AlpWeek aims to bring together those who are committed to the future of the Alps and and to create an atmosphere that encourages debate and exchange. In keeping with the theme of the meeting —"Renewable Alps" — there will be a central symposium on the core topic, flanked by a variety of parallel events in different formats. These will give delegates the opportunity to address issues concerning the future development of the Alps in greater detail. The issues covered include: "Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs): neglected engines for local regeneration in the Alpine Arc?", "Mobility in the Alps: Limits, obstacles and how they may be overcome", and "New urbanization in the Alps: mobility and urban lifestyle dynamic".

Embedded in the AlpWeek will be the Alpine Conference, the meeting of environment ministers from the Alpine Convention states. The Alpine Conference is the high point of every presidency. It gathers together the environment ministers of the Alpine states every two years and is the political decision-making body of the Alpine Convention. Switzerland will be represented by Federal Councillor Doris Leuthard, as Head of the Federal Department of the Environment, Transport, Energy and Communications. The Conference will focus on sustainable development in the Alps in the wake of the Rio+20 conference, the macro-regional strategy for the Alpine space, sustainable tourism, and climate and energy.

The Alpine Convention is an international treaty between the eight Alpine states. It is aimed at promoting sustainable development in the Alpine area and at protecting the interests of the people living within it. Its Presidency is held by the member states on a rotating basis for a term of two years. The current holder is Switzerland. The members of the Alpine Convention are Austria, France, Germany, Italy, Liechtenstein, Monaco, Slovenia, EU and Switzerland.

During its current Presidency, Switzerland has set itself the goals of positioning the Alps more effectively in Europe, and within the European Union in particular, and strengthening exchange and cooperation between all of the parties concerned. That is why the Alpine Conference is embedded in AlpWeek, which will provide a platform for many organisations and initiatives from across the Alps.

Quadripartite meeting of German-speaking environment ministers

Each year, one of the German-speaking Alpine nations — Germany, Austria, Liechtenstein and Switzerland — hosts a quadripartite meeting of those countries' environment ministers. It is Switzerland's turn in 2012. To make the most of synergies, the meeting this year will be held immediately after the Alpine Conference.

Detailed programme
Please visit www.alpweek.org for the detailed programme.

Time & place
AlpWeek: Wednesday, 5 September, to Saturday, 8 September 2012 in Poschiavo (GR)

Media conference on the Alpine Conference: Friday, 7 September 2012, 11.15 to 11.50 am, at the Casa Console in Poschiavo (a media release on the quadripartite meeting will be published in the course of the afternoon).

Registration
Please register by 24 August at www.are.admin.ch/alpenkonvention.

AlpWeek and Alpine Conference: Renewable Alps - Media Invitation