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 President. “On behalf of the AER and its 250 member Regions, I would like to express my full support for our common objective of bringing the construction of Europe closer to the citizens” declared Mrs Prokop. “In order to encourage sustainable stability and peace in South East Europe, may we suggest continuing with joint initiatives with the Congress, particularly concerning the AER training programmes such as Centurio, for example”.
President Prokop also congratulated Mr Giovanni Di Stasi, Regional Councillor of the Molise Region (Italy), AER member, for his election as President of the Chamber of Regions of the Congress. “We will provide all support necessary towards the adoption of the European Charter of Regional Self Government, which you quote as the priority for your mandate alongside of the promotion of regional democracy in greater Europe” emphasised President Prokop.
The AER was delighted with the outcome of the CLRAE Bureau elections for Committee VicePresidents and Presidents of the Chamber of Regions. Four out of the seven newly elected VicePresidents represent AER member Regions – Helena Pihlajassarari (Keski-Suomi/FIN), Peter Rabe (Niedersachsen/D), Hans-Martin Tschudi (Basel Ville/CH) and Léon Kieres (Woj. Dolnoslaskie). Hans Ulrich Stöckling from St-Gallen/CH, AER member Region, was elected as President of the Congress Institutional Committee. “I am particularly proud of the election of Jan Olbrycht (Woj. Slaskie/PL), AER Bureau member, and Lambert van Nistelrooij (Noord-Brabant/NL), Vice-President of our organisation, as President and Vice-President of the Institutional affairs Committee of the Chamber of Regions respectively” added President Prokop.
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