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 articles below relate to the work of Committee 1 on Economy and Regional Development.
The European Regions say NO to Genetically Modified Organisms
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
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
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...]
New cohesion policy: still a long way to go – The AER calls for more pragmatic approach
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
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...]
Ryanair/Charleroi: the Regions reaction to the Commission’s decision
The Assembly of European Regions (AER), as a first reaction to the decision, is pleased to note that the Commission has suddenly taken into consideration the importance of regional airports for the economic development of the Regions. The AER regrets, however, that the promise contained in the title of the Commission Communication - “The Commission’s decision on Charleroi … [Read more...]
AER questions political sense of expected ruling of the European Commission on Ryanair
Strasbourg, 29 January 2004 Next week's expected ruling of the European Commission on illegally received state subsidies of Ryanair has raised deep concern by regional authorities throughout Europe. Mr. Onno Hoes, member of the Executive of the region of Noord-Brabant and Coordinator of AER's working group on regional aviation regards the verdict of the … [Read more...]
Sustainable Quality Tourism: Involvement of the European regions
Strasbourg (F), 12 June 2003 "Regions and Tourism: new strategies for sustainable quality tourism" will be the theme of the seminar organised by the Assembly of European Regions (AER) on the 26th and 27 of June in Porec, Istria, Croatia. The seminar will focus on the notion of exchange with the aim of promoting an integrated approach to sustainable tourism. … [Read more...]
Public Private Partnerships (PPP) as an essential tool in sustainable transport policies
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...]
Does the Draft European Constitutional Treaty meet the expectations of the regions?
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...]
CAP reform proposals: the AER expresses some reservations
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
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
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
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...]