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The Congress of the Council of Europe and AER increase their cooperation

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First concrete outcome: putting citizens at the heart of the declaration on Ukraine

Strasbourg (FR), 26 March 2014

Congress President Herwig Van Staa and Assembly of European Regions’ President Dr Hande Özsan Bozatli signed yesterday a cooperation agreement. “I am convinced that a sound cooperation between AER and the Congress of the Council of Europe will bring a crucial contribution to the promotion of the regional identities throughout Europe.” stated AER President during the signature ceremony.

What do we intend to do concretely? An Action Plan, which identifies three main thematic priorities for common actions for 2014-2015, highlights:

  • promoting regional self-government and supporting devolution and decentralisation processes in Europe;
  • responses by regions to the political, economic and social crisis that Europe is facing;
  • the participation of young people in political, economic and social life.

As a first concrete outcome of the reinforced collaboration between both organisations, Mrs Özsan Bozatli supported yesterday the declaration of the Congress on the situation in Ukraine, which condemns Russia’s annexation of Crimea and Sebastopol in violation of international law. True to AER’s message, she asked to put citizens at the heart of the debate: “We feel that the current declaration is well balanced. We however deplore that the citizens are nowhere mentioned in it. Without citizens there is no democracy. They are the ones who build bridges between our regions. We would like the declaration to take them into account.” As a result, President Özsan Bozatli supported an amendment presented by AER Bureau member Anna Magyar from Csongrad (HU), which went in that direction (article 7 of the declaration).

AER will bring its full help to the Congress, which asks for the “transfer of the administrative competences of the districts and regions to elected bodies in order to establish an administration under their responsibility. Such reform would strengthen democracy and the social, economic and territorial cohesion of Ukraine.” (articles 9 and 10 of the declaration).

For more information: [email protected]

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Launch of the AER Academic and Training Centre: a brand new approach to decentralisation

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Zadar (HR), 20 February 2014

The Bureau members of the Assembly of European Regions (AER) symbolically chose the region of Zadar, Croatia, to hold their first meeting of the year, a few months after Croatia’s accession to the European Union. Among the priorities decided for the future, they announced the launch of a study about the role of the regions in 2014.

As the new programming period is starting, AER is indeed willing to look into the role that regional authorities actually play in European politics and in Europe in general in 2014. To what extent is the subsidiarity principle implemented in European countries? Have Regions seen their competences and influence developed in the last years? How does multilevel governance look like in the various European states? If we consider the case of EU regional policy, to what extent has the partnership principle been respected for the setting up and implementation of this key policy for European regions?

These questions will be at the heart of the study which will be run in 2014 and promoted in 2015, year of the 30th AER Anniversary.

The study will be coordinated by the AER Academic and Training Centre which was officially launched at a high historical place, the university of Zadar, which is the first Croatian university, built 620 years ago. This Centre will bring together under a single label all training activities proposed by the AER and act as a single point “one-stop-shop” on regionalisation in Europe.

5 experts professors from Zadar (HR), Fribourg (CH), Sofia (BG), Banska Bystrica (SK) and South Denmark (DK) have already accepted to bring a scientific contribution to the AER study on decentralisation. Present at the launch event, the Prefect of Zadar County and the Rector of Zadar University both underlined their conviction that the members of the university, professors but also students, will get engaged in the work of the Academic Centre.

Taking the opportunity of their presence in Zadar, AER members called the Croatian national government to adopt a bottom-up approach in their current plans for administrative and territorial reform. “You absolutely have to work hand in hand with your regions if you want to reach democratic and fair territorial structure. We, AER, know very well the situation in the country, as we gather 18 members in Croatia. We would be willing to be partner in your regionalisation process”, said AER President, Mrs Hande Özsan Bozatli.

