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 of the activities of the Convention on the Future of Europe and enlargement. The Summit of interregional organisations in Linz in March 2002 was held at her initiative.
Liese Prokop has also supported initiatives encouraging dialogue between European Regions and on crucial issues such as the future of European cohesion policy post-enlargement, the liberalisation of public services in culture and education under GATS negotiations, aging in European populations and the quality of elderly care or the involvement of young people in politics and public affairs.
Adrien Zeller, President of the Regional Council of Alsace (France) and Ivan Jakovcic, President of the Region of Istria (Croatia) were elected as AER Vice-Presidents. Wilhelm Schnyder, State Councillor for the Canton of Valais (Switzerland) was elected Vice-President Treasurer. Peter Straub, President of the Landtag of Baden-Württemberg (Germany) and Stig-Erik Westmark, President of the International Commission for Västmanland (Sweden) were elected as Presidents for the Institutional Affairs Committee and the Social cohesion, Social affairs and Public health Committee respectively.
Brian Greenslade, Leader of Devon County Council (United Kingdom) and Bruno Hosp, Assessore for Culture for Bozen-Südtirol (Italy) were respectively re-elected Presidents of the AER Committees on Regional policy, Spatial planning, Infrastructure, Environment & Tourism and on Culture, Education & Training, Youth, Media & Information technology, Sport.
Jean-Claude Van Cauwenberghe, Minister-President of Wallonie (Belgium), replaced Jean-François Humbert, President of Franche-Comté (France) as President of the AER Eurodyssey programme, which allows young Europeans to gain professional experience abroad.
Luigi Anzalone, Assessore for Finance and Mediterranean regional policy of the region of Campania (I), Presidium member, was entrusted with the development of North-South cooperation and Mihai Mugerel Arbagic, President of the County of Calarasi (RO) was entrusted with relations with Eastern Europe.
The new AER Presidium will be responsible for enhancing the political role and the place of the Regions in the future structure of Europe, closer to the citizens, and as of January 2003. They will also aim to set up new mechanisms for interregional cooperation leading to assistance in the process of enlargement and to harmonise relations between the east, west, north and south of Europe.
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