Land Niederösterreich - Brussels Liaison Office

The Lower Austrian Liaison Office (NÖVBB) represents Lower Austria in Europe.

The office was established by the State Government of Lower Austria in Brussels in October 1994, just before Austria joined the European Union. It is an extern office of the Office of the State Government of Lower Austria.

Lower Austria is an active and dedicated region which is committed to Europe and willing to seize its opportunities and challenges at an early stage. These opportunities and challenges have to be tackled in and with the European institutions but also together with other European partner regions. That is how Lower Austria has become one of the TOP European regions in the last years.

Lower Austria is also a region that endeavours to strengthen and defend its identity, its culture and its independence in Europe. The subsidiarity principle provides the regions important keys to actively contribute to a Europe of Regions.

NÖVBB´s task is to promote the Lower Austrian interests in an optimal way.

An office in Brussels means:
•· Direct proximity to decision makers of the European legislation process
•· Direct proximity to potential partners from other regions and countries
•· Providing rapid information easy to understand from Brussels to Lower Austria and   from Lower Austria to Brussels
•· EU expertise for Lower Austria
•· Early warning system for Lower Austria
•· Representation of Lower Austria in Brussels
•· Homeland at the heart of Europe for Lower Austrians in Brussels

•·         Lobbying

The perception and representation of Lower Austrian interests in the decision process of the EU are the main tasks of NÖVBB. In the recent years, the NÖVBB team has been able to establish a solid and stable basis for discussion with the different actors from the European Commission and the European Parliament. It also has gained, through several networks, potential supporters from other European regions to represent, if needed, similar interests. By these means it has been possible to influence EU proposals according to the Lower Austrian interests, such as the reform of wine market, the soil framework directive and the adoption of 7^th Framework Programme for Research.

The latest example is the lobby initiative for the prolongation of EU regional funding post 2013 - expiration of the current EU funding period - that has been initiated by Lower Austria and whose highlight has taken place on October, 7th in Brussels, when Governer Erwin Pröll handed a package of requests over to Commission-President Barroso, Vice President of the European Parliament Wieland, President of the Committee of the Regions Bresso and Minister President Demotte , President for the Belgian Presidency. By means of the signatures of the highest regional political representatives from 143 regions in the whole of Europe, common persuading actions have been achieved to convince the EU institutions that it is worthwhile to financially support projects in all regions in the future, not only just in the poorest ones. This Lower Austrian lobby action together with 83% of all Competitiveness regions of Europe represents a high-level exhortation of the EU regions, unique in the European history, to further support Lower Austrian projects after 2013 according to the objectives of Europe (Europe 2020 Strategy) via EU financial means and co-financing with regional means. 

• programme for October, 7th in Brussels
• political declaration
• map with all partner regions
• short report with photo

•·         Information Management

NÖVBB has established an information system which guarantees that the relevant information for Lower Austria is rapidly sent in an easy-to-understand language to the competent offices in the region. Beforehand, NÖVBB has to make a selection of all relevant topics for Lower Austria among the enormous EU-information flow very often in foreign languages and then send them to interested parties. Each person interested to receive EU-Information can also be included in the NÖVBB contact list and receive EU-information on political areas such as economy, research, education, social affairs, health, environment, nature conservation, etc. This fast and clear information system is carried out everyday per email.

•·        EU Funding

The fact that each single euro from possible EU funding should be acquired by Lower Austria in Brussels matches with NÖVBB´s engagement to inform about and prepare for EU funding programmes for interested citizens and organisations. The information is directly transmitted to the relevant offices of the State Government of Lower Austria, the regional managements, the RIZ (consulting agency for start-ups) and of course to enterprises, associations and many private persons in Lower Austria. This information on funding can then be forwarded to a wide range of interested parties in Lower Austria through these contact points.

•·         Partner Search for Projects

The precondition for receiving funding for an EU project is almost always that project partners are from different EU member states. NÖVBB supports Lower Austrian institutions, enterprises or private persons in their search for relevant international project partners thanks to its contacts with the other regional offices in Brussels. Please also see information under Documents/Downloads.

•·         Representation and Visitors Groups

NÖVBB represents the Region of Lower Austria in different events to promote the region in Brussels. It also organises its own conferences to make Lower Austria visible in the "European sphere".

Moreover, NÖVBB also has the mission to explain and present to interested Lower Austrian parties what the European Union is and how it works. In this context Lower Austrian visitors groups are regularly invited to Brussels and supported by NÖVBB for the organisation of EU programmes with specific visits and meetings. NÖVBB is also available for presentations in Lower Austria.

Mag. Ilse Penders- Stadlmann
Head of Office - NÖVBB; lobbying, press, representation, public relations, contacts
Tel.: 0032 2 549 06 61
Mail: ilse.penders-stadlmann@noel.gv.at

Mag. (FH) Sandra Steinhauer
Deputy Head of Office; EU information management, EU funding
Tel.: sandra.steinhauer@noel.gv.at
Mail: 0032 2 549 06 /64

Mag. Virginie Ronvaux
Translation, visitors groups, networks
Tel.: 0032 2 549 06 /67
Mail: virginie.ronvaux@noel.gv.at

Corinne Juillard De Mesmaeker
Assistant/secretariat
Tel.: 0032 2 549 06 60
Mail: corinne.juillard@noel.gv.at

NÖVBB considers it as an essential task to give young Lower Austrians an understanding of the EU and Europe. NÖVBB has created for that purpose a pathfinder for internships in institutions in Brussels and offers also internship possibilities in NÖVBB for students so that they can gain a first worthwhile professional experience abroad. There is an existing cooperation with Lower Austrian universities in this regard.

In addition, NÖVBB has elaborated an accommodation guide which can be asked for in NÖVBB.