AER Committee 3 President Sonja Steen participated in the plenary session of the Congress of the Council of Europe (Strasbourg, 29-31 October). During the debate at the Chamber of the Regions, which focused on the impact of the crisis on regionalisation and devolution, recalled the AER claim that subsidiarity remain the key principle of any policy-making processes in Europe. Budgetary constraints should not, as a consequence, be used to jeopardize the very existence of regional authorities, or to limit their remit. Regions are key actors of the European economic revival and should remain in position to fulfil their tasks.

The AER recommendations on the Regions and the crisis were also displayed at a stand, where other novelties such as the newly launched AER Academic and Training Centre were unveiled.