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The Assembly of European Regions 2006 vintage: Riccardo Illy re-elected AER President

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Mallorca, Balears Islands (E), 9 November 2006

Riccardo Illy, President of the Region Friuli Venezia Giulia (Italy), was re-elected President of the Assembly of European Regions (AER), for a second two-year mandate. In his speech after re-election, President Illy declared “Since the beginning of my first mandate two years ago, I gave myself the task to bring a new impulse to the AER and to help it take on modern challenges and realities, both at regional and European level. The new priorities and structures we have just adopted will allow our organisation to remain relevant for its members and to ensure that it is the most prominent European regional network and the key partner of European and international institutions on core issues of regional competence. Today, I am very proud that my colleagues have placed their trust in me again and have renewed my mandate as AER President. All the AER members can be confident that, together with the newly elected Presidium and Bureau, I will do my utmost to achieve our aims,” President Illy concluded.

The members of the AER Presidium

To work with President Riccardo Illy, the AER also elected the members of the Presidium:

Michèle Sabban, Vice-President of the Region Ile-de-France (France) and Peter Straub, President of the Landtag (Regional Parliament) of Baden Württemberg (Germany) are elected as Vice-Presidents. Mrs Sabban remains President of the ‘Gender equality’ Group. Mr Straub will chair the new Standing Committee on Institutional Affairs.

Brian Greenslade, Leader of Devon County Council (United Kingdom) is re-elected Vice-President Treasurer. Mr Greenslade will also chair the new Standing Committee on Monitoring and Evaluation.

Adrien Zeller, President of the Regional Council of Alsace (France), Ivan Jakovcic, President of the Region of Istria (Croatia) and David Kirk, Executive Member of Hampshire County Council (United Kingdom) are elected as ‘Invited members of the Presidium’.

The AER General Assembly also re-elected Klaus Klipp as Secretary General for a second five year mandate.

The new AER structure

The AER General Assembly adopted today 6 new key priorities for the period 2007-2012:
ß Promoting the modernisation and internationalisation of regional governance
ß Promoting innovation, growth and employment in Europe’s regions
ß Addressing the challenges of demographic change, migration, health and social exclusion
ß Ensuring sustainable development and combating environmental degradation
ß Delivering democracy through diversity, and promoting the diversity of culture, media and education
ß Creating a secure environment for citizens

In order to deliver these priorities effectively, a new committee structure has been established:

Committee 1: Economy and Regional Development
Committee 2: Social Policy and Public Health
Committee 3: Culture and Education

In addition, two new Standing Committees have been created:

Standing Committee for Institutional Affairs which will focus upon developing the AER core values of regional democracy, good governance and subsidiarity, building upon the past work of the Institutional Affairs Committee.
Standing Committee for Monitoring and Evaluation which will oversee the implementation of the new key priorities and will ensure that the work of the AER Committees and Programmes always results in concrete outcomes.

For more information: [email protected]

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Regional Quality Labels can make your mouth water, or how to promote rural areas’ economic development

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“We are convinced that labels are an excellent promotion tool for the regions and their local producers, particularly in rural or isolated zones. Labels represent not only the quality of a product but also the personality of a region,” stated Klaus Klipp, Secretary General of the Assembly of European Regions (AER). “This is the reason why regions should exploit their full potential to develop their economy. They must, however, respond to problems such as the multiplication of labels and their possible lack of credibility”. To respond to the needs of the European regions, the AER organised today its first Conference on regional quality labels.

70 participants from more than 30 regions took part in this event. Together, they assessed the impact, both positive and negative, that European standards – such as the Protected Geographical Indications or the Traditional Speciality Guaranteed – have on the quality of regional production. They exchanged views and experiences on the opportunities labels offer for local economies, how labels can contribute to better health and environmental sustainability and to what extent they can be employed as a communication tool for the region. The participating regions concluded that a genuine quality policy could respond to citizen requests regarding health, ecology and respect for the environment. “Quality labels can help regions move away from the automatisms of intensive agriculture, which lead to a strong price competition and stifle diversity,” Klaus Klipp added.

“Lets’ take the opportunity of the ongoing consultation on the revision of the European Union’s labelling policy to analyse the potential role of labels in regional policies and the opportunities they provide” said Mr Stavros Arnaoutakis, Member of the European Parliament and host of this event. “No doubt the new EU regulations on traditional quality produce will help us to develop and promote regional products within our countries, in Europe, and even worldwide. For example, in my region of Kriti, we have olive oil and wine protected with a designation of origin which certify the authenticity and quality of these products.”

