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AER’s launch of the first Youth Regional Network in Europe

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AER Youth: “We want to shape our future!”

Wiesbaden, Hessen (D), 25 November 2008

As young Europeans are increasingly affected by regional policies in areas such as education, employment, migration, demography and climate change, the Assembly of European Regions (AER) is offering young people a new voice within Europe’s first “Youth Regional Network”, a regional platform of representatives from youth regional organisations, councils and parliaments across the wider Europe.

Hosted by the Hessen Region in Wiesbaden (D), the two-day founding meeting of the AER Youth Regional Network brought together around 90 participants from 50 European regions. The meeting concluded today with the adoption of the Wiesbaden Resolution (below).

AER Secretary General Klaus Klipp attended the meeting, saying: “Since the European stage had not, until now, given voice to young representatives from the regions, this unique initiative provides young people with a platform to change that. AER strongly believes that young people should have a greater say in shaping Europe’s future, and this network will give them the voice they need to achieve that”.

The launch of the AER Youth Regional Network will be followed by a conference in the spring to establish a working structure for the new network.

Quotes from selected participants:

Peter Curic, Istria region (HR): “We have to convince local authorities all across the European regions to give more space to young activists. Any issue of concern to young people should always be discussed with the youth councils and youth parliament representatives of their regions first. Young people of today need to have an opportunity to participate in the governance of society, to affect what happens around them and shape their future.”

Francesc Xavier Ferri Fayos, Valencia region (E): “I  believe in diversity and plurality as a way to enrich Europe…I think that the Europe of the regions should not be in the second line but become the real motor of not only a united but also a pluralistic Europe.“

Agnes Greiciute, Taurage region, (LT): “There are so many young people from all over Europe at this meeting and they all face similar problems in their own regions. Currently the crucial issue and challenge for youth is to reassess values and to shift them to a spiritual foundation. You cannot do a lot if you are alone, but you can do so much if you are all together as one integral unit.“

Sophie Chambon, Limousin region (F) “If I could, the first thing I’d change in Europe would be the inequality between regions. I think there are too many differences between, for exemple, the regions of western and eastern Europe… all regions should have the same possibilities in development, communication, culture… The more developed regions should support the others that need help.“

Download theWiesbaden Resolution:

For more information: [email protected]

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Michèle Sabban elected AER President

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Tampere (FIN), 13 November 2008.

Michèle Sabban, Vice-President of the Ile-de-France region (F), was today elected President of the Assembly of European Regions (AER), the largest independent network of regional authorities in wider Europe.

A former AER vice-president (2006-2008), Ms. Sabban was elected from among three candidates to the two-year post during AER’s annual General Assembly, which is taking place this week in Tampere (FIN) under the title “Migration and Integration: Regional solutions to a European challenge”.

Ms. Sabban said after the election: “Our Assembly will have to pick up new challenges and our work program will have to respond to the major issues confronting regions today: climate change, demographic changes, migration and the common agricultural policy.

“We will bring together the voices of the regions on the European scene; we will establish strong relations of trust with the European institutions in 2009, and we will find a common platform to work with all the organisations representing local and regional authorities in Europe and across the world.”

The General Assembly further elected two vice-presidents, Constantin Ostaficiuc (President of Timis, Romania) and Peter Straub (President of Baden-Württemberg Assembly), as well as a vice-president treasurer, Urs Wüthrich-Pelloli (Minister-Delegate for European Affairs, Basel Landschaft, Switzerland).

Seats were also allocated for AER’s executive political Bureau, which consists of members selected by fellow-regions of the 33 countries represented within AER.

AER’s General Assembly (GA) on migration and integration has attracted over 400 participants, including experts, EU officials and politicians representing around 150 regions of the wider Europe. The GA concludes tomorrow with members’ adoption of the Tampere Declaration on Migration and Integration.


Michèle Sabban, a short biography:

Michèle Sabban has been President of the AER Observatory on Gender Issues since 2004 and an AER Vice-President since 2006. She took on the AER Presidency when Riccardo Illy withdrew from politics last Spring.

Ms. Sabban has been Vice-President of the regional Council of Ile-de-France (F) since 1998, in charge of personnel, general administration and government contracts. She is also Vice-President of International Socialist Women.

Born in June 1954 in Kef, Tunisia, Ms Sabban is a mother of three children and has a degree in Fine Arts. Active in many associations, notably in the protection of Human Rights, she has for a long time been committed to the acknowledgment of the place of women in the political arena.

