On Monday 15 August 2005 delegation of Bosnian-Podrinje canton Gorazde lead by Prime Minister of Bosnian-Podrinje canton Gorazde Mr. Salko Obhodjas left to Salzburg to attend General Assembly of the Institute of Regions of Europe and conference on a theme: „Financing of projects of regional infrastructure“.
After opening and introduction by Univ. Doc. Dr. Franz Schausberger, President of IRE and President of the Commission for constitutional issues and the European Government the following persons held a speech on the first day of General Assembly of IRE:
• Ambassador Dr. Johannes Kyrle, Secretary General of Ministry of foreign affairs of Austria on a theme: “Key items of work of Austrian presiding over EU in the first half of 2006”,
• Dr. Franz Fishler, former delegate of EU on a theme: “Response of EU to pressing issues of European citizens” and
• Dr. Stefan Eder, Vice-president of IRE on a theme: „Report, activities and presentation of Agenda of the Institute.“
The next day, upon closing of the General Assembly Prime Minister of BPC Gorazde Salko Obhodjas and members of delegation attended a conference where, beside President of the Institute Mr. Schausberger also spoke:
• Pal Csaky, Deputy Prime Minister of Republic of Slovakia, Minister of European integrations, human rights and minorities on a theme “Regionalization in Slovakia”,
• Wolfgang Roth, Vice-president of the European Investment Bank on a theme: “Involvement of the European Investment Bank in the projects of infrastructure in eastern Europe” ,
• Mag. Heinz Zourek, Deputy General Manager, DG enterprise and industry on a theme: “New program of work in the field of innovations of European Commission and opportunities for European regions” and
• Dr. Alexander Picker, HVB Bank of Serbia and Montenegro – Belgrade on a theme: “Role of commercial banks in financing of regional infrastructure”.
Within the conference there was also a round table on a theme: “Traditional financing and alternative financing instruments” in which spoke representatives of many European banks. The Institute of Regions of Europe was established by representatives of regions and local authorities in summer 2004, when heads of states and governments of 25 member states agreed about a document concerning European Constitution, which included regional and local dimension in the Constitution for the first time. Representatives of regions and local authorities successfully drew attention of the Commission responsible for drawing the European Constitution, which was of great significance for regional and municipal interests.