 

For more information: [email protected]

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Local‐government 
reform 
in
 Georgia

By

Adriana
 Skorupska
Polish
 Institute
 of
 International
 Affairs

Georgia, 2013

An
 effective
 decentralisation
 of
 power
 is
 a
 crucial
 factor
 if
 the
 state
 wants
 to
 have
 a successful
 democratization.
 On
 June
 15,
 Georgians
 went
 to
 the
 polls
 to
 elect
 their
 local‐ government
 representatives
 on
 new
 rules.
 Although 
local
 self‐government 
reform 
has
 not
 yet addressed
 the
 crucial
issue
 of
 a 
financial 
system 
for 
local
 authorities,
 it 
is 
a
 step 
in
 the
 right direction
 and
 Georgia
 is
 becoming
 a
 leader
 in
 the
 decentralization
 process
 among
 the
 Eastern
 Partnership 
Countries.

First
 step 
in
 the
 decentralization
 process.
 In 
autumn
 2012,
 one
 of
 Georgian
 Dream
 (GD)’s
 campaign
 issues
 was
 building
 local
 democracy.
 Support
 for
 local
 government
 reform
 was
 achieved 
both
 from 
within,
 on
 the 
part 
of
 Georgian
 NGOs,
 and 
through 
externa l
donors.
 In
 March
 2013,
 a
 government
 decree
 stating
 the
 main
 objectives
 of
 
 the
 reform
 was
 announced.
 The
 democratisation
 of
 the
 system
 of
 public
 management
 and
 greater
 participation 
of 

local
 communities 
in
 public 
life
 were 
indicated 
as 
the 
primary
 objectives
 of
 the
 planned
 changes.
 The
 legislative
 changes
 introduced
 in
 recent
 months
 began
 the
 first
 phase
 of
 reform,
 which 
in 
the
 long
run 
aims 
to 
decentralise 
the 
Georgian 
political 
system.

In
 February,
 parliament
 adopted
 a
 law
 on
 the
 reform
 of
 local
 government,
 and
 then
 in
 March 
new
 regulations
 were
 passed,
concerning 
the 
electoral
 system 
(electoral
 thresholds,
 the
 number
 of
 members
 of
 local
 councils,
 mayors,
 and
 dismissal
 procedures
 for
 removing
 mayors).
 At
 the
 current
 stage,
 the
 reform
 expands
 the
 number
 of
 cities
 with
 the
 status
 of
 local
 government,
 where
 residents elect 
the 
mayor 
directly, to 
12. 
Previously,
 only
residents
 of
 Tbilisi
 had
 the
 opportunity
 to
 elect
 the
 mayor
 of
 the
 city
 directly.
 Moreover,
 now
 the
 Georgians 
could 
choose,
 in 
addition 
to 
the 
members
 of 
local
 councils 
(as 
it
 was
 before)
 the
 chairpersons
 of 
59
 municipalities
 (outside
 the
 12 
major
 cities).
 This 
phase 
of
 reforms
focused
 on
 preparation 
to 
carry
 out
 the 
local
 elections
 in
 accordance
 with 
the 
new 
regulations, 
but 
did
 not 
consider 
delegation 
of 
duties 
and 
financial 
powers 
to
 the
 local
 government.
 These
 are
 essential
 elements
 of
 the
 system
 leading
 to
 real
 decentralisation.
 These
 regulations 
are
 to 
be 
introduced
 by
 the 
end
of
 this
 year,
 as 
part
 of
 another 
block
 of
 changes
 regulating
 duties 
and
 powers
 of
 local 
governments.
Continuation
 of
 the
 
 decentralisation
 policies
 will
 be
 a
 test
 of
 GD’s
 genuine 
reformist
 intentions. 
In
 the
 coalition,
 there
 are 
both 
supporters
 of 
the
 far‐reaching 
decentralisation 
of 
the
s tate, 
as
 well
 as
 more
conservative
 politicians,
 wary
 of 
too 
radical
 reforms.

