Alpine Conference
The Alpine Conference is the political decision-making body of the Alpine Convention and meets at ministerial level. Meetings of the Conference are usually held every two years by the Contracting Party holding the Presidency of the Convention (usually one state holds the presidency for two years). The official languages of the Alpine Conference are French, German, Italian and Slovene.
The United Nations, its specialized agencies, the Council of Europe and all European countries may attend the meetings as observers. The same applies to cross-border associations of Alpine territorial authorities. In addition, relevant NGOs may be admitted as observers. Decisions are adopted on the basis of consensus.
Current President:
Federal Councillor Simonetta Sommaruga
Federal Department of the Environment, Transport, Energy and Communications
Bundeshaus Nord Kochergasse 10
CH - 3003 Berne
Switzerland
Legal basis:
Art. 5, 6 and 7 of the Alpine Convention
Rules of Procedure of the Alpine Conference*
* un-official English translation provided by the Permanent Secretariat of the Alpine Convention.
| Country | Minister | Address |
|---|---|---|
Switzerland Presidency | Federal Councillor Simonetta Sommaruga President of the Alpine Conference | Eidgenössisches Departement für Umwelt, Verkehr, Energie und Kommunikation, UVEK |
| Austria | Federal Minister Leonore Gewessler | Bundesministerium für Klimaschutz, Umwelt, Energie, Mobilität, Innovation und Technologie Radetzkystraße 2 A - 1030 Wien Österreich |
France | Minister Christophe Béchu | Ministère de la Transition écologique et de la Cohésion des territoires Hôtel de Roquelaure 246 boulevard Saint-Germain F - 75007 PARIS France |
| Germany | Federal Minister Steffi Lemke | Bundesministerium für Umwelt, Naturschutz, nukleare Sicherheit und Verbraucherschutz Stresemannstraße 128-130 D - 10117 Berlin Deutschland |
| Italy | Minister Roberto Cingolani | Ministero della Transizione Ecologica |
| Liechtenstein | Deputy Head of Government - Minister Sabine Monauni | Ministerium für Inneres, Wirtschaft und Umwelt Regierungsgebäude Peter-Kaiser-Platz 1 FL - 9490 Vaduz Fürstentum Liechtenstein |
| Monaco | Government Counsellor - Minister Céline Caron-Dagioni | Principauté de Monaco, Département de l'Équipement, de l'Environnement et de l'Urbanisme Ministère d'État Place de la Visitation - BP 522 MC - 98015 Cedex Monaco |
| Slovenia | Minister Uroš Brežan | Ministrstvo za okolje in prostor Dunajska 48 SI - 1000 Ljubljana Slovenija |
| EU | Commissioner Virginijus Sinkevičius | European Commission Rue de la Loi/Wetstraat 200 B - 1049 Brussels Belgium |
No. | Date | Location | The Presidency was passed to |
|---|---|---|---|
| XVI | 10 December 2020 | online | Switzerland |
| XV | 4 April 2019 | Innsbruck, Austria | France |
XIV | 13 October 2016 | Grassau, Germany | Austria |
XIII | 21 November 2014 | Torino, Italy | Germany |
XII | 7 September 2012 | Poschiavo, Switzerland | Italy |
XI | 8-9 March 2011 | Brdo, Slovenia | Switzerland |
X | 12 March 2009 | Evian, France | Slovenia |
IX | 9 November 2006 | Alpbach, Austria | France |
VIII | 16 November 2004 | Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany | Austria |
VII | 19-20 November 2002 | Merano, Italy | Germany |
VI | 30-31 October 2000 | Lucerne, Switzerland | Italy |
V | 16 October 1998 | Bled, Slovenia | Switzerland |
IV | 25-26 February 1996 | Brdo, Slovenia | Slovenia |
III | 20 December 1994 | Chambéry, France | Slovenia |
II | 6-7 November 1991 | Salzburg, Austria | France |
I | 9-11 October 1989 | Berchtesgaden, Germany | Austria |
XVI Alpine Conference
The XVI Alpine Conference was held on on 10 December 2020 under the French Presidency. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Conference took place virtually. The decisions and attachments to the decisions of the XVI Alpine Conference are available in German, French, Italian, Slovenian.