For more information: [email protected]

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UN – Regions partnership on climate change

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UNDP and UNEP have developed, with eight associations of Regions a global programme to promote low carbon neutral and climate change resilient territories entitled, “Towards Low Carbon and Climate Change Resilient Territories.” (see attached brochure presentation). This Programme is being carried out within the context of UNDP’s 2008 – 2011 Climate Change Strategy, which has been approved by the Governing Board of UNDP (June 2008).
The objective of this UN – Regions partnership is to train 500 regions from developing countries on climate change in the next 5 years and to assist 50 of these regions in the preparation of integrated climate change strategies and action plans, as a mean, among others, to implement National Adaptation Action Plan where and when they exist, that will result in low carbon and climate change resilient development initiatives (public policy and investments).
The program will provide assistance on assessing, accessing and sequencing funds for these initiatives, notably through the project development platforms and financial facilities that have been created or are being established (such as Clean Development Mechanism, MDG Carbon, REDD, risk transfer, ecosystems & business).

Concept note
First progress report (2009)

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The Lisbon Treaty: A licence for grass-roots action!

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Wroclaw, Lower Silesia (PL), 11 June 2008

As the EU awaits the outcome of Ireland’s referendum on the Treaty of Lisbon, the political leaders of Europe’s regions were debating the implications for citizens of a ratified Treaty.

The Assembly of European Regions (AER) held Presidium and Bureau sessions this week in Wroclaw (Lower Silesia region, Poland) ahead of a European Citizens Forum tomorrow which will explore the question: ‘What does the Treaty of Lisbon change for citizens?’

The Lisbon Treaty marks a huge step towards the recognition of the principle of regional and local self-government. For the first time, the definition of subsidiarity is extended to include these lower levels, meaning that the EU will not be able to act where local or regional action is more appropriate.

Although 8 out of 10 European citizens see the principle of subsidiarity as a good thing (Eurobarometer #234, March 2008), AER members agree that their electorates understand little about how the Lisbon changes will directly affect them.

Michele Sabban, AER Acting President, said:
‘With the ratification of the Lisbon Treaty, the regions will finally become a fully recognised and equal partner in EU policy-making. And because citizens have the easiest and most direct access to regional and local authorities, they will be able to demand EU action on the issues they really care about: health, education, climate change, the economy and the many other challenges AER member regions are addressing together. The Lisbon Treaty is a licence for grass-roots action!’

Mag. Johanna Mikl-Leitner, Minister for Women, Family and Generations of Lower Austria (A), said:
‘The inclusion of local and regional levels under the subsidiarity principle of the Lisbon Treaty means that citizens will have a greater possibility to really feel a part of Europe, since they will be more directly involved in shaping EU politics.’

Roy Perry, former MEP and Deputy Leader Hampshire County Council (GB), said:
‘Meeting here in Poland we are very conscious of how the EU has successfully addressed the European divisions of the 20th century, but now it must be made to work as a union of 27 nations – and their regions – to address the problems of the 21st century, for example climate change, globalization, and mass migration.’

Last month AER launched its ‘Subsidiarity is a word’ movement to demand recognition of the word in every dictionary of every language worldwide. As the ratification of the Lisbon Treaty draws closer, the movement will turn its focus from demanding recognition of the word to securing respect for the principle in accordance with the new Lisbon Treaty provisions.

For more information: [email protected]

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AER President Illy’s statements during his meeting with President Barroso

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Illy’s Meeting with Barroso on the Work Programme 2008

Brussels (B), 17 December 2007

The President of the AER/Assembly of European Regions and Friuli Venezia Giulia, Riccardo Illy, and the President of European Commission, José Manuel Barroso, met today in Berlaymont Palace, Bruxelles, for an “informal political exchange” (as defined in the community rooms). The main issues have been: the EU Law Making and the Work Programme for 2008, as well as the perspectives of the Lisbon Treaty, signed on 13 December  in the Portuguese capital.

To the meeting have participated the President of the Committee of the Regions, Michel Delebarre, the President of Maritime  Peripheral  Regions, Claudio Martini (President of Tuscany region-I), and the President of the European Border Regions, Lambert van Nistelroij from the Netherlands.

According to President Illy the meeting has been very productive, in the sense that positions from different European regions’ organizations have been confronted with those of President Barroso and European Commissioner for Regional Policy, Danuta Hübner.

“The main themes that have been discussed are the Lisbon treaty, energy, climate change and cohesion policy” President Illy stated at the end of the meeting with Barroso.

President Illy also added: “Regions have presented their positions, which have been taken into account by the President of the European Commission. Barroso has spoken about a ‘natural complicity’ that must coexist between Regions and the European Union”.

