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

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...]

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...]

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...]

From Naples to Copenhagen: message from the European Regions

29 November, 2002 By Editor

Naples, Campania (I), 29 November 2002 A few days prior to the European Council meeting in Copenhagen, the political representatives of the 250 member regions of the Assembly of European Regions (AER), on the occasion of the General Assembly in Naples the 28th and 29th of November 2002, drew the attention of Heads of State and Government to the importance of the … [Read more...]

The Campania Region welcomes the Assembly of European Regions to Naples

22 November, 2002 By Editor

Naples, Campania (I), 22 November 2002 For the first time ever, an Italian region will host the General Assembly of the AER with its 250 members regions from all over Europe, at the invitation of Mr. Antonio Bassolino, President of the Campania Region. 400 political representatives from the European regions are expected in Naples for the 28th and 29th of … [Read more...]

The regions request the preservation of a strong European cohesion policy

15 November, 2002 By Editor

…and the development of a new regional policy for an enlarged Europe Pécs, Baranya (H), 15 November 2002 In a common resolution adopted at the closure of a conference organised by the AER on the 14th and 15th of November in Pécs (Baranya-H), the 250 Presidents of Regions, regional Ministers and heads of regional development policy representing 80 regions (EU, … [Read more...]