AER invited the members of the Congress of the Council of Europe to a cocktail on 20 March 2013 in Strasbourg. This short reception gave the opportunity to Congress members, in particular from non-AER member Regions, to discover the new AER communication tools and services. It also allowed President Sabban to reiterate the claim she made during her previous intervention at the plenary session: Europe will not be successful in getting out of the crisis if it does not acknowledge Regions as key motors of its economy. Regions know best their territories and already provide, via their strategies and projects, some elements towards a response to the crisis. It is in that spirit that AER has launched a series of Summits on the Regions and the crisis. She invited the Congress to attend the final Summit (16 May, Paris). Ms Romanova, President of the Chamber of Regions (photo), thanked President Sabban for her invitation and welcomed her active involvement for a tight cooperation between the Congress and AER.