Subcategory to Structure - use only for organizational issues, not topical ones.

Sidebar: Vice-Presidency Institutional affairs

The AER calls upon the European Council to assess the impact of liberalization

14 December, 2004 By Editor

Before adopting the draft Services Directive The Assembly of European Regions (AER) appeals to the wisdom of the Heads of State and Governments when discussing the draft Directive on Services during the next European Council (16-17 December 2004). At the last AER General Assembly in Vienna (25-26 November 2004), the AER member regions, representing the entire political … [Read more...]

Services of General interest in a New Europe Reinforcing the scope for action by the regions

26 November, 2004 By Editor

Vienna (A), 26 November 2004 The members of the Assembly of European Regions, meeting in Vienna on 25th and 26th November 2004 welcomed the signing of the European Constitution as a clear sign that Europe is moving towards the establishment of a Union grounded in the principle of subsidiarity and recognising the key role of the regions in contributing to policy-making. … [Read more...]

General Assembly 2004 in Vienna: Dr. R. Illy, President of Friuli-Venezia Giulia, elected President of the AER

25 November, 2004 By Editor

Vienna (A), 25 November 2004 The Assembly of European Regions unanimously elected Dr. Riccardo Illy, President of Friuli-Venezia Giulia (Italy), as its new President for a two years mandate, during its General Meeting in Vienna, on 25th November 2004. "I am very proud to hand over to Dr. Riccardo Illy as the President of the AER, the organisation committed to promoting … [Read more...]

AER Conference on “The Future of Cohesion Policy in an Enlarged Europe”

15 October, 2004 By Editor

Eger, Heves county (H), 15 October 2004 On 14 and 15 October, the Assembly of European Regions and the Region of Heves – Hungary - held a Conference on the Future of Cohesion Policy in an Enlarged Europe, on the initiative of its Committee C “Regional Policies”. This large event was attended by more than 220 persons, representing more than 90 regional and local … [Read more...]

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...]

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...]