There is no European democracy without regions. This is the core message of the AER 40th Anniversary Debate, hosted by AER President Lukas Mandl on 9 December 2025, which will gather regional and institutional representatives from across Europe at the Lower Austrian Liaison Office in Brussels.

For forty years, AER has highlighted  the role of regions in anchoring European democracy. As the level of government closest to citizens, regions are fundamental pillars of our democratic architecture.  Regions enjoy a high level of public trust; they connect EU priorities and legislation to community priorities. In an age of rising misinformation and disinformation, local and regional representatives must work together to devise initiatives to counter these threats.

These common threats cannot be overcome in isolation. Regional networks offer vital platforms to improve policymaking through cooperation, bringing policymakers together to share insights and shape solutions that empower citizens in civic life. As we set a course for the next forty years, this panel will examine the role of regions and regional networks like AER in addressing Europe’s emerging democratic challenges. 

This debate will be an opportunity to:

• highlight the importance of the regional level in strengthening European democracy and countering emerging threats;
• underline the value of regional networks in devising innovative solutions to improve policymaking and strengthen European cooperation;
• Reaffirm the importance of regions and inter-regional cooperation in advancing the EU agenda, including in enlargement.
• offer regional representatives the opportunity to share their perspectives on challenges, needs and opportunities. 

 SPEAKERS:

• Lukas Mandl, President of the Assembly of European Regions (AER)
• Marc Cools, President of the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe
• Aida Karimli, AER Vice President for Democracy, Inclusion and  Equality
• Pavel Branda, Chair of the cross-border Interregional Group of the European Committee of the Regions

Moderator(s): Vania Freitas, Secretary General of the Assembly of European Regions/Justin Sammon, Member Relations Coordinator