 After this first step, the AER will support its regions’ initiatives on creating strong and clear regional quality labels. On its side, the AER suggests the EU to create a “GMO free” European label that would respond to the demands voiced by a majority of citizen.

The AER thanks MEP Arnaoutakis, the territorial authorities of Kriti and the Association of European Regions of Products of Origin (AREPO) for their strong support in organising this event.

For more information: [email protected]

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The Vienna conference on co-existence pays lip service to ‘freedom of choice’

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The ‘Freedom of Choice’ conference on co-existence, organised by the European Commission and the Austrian Presidency of the EU, has not born fruit, to the regret of the Assembly of European Regions (AER). Following our meeting at the end of March with European Commissioner Mariann Fischer Boel, we expected more from this event. However, once at the conference, we simply realised that even the Commissioners concerned disagreed on the approach to be adopted on the basis of the opinion of the European Food Security Authority, namely: when it comes to authorising a specific product, is this merely an economic problem or also an environmental and health issue? Furthermore, the debate was distorted from the very beginning, due to the divergence in views on how to define co-existence and what thresholds should be introduced for labelling. These differences hinder any significant progress in regulating GMO crops.

The AER is not hiding from the truth: the existence of GMOs in Europe is today a reality which no one can deny. We insist however that guarantees must be put into place immediately, namely the application of the precautionary and polluter-pays principles and the adoption of common European rules, so that the regions can preserve their traditional agriculture. Leaving it up to Member States to individually decide what rules should be applied is definitely not a viable solution. Cross-contamination does not distinguish between national policies, on the contrary it can span the entire European continent!

The European Union should be more attentive to citizens’ concerns. Let us not forget that almost 70% were against the introduction of GMOs. The Vienna initiative could have been a success, as all participants contributed to a fruitful debate. Unfortunately, the Commission was not very present during the debates, despite its well-publicised wish to move towards more communication, transparency and democracy. In the end, this conference proved to be a closed event: for example, only two regions were officially invited to take the floor.

On a more positive note, however, during the March European Environmental Council, a number of Ministers criticised the current procedure for authorising GMOs and it was decided to improve this process in the coming months. We therefore congratulate the Austrian EU Presidency for its open approach to this issue.

The AER will closely monitor the progress of the European institutions and will continue its campaign for the adoption of common rules on co-existence. It will also increase its support for quality and organic agriculture, through the promotion of regional quality labels.

For more information: [email protected]

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Europe’s Regions demand “power-sharing” over GMO crop decision – GMO Free zones reach all time high

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Brussels (B), 16 May 2005

European regions have today reiterated their demand to be included in any decisions over the commercial cultivation of genetically modified crops (GM or GMOs) in order for them to enhance and promote quality agriculture and food products.

Over 250 people from across Europe today attended an over-subscribed conference in Brussels to hear regional Ministers and MEP’s call for a bigger say in whether GM crops are grown commercially in their region. The number of European regions and provinces now declaring themselves ‘GM Free zones’, or publicly wishing to restrict GM crops, has climbed to 162. Over 4500 local governments and smaller areas in Europe are similarly calling for restrictions to commercial growing (see www.gmofree-europe.org for a full list).

The conference, Safeguarding Sustainable European Agriculture, set out clearly that regions want to develop quality food products instead of GM foods. These demands are driven by a combination of concerns over the environment, food safety, food quality, the local and regional economy, and consumer and farmer choice. The conference also heard support for the Agriculture Commissioners notion that there is a need for EU-wide legislation for the coexistence of GM, conventional, traditional and organic farming in order to prevent contamination. The Assembly of European Regions (AER) and Friends of the Earth Europe, published 10 principles that should be included in any such legislation (see www.foeeurope.org/press/2005/10_principles_EN.pdf).

The conference was organised by the AER and Friends of the Earth Europe, and was hosted by Mr Janusz Wojciechowski MEP, with the strong support of Upper Austria and Tuscany.