Next 
steps. The
 changes
 were
 made
 possible
 thanks 
to 
the
 political
 will
 of
 the
 current
 ruling
 coalition.
 Now,
 however,
 it
 is
 important
 that
 this
 is
 supported
 by
 a
 good
 conceptual
 and
 organisational
 preparation
 of
 the
 next
 stage
 of
 reform.
 Failure
 to
 change
 regulations
 in
 matters
 of
 the
 competences
 and
 finances
 of
 local
 government
 may
 result
 in
 a
 loss
 of
 support,
 both
 from
 the
 public,
 and
 from
 external
 donors.
 The
 existing
 assistance
 of
 international
 institutions
 and
 experts
 from
 other
 countries
 was
 too
 dispersed.
 Better
 coordinated
 external
 expert
 help
 will
 facilitate
 work
 on
 new
 regulations
 and
 their
 implementation.
 In
 subsequent
 actions,
 more
 importance
 should
 be
 attached
 to
 the
 public
 debate.
 On
 the
 one
hand,
 local
 communities should
 be
 encouraged
 to
 discuss
 new
 solutions,
 while 
on
 the
 other,
 the
 idea
 of
 self‐government
 must
 also
 be promoted.
 Communities
 of
 post‐Soviet
 countries
 are
 accustomed
 to
 centralism,
 and
 people
 believe
 that
 the
 only effective
 and
 decisive
 vote
 could
 come 
from 
the 
state
capital.
 The 
government
 could
 become 
the
 initiator
 and coordinator
 of
 the
 campaign,
 with
 the
 aim
 of
 convincing
 society
 that
 decentralisation
 does
 not
 mean 
separatism,
 but 
is a
 way
 to 
increase
 the 
efficiency 
of
 public
 services
 provided
 by
 local
 authorities.
 A
 well‐functioning
 local 
government
 is also
 one 
of
 the
conditions
 for
 the
 development
 of
 entrepreneurship
 in
 the
 country.
 NGOs
 and
 local
 public
 opinion leaders
 should
 be
 invited
 to
 promote
 the
 idea
 of
 local
 government.
 In
 addition
 to
 meetings
 and
 lectures,
 both
 very important
 in
 promotional
 activities,
 the
 public
 media,
 especially
 television,
 should
 be 
engaged.

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Briefing note on local government in the Ukraine

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Table of contents:

  • Ukraine – historical background
  • Attempts of decentralisation in Ukraine
  • Local and regional government in Ukraine – legal basis
  • Local and regional government in Ukraine – overview
  • Current issues for local and regional government in Ukraine
  • International support for decentralisation in Eastern Partnership countries

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AER assists Dnipropetrovsk (UA) in European Parliament’s hearing

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On 30 January 2013, AER contributed to the organisation of a hearing in the European Parliament on the characteristics and priorities of the Dnipropetrovsk region (UA), which was presided over by MEPs Gabrielle Zimmer (DE), Miroslav RANSDORF (CZ) and Jaromir KOHLICEK (CZ). From the Ukrainian side, Vice-Prime Minister Olexandr VILKUL introduced the hearing giving an overview on the recent activities in Ukraine regarding regional development and decentralisation and then passing the floor to the other representatives from Dnipropetrovsk region who informed participants about the energy efficiency projects, the role of local government, and environmental aspects. Pascal GOERGEN, AER Secretary General, emphasised the important role of interregional cooperation and informed participants that AER is ready to assist regions in their cooperation efforts.

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Regionalisation and Democracy: It’s High Time we Place the Citizen Back at the Heart of Governance

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Strasbourg, Alsace (F), 10 October 2012

The conclusion is clear: the financial and economic crisis that we are experiencing spares no one, and has political consequences all around the world. This crisis is partly rooted in globalisation and is often associated with populism movements, community decline and with an increasing desire for independence.

Regionalisation is a counterweight to globalisation and an antidote to the political instability that threatens certain countries. It allows for decision-making processes that are closer to the individuals, it takes into account cultural, social and economic specificities and identities, distributes public finances between more or less successfull territorial entities and, ultimately, it enhances political participation of the entire society.

