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 Convention.

“The AER insists that the Convention must take into full account the legal status of the European Regions”, Liese Prokop, AER President, explained in her statement to Valéry Giscard d’Estaing, President of the Convention. For the AER, the European institutional framework must establish a Europe of the Regions as a third level of Government.

On the occasion of a debate organised by the CEMR with representatives of regional and local organisations and Valéry Giscard d’Estaing (March 7, 2002 in Valencia, Spain), Liese Prokop asked for a distinction between legislative and executive competences – a question closely linked to that of a catalogue of competences.

Other topics were:

– Distribution of competences according to the principle of subsidiarity,
– Right to referral before the European Court of Justice concerning the principle of subsidiarity,
– Enlargement and a Constitutional treaty: a proper representation for the Regions and their citizens in the decision-making process is necessary,
– Regions as direct partners in cohesion policy: a new scenario, for future cohesion policy based on the principles of increased decentralisation, competitivity and subsidiarity.

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