Thematic dossier n°2 on Disoriented democracy – Summer 2003

8 June, 2003 By Editor

Engaging people in a changing Europe Table of contents: Editorial: Liese Prokop, AER President Disoriented democracy Where did democracy get lost? Charting a new course: decentralised governance Reoriented democracies (Use Pop Out button to Download/Open) … [Read more...]

Simplifying the management of structural funds

2 June, 2003 By Editor

Strasbourg (F), 2 June 2003 The current system of managing structural funds is too complicated and excessively centralised, from the planning phase to the payment, monitoring and control phases. A decentralisation of procedures and a new definition of objectives and programmes are thus needed. Well aware of these challenges the Assembly of European Regions … [Read more...]

The AER welcomes the revised draft of the Constitutional Treaty presented by the Convention

26 May, 2003 By Editor

The latest draft of the EU Constitution includes three key positions of the AER, which we have consistently brought to the attention of the Convention members. These are: Subsidiarity: this principle has been extended and now explicitly refers to both “the regional and the local level” [Article I-9(2)] – the new extended definition now requires the Union to assess … [Read more...]

Respect for cultural and educational diversity within the future Constitution: J. Chirac’s response to the AER

22 May, 2003 By Editor

In a letter to President Chirac on May 6th, the AER President Liese Prokop called on him and his government to maintain their "firm position in defending cultural diversity". In an answering letter to the Assembly of European Regions (AER), the President of the French Republic Jacques Chirac fully supports the AER position on the necessity to maintain a firm stance in the area … [Read more...]

Public Private Partnerships (PPP) as an essential tool in sustainable transport policies

7 May, 2003 By Editor

Proposals from European regions Strasbourg, 7 May 2003 The Commission came out with a communication titled "Developing the trans-European transport network: Innovation funding solutions, Interoperability of electric toll collection systems" on April 23rd. An essential component of this paper is Public-Private Partnerships (PPP). The AER had held numerous … [Read more...]

AER warns that Convention articles endanger diversity in culture and education

7 May, 2003 By Editor

Strasbourg, 7 May 2003 The President of the AER, Vice Minister-President of Lower Austria Liese Prokop, expressed to the European Convention the firm opposition of the European Regions against any move that gives the European Union exclusive competence when negotiating and concluding agreements on trade in cultural and educational services, in the context of the … [Read more...]

Does the Draft European Constitutional Treaty meet the expectations of the regions?

4 April, 2003 By Editor

Brussels, 4 April 2003 With the theme – Governance closer to the citizens of an enlarged Europe – the political Bureau of the Assembly of European Regions (AER), which brings 50 regional representatives from 28 countries together, is meeting today to examine the first draft articles of the Constitutional Treaty. While acknowledging the progress the Convention has … [Read more...]

Thematic dossier n° 1 on Sustainable Tourism – Spring 2003

8 March, 2003 By Editor

Sustainable tourism Table of contents: Editorial: Liese Prokop, AER President Three Guiding Principles A European charter is essential Reinforce local and regional involvement A choice of labels: Agenda 21 The Istria (Croatia) Meetings on 26 and 27 June 2003 (Use Pop Out button to Download/Open) … [Read more...]

European Constitution: regions express some reservations on the first draft

21 February, 2003 By Editor

Strasbourg (F), 21 February 2003 At its meeting on 21st February in Strasbourg, the AER Presidium made some reservations on the sixteen draft articles of the European Constitution, although a global vision of the text is not yet available. "The common roots of the European diversity constitutes one of the Union values. Therefore, the cultural diversity should … [Read more...]

EU/GATS/Cultural Diversity: Regions rally behind Jacques Chirac

4 February, 2003 By Editor

Strasbourg, 4 February 2003 The Assembly of European Regions (AER) supports the recent proposal of French President Jacques Chirac, who argued for the adoption of an international Convention on Cultural Diversity. For the South-Tyrolean Minister Bruno Hosp, chairman of AER's Culture and Education Committee, the French initiative reiterates the demands of the 2002 Brixen … [Read more...]

Assembly of European Regions (AER) in favour of peaceful solution to Iraq-crisis

30 January, 2003 By Editor

The AER, as one of the voices of the people in the regions of Europe, supports all initiatives that lead to a peaceful solution of the Iraqi-crisis. Lower Austria Vice-Minister-President Liese Prokop, in her function as AER-President declared that a predominant majority of the population definitely opposes a military intervention. This is also indicated by opinion … [Read more...]

CAP reform proposals: the AER expresses some reservations

28 January, 2003 By Editor

Strasbourg (F), 28 January 2003 The AER has reviewed the European Commission's legislative proposals on mid-term review of Common Agriculture Policy (CAP). “Despite the softening of the guidelines presented by Commissioner Fischler in July 2002, the European Commission reasserts the good principles of the reform and its determination to place sustainable rural development … [Read more...]

European Parliament denies direct access of Regions to European Court

17 January, 2003 By Editor

The European Parliament at its Strasbourg -Plenary session on the January 14, 2003 adopted the Napolitano-report on the role of regional and local authorities in Europe. The report itself is regarded by the regions as a positive step forward in strengthening the role of the local and regional authorities. In the substantial matter of subsidiarity it falls short of the regions’ … [Read more...]

2002 Activity Report

2 January, 2003 By Editor

"We must work together to build the European House and achieve our main aim: implementation of our Declaration on Regionalism - passed six years ago but now more relevant than ever before - and application of the principle of subsidiarity. It is we, the regions of Europe, who can provide a guarantee to our citizens that any future problems can be overcome", Liese Prokop, AER … [Read more...]

Election results for the AER: Mrs Liese Prokop has been re-elected President

29 November, 2002 By Editor

Naples (Campania), 29 November 2002 Liese Prokop, Vice-Minister President of Niederösterreich (Austria), was re-elected President of the Assembly of European Regions for a two year mandate. During President Prokop’s first mandate she remained particularly committed to the development of cooperation between the European interregional organisations, particularly in the context … [Read more...]