Introduction of the European Group for Territorial Cooperation HELICAS

The newly established European Group for Territorial Cooperation HELICAS (Holistic Efficient Local Initiatives for Cooperation and Synergies) created in order to support the cross-border, transnational and interregional cooperation in Europe was introduced at the UNWE.

The European Group was established in November 2017 as civil non profit-making association. As its president was elected Yanis Butaris, Mayor of Thessaloniki and as Vice President – Prof. D.Sc.(Econ.) Statty Stattev, Rector of UNWE and Pavlos Tonikidis, President of Kilkis Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Vice President of the Union of Hellenic Chambers of Commerce. Members of the Group from Greece are the municipalities and their associations, chambers of commerce and universities and institutional member of the Group from Bulgaria is the UNWE. 

During the event in the Large Conference Hall the Group was presented by the Board of Directors: Prof. D.Sc.(Econ.) Statty Stattev, Yanis Butaris, Pavlos Tonikidis, Lazaros Kirizoglu, Mayor of Ampelokipi - Menemeni, President of the Regional Association of Municipalities of Central Macedonia, Simos Danilidis, Mayor of Neapolis-Sikyon, Lefteris Yoanidis, Mayor of Kozani, Fotis Domotsidis, Mayor of Sidiki, Prof. Grigoris Zarotiadis from Aristotle University – Thessaloniki, Prof. Tanasis Belidis from the Technological Educational Institute of Thessaloniki, Prof. David Konstantinos from the Technological Educational Institute of Central Macedonia, Vasilios Andreadis, Deputy Mayor of Kordelio-Evosmos, Yoanna Pantelidu, Head of the Programme Directorate of Thermi Municipality, Lefteris Topaloglu, Director of the Regional Association of Municipalities of Western Macedonia, Prof. D.Sc.(Econ.) Stanka Tonkova, President of the Bulgarian Association of Regional Research and Director of the Center for Research and Educational Projects of UNWE. 

The meeting was held in Sofia at the invitation of the Rector of UNWE Prof. D.Sc.(Econ.) Statty Stattev who greeted the guests and outlined that the network should widen and cover more countries (in the picture below).

The President of the Group Yanis Butaris outlined that the future objective would be the good joint work and closeness of partners. 

Prof. Statty Stattev and Mr. Yanis Butaris (from the right to the left

HELICAS sets objectives related to the cooperation in the field of preventing and mastering the natural disasters, cross-border environmental protection, contribution to the sustainable management of common natural resources and ecosystems, search for technological innovations and support of scientific research, planning the local cross-border policies of human resources mobility, reinforcing the economic cooperation through promotion and support of synergies between the enterprises, structures for support of entrepreneurship, etc. 

Participants in the meeting

During the meeting a treasurer, secretary and executive director were elected and topics related to the budget, expenditures, teams, strategies and planning of the European Group were discussed. The Board of Director discussed also decisions related to the vision of the Group. 

During the session

The establishment of European Groups for Territorial Cooperation is provided by the Regulation No.1082/2006 (EU) and aims to support the cross-border, transnational and interregional cooperation in Europe. The major objective of the Group is to reinforce the economic and social cohesion through cooperation in the field of preventing and mastering the natural disasters as well as in the field of cross-border environmental protection; contribution to the sustainable management of common natural resources and ecosystems; encouragement of the use of ICT in the cross-border region; search for technological innovations, support of scientific research, etc.; planning the local cross-border policies of human resources mobility; reinforce the economic cooperation through promotion and support of synergies between the enterprises, structures for support of entrepreneurship, etc.