The Executive Board is responsible for implementing the decisions of the General Assembly and the management of the organisation between Assemblies. The articles below relate to the work of the Executive Board.

Building bridges between Regions: The AER explores new opportunities for interregional cooperation

4 October, 2004 By Editor

Palma de Mallorca, 4 October 2004 Developing its key role of bringing the European Regions closer together, the Assembly of European Regions (AER) has risen to a new challenge: to develop North-South cooperation between the regions of the European continent and their neighbours in the Southern Mediterranean. The Region of Illes Balears-E, living up to its … [Read more...]

AER Summer School 2004: Regional Representatives from across Europe

27 August, 2004 By Editor

Olomuc (CZ), 27 August 2004 The 9th annual AER Summer School, which is taking place in Olomouc, Czech Republic, from 22-27 August, brings together 163 representatives of regional authorities from 68 regions and 25 European countries, not only from the new EU but also from its neighbouring countries. Liese Prokop, President of the AER, stated, "It is … [Read more...]

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...]

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...]

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...]

Ryanair/Charleroi: the Regions reaction to the Commission’s decision

3 February, 2004 By Editor

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

29 January, 2004 By Editor

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...]

The AER welcomes the European Parliament decision in favour of cultural diversity

26 January, 2004 By Editor

Strasbourg(F), 26 January 2004 The Presidium of the Assembly of European Regions welcomed today during its meeting in Strasbourg the adoption by the European Parliament of the “Report on preserving and promoting cultural diversity: the role of the European regions and international organizations such as Unesco and the Council of Europe (2002/2269 (INI))” which … [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...]