Decentralisation of powers is essential when creating a new model of governance – that of participatory democracy, based on citizen’s involvement in decision-making processes, in the life of their communities and society at large. According to the principle of subsidiarity, local authorities are better able boost the voice of their citizens beside Government and Institutions. More than a principle, the word encompasses a concrete reality: that of a level of decision-making that knows how to capitalise on its proximity to the citizens on the one hand and, on the other hand, on its prvileged relationship with the State for the recreation of a strong democratic alliance.

These were the conclusions of the conference-debate “Regionalization and democracy” co-organised by the Alsace Region, the Congress of the Council of Europe and the Assembly of European Regions within the framework of the 1st World Forum on Democracy. More than 450 people joined in for the debate, testimony to the fact that the issue of democracy around the world is a major topic for citizens!

What was said:

Michèle Sabban, President of the Assembly of European Regions: “Let us rediscover the authentic spirit of the ancient Greek democracy, when democracy was fully embodied and it maintained the concept of a government led by and for the people. The initial idea of ancient democracy couldn’t avoid undergoing major changes over the centuries, and if it has gained in proportions to appear today as the most fair political system, it has also distanced itself from its basic component – the citizens. I call for a local democracy more than a principle based one, a democracy of the people more than one of concepts, a democracy that wins and will always win by standing closer to its citizens. I hope that together with all our member regions we can help new democracies around the world build a stable foundation and offer a democratic and serene environment to their citizens! “.

André Reichardt, First Vice-President of the Alsace Region: “I would take the French example: 30 years ago France was going through decentralization. Skills transfer advanced step by step, especially in Alsace which, for the past ten years, has been pilot region for the direct management of the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF). The example of my region fully proves the effectiveness of policy when decisions are made closer to the citizens. And democracy has everything to gain from it!”

Jameleddine Gharbi, Minister of Regional Development and Planning (Tunisia): “Regionalisation is the structure of the natural sphere. Democracy is the structure of the public sphere. Consequently, the structuring mode adopted by the political regime influences, in a similar way, the regionalisation and the governance system. Indeed, the political regime stripped of dominance and dictatorship was characterized by an instrumental relation with the world, a mapping of power, a sacralisation of dominance and the supression of the individual. The current government, stemming from the revolution, is putting into place a more symbolic and normative relationship with the world, a mapping of the distinction, a demystification and deconstruction of power and institutionalisation of democratic action.”

Kim Jae Hyo, Secretary General of the North East Asian Regions (NEAR), (South Korea): “Citizens request greater participation in public decision-making because aspirations have increased with the emergence of New Information Technologies and Social Network Systems”.

For more information: [email protected]

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AER makes concrete proposals to fight youth unemployment

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Brussels (B), 27 June 2012

One hundred participants, including members from the Assembly of European Regions (AER), MEPs, and representatives from the European Commission and the United Nations as well as young people themselves met yesterday at the premises of the European Parliament in Brussels to learn “Why are Regions the best candidates to tackle youth unemployment?”

The conference marks the end of AER’s yearlong “Promoting Youth Employment” (PYE) project, run in partnership with four of its member regions: Vojvodina (SRB), the Azores (P), Krapina-Zagorje (HR) and Hampshire (UK). The series of 4 Peer Reviews organised over the last 12 months comprised 200 interviews with local, regional and national stakeholders in view of helping PYE partner regions to produce their Youth Employment Action Plans setting out policy recommendations to improve young people’s prospects in the job market.

In her opening speech, Danuta Hübner, Member of the European Parliament and Chair of the Regional Development Committee, encouraged young people to be proactive both in looking for jobs in upcoming sectors and in jump-starting their own activity, and not to fear being entrepreneurs.

The European Commission’s Director for “Europe 2020: Employment policies”, Jean Louis De Brouwer: “In September the European Commission will start an informal dialogue with the EU Member States to discuss the upcoming 2014-2020 programming period. Regional authorities are encouraged to take part in those discussions, which will include proposals on youth employment.”