Quotations:

Mr Janusz Wojciechowski MEP said:
‘In the New Member States the majority of farms are small family farms, particularly in Poland. For this kind of farming we have the opportunity to produce ecologically and traditionally using natural technologies, which respect environmental and animal welfare standards. GMO and other intensive technologies focus on how to produce more and more products as cheaply as possible. That idea threatens not only human health and environment safety, but also the economical and social interest of millions of small farmers.’

Mr Josef Martinz, Carinthian Minister for Agriculture, speaking on behalf of the Assembly of European Regions said:
“I kindly ask the European Commission to lay the ground so that it is feasible to produce food without GMOs.’

Mr Rudi Anschober, Minister for the Environment and Consumer Protection in Upper Austria said:
‘ We have led the way in avoiding the commercial cultivation of GM crops and of seeds and plants containing GMOs with a total ban in our whole region by regional law. . Having in mind the right of self-determination, the precautionary and the polluter-pays-principles, Brussels must allow regions to decide their own form of agriculture.’

Ms Susanna Cenni, the new Agriculture Minister for Tuscany said:
‘Tuscany is recognized around the world for its rural culture, quality local products and its special relationship between the environment and its people. These qualities are treasured, especially economically, and the introduction of GMOs could irremediably destroy them. We are strongly determined to defend these qualities from any external factors that could represent a danger for its delicate balance.’

Mr Adrian Bebb, GM campaigner for Friends of the Earth said:
‘ The European Commission must wake up to the fact that more and more regions are rejecting the cultivation of genetically modified crops. This is at complete odds with the Commission strategy to force more GM foods and crops into Europe.’

For more information: [email protected]

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Promoting Sustainable Development: Learning From Regions’ Experience

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Azores (P), 10 May 2005

“The regions of Europe have to take up the new challenges of a rapidly changing European and global context. Growth and competitiveness depend on the capacity of the regions to enhance their self-development based on sustainability. To achieve this goal, the AER Centurio-Interreg III C Programme, gathering almost 50 regions, provides the best interregional platform for exchange of know-how and experience in three key areas of regional sustainable development: sustainable economic development, environmental protection and sustainable quality tourism. The program also offers an opportunity for developing initiatives in these priority fields.” stated Mr Carlos César, President of the Regional Government of the Azores at the Conference on “Promoting Sustainable Development: Learning From Regions’ Experience”, organised by the AER in Ponta Delgada, Azores-P.

Disseminating experiences and information gained during the first stage of Centurio (2004-2005) was the main target of the Conference, which was organised within the framework of the Programme. More than 100 participants – regional politicians, officers, experts, from Regions within and beyond the EU- focused on the following issues:
•    Public-Private-Partnership as a tool for regional development,
•    Environmental Protection: our environment, our capital,
•    Regions’ economic potential and human resources for sustainable development,
•    Sustainable quality tourism as a key for regional development.

“The Conference allowed some leading regions showing proactive approaches in the field of sustainable development” said Mr Klaus Klipp, Secretary General of the AER.

The successful projects of Public-Private-Partnerships presented by Gloucestershire (UK) and Vejle (DK) were particularly useful for the regions of the new EU Member states. The Gloucestershire initiative involves local authorities, actors from the private sector and regional partners and their main aims are to identify the needs of employers and investors, to promote the region’s economic potential, to form concepts, strategies and to establish partnerships. Vejle’s Green Network is a public private network on sustainable development with focus on continuous improvements within environmental and social responsibility. The network gathers 280 companies, Vejle Region and 9 municipalities from the region.

The examples on clusters presented by Upper Austria (A) and the Canton of Zurich (CH) were also welcomed by the participants as tools for sustainable development. The Upper Austria’s clusterland is one of the best examples how to improve the competitiveness and innovative strengths of companies, particularly SMEs, in the regional industrial and technological agglomerations through co-operation in networks. Clusters operate in the field of automotive, drive technology, plastics, wood, eco-energy, food health, technology, and mechatronics with more than 1600 partners. Zurich’s strategy on economic development also focuses on the growing importance of clusters, concentrating on the industry sectors, on the significance of knowledge and on creating networks between universities, businesses, research and development, the government and the community.

Presentations on different approaches in the field of environmental protection among others by the Region of Valencia (ES), as well as in the field of quality tourism by the Region of Azores (P) or Lapland (FI), gave a unique overview how to focus on sustainability in these areas of development. The Region of Valencia implemented the regional sustainable development strategy in the framework of the Programs LIFE, IEE, e-TEN and Leonardo as well as the projects like Ecobus, Urbanbat or Ecorice cover the priority fields of sustainability and environmental protection.