The main focus of the Alpine Conference was on:
- A debate on air quality in the Alps including the approval of the 8th Report on the State of the Alps;
- A debate on climate change including the adoption of the Alpine Convention’s Climate Action Plan 2.0;
- The adoption of the Declaration on integrated and sustainable water management in the Alps;
- The adoption of the Declaration on the Protection of Mountain Biodiversity and its Promotion at International Level.
Information note
Press release in German, French, Italian and Slovenian
XV Alpine Conference
The XV Alpine Conference was held on 4 April 2019 in Innsbruck (AT) under the Austrian Presidency.
The decisions and attachments to the decisions of the XV Alpine Conference are available in German, French, Italian, Slovenian.
In particular, the Alpine Conference deliberated on the following highlighted topics:
- Climate change in the Alps: Declaration of Innsbruck, Alpine Climate Target System 2050, Natural Hazard Risk Governance
- Sustainable use and protection of Alpine soils
Press release*
Information note
Photo gallery
*un-official English translation provided by the Permanent Secretariat of the Alpine Convention
XIV Alpine Conference
The XIV Alpine Conference was held on 13 October 2016 in Grassau (DE) under the German Presidency.
The decisions and attachments to the decisions of the XIV Alpine Conference are available in German, French, Italian, Slovenian.
In particular, the Alpine Conference deliberated on the following highlighted topics:
- Green Economy: Declaration of the XIVth Alpine Conference on Fostering a Sustainable Economy in the Alps* and adoption of the 6th Report on the State of the Alps "Greening the Economy in the Alpine Region"
- Adoption of the Multiannual Work Programme 2017-2022: Declaration "The Alps - pioneer region for sustainable living in the centre of Europe"*
* courtesy English translation provided by the Permanent Secretariat of the Alpine Convention
XIII Alpine Conference
The XIII Alpine Conference was held on 21 November 2014 in Torino (IT) under the Italian Presidency.
The decisions and the attachments to the decisions of the XIII Alpine Conference are available in German, French, Italian and Slovenian.
In particular, the Alpine Conference deliberated on the following highlight topics:
- Climate Change: Guidelines for Climate Change Adaptation at the Local Level in the Alps, Joint Alpine – Carpathian Statement On Adaptation to Climate Change and Decision of the Alpine Conference on Climate Change and Energy - in German, French, Italian and Slovenian
- Forest: Statement on Forest
- Macroregional Strategy: Statement on EUSALP - in German, French, Italian and Slovenian
- Programme of the German Presidency - in German, French, Italian and Slovenian
- Activity Report of the Italian Presidency 2013-2014
XII Alpine Conference
The XII Alpine Conference was held on 7 September 2012 in Poschiavo (CH) under the Swiss Presidency.
Decisions of the XII Alpine Conference*
The attachments to the decisions are available in German, French, Italian and Slovenian.
* un-official English translation provided by the Permanent Secretariat of the Alpine Convention
XI Alpine Conference
The XI Alpine Conference was held on 8-9 March 2011 in Brdo (SI) under the Slovenian Presidency.
Decisions of the XI Alpine Conference*
The attachments to the decisions are available in Greman, French, Italian and Slovenian.
Press release is available in German, French, Italian and Slovenian.
* un-official English translation provided by the Permanent Secretariat of the Alpine Convention
X Alpine Conference
The X Alpine Conference was held on 12 March 2009 in Evian (FR) under the French Presidency.
Decisions of the X Alpine Conference*
The attachments to the decisions are available in German, French, Italian and Slovenian.
Press release is available in German, French, Italian and Slovenian.
* un-official English translation provided by the Permanent Secretariat of the Alpine Convention
IX Alpine Conference
The IX Alpine Conference was held on 9 November 2006 in Alpbach (AT) under the Austrian Presidency.
Decisions of the IX Alpine Conference*
The attachments to the decisions are available in German, French, Italian and Slovenian.