To stress the importance of acknowledging and disseminating the project’s conclusions, Pascal Goergen, AER Secretary General, launched an appeal to politicians from AER member regions to draft a Report on youth unemployment in Southern Europe, an area harshly affected by this problem.

Some of the policy recommendations include (excerpts from “A Summary of project conclusions and policy recommendations for European Regions”):

o Better inclusion: One major lesson from the reviews is that policies promoting not only economic growth, but also broad social and economic inclusion, are required. There is a need for a joint approach amongst various regional departments and ministries, including those dealing with labour, education, industry, social welfare, and specifically youth affairs.

o Higher decentralisation: The regions demonstrate a high capacity for teaching and training. However, a lack of regional presence in these policy fields may significantly slow down adaptability to rapidly changing job market needs.

o Essential information: Regional job market information systems must be strong enough to provide policymakers and practitioners with adequate information in order to reduce mismatches between young people’s aspirations, skills and work experience and employers’ needs.

o Nothing for us without our input: It is important to formulate regional policies and strategies that are focused specifically on youth issues and involve young people themselves in dialogue, especially in times when high and prolonged youth unemployment rates lead to social alienation and a culture of low aspirations and feelings of hopelessness.

          

The Assembly of European Regions (AER – aer.eu) is the largest independent network of regions in wider Europe. Bringing together more than 250 regions from 35 countries and 16 interregional organisations, AER is the political voice of its members and a forum for interregional co-operation.

For more information: [email protected]

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AER supports female candidates in Tunisia and inaugurates its permanent representation

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Tunis (TN), 19th September 2011

The Assembly of European Regions (AER) reaffirms its support for the decentralisation process and provides its expertise in the democratization process in Tunisia. A training seminar for Tunisian female candidates to the Constituent Assembly and the opening of a permanent representation to allow for a sustained presence close to the transitional authorities have marked two historic steps in its partnership with the country.

Striving for gender parity: a right and a duty

Michèle Sabban, AER President, has associated herself with the Tunisian Minister of Women Affairs to tackle the important challenge the country has set itself of applying the principle of gender parity at the upcoming elections for a Constituent Assembly on 23rd October. “The forward march of women is an incredible hope for the future. I wish to personally engage myself with them to help them to write this decisive page of Tunisia’s history” declared Michèle Sabban. “Women contribute with determination, courage and enthusiasm, beyond the difficulties they may encounter. The democratic representation cannot dispense of 50 % of its nation!”, she added.

At the two-day seminar, attended by around 40 female candidates representing more than 25 political parties, female representatives from AER member regions, and renowned Tunisian militants shared their personal experiences and views on the obstacles that women may encounter when trying to develop a credible candidacy and win over an electorate, and discussed how these could be overcome.

“The primary objective of this meeting was to prepare Tunisian women to tackle the numerous challenges they will encounter during their campaigns, but also, and perhaps even more so, once they will be elected. We have also discussed the contribution women can make to society and more specifically to politics, including how they can take an active part in civil society”, underlined Lilia Labidi, Tunisian Minister for Women Affairs.

AER reinforces its presence with the opening of a permanent representation

Created within the framework of a Memorandum of Understanding with the Tunisian Ministry of Regional Development, this AER representation, inaugurated today, is the first to be launched outside the European continent. “Our presence in Tunisia will allow us to support the country every step of the way as it implements a process of true decentralisation,” declared Michèle SABBAN. “This permanent representation will help organise exchanges and concrete partnership projects between the Tunisian regions and our members, such as better equipping young Tunisians to access the labour market by hosting them in European regions members of AER, ” she concluded.

“Guided by our desire to assist Tunisia in this historical transition it is undergoing, we have decided to partner up with AER and launch this permanent representation to facilitate the cooperation between European regions and the Tunisian governorates. It will be the link between the regions and help them develop decentralized cross-border cooperation projects to bring Tunisian regions to the European level,” added Sandro Fratini, Head of the AER permanent representation in Tunisia.

