You will find in this section all the articles published in our news section on our home page.

Regions of Europe back the implementation of the Lisbon Strategy

9 May, 2005 By Editor

Ponta Dalgada, Açores (P), 9 May 2005 'The ambitious objectives of the Lisbon Strategy will only be reached through coherent European policies and the EU budget adapted to the challenges emerging from the last enlargement and globalisation', stated Onno Hoes, Regional Minister of Noord-Brabant (NL) and Chairman of Regional policies' Committee of the Assembly of European … [Read more...]

Scenario Europe 2010 – The AER launched its work on the White Paper on the role of the regions

29 April, 2005 By Editor

Dubrovnik (HR), 29 Aprile 2005 'EU enlargement and globalisation have created new opportunities and challenges for the European regions. The Constitutional Treaty currently in the process of being ratified in the Member States and the Lisbon Strategy imply the greater involvement of regions in all aspects of European governance in the next future, especially if we want to … [Read more...]

What role for the regions in a Europe of 2010?

29 April, 2005 By Editor

Dubrovnik (HR), 29 Aprile 2005 "European competitiveness and entrepreneurship will not improve unless they can build on existing conditions and opportunities in Europe's regions, towns and municipalities", said Mrs Catarina Segersten Larsson, Chair of the Värmland County Council Executive Committee (S), at the conference on 'the Role of the regions in Europe: a Scenario for … [Read more...]

GMO: The EU current regulations are far from exhaustive

24 March, 2005 By Editor

Last Tuesday, the European Commission confirmed its confidence in the existing legal framework regulating genetically modified organisms (GMO), considering that it is strict enough in terms of labelling and scientific assessment. Therefore, the EU executive will go on authorising new GM seeds when the European Council cannot manage to reach an agreement on the issue. The … [Read more...]

Bolkestein Directive – the AER welcomes the European Council’s decision

22 March, 2005 By Editor

The Assembly of European Regions (AER) welcomes the European Council's decision on the Directive on Services (Bolkestein Directive). The AER has insisted that the Bolkestein Directive must be revised to take better account of the European social model. 'The regions fully support the European Union's initiative to complete the internal market in services and to promote … [Read more...]

The European Constitution: “Your Question Answered”

15 March, 2005 By Editor

The Assembly of European Regions (AER) has published a guide "The European Constitution: Your Questions Answered" which aims at increasing awareness and understanding of the Constitutional Treaty and its implications for the citizens. "The main hurdle to ratification is the lack of information available to citizens about the contents of the Constitutional Treaty and its … [Read more...]

The EU needs a new vision

3 March, 2005 By Editor

'After the internal market, the Euro, enlargement and the Constitutional Treaty, the EU lacks a clear vision for its future" said Riccardo Illy, President of the Assembly of European Regions (AER) and President of Friuli Venezia Giulia-I, meeting today with José Manuel Barroso, European Commission President. " The new vision for the EU should therefore be to bring Europe closer … [Read more...]

Creating the conditions for effective regional democracy

2 March, 2005 By Editor

A challenge for the States and Regions of Europe Novi Sad, Vojvodina (SRB), 2 March 2005 'European democracy must be built from the bottom-up. The regional and the local authorities are the levels of government closest to the citizen, providing key services and acting as the main interface between the citizens and the state. However, regions cannot operate effectively … [Read more...]

We need exemption of small airports from EU Guidelines

2 March, 2005 By Editor

Riccardo Illy, President of the Assembly of European Regions (AER), meeting today with the President of the European Commission José Manuel Barroso, welcomed the new EU guidelines on aviation and regional airports, as well as the Commission initiative to launch a consultation before adopting a final regulation. 'The AER, who called for the publication of EC guidelines in order … [Read more...]

Promoting the creation of a European framework for Cross-border Co-operation

14 February, 2005 By Editor

European Parliament and Regions work hand in hand Despite indicatations that Europe is becoming an ever-closer Union', in some key areas European co-operation still faces a myriad of obstacles. Many European regions still encounter opposition from national governments when trying to co-operate with their counterparts in other countries. Members of the European Parliament met … [Read more...]

Competitiveness, growth and cohesion: the EU must fund its ambitions

9 February, 2005 By Editor

Strasbourg (F), 9 February 2005 The Presidency of the AER met in Strasbourg today and expressed its deep concern about the future of cohesion policy in the new Europe. While the Barroso Commission has just announced an ambitious initiative in order to re-launch growth and job creation in Europe, many Member States are lobbying for that the EU budget be limited to 1% of the … [Read more...]

The AER to Commissioner Hübner: “Cohesion should be at the service of the competitiveness of the regions”

20 January, 2005 By Editor

"...and not a competition between the regions" Representatives of the Assembly of European Regions (AER) discussed today with Commisioner Hübner on the future of cohesion policy in the framework of the ongoing reform. The following requests were given to the Commisioner: Cohesion and the Lisbon agenda "There is tremendous potential for economic development in the regions … [Read more...]

The AER calls upon the European Council to assess the impact of liberalization

14 December, 2004 By Editor

Before adopting the draft Services Directive The Assembly of European Regions (AER) appeals to the wisdom of the Heads of State and Governments when discussing the draft Directive on Services during the next European Council (16-17 December 2004). At the last AER General Assembly in Vienna (25-26 November 2004), the AER member regions, representing the entire political … [Read more...]

The AER is ready to help the Ukrainian regions to secure the future political structure of their country

10 December, 2004 By Editor

Strasbourg and Brussels 10 December 2004 The Assembly of European Regions (AER), very concerned by the political situation in Ukraine, welcomes the decision of the Ukrainian Parliament on 8th December to amend the Constitution. "We will now pay great attention to the implementation of the reforms, and particularly of the adopted text reinforcing the power of the regions" … [Read more...]