The closing presentation at the Conference was the integrated approach of tourism development in Lapland. The tourism industry’s most important feature in Lapland is offering all year round attractions with various tourism products and services. To secure controlled and sustainable development, the tourism and public sector are in close cooperation and one of the most important strategic goals are high quality and customer satisfaction.

For more information: [email protected]

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The AER calls upon the European Council to assess the impact of liberalization

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Before adopting the draft Services Directive

The Assembly of European Regions (AER) appeals to the wisdom of the Heads of State and Governments when discussing the draft Directive on Services during the next European Council (16-17 December 2004).

At the last AER General Assembly in Vienna (25-26 November 2004), the AER member regions, representing the entire political spectrum of Europe, expressed their deep concerns over the impact of liberalization of services on social and territorial cohesion in the EU. The draft Service Directive will have a significant consequences for a number of services of general interest which are essential for the European citizens. The European Regions demand therefore that the European Council:

  • – evaluates the consequences of previous liberalization in such sectors as postal and telephone services, energy, water supply, railway transports, in terms of employment, environmental protection, as well as social and territorial cohesion, before any further liberalization of new services sectors,
  • – clarifies the scope and the limits of this Directive, in order to insure that it does not undermine the European social model,
  • – carries out, if the need arises, a prospective study of the consequences of such a uniform, standardized approach to the sensitive sectors of healthcare, social services, education, culture, areas in which each EU Member State has its own traditions.

“We plead for sectorial evaluations, on a State by State basis, which should be run by ideologically independent agencies, in order to make sure that the principles of universality, affordability, quality, permanence and transparency, so essential for the European citizens, are still respected” said Riccardo Illy, the AER President and President of Friuli-Venezia Giulia Region. “We also ask for a comprehensive study in rural, remote and lagging regions, all in all in uncompetitive areas, in order to measure the impact of liberalization on the accessibility of services of general interest outside urban areas” he added.

Furthermore in the “AER Common position on services of general interest”, the AER member regions call upon the European Institutions that no moves be made toward the further liberalization of the areas of culture, education, health, social affairs, water supply, waste and sewage disposal in the international arena. In particular within the World Trade Organization (WTO) and the General Agreement on Trade in Services (GATS) which rules don’t recognize the notion of services for the general interest of the citizens.

For more information: [email protected]

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Services of General interest in a New Europe Reinforcing the scope for action by the regions

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Vienna (A), 26 November 2004

The members of the Assembly of European Regions, meeting in Vienna on 25th and 26th November 2004 welcomed the signing of the European Constitution as a clear sign that Europe is moving towards the establishment of a Union grounded in the principle of subsidiarity and recognising the key role of the regions in contributing to policy-making. During the meeting in Vienna, the AER decided to commit itself to support the ratification of the Constitution, which creates a significantly improved European framework for regions. The AER urges, however, the EU Member States to respect and to implement the objectives and values set out in the Constitution, notably in the Charter of Fundamental Rights (Part II), which underpins the European social model.

The current developments at European and international level, such as the review and reform of the rules on state aid, the proposed Directive on services in the internal market or the ongoing developments in the context of the General Agreement on Trade in Services (GATS) put at stake the very future of services of general interest in Europe. These are mainly delivered by regional and local authorities, in particular in the areas of economic development, education and training, housing, transport, health, care for the elderly and socially-excluded and the protection of the environment.

“Many European regions do not share the EU will to submit all our society to the logic of competition and free trade”, said Liese Prokop, the AER outgoing President. “We also strongly reject any populist arguments that suggest that governments and public administration in general are unable to think and act economically and efficiently. Many regional governments face mounting difficulties, due to the increasingly precarious situation of public budgets in times of moderate economic growth, to rationalise and save costs, and strive for social balance” Ms Prokop added.

In the Final Declaration adopted by the AER members after a two day debate in Vienna, the Regions of Europe call upon the European Council and the national governments to reinvigorate the European social model and the concept of a knowledge society, when reviewing the Lisbon strategy during the Spring Council of 2005.