President Illy has recalled to Barroso that not only the issue of the European Union born out of Lisbon treaty has to be deeply investigated, but also that some countries are still waiting for developments in the enlargement process is a thing to be kept in mind: first Croatia, he remarked, but also other countries as Serbia (including Kosovo) are waiting for a definitive solution coming from the European Union, “even to avoid any risk in terms of civil wars to explode”.

“I believe EU must take care about Kosovo problem, first of all – Illy concluded – without any waiting for the United States to indicate solutions”.

The Bruxelles meeting has been also followed by representatives of Council of Municipalities and Regions of Europe, by the Conference of presidents of European Parliaments with lawmaking powers and by Regleg/ EU Regions able to make laws.

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Illy must soon make important Decisions

In the course of today’s meeting with the President of the European Commission, José Manuel Barroso, President of the AER and Friuli Venezia Giulia, Riccardo Illy, has centered his speech in particular on energy themes, also one of the main points in the newly signed Lisbon treaty, which foresees the introduction of a common policy on energy and on climate change struggle.

Barroso took note, Illy observed at the end of the meeting, about the compelling necessity on EU side to “choose” the ideal energy source: the solar one, together with the photovoltaic, which allows heat production, though on the other hand it has stocking problems.

“An interesting hypothesis to develop, on technical basis already well known by scientists”, said President Illy, “may be a large diffusion of photovoltaic panels in puvblic and private buildings, and subsequent distribution by existent urban electrical and natural gas grid.”

The energy produced by photovoltaic panels would be indeed used during the day for domestic and industrial use, through the existent electrical grid; the residual portion would be converted (through an electrolysis process) in gasiform hydrogen in the urban gas grid, to be prelevated during the night.

Gaseous hydrogen, thanks to combustion cells, would be so retransformed for electricity and heat production during the night hours.

President Illy also wanted to evoke another important problem regarding not only the European Union but also the whole world: the constantly increasing food price.

The lack of oil and its increasing price will produce a parallel increment of food price. “We can expect – Illy declared – an increment in food price absolutely proportional to that of oil.”

Foods as grain, mais, soy, and those today as well used for energy and heat production: bioethanol and biodiesel.

It is more and more convenient to encourage alternative energy production of any type (solar, eolic, etc.), to reduce oil demand and consequently its final price: public incentives for the production of energy from renewable sources are indeed useful to avoid any increase in the price of food.

Eventually, the President of the AER has remarked the theme of state taxes on fuels, those that today are “working backwards” in respect of the function for which they originally were introduced.

State taxes were born to “artificially” raise energy costs, inhibiting that way its excessive use. Today, in front of increments of even 5 or 6 times that took course in recent years, oil price (considering state taxes stayed more or less the same) has only doubled.

On one side, therefore, consumers have not an exact perception of the huge amount of energy cost, on the other side they relatively feel the need for saving, either on trasports as well as heating, President Illy concluded.

For more information: [email protected]

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AER Summer School 2007: European regions and Young citizens, together for sustainable development

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Exeter, Devon (UK), 31 August 2007

The prospect of climate change is no longer mere speculation: as this summer’s events clearly demonstrate, flooding, forest fires, changes in temperatures and droughts affect many European regions. At the same time, fossils fuels are running out and renewable sources of energy are not yet sufficient to respond to our energy needs.

These crucial themes were discussed during the Assembly of European Regions’ (AER) Summer School and Youth Summer School, held in Exeter, Devon-UK, from 26th-31st August 2007. Nearly 200 participants, coming from 67 regions and 23 countries, took part in the events, contributing to the international symposium on sustainability.

Graham Watson, MEP for the South West of England and Gibraltar, reminded participants that “regions have an extremely important role to play in the implementation of environmental measures and the development of environmentally-friendly policies that affect all sectors of society”. The AER Summer School 2007 aimed to equip regional politicians and officers with the skills they need in order to play this role effectively. Participants benefited from sharing best practices with regions that already implement successful policies; Devon County Council, for example, showcased its ‘Do-it-for-Devon’ climate change campaign and its successful carbon management scheme. Participants also had the opportunity to benefit from hearing young people’s ideas and points of view on sustainability. It is now their duty to integrate these contributions into their sustainable policies.

This year, the specific goal for the AER Youth Summer School was to help young people to become key actors for sustainable development in their regions. Workshops provided the 70 young participants the practical knowledge and skills to prepare and implement concrete projects when they return to their home regions.