For more information: [email protected]

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Reforms in Tunisia: Spotlight on the Decentralisation Models in Europe

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Pescara, Abruzzo (I), 6th July 2011

The Assembly of European Regions (AER), together with the region Abruzzo (I) and the Italo-Tunisian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, organised today a conference on the situation of regional democracy in Europe as follow up of its delegation’s visit to Tunisia last May. The positive aspects and the challenges related to decentralisation were at the heart of this meeting, providing European regions the opportunity to share their experience with Tunisian stakeholders. About 20 Tunisian representatives – members of government, entrepreneurs, NGOs – were present.

Today, while regions are a reckoned part of the European landscape and have acquired an increasing weight through time, it is more important than ever for them to learn from their counterparts. The conference thus aimed at exchanging examples of its members’ best practices. To this end, a panel of experts from AER member regions – Abruzzo (I), Catalunya (E), Dolnoslaskie (PL), Istanbul (TR) and Västra Götaland (S) – presented the state of play of decentralisation in their respective countries.

One conclusion of the day is that decentralisation should be at the core of Tunisian reforms. The Tunisian revolutionary movement, which originated in the country’s most disadvantaged regions, considered the establishment of local governments as a key issue that needs to be included in the new Tunisian constitution. Fully aware of the importance of regional development for Tunisia, AER decided to cooperate with the Tunisian authorities and living forces by exchanging European best practices and by providing them with relevant input on decentralisation reforms.

“Most European countries are decentralised and this strategy has proven its efficiency” stated Klaus KLIPP, AER’s Secretary General, adding that “empowering regions does contribute to more democracy, civic participation, innovation and economic development. Regional democracy should therefore be considered as a major pillar for the country’s reconstruction, which is why we consider it essential to work with the Tunisian authorities and to show them how regional governance can benefit the whole of the country and continent”.

For more information: [email protected]

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Local and regional leaders urge Barroso to draw up ambitious EU budget and to consider their role in Europe 2020 strategy

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Brussels, 16 June 2011

European local and regional leaders called on European Commission President Barroso to put forward “ambitious EU budget proposals” in order to stimulate the economy and asked that municipalities and regions be given an active role in the design and implementation of the Europe 2020 strategy.

This call was made two weeks prior to the unveiling of the post-2013 EU financial framework during a meeting held today in Brussels between the presidents of associations representing local and regional authorities, the President of the Committee of the Regions, Mercedes Bresso, and the President of the European Commission, José Manuel Barroso.

The local and regional leaders stressed that the new EU budget must be “substantial” if it is to respond to the challenges ahead and to support economic recovery. A fair share of the upcoming budget should be dedicated to cohesion policy and could, if needed, be based on own resources.

Local and regional leaders also underlined that the Europe 2020 strategy must create a sense of “ownership” among all levels of government, as a large number of the strategy priorities concern local and regional authorities.

Finally, local and regional leaders stressed that political developments at the EU’s external borders are a historical challenge that requires new and effective solutions.

Committee of the Regions President Mercedes Bresso said: “The Commission must now send a clear signal to economic policymakers and citizens. The future budget has to reflect the EU’s new ambitions and the irreplaceable role of cohesion policy in supporting public and private investment. It must empower local and regional authorities, and must support their efforts to deliver the Europe 2020 targets.” Ramón Luis Valcárcel Siso, First Vice-President of the Committee of the Regions and President of the Murcia region (Spain), added: “We also need a more flexible EU budget. My home region, Murcia in Spain, was recently hit by a devastating earthquake. Recovery efforts will require large amounts of money and will have a great impact on our regional development priorities and spending. However, our EU regional aid programme was agreed in 2006 and runs until 2013. In the future, we should be able to quickly realign available EU funding to respond to such situations. In general, more flexibility will be desirable.”