“The Lisbon strategy should not limit the concept of economic growth to achieving a single market in services, but rather should take into consideration the unique nature of the European social model and how it can contribute to economic growth” pointed out Dr. Riccardo Illy, the new AER President. “We demand that the Union supports the regions’ efforts to combat social exclusion, poverty and promote wellbeing in their territories, by introducing the promotion of social policies as an important objective under the Union’s financial instruments, especially within the Structural Funds, the new instrument for pre-adhesion and the European Neighbourhood and Partnership instrument” Dr. Illy highlighted.

The General Assembly of the Assembly of European Regions opposes any centrally inspired horizontal harmonising of EU legislation in the area of services of general interest, as there is no legal basis for European action in the field. It calls for a wider evaluation of the European rules on competition and state aid, on the basis of an open consultation process that includes the regions, and questions the rigidity of pure economic considerations, which guide the formulation of these rules. The AER also demands that international trade liberalisation be organised in a balanced way, through a democratic process, with the participation of all concerned institutions, including the regions, and stakeholders. Account should be taken of the established values and standards of the European Union, such as human rights, in particular workers’ and children’s rights, and social and environmental standards.

At the initiative of 21 regions of 14 countries, the General Assembly of the Assembly of European Regions adopted the following resolution on Ukraine: “We, the members of the Assembly of European Regions, representing 250 European Regions, express our deepest concern about the situation in Ukraine after the presidential elections. We are convinced of the necessity of finding a political solution which will respect common democratic standards.”

For more information: [email protected]

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AER welcomes EU Neighbourhood Policy but criticises Commission’s aviation policies

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Structured dialogue with the EU Commission

Strasbourg (F), 10 May 2004

The AER addressed today the following letter to the Irish Presidency of the European Union and to the National Representatives within the European Council:

“The Assembly of European Regions (AER), representing approximately 250 regions from 30 European countries and 12 interregional associations, welcomes the amendments to the draft Constitutional Treaty as proposed by Mr Bertie AHERN, President of the European Council and Prime Minister of Ireland [CIG 73/04; Presidency note “IGC 2003: Meeting of Focal Points (Dublin 4 May 2004) working document”, Brussels, 29 April 2004].

In particular, we welcome the willingness of the Irish Presidency and the Intergovernmental Conference to continue improving the draft Constitutional Treaty and to not restrict itself merely to institutional questions.

In this respect, the AER would urge you to further amend the draft provisions relating to the Union’s Common Commercial Policy (Article III-217) and to include therein the exemption currently existing under the Nice Treaty (Article 133- § 6), according to which international agreements in the fields of cultural, audiovisual, education, health and social services fall within the shared competence of the Union and the Member States and shall be negotiated by common accord of the Member States and concluded jointly.

Such an amendment would respect the division of competences between the Union and its members, as outlined under Articles 12, 13 and 16 of Part I of the draft Constitutional Treaty. According to these provisions, health, education and culture are primarily areas for Union supporting action. Social policy is an area of shared competence, where primary competence rests with the Member States and the Union takes supporting or complementary action.

Moreover, this amendment proposal would be in line with the opinions voiced during the currently ongoing debate on Services of General Interest in Europe, where emphasis is placed on the primary competence of Member States and their regions to freely organise, provide, commission and finance these services. Indeed, the amendment to draft Article III-6 proposed by the Irish Presidency expressly acknowledges this primary national and regional responsibility.”

For more information: [email protected]

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The European Regions say NO to Genetically Modified Organisms

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Conclusions of the Conference of the network ‘GMO free’

Linz, Upper-Austria (A), 28 April 2004

12 European regions* declared to be GMO free and have set up a network, in order to succeed in their struggle. The Assembly of European Regions took part in the Conference organised by this network on April 28th in Linz, in the region of Upper-Austria–A, the leader of this action with the region of Toscana-I.

“The new EU directive on the traceability and labelling of genetically modified crops cannot become a pretext to legitimate the introduction of GMO in the European regional agriculture”, declared Laura De Rose, Executive secretary for the AER Committee ‘Regional Development’, during the debate. “Many scientific studies tell us that the coexistence between genetically modified crops and non-modified crops is impossible due to the dangers of contamination, which are important and, in fact, out of control. In addition, a majority of European citizens claimed their opposition to GMO” she underlined.

“Regional representatives, scientists and environmental associations present in Linz affirmed, rightly, that the approval of the introduction of genetically modified crops without testing the long-term effect on environment and human health is irresponsible. However, nothing seems to be able to stop the approval for introduction of BT11 corn by the European Commission anymore. A large movement from the European regions and their citizens is thus necessary, to obtain that the current system at EU level become more democratic, more transparent and more respectful of the citizens’ will,” Mrs De Rose concluded.