* un-official English translation provided by the Permanent Secretariat of the Alpine Convention
VIII Alpine Conference
The VIII Alpine Conference was held on 16 November 2004 in Garmisch-Partenkirchen (DE) under the German Presidency.
The decisions and the attachments to the decisions of the VIII Alpine Conference are available in German, French, Italian and Slovenian.
VII Alpine Conference
The VII Alpine Conference was held on 19-20 November 2002 in Merano (IT) under the Italian Presidency.
The decisions and attachments to the desicions of the VII Alpine Conference are available in German, French, Italian and Slovenian.
VI Alpine Conference
The VI Alpine Conference was held on 30-31 October 2000 in Lucerne (CH) under the Swiss Presidency.
The decisions of the VI Alpine Conference are available in German, French, Italian and Slovenian.
V Alpine Conference
The V Alpine Conference was held on 16 October 1998 in Bled (SI) under the Slovenian Presidency.
The decisions of the V Alpine Conference are available in German, French, Italian and Slovenian.
IV Alpine Conference
The IV Alpine Conference was held on 25-26 February 1996 in Brdo (SI) under the Slovenian Presidency.
The decisions of the VI Alpine Conference are available in German, French, Italian and Slovenian.
III Alpine Conference
The III Alpine Conference was held on 20 December 1994 in Chambéry (FR) under the French Presidency.
The decisions of the III Alpine Conference are available in German, French, Italian and Slovenian.
II Alpine Conference
The II Alpine Conference was held on 6-7 November 1991 in Salzburg (AT) under the Austrian Presidency.
I Alpine Conference
The I Alpine Conference was held on 9-11 October 1989 in Berchtesgaden (DE).
The AlpWeek is an international event dedicated to sustainable development in the Alps. It is organized by a group of key Alpine organisations engaged particularly in science, environmental protection and regional and sustainable development. It is held every four years. The event is open to the public and shall raise awareness and facilitate dialogue and cooperation among alpine stakeholders.
AlpWeek Intermezzo 2020
An AlpWeek Intermezzo also took place in 2020. The event, originally planned back-to-back with the Alpine Conference and the EUSALP Annual Forum in Nice, was organised as an online event. The sessions of the AlpWeek Intermezzo 2020 centred on the topic of “Youth & Climate”, giving the word to young people from all across the alpine arc to present their projects and plans as well as express their concerns and hopes for a sustainable future in the Alps.
Further information about AlpWeek Intermezzo 2020
Programme with detailed information
AlpWeek Intermezzo 2019
Like its bigger sister, the quadrennial AlpWeek, Alpweek Intermezzo is an international event on sustainable development and related Alpine issues, jointly organised by key Alpine organisations. For 2019 the event was conceived as a lunch-to-lunch conference which brought together the main Alpine stakeholders to meet and exchange views on the topic “Tomorrow in the Alps”. It took place in April 2019 in Innsbruck (AT).
Further information about AlpWeek Intermezzo 2019
Programme with detailed information
AlpWeek 2016
AlpWeek 2016 was dedicated to the manifold relations between the Alps and the people who live and work there or who come to visit. It took place in October 2016 in Grassau/Achental (DE). The people in the Alps are facing significant future challenges, but they are also the key players to cope with them. The AlpWeek intended to share existing Alpine experiences to identify new and promising solutions for the challenges at hand. These solutions should address the specificities of the alpine region(s) and respect the social, cultural and natural heritage. AlpWeek 2016 provided a forum for a broad and diversified dialogue focusing on three main fields of action: demography, culture and quality of life.
Further information about AlpWeek 2016
Programme with detailed information
AlpWeek 2012
For the first time in the history of the Alpine Convention, the conference of ministers from its signatory states took place during the AlpWeek. It was held in September in 2012 in Poschiavo (CH). By holding these events at the same time, the Swiss Presidency of the Alpine Convention sent a signal, bringing together all states and organisations engaged in the Alpine space. AlpWeek is the right place and time to meet, as it is organised by many of the observers of the Alpine Convention.
Further information about AlpWeek 2012
Programme with detailed information