At the invitation of Anne-Marie Comparini, President of the Rhône-Alpes Region, the representatives of 300 Regions from 26 European countries, members of the Assembly of European Regions (AER), will take their General Assembly in Lyon on 2nd and 3rd December 1999.

A few days before the European Council of Helsinki (10-11 December), this General Assembly will be the occasion for the Regions to formulate their common position in view of the next Intergovernmental Conference (IGC), which will deal with the way improving the organisation of the EU institutions and the decision-making process at European level.

The Regions will also prepare their proposals relative to the foreseen European Constitution and the Charta on fundamental rights of the EU. As a forum for exchanges between European Regions and debates with representatives of European institutions, the General Assembly will also raise other subjects of interest to the European Regions, such as their role in the enlargement process and the European integration of central and western European Regions, the question of training and employment, as well as the reinforcement of interregional cooperation networks to enhance peace and solidarity in Europe.

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