The AER supports with much conviction these regions’ initiative and is committed to spread it to all European regions. It will encourage the development of a strategic alliance between European regions, scientific experts and Non Governmental Organisations.

The AER invites all the regions who care about their citizens’ well-being to the launch of its campaign for the preservation of traditional organic products, on the occasion of its first inter-ministerial conference on the future of rural areas in Europe. This meeting will take place on May, 15th in Bari, Puglia-I.

* Aquitaine-F, Basque Country-E, Burgenland-A, Highlands-UK, Limousin-F, Marches-I, Salzbourg-A, Schleswig-Holstein-D, Thrace-GR, Toscana-I, Upper-Austria-A and Wales-UK.

For more information: [email protected]

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The AER welcomes the European Parliament decision in favour of cultural diversity

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Strasbourg(F), 26 January 2004

The Presidium of the Assembly of European Regions welcomed today during its meeting in Strasbourg the adoption by the European Parliament of the “Report on preserving and promoting cultural diversity: the role of the European regions and international organizations such as Unesco and the Council of Europe (2002/2269 (INI))” which strongly supports the AER campaign in favour of cultural diversity.

The AER Presidium has also paid homage to Christa Prets (SPÖ, Austria), Rapporteur, and her efficient work, based on good sense and convictions.

The AER is especially satisfied with the EP decision to call upon the Intergovernmental Conference to consolidate in the draft Constitution, the rule of unanimous voting within the Council for the negotiation and conclusion of international agreements in the field of culture and of the media (such as the GATS), the AER major point of contention since the adoption of the “Brixen/Bressanone Declaration” (Oct. 2002), which has been the reference document for the EP Report.

”Our campaign in favour of cultural diversity supported by many European regions and NGOs is showing signs of institutional success” said Liese Prokop, the AER President.

We won the support of Unesco in October 2003 with the launch of works for a draft International Convention on cultural diversity and now we have a new powerful ally, the European Parliament itself.

Its decision has significant implications and offers the opportunity to modify provisions of the draft Constitution concerning European decision making processes in the field of culture and of the media; currently, these open the way towards liberalization and further commercialization in cultural and audiovisual services and are likely to jeopardize cultural and linguistic diversity in Europe” she added.

The AER is currently campaigning for amendment of the provisions of the draft European Constitution concerning the field of culture, education, health and social policies aiming to reintroduce the principle of unanimous voting under Article I-16 and the shared competencies with the obligation of unanimity under Article III-217 relating to the common commercial policy.

For more information: [email protected]

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Anchoring regions in the European Constitution

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Strasbourg (F), 4 July 2003

The Presidium of the Assembly of European Regions (AER), meeting in Strasbourg today, evaluated the work of the European Convention and expressed satisfaction on its initial results.

In effect, Part I of the Constitution regarding the Definition and Objectives of the Union took into consideration a large number of the amendments formulated by the AER intended to anchor the Regions in this new Treaty and to reinforce their role in the new European architecture.

The AER commends in particular the limitation of EU competencies, the best formulation of the subsidiarity principle yet extended to regions, the recognition of the role of regional and local authorities, and most importantly the preservation of cultural diversity in Europe guaranteed by the draft constitution.

However, two of AER’s provisions were not incorporated in the Constitution presented to the European Council in Thessaloniki:

• One relating to the possibility of Regions to bring cases before the European Court of Justice when the principles of subsidiarity and proportionality have been transgressed;

• Another relating to the principle of “loyal cooperation” which must equally include the Regions.

“Much progress has been obtained to reinforce the role Regions in Europe. However, we must continue to pursue our influential work with the members of the European Parliament and of the national Governments to ensure that Regions are integrated as full partners into the Union under the final version of the Treaty to be agreed at the next Intergovernmental Conference” said Liese Prokop, President of AER. Prokop added, “our work with the Convention must be pursued as well. Our actions continue with Part III of the Constitution regarding the politics and functioning of the Union, which is currently under debate and concerns all European Regions. AER must be particularly vigilant regarding its final draft”.

