Sonderband 2. International Council on Archives. Dritte Europäische Archivkonferenz, Wien 11. bis 15. Mai 1993. Tagungsprotokolle (1996)

2. Session /Séance. Regional (trans-border) Cooperation / Coopération régionale (transfrontaliere) - Cova, Ugo: The Case of the Adriatic-Alps Zone / Le cas de la zone Alpes-Adriatique (english 145 - français 153)

2. Session/Séance: Cova, The Case of the Adriatic-Alps Zone

It is not pointless to recall some significant passages of the resolution adopted at Bled (Slovenia), on 16 October 1987, by the plenary meeting of the presidents of the governments and the executive councils of the member regions of the working communities ALPE Adria and ARGE Alp10 11. In that document the Community members identified common principles of life, civilization and development characterizing the Alpine regions and guidelines were issued for a future common activity based on concrete cooperation. In particular, item (1) of the resolution stated that „the aim of this cooperation is the identification of common and coordinated solutions for the problems arising from time to time, as well as the enhanced effectiveness of the two communities through common principles of action concerning specific issues“. And a specific, concrete issue requiring a common solution is indeed related to archives. Several signs seem to indicate that also in the framework of the ALPE Adria the time has come to set up a Conference of the Directors of the most important archives existing in the different regions. Most of the problems which arose after World War II and involved archives and archivists have in fact been overcome. The mutual knowledge of archivists produces trust and willingness to analyse and solve problems in a climate of friendship and mutual understanding.

Such a solution is certainly desirable and would be in harmony with the spirit of the declaration issued in Linz, on 20 September 1991, by the ALPE Adria plenary assembly. On account of „the great process of liberalization and democratization which ... has involved central Europe“, the declaration stressed „the opportunity to enhance cooperation inside the working community ALPE Adria ... limiting bureaucracy to a minimum and actively contributing to the construction of a new Europe“11.

From an examination of the activity carried out by the ALPE Adria committee on culture, youth, sports and science, it appears that none of the events promoted since the early 1980s has had something to do with archives. But although ALPE Adria has not dealt with archives, archivists working in the ALPE Adria regions have found forms of association and cooperation on scientific, technical and professional issues. A part from the institutionalized activity carried out by the regions that are members of both ALPE Adria and ARGE Alp (Bavaria, Salzburg, Lombardy, Trentino-Alto Adige, Ticino), in the past decade several initiatives and events have characterized the cooperation between the archives of ALPE Adria. The author of this paper does not know all the initiatives taken in such a vast area nor does he wish to mention the frequent visits paid by archivists to their colleagues or the participation of and the presentation of papers by archivists in meetings on archives and historical subjects held in Austria, Slovenia, Croatia, Friuli-Venezia Giulia and Flungary.

Sometimes cooperation has involved archives and archivists of two neighbouring regions belonging to different countries. Such an activity, implying common re10 Ibidem, p.25-29.

11 Ibidem, p 47-49.

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