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

August 2004: Olomouc, Czech Republic, Welcomes AER Summer School

12 July, 2004 By Editor

The 9th annual Summer School organised by the Assembly of European Regions (AER) is scheduled for August 22-27 in Olomouc, Czech Republic. This year's Summer School will focus on the theme of interregional project management and lobbying. “I’m very excited that we have the opportunity to gather 150 politicians and regional representatives together for five days in a new EU … [Read more...]

EU Constitution: The AER campaign saves culture, education, health and social services

21 June, 2004 By Editor

Last minute victory for the European citizens: The AER congratulates the Irish Presidency Strasbourg, 21 June 2004 The Assembly of European Regions (AER) has succeeded in its long-term campaign to amend articles of the Constitutional Treaty on the Common Commercial Policy that threatened the quality and free access of European citizens to services of … [Read more...]

The AER deplores UK government decision to grant the EU exclusive competence in Health & Education Policy

15 June, 2004 By Editor

IGC-European Constitution Strasbourg (F), 15 June 2004 In a letter to the Assembly of European Regions (AER), UK Minister for Europe Denis MacShane, sets out the UK Government's intention to give up core decision-making powers in the fields of culture, education, audiovisual, health and social services during the final round of negotiations on the European Constitution. … [Read more...]

AER Seminar: The Organisation and Management of Public Enterprises in the Western Balkans

9 June, 2004 By Editor

Zenica (BiH), 9 June 2004 Publicly-owned companies that are responsible for delivering services such as water, transport, waste management and health care need careful management and control in order to ensure that citizens receive the best services possible. The regional administrations that own these companies must make informed decisions about financial resources, the … [Read more...]

The AER says: keep it local and user-friendly, as the results of the public consultation showed

2 June, 2004 By Editor

New generation of European culture, education, youth programmes Strasbourg (F), 2 June 2004 Following the meeting of the AER Committee on Culture, Education and Youth (27th – 28th May 2004, in Krakow-PL), the Assembly of European Regions (AER) today addressed a letter to Viviane Reding, European Commissioner for Culture and Education. The letter focuses on the Commission … [Read more...]

AER Inter-ministerial Conference: What future for rural areas in Europe?

18 May, 2004 By Editor

Bari, Puglia (I), 18 May 2004 120 people, among whom Regional Ministers for agriculture and rural development, political authorities as well as academic and regional experts have met in Bari, Puglia-I, under the aegis of the Assembly of European Regions, in order to discuss the problems of rural areas and to identify the most suitable instruments to solve them. … [Read more...]

AER welcomes EU Neighbourhood Policy but criticises Commission’s aviation policies

10 May, 2004 By Editor

Structured dialogue with the EU Commission Strasbourg (F), 10 May 2004 The AER addressed today the following letter to the Irish Presidency of the European Union and to the National Representatives within the European Council: “The Assembly of European Regions (AER), representing approximately 250 regions from 30 European countries and 12 interregional … [Read more...]

The European Union of 25: it’s up to us!

7 May, 2004 By Editor

Kralovehradecky (CZ), 7 May 2004 1st May 2004: the enlargement of the EU became a reality. The political Bureau of the Assembly of European Regions (AER), in order to welcome this event that it prepared since 1989, chose to celebrate it by holding its very first meeting in 2004 in the new EU 25 in the Czech Region of Kralovehradecky. The following decisions were … [Read more...]

Future of cross-border cooperation in the enlarged Europe

3 May, 2004 By Editor

1 May 2004: European citizens build a new Europe The entry of 10 new countries into the European Union (EU) is the result of many years of work. At the same time it opens up new horizons, opportunities and challenges for the European citizens. On the occasion of the enlargement, the Presidents of the European interregional organisations ask for the inclusion of the regions … [Read more...]

The European Regions say NO to Genetically Modified Organisms

28 April, 2004 By Editor

Conclusions of the Conference of the network 'GMO free' Linz, Upper-Austria (A), 28 April 2004 12 European regions* declared to be GMO free and have set up a network, in order to succeed in their struggle. The Assembly of European Regions took part in the Conference organised by this network on April 28th in Linz, in the region of Upper-Austria–A, the leader of this action … [Read more...]

Conclusions of AER-Hearing in Barcelona: 2004 New strategic alliance

23 April, 2004 By Editor

Low-fare carriers, regions and regional airports oppose strict EU guidelines Strasbourg (F), 23 April 2004 Wide support for a new strategic alliance between ELFAA (the European Low Fares Airline Association), the AER (Assembly of European Regions) and the regional airports, was expressed at a hearing organised by the AER on 21 April 2004 in Barcelona. The purpose of this … [Read more...]

Liberalisation of Services of General Interest: Regions claim the reinforcement of the principle of subsidiarity

7 April, 2004 By Editor

Zürich (CH), 7 April 2004 "Member States, regions as well as municipalities must continue to define the provision of Services of General Interest and to determine their concrete application. The competences of the regions and municipalities guarantee a provision of services which meet regional and local realities. Moreover, the municipalities’ responsibility … [Read more...]

Conflict between Georgia and Adjara: The ARE calls for peaceful negotiations instead of a military intervention

16 March, 2004 By Editor

Strasbourg (F), 16 March 2004 The Assembly of European Regions (AER) today has called upon the Georgian President Mikhail Saakashvili and the leader of the Autonomous Republic of Adjara, Aslan Abashidze to start immediately an open negotiation in order to defuse the emergent crisis in the country. “We are alarmed by the escalating tensions between the central and regional … [Read more...]

New cohesion policy: still a long way to go – The AER calls for more pragmatic approach

19 February, 2004 By Editor

Strasbourg, 19 February 2004 The AER welcomes the Third report on economic and social cohesion which takes the majority of our proposals into account. The sharing of structural funds for the period 2006-2013 between regions from the new Member states and those from the EU 15, as well as the concentration of objectives on convergence, job creation and … [Read more...]

AER asks the European Transport Council to address the issue of regional airports and low-cost carriers

12 February, 2004 By Editor

EU ruling on the Ryanair/Charleroi Airport case Brussels, 12 February 2004 The regional representatives, meeting in Brussels today in the aftermath of the Commission’s Ryanair/Charleroi decision, have agreed on the following conclusions: 1. Regional airports cannot be submitted to the same uniform conditions, due to their great diversity. Therefore, there can be no … [Read more...]