Dates of next AER General Assembly confirmed: 7th – 9th November in Udine (I)

Hedmark County (N), 8 May 2007

“It is the regions’ duty to maintain the current level of integration in Europe, in case no solution is found on the Constitutional Treaty at the EU level”: AER President, Riccardo Illy, claimed. At the end of the AER Bureau Meeting, held today in Hedmark County (Norway), he emphasised the need to maintain the momentum of European integration. “Europe cannot stop”, said President Illy, who also underlined how the majority of Europeans consider it necessary to have a more integrated Europe.

President Illy also reacted positively to the outcomes of the first joint meeting between the AER Bureau and the Standing Comittee on Institutional Affairs: “it worked very well, I really had a good feeling. The Bureau showed its will to work with the Committee on issues of great importance in the current European debate, such as the role of the regions in Europe and the future of the EU”.

President Illy also commented upon the intentions of the elected President of France, Nicolas Sarkozy: “Mr. Sarkozy seems to intend to cut down the current Treaty, while the majority of the EU Member States would like to make as few amendments as possible. Some sort of common ground needs to be found between these different positions before the likely start of the next Intergovernmental Conference, which the current EU President Angela Merkel proposed for the end of this year”.

Next AER General Assembly on 7th-9th November in Udine

On this occasion President Illy also confirmed that the next General Assembly will take place from the 7th to the 9th November in Udine (Italy). The main themes of the international meeting, which will bring together more than 600 regional representatives from the wider Europe, will be Identity and Diversity in Europe.

The AER in Norway

President Riccardo Illy also shared views with Hedmark’s President Siri Austeng: “personally it’s my first visit here”, said Mr. Illy, “and I saw it as a very good opportunity to improve our cooperation and to get to know each other better. Personally, I experienced great hospitality”. Answering a question on why it is important for Norwegian regions to be members of the AER, President Illy said: “firstly, because through the AER we can reinforce and strengthen the role of the regions, which are the so-called “intermediate level of governance”; secondly because through the AER regions can co-operate effectively”. President Austeng said: “I’m very proud of having had the AER Bureau meeting here. Norway has to work together with the rest of Europe, we cannot stand alone as a country. European integration is the biggest peace project that has ever taken place”.

Some Photos of the Event:

For more information: [email protected]