South Tyrol is a model region for Szekerland- Herbert Dorfmann visited Sepsiszentgyörgy/Sfantu Gheorghe

“South Tyrol is an exemplary region for Szeklerland in two respects: territorial autonomy brought ethnic peace and economic development to the region. This is what we want in Szeklerland: to live better and to have ethnic peace. There are many similarities between the two regions and we can learn from this example” - emphasized Sándor Tamás at the meeting organized by the county.

„It always led to a good solution if the parties could agree with each other, and good partnerships will eventually lead to friendship. Decentralization and autonomy bring development, as South Tyrol grew out from the poorest regions, becoming on of the richest one” - summarized the lessons of the autonomy of South Tyrol Árpád Antal.

There are a lot of common features between South Tyrol and Szeklerland, agreed Herbert Dorfmann with the leaders of Háromszék. Dorfmann is representing the German community in Italy in the European Parliament. He shortly presented the region, its ethnic composition and economic situation. Following the Second World War, South Tyrol was indeed the poorest region of Italy, today it became the second largest net payer among the provinces. Tourism is the most important sector, but agriculture plays an important role too in what the sustainability of the region concerns. South Tyrol recognized from early on that rural development should receive special attention, but they always cooperated and worked together with others.  Experience shows that people will only stay in the area, if quality living standards and infrastructure apply, small farms - such as South Tyrolean ones - will only survive if they cooperate with others, pointed out the MEP.

„Herbert Dorfmann is a very good partner, who knows the problems of our community. We have been working together for years on the field of minority protection and agriculture. We have invited him to Szeklerland in order to present South Tyrol, where national minorities enjoy a high level of autonomy, dispose of strong economy and developed rural communities” - said Csaba Sógor. He also pointed out that Herbert Dorfmann is one of the colleagues with whom he cooperates the most to turn the EU’s attention to rural and mountainous regions, as well as to small-scale family farms.

In the development of the Member States EU funds play a very important role. For effective development, the use of financial resources should be decided locally - pointed out Gyula Winkler. “The RMDSZ suggested that 2 billion euros should be redirected to the most efficient sectoral program, for the benefit of the Regional Operational Program. This measure would serve to benefit local communities throughout the country, Hungarians, as well as Romanians” - explained the MEP.

The meeting was attended by government representatives, as well as agricultural, forestry and environmental experts. Many specific questions were put and requests were made to the South Tyrolean expert. The issue of conflicts of interest between small and large farms were raised, the benefits of area-based subsidies, but also the concerns of livestock farmers and beekeepers were discussed.