“All key actors need to get involved if we are really to ensure that our future development is sustainable: this includes global and Europe institutions, states, regional and local authorities and citizens. But regional and local authorities are the key actors who can make this change: our convictions and our close relationship with our citizens will help us to build a sustainable future!” concluded Brian Greenslade, Leader of Devon County Council and Vice-President Treasurer of the AER, underlining his satisfaction with the Summer Schools.

The AER Summer Schools are organised and financed by a committee of AER member regions. The AER thanks the following regions: Alba- RO, Brussels Capital-B, Devon-UK, Friuli Venezia Giulia-I, Istra-HR, Jämtland-SE, Maramures-RO, Nordland-N, Olomouc-CZ, St Gallen-CH, Västra Götaland-SE, Vestfold-N, Wien-A, Wallonie-B and Zürich-CH. The AER is also grateful to the Eastern Norway County Network, which provided a grant towards the organisation of the Youth Summer School.

For more information: [email protected]

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New EU Reform Treaty in Line with AER Position

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The outcome of the European Council held on 22-23 June is fully in line with the position taken by the Assembly of European Regions (AER), and presented to the German Presidency in February this year. The AER called on EU Member States to set up an Intergovernmental Conference (IGC) as soon as possible and to ensure that the European Parliament was properly represented in its work.

At its Brussels summit, the European Council decided that the concept of the European Constitution would be replaced by a new ‘Reform Treaty’. All references to the term ‘Constitution’ and to signs and symbols of the European Union, will be removed. The Reform Treaty will amend and not replace the old Treaties, and will consist of two parts. The first part will be the existing Treaty on European Union, otherwise known as the Maastricht Treaty, which basically corresponds to Parts I and IV of the Constitutional Treaty. The second part of the Reform Treaty will be a Treaty on the Functioning of the Union; this will be an amended version of the Treaty establishing the European Community (otherwise known as the Treaty of Rome), which is comparable to Part III of the Constitutional Treaty. The Intergovernmental Conference, which is due to begin its work in July, will have responsibility for agreeing the amendments to these two treaties, and will take into account most of the provisions agreed under the Constitutional Treaty. Both newly amended treaties have the same legal status and will enter into force at the same time.

The European Council agreed the framework for the negotiations that will take place in the intergovernmental conference, setting out which items of the Constitutional Treaty will be maintained, and which ones will be reformed or dropped. The Council agreed that new Reform Treaty will safeguard the key gains for the regions that the AER had been successful in securing in the Constitutional Treaty. These include the recognition of regional identities, the principle of territorial cohesion and the right of the Committee of the Regions to take the Commission to the European Court of Justice, if the principle of subsidiarity is deemed to have been breached. In some areas, these gains have even been extended further. For example, there will be a new article in the Reform Treaty that will give national parliaments eight weeks to raise objections to a draft law on the grounds that subsidiarity has been breached; this will be advantageous to regions which compose the second chambers of national parliaments, such as the German Länder.

The Charter of Fundamental Rights (Part II of the Constitutional Treaty) will be published as an annex to the treaties. It will have a cross-reference in the reformed Treaty on European Union, which will mean that it is legally binding. However, the United Kingdom has achieved a Protocol which basically allows it to opt out of the Charter. Poland also made a unilateral declaration that seeks to prevent the Charter being used to influence national legislation in public morality or family law.

The agreement on the Reform Treaty will allow the European Union to move forward with confidence and to reform its decision-making procedures. It will allow the EU to confidently address the challenges facing Europe and its regions, such as climate change. The new Treaty will in fact add the fight against climate change to the objectives of environmental policy. New possibilities are also opened up to bring forward action in areas such as energy security, civil protection and public health, and progress is made on common action on terrorism, asylum, migration and human trafficking.

The European Council agreed to retain the provisions on democratic participation, such as the citizens initiative, which allows citizens to request the EU to develop legislation. However, this alone will not be enough to engage citizens in the work of the European Union and to overcome the scepticism which currently surrounds the European project. It is important to ensure that the European Union takes the citizens with it in this reform process. Even if countries chose not to go ahead with the referenda that they had planned to hold on the Constitutional Treaty, there must be a proper flow of information to citizens about the Reform Treaty during the ratification period, which is expected to last until mid-2009, when the Treaty will enter into force. The Council gave the European Parliament an unprecedented 3 representatives in the Intergovernmental Conference, which will also help to ensure that the views of the citizens are not forgotten in the negotiations; the AER will endeavour to work closely with these Parliamentarians. It is imperative that citizens are not given the impression that their views no longer count, as this will only increase the distance between the European Union and the citizens. The AER is ready and willing to equip its member regions with the skills and the information necessary to ensure that their citizens are fully engaged in the debate on the future of Europe.

