (excluding export to Italy and Austria, these countries having been considered as part of the domestic market). The export quota for the Tyrol is shown to be 31%, whereas both Trentino and Alto Adige stand at about 17%.

The most significant trading partners are Germany, in first place for all three regions, but with marked differences in terms of proportion; in second place we find the USA for Trento and Innsbruck, France for Bolzano. The third most important market is France for Trentino, Switzerland for the Tyrol and Great Britain for the Alto Adige.

It is interesting to analyse the differences in the development of exports in the most important market outlets in the period going from 1998 to 2003. Overall we can note strong growth in the Tyrol (+ 41%), followed by Trentino with + 24%, whereas the Alto Adige obtained growth of 16%.

The most significant and innovative aspect of the research is calculation of the Euregio Index which represents the general development of market outlets, weighted by the respective market concentration of Euregio exports.

The index is based on the aggregation of indices which reflect the faith of consumers in the market outlets. This index offers the opportunity, particularly for small and medium-scale businesses, to obtain synoptic information on the development of export markets.

A final table gives figures relating to the Euregio. As regards their geography and the population statistics, the regions have very similar characteristics. In total the Euregio covers a surface area of 26.3 thousand sq. Km, with a population of 1.66 million inhabitants.

There is a high proportion of elderly residents in Trentino, more than 18%, exceeding the number in the Tyrol by almost 5 percentage points. This aspect, together with others, leads to a lower employment rate in Trentino than in the other two regions. This is also reflected in the gross regional pro capita product, which is 4,100 euro lower than for the Tyrol and 2,300 lower as compared to the Alto Adige.

One positive note which is common to the three areas is the low level of unemployment, which varies from a maximum of 2.9% to a minimum of 2%, an enviable situation as compared to other national areas.

"Eurobs": how and why it was established

At the beginning of 2004 the Bank of Trento and Bolzano, together with the Universities of Trento, Bolzano and Innsbruck, agreed to create and set in motion a preparatory study group, culminating at the end of the first year of activities with the establishment of a permanent observatory on the socio-economic aspects of the Euregio.

The objective is to extend knowledge of interrelations and economic and cultural currents existing within the aforementioned area, adopting a methodological and scientific approach. The Euregio, as is by now well known, is made up of the Autonomous Provinces of Trento and Bolzano and of Land Tirol, which all gave their support, considering themselves part of a context which is distinguished by its sensitivity, similarities and common interests.

It is intended to verify objectively the capacity of the Euregio to establish itself as a homogeneous centre of development and thus of attraction as compared to other areas, also identifying the factors which act as "bonds".

It is also necessary to understand the driving role of commercial traffic both to the north and the south, which is positively influencing interconnections within the aforesaid region, where it is easy to foresee the concentration of major investment in the future.

The observatory, given the good work carried out in the first year by the study group of founding members, took on concrete form in January 2005 and acts as a permanent point of reference for consultation, available to institutions and socio-economic moving forces.