The AER Presidium adopted in this judgment a series of amendments on matters concerning public health policies, social policies, economic and social cohesion, culture, and education formulated by Committee guidelines. These propositions will be addressed to the Presidium and to members of the Convention. They will also be promoted by AER with respect to the Intergovernmental Conference.

Download the Convention:

For more information: [email protected]

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The 1st follow-up conference to the Johannesburg summit!

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“The UN World Summit on Sustainable Development in Johannesburg has just ended. As Chairman of the Assembly of European Regions’ Youth Sub-Committee, I am very proud of the fact that we can focus on the follow-up, so soon after this international event” said Jörgen Hedberg in his opening speech to the 1st AER Youth Summer School.

The 1st AER Youth Summer School, which is running from 9th-12th September in Opatija (HR), is devoted to the concept of environmental sustainability. During these four days, 42 young people aged between eighteen and twenty-five, coming from eleven different countries, will be discussing the issues that are vital to their future, such as democracy, consumption patterns, natural resources, health and life-styles. Their common objective is not to reach a new general declaration on sustainable environment but to find genuine solutions immediately applicable in this field. In fact, each participant has been asked to prepare the working sessions in the form of a home assignment with well-defined projects and ideas on how to improve his/her local environment in practice.

“The future belongs to the young people of today. It is essential for a political organisation such as the AER to encourage their involvement in public life as active citizens. Only then we can achieve our vision of environmental sustainability in practice. We hope that this AER Youth Summer School will contribute to serving this objective” concluded Mr Hedberg.

The 1st AER Youth Summer School is organised by the AER member regions Sörmland (S), Vestfold (N), Catalunya (E), Devon (UK), Niederösterreich (A), and Harghita (RO).

For more information: [email protected]

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The AER to consult its Regions about the recent European Commission’s CAP mid-term review

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On 10th July, as announced, the European Commission presented its plan for the EU farm policy mid-term review. Its key aspects are:

– decoupling direct support from production: “Farmers will be able to produce the crop or the type of meat where they see the best market opportunities and not the highest subsidies” Mr Fischler affirmed;
– requiring farmers to fulfil stricter environmental and quality criteria and to reduce direct payments in order to redirect the money saved into rural development schemes: “ In future, farms will not be paid for overproduction but for responding to what people want: safe good, quality production, animal welfare and a healthy environment”, Mr Fischler ensured.

Can these plans be seen as a concrete strategy in order to solve the famous “dilemma” between supporting farming incomes and reinforcing rural development dimension? Can the announced designed instruments to promote both sustainable and competitive agriculture in less favoured areas effectively protect our least developed and outermost Regions? What will be the impact of CAP mid-term review on the Enlargement process? These questions are important to the diverse European Regions and their rural development.

“As from now, we call for full Regions’ involvement in the establishment of the future common framework of environmental standards and implementation criteria, alongside with EU and member States” said Liese Prokop, AER President. “We insist on the need of a coherent and balanced strategy of sustainable development, which imply support for all our regions, including least developed and outermost ones. We also recommend coordination between future Cohesion Policy, CAP and all other EU policies with strong structural impact, as Transport policy, for example” she added.

“We will assess possible impact of Mr Fischler’s blueprint, and its feasibility even, by consulting our member Regions” Brian Greenslade, President of AER Committee on ‘Regional Policy’ announced. “As it represents more than 250 Regions from all over Europe, both inside and outside from the EU, the Assembly of European Regions has a fundamental role to play in this debate. We will thus identify our Regions’ expectations, their needs, their current experience of CAP and their opinion on the new ideas for a revision of CAP”, he concluded.

For more information: [email protected]

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The architecture of tomorrow’s Europe – the Regions of Europe prepare

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Chaired by Liese Prokop, First Vice-Minister of Niederösterreich (A) and President of the Assembly of European Regions (AER), the new AER Presidium, elected last December, held its first meeting on 31st January 2001 in Strasbourg – where the Assembly of European Regions has had its headquarters since its creation in 1985 – in the aim of fixing the organisation’s priorities for the coming two years.

