Champagne-Ardenne region cementing ties throughout Russia

Jean Paul Bachy is president of the regional council of Champagne-Ardenne and a former member of the French and European Parliaments. The Champagne-Ardenne region, located in the northeast of France and famous for its history and sparkling wine, was represented at the 2011 Sochi Investment Forum – where authorities boasted of their partnership with the Oryol Oblast and other Russian regions. President Bachy explained the origins and successes of these partnerships to Modern Russia.

What are the main activities of the partnership that Champagne-Ardenne has developed with Russia for more than 20 years? Could you describe the main areas of opportunity for the region to become involved in Russia and how has this partnership evolved over the past decade?

Our cooperation started with the Oryol Oblast, which possessed the same characteristics as Champagne-Ardenne: a key role of agriculture in the local economy, the presence of similarly sized universities, and a place where the commemoration of war time struggles continues. For us, Russia is a country full of potential, which is only waiting to open up to Europe and France in particular. Our exchanges with the Oryol Oblast rapidly developed in a very concrete manner, where we now have a large number of Russian students coming to Champagne-Ardenne. Additionally, we established partnerships in culture and sports, and the region actively supports the creation of a French Alliance office in Oryol. Furthermore, the success of our partnerships with Oryol Oblast has inspired us to initiate partnerships with other Russian regions like Kazan, Ulyanovsk, Samara and Krasnodar.

Which specific assets can Champagne-Ardenne bring to Russia, and vice-versa?

Russia possesses huge natural resources and in many areas, the country offers a high level of expertise. However, the methods of management are sometimes out of date and too centralized, but we can learn many things from each other.  That is why it is necessary to develop joint subcontracts in industrial sectors such as aeronautics, car manufacturing, energy and the food industry. French expertise in environmental issues is very much in demand there, to develop water, decontamination, and waste recycling facilities. Investment and export opportunities for French small and medium-sized businesses in Russia remain significant. Our luxury goods are much sought after as well. But like our Russian counterparts, we must now diversify in other sectors.

Are you developing cooperation with other countries in the CIS or other emerging markets?  According to your experience, what makes Russia similar or different than these other markets?

The Russian regions we work with are already very large markets, and we want to avoid spreading ourselves too thinly, so our main goal is to consolidate the ties that we have built. Champagne-Ardenne has a major advantage with the recent opening of the Paris-Vatry international airport, located just 150km (93 miles) from Paris. This modern international airport moves both freight and passengers at competitive costs and can welcome the world’s biggest air cargoes year round. Some Russian companies, such as Volga-Dnepr, are already shipping freight from Europe to Africa. We have also noticed that we are welcoming more Russian tourists who want to visit France. Access to the Champagne-Ardenne region, now just a 45 minute TGV high-speed train ride away from Paris, is ideal, and is why I believe Paris-Vatry will be a major asset for the future of French-Russian relations.

What reforms would you recommend to the Russian government to enhance and promote the development of these regional partnerships?

Russia and France should bet on regional devolution, and aim at granting power to the citizens in order to shorten the decision making processes, a move that would not only be the best tool for democracy, but also for efficiency. Local councilors in Russia and France could gain much by exchanging experiences regarding the management and implementation of public policies to improve the development of their territories. In areas like taxation, the allocation of powers, and the handling of contracts with the private sector – the exchange of best practices could be fruitful for both parties. 

What do you expect from the France-Russia agreement on decentralized cooperation signed during the visit of Prime Minister François Fillon in Moscow on18 November 2011? 

This framework agreement is important because it recognizes, for the first time, how direct cooperation between local authorities can strengthen the links between both countries. The paradox is that French and Russian local authorities have not been involved in the preparation and signing of this agreement. Decentralization does not have to be granted, but is rather a form of democracy which has its own legitimacy. Decentralized cooperation is not opposed to intergovernmental action, but enriches it.  What is also lacking in the agreement signed by François Fillon is a real definition of the themes and activity fields on which Russian and French regions are encouraged to cooperate. In my view, economic development, support of SMEs, innovation, environment, new technologies, and local utilities should be a core focus.