At its Plenary session (4-6th June 2002), the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities in Europe (CLRAE/Council of Europe) renewed its Presidency and Bureau. Liese Prokop, President of the Assembly of European Regions, sent a message of congratulations to Innsbrück Mayor Herwig Van Staa, Vice-President of the Confederation of Austrian Cities, for his election as Congress … [Read more...]
Subcategory to Structure - use only for organizational issues, not topical ones.
Sidebar: Vice-Presidency Institutional affairs
Meeting in Madrid: Convention, Enlargement, Reform… The regions in action for tomorrow’s Europe
The institutional affairs Committee of the Assembly of European Regions (AER) made the following decisions and set out the following guidelines at its meeting in Madrid on 14th May: The AER will present its political position to the European Convention at its hearing on 6th and 7th June 2002 in Brussels. This position has been drawn up on the basis of a résumé of the … [Read more...]
Congratulations to Jean-Pierre Raffarin
On behalf of all AER members, Liese Prokop, President of the Assembly of European Regions (AER) and Vice-Minister President of the Land of Niederösterreich (A), sent a warm congratulations letter wishing every success to Jean-Pierre Raffarin for his appointment as Prime Minister of the French Republic. "The experience gained in regional realities on the ground, … [Read more...]
Decisions in Devon: Exeter, Capital of Regional Europe for a day
Exeter, Devon (UK), 11 April 2002 The Executive Board of the Assembly of European Regions (AER) met on 11th April, in Devon County Hall, and decided the following: • The AER continues to play an active role vis-à-vis the European Convention, and has recently launched its latest political discussion platform on this matter. The contributions received in this wide … [Read more...]
AER supports the Italian initiative for mountain regions
"We encourage the initiative which aims at obtaining the recognition of the specific status for mountain regions in the EU Treaty, as presented by Enrico La Loggia, Italian Minister for Regional Policy, yesterday (13th March) to the President of the European Commission" declared Liese Prokop, President of the Assembly of European Regions. "Mountain regions suffer from demanding … [Read more...]
A common voice for the European Regions on the Future of Europe in Linz
On 21st March 2002 in Linz (A), the Assembly of European Regions will bring together the Presidents of the European interregional organisations. The aim of this Conference of Presidents of the European interregional organizations is to enhance cooperation between these organisations at a crucial point in time for the future of Europe. Common political positions will be adopted … [Read more...]
Presentation of the AER position on the European Convention to Valéry Giscard d’Estaing
The AER intends to observe the Convention's activities and to participate as the representative umbrella organisation of the Regions, both within the European Union and in accession countries. The AER also hopes to play an important role – along with other political organisations such as the Council of European Municipalities and Regions (CEMR) - in the Forum set up by the … [Read more...]
The AER asks the European Union to review its level of involvement in culture and education
Considering the EU Convention an opportunity to achieve the comprehensive and full-fledged application of the principle of subsidiarity, AER Committee D (Culture, Education, Training and Youth) appealed to its members to insist that the EU reviews on this occasion its involvement in certain policy areas, in particular culture and education (TEU articles 149-151). "Members … [Read more...]
A step further towards decentralisation in France Twenty years after the first law on decentralisation
The Assembly of European Regions (AER) welcomes the coming into effect of the law on the regionalisation of the SNCF (French national rail network) on 1st January 2002. This law allows the French Regions to organise their regional train networks (Regional Express Trains - TER). They will now be responsible for their own fares, new lines and the renovation of stations. The State … [Read more...]
Towards the glassy European worker ?
AER criticises the Commission's proposal for a common European format for Curricula vitae Following banana regulations and standardisation, the EU Commission has launched an initiative proposing a common European format for Curricula Vitae, both on paper and in electronic form. These proposals have set off harsh reactions from the AER, in particular in relation to questions of … [Read more...]
A working programme for 2002, capable of meeting the stakes in a Europe for the Regions
The members of the Presidium of the Assembly of European Regions (AER), at their meeting in Strasbourg on Friday 1st February 2002, welcomed the outcome of the Belgian Presidency of the European Union which led to further involvement for the Regions in European decision-making. They regretted the absence of regional policy on the priority list of the new Spanish Presidency. … [Read more...]
AER: Reform of CAP and structural funds necessary to avoid the discrimination of the accession countries
“The proposals made by the European Commission on the financing of enlargement are not up to expectations and confirm our fears for a future multi-track Europe despite Commissioner Fischler’s declarations” Mr Brian Greenslade, Vice-President of the AER, stated today. “Once again, financial concerns have dominated over the real problems faced by the future of the Common … [Read more...]
The Future of Europe: Full steam ahead for a Interregional Organisations Presidents Conference
On 14th January 2002 in Strasbourg, the Assembly of European Regions met with the Secretaries General of its 13 interregional organisation members, to strengthen interregional cooperation and set up a common political platform for the increased participation of the regional organisations in decision-making at european level. They unanimously decided that today’s european … [Read more...]
AER demands: “EU Presidency Programme, what about the regions and their citizens Mr Aznar?”
After having assessed the programme for the Spanish EU Presidency, Liese Prokop, President of the Assembly of European Regions (AER), and Mr Brian Greenslade, President of the AER Regional Policy Committee, announced their astonishment with the lack of regional policy on the list of priorities on the "More Europe" programme drawn up by the new EU Presidency. "The future of … [Read more...]
The Romanian people, free at long last…not if they go to Greece, says the AER
The decision considering the suppression of Romanian visas was unanimously interpreted as the fall of one of the last obstacles to the freedom of movement. Since the 1st January 2002, Romanian citizens may enter the Schengen area without visas. The AER considers itself as one of the European actors having contributed to this decision, especially in view of its resolution … [Read more...]