For more information: [email protected]

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Berlin Declaration of the European Regions: Strong Regions need a strong Europe!

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‘The time has come for the Regions, the Member States and the European Institutions to work together, to define a common vision for Europe and to set a joint course of action for the coming 50 years.’

Half a century ago, the six founding nations of the European Economic Community met to pursue their common interest of peace and prosperity across continent. Today, Europe is at a crossroad. European regional leaders, meeting in the city of Berlin, set out the steps EU leaders must take in order to face the challenges of the 21st century.

The Berlin Declaration of the Assembly of European Regions urges the EU to focus on what it does best: addressing those challenges that cannot be met by national or regional governments acting alone. Among them, the regions identified trade, security, environmental and energy policies as the most pressing. Citizens do want to reap the benefits of globalisation, but at the same time they fear its reverse side: business relocation, unemployment fears and the future challenges associated with our welfare systems can only be addressed by a strong Union. And what about transnational crime and terrorism, where police cooperation is strongly needed? The issue of climate change, a phenomenon that we are already experiencing first-hand, together with the related energy issues, are also threats that the national states cannot address by themselves any more.

“We need a stronger Europe both externally and internally”, said Riccardo Illy, President of the AER and of the region of Friuli Venezia Giulia, during the press conference which followed the AER Presidium meeting. On the internal side, Mr. Illy underlined how Europe must exploit and reinforce the principles of subsidiarity, cohesion and diversity. “Diversity is our competitive advantage”, he stressed. This is the reason why a strong Europe needs strong regions, just as much as strong regions need a strong Europe!

European regions also proposed today a way out of the Constitutional impasse: they invited the German Presidency of the EU to firstly check whether the conditions still exist to approve and unanimously adopt the Constitutional Treaty in its current form. If this option fails, regions propose to go back to the Intergovernmental Conference table, where EU members should absolutely find an agreement on a minimum number of necessary amendments, in order that the Treaty can be ratified in all 27 Member States.

For more information: [email protected]

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Energy from the regions: Green Hydrogen

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‘Renewable energies are produced locally. Green hydrogen, as a carrier of energy, contributes to an increased independence from fossil fuels. Regions are strong partners in building a green hydrogen society and thus a sustainable environment,’ said Riccardo Illy, President of the Assembly of European Regions (AER) and President of the Autonomous Italian Region of Friuli Venezia Giulia, on the occasion of the European Parliament workshop on hydrogen.

Green hydrogen is a major trump for Europe’s regions, President Illy stressed in his speech. Renewable energies from water, wind, sun, biomass and geothermic sources are local sources of energy, creating employment and protecting the environment.

‘In the context of the new Common Agricultural Policy which limits financial support to our farmers, green hydrogen can be an important source of new income for our farmers,’ Riccardo Illy said. ‘There is great potential for the economies of our Regions in the development of renewable energies.’

President Illy stated, however, that an integrated energy approach would be needed. Three factors must be addressed: enhancing energy efficiency, development of renewable energy sources and, last but not least, intelligent energy supply systems using hydrogen, called ‘smart grids’. Since 2003 the AER has developed an energy strategy in which green hydrogen has been a main pillar. Best practices, online partnership fairs, knowledge exchange through seminars, for example on funding opportunities, are spread via the interregional network of the AER, which consists of 255 regions, in order to promote an integrated energy approach.

On the same day, the European Commission decided on its strategy on energy and climate change, allowing for more competition in the energy market. ‘We fully support the approach of the Commission for more competition. If the EU gives in to the big monopolies in the energy sector we will not succeed in developing the potential of renewable energies to provide safe and affordable energy in the future’, explained President Illy.

‘The more renewable energies we use, the less we will depend on fossil energies. In fact, the more renewable energies are available, the better chance there is of slowing down the increase in prices for oil. Regions are the best promoters of a green hydrogen society, as they are the major beneficiaries, but we need to promote this idea among the regions’, President Illy concluded.

The European Parliament Workshop on green hydrogen was initiated by MEP Vittorio Prodi and Jeremy Rifkin, President of the Foundation of Economic Trends in Washington D.C and author of the book ‘The Hydrogen Economy: The Creation of the World Wide Energy Web and the Redistribution of Power on Earth’. Speakers included, amongst others, MEPs Jo Leinen, Claude Turmes, Philippe Busquin and Umberto Guidoni.

For more information: [email protected]

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