Bearing in mind the decisions taken at the Intergovernmental Conference in Nice (8th – 9th December 2000): to continue the debate on architecture and consider the ambitions of an enlarged Union in view of a further Intergovernmental Conference in 2004, the AER Presidium established its main aim as the mobilisation of all member Regions and interregional organisations concerning these important stakes in the future of Europe. “The political representatives of the Regions of the European Union and applicant countries must make their position clear and be considered as a source of proposals for this important debate for the future of Europe” stated Mrs Prokop. “In order for the enlarged Europe to be governable and governed, whilst remaining at grass roots level, competences must be clearly distributed between the various levels of government and the concept of subsidiarity must be given a more concrete and clear meaning in the European Treaties and the role of the Regions must be better defined in the construction of Europe” she added.

The institutional affairs Committee of the AER, chaired by Willi Stächele, Secretary of State for European affairs of Baden-Württemberg, received the mandate of preparing a draft AER position both for the next IGC and the White paper on governance in the Union which will be published next July by the European Commission. This Committee will meet on 8th – 9th February 2001 in Berlin. Over 70 European Regions (EU and non-EU) have already confirmed their participation.

In addition, the Presidium approved the Action programmes of the three other AER Committees for the period 2001- 2002:
– The Social Affairs Committee: Social protection and wellbeing in Europe post enlargement – Economic and social policy in the EU concerning the Regions post 2004 – Health, pensioners, equal opportunities
– The Regional policy Committee: Enlargement and future European regional policy – Report and forum on cohesion in Europe– 6th European environmental action programme – Trans-European Networks – and, of course, considering the current agricultural crisis, Sustainable agriculture and consumer protection.
– The culture Committee: Involvement of young people in public affairs at regional level – Adult education and training – Regional and Minority languages within the year of languages – Sport in the Regions.

The Presidium introduced the idea of organising two Conferences of Ministers and regional representatives in the field of environment and culture in 2002.

The Presidium also decided to give a more political dimension to the AER training programmes such as Centurio and the Summer School which aim at training regional elected representatives and managers of the CEEC as well as Eurodyssey which allows young Europeans to gain experience abroad for the first time.

For more information: [email protected]

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Meeting of the AER political Bureau

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Brussels, 12 May 1999

The first meeting of the AER political Bureau, in its new composition issued from elections at the General Assembly in Linz (A) in last December, will be held on 12th May in Brussels. Several subjects will be discussed and in particular:

• Regions faced with the situation in Kosovo;

• Project of the European Constitution, the Subsidiarity, the EU Enlargement, the next Intergovernmental Conference (IGC);

• Regionalisation in progress: results of elections in Scotland and Wales, development in Hungary;

• Adoption of resolutions and decisions made by the AER Committees (January to May 1999):

  • Commission A ”Institutional Affairs and East-West Cooperation”
    – Programme of Seminar “Strong Regions for a strong Europe” (27-28 May, Stuttgart-D),
    – Project of the Conference “Regions and EU Enlargement process” (21-22 Sept., Wroclaw-PL),
    – Information relative to the Summer school (28 August, Istra-HR) and Centurio, two AER training programmes;
  • Commission B “Social Cohesion, Social Services, Public Health and Employment”
    – Resolutions and decisions which will be made at the next meeting (6 May, Trondheim-N),
    – Declaration of Turin relative to the men-women equality;
  • Commission C ”Regional Policy” (Meeting of 18-19 March, Umea-S)
    – Views on the last Environmental Action Programme (EAP) of the EU and contribution to the next EAP,
    – Views on the respect of environmental norms in tourism,
    – Participation in the European Sustainable Cities and Towns Campaign and in the next Earth Summit,
    – Role of the Regions and interregional cooperation in the implementation of ESDP,
    – Declaration of Grado – Interregional Organisations common position on the Interreg III,
    – Regional twinnings ;
  • Commission D “Culture, Education/Training, Youth, Medias, Sport” (Meeting of 19- 20 April, Nyborg-DK)
    – Preparations for a pan-European Conference of Regional Cultural Ministers (2000) and support to the initiative of creating a network for exchanging information via the Internet between regional public libraries (“Culture” Subcommittee),
    – Requests for amendments of Community programmes, especially following the nonadmission of EU candidate countries to the pilot project “Parliaments representing the Youth of Europe” (“Education & Training” Subcommittee),
    – Creation of a programme of solidarity for Romanian street children and orphans – ”Streetkids-Romania 1999”- organised by the Region of Piemonte (I) and proposal put forward by the Region of Odessa (UKR) to organise a conference on the “Participation of Youth in management and public life at regional level” by spring 2000 (“Youth” Subcommittee).

For more information: [email protected]

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