Jean-Yves Le Drian, President of the Conference of Peripheral Maritime Regions (CPMR) and President of the Bretagne region (France), underlined: “Solidarity is the root of Political Europe. Without solidarity, Europe would have been no more than an economic free trade area. This solidarity is currently being undermined by issues related to financial stability and the overall amount of the EU budget. I am very concerned once again to see the Europe of tomorrow being shaped within the confines of the Member States, with no involvement on the part of the regions and no strong and clear goal. For this reason, we are asking for a coherent budget capable of meeting the goals of the tomorrow’s Europe and giving prominence to a cohesion policy for all regions and all citizens.”

Partnership makes a difference

Jean-Luc Vanraes, President of the Conference of European Regions with legislative powers (REGLEG) and Minister of the Brussels-Capital Region, responsible for Finance, the Budget and the External Relations, emphasised: “Giving a central position to subsidiarity is to defend our democratic values. The heightening of the awareness of all the levels of power – from the citizen to the European institutions through the Member States – is a prerequisite to make Europe a space where the citizen is respected and to make the European project one realized for and by the citizens.”

Annemarie Jorritsma, Co-President of the Council of European Municipalities and Regions (CEMR) and Mayor of Almere (Netherlands), called on “the European Commission President to bring the provisions of the Lisbon Treaty to life by supporting a system of governance in partnership. European, national, regional and local authorities must cooperate in a spirit of partnership if we hope to successfully address the challenges Europe is currently facing. We need to notably mobilise citizens, industries, academics and NGOs, and invite them to join us in achieving true territorial development and cohesion in Europe.”

Reform of cohesion policy

Karl-Heinz Lambertz, President of the Association of European Border Regions (AEBR) and First Minister of the German-speaking Community in Belgium, stated: “European territorial cohesion has a fundamental meaning in border regions. They are areas where Europe grows together, but they also face important obstacles and challenges, even 20 years after the completion of the internal market. A strong cohesion policy is an essential instrument for these areas.”

Nazario Pagano, President of the Conference of European Regional Legislative Assemblies (CALRE) and President of Abruzzo Regional Council (Italy), said: “In support of the position expressed by the European Parliament on 8 June, the European Commission should introduce a category of “intermediate Regions” whose level of per capita GDP is between 75% and 90% of the EU average, for the future planning period of European structural funds. In the light of the recent Mediterranean crisis, recognition of a “common European border” and an appropriate revision of the Schengen provisions would be desirable. On behalf of the many CALRE Regions having to deal with migratory flows, I call on the European Commission to continue its dialogue with the Southern Mediterranean countries on the themes of migration, mobility and security.”

Strong European neighbourhood policy

Michèle Sabban, President of the Assembly of European Regions (AER) and Vice-President of the Ile-de-France region, underlined “We welcome with satisfaction the recent EU communication on the reform of the European Neighbourhood Policy (ENP), which will help to ensure the political stability of certain eastern European states. As regional democracy is a key element of any progress towards democratisation, the regions should become true partners, and not merely beneficiaries, of the ENP. These voluntary politics should also be extended beyond the borders of Europe, particularly in light of the recent developments in North Africa, to support the people. Together, strengthened by our experiences, we should help these new democracies carry out their decentralisation process.”

For more information: [email protected]

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Waiting for 2012: AER brings Croatian civil society closer to Europe

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Porec, Istria (HR), 15th October 2010

True to its mission of reinforcing subsidiarity and bringing Europe closer to its citizens, the Assembly of European Regions (AER) organised a Citizens’ Forum in the region of Istria in Croatia. The local population was invited to debate with local and regional authorities representatives and the European Union the perspectives that EU accession offers for decentralisation.

“In contrast to popular thought, that the citizens show no sign of neither curiosity nor interest in Europe, we were extremely pleased to see 70 local residents contributing to our forum,” enthused Michèle Sabban, President of the Assembly of European Regions.

The participants’ primary concern with regards to Croatia’s accession to the EU is that they would have to comply with Europe’s regulations and standards. Mr Ivan Jakovcic, President of the region of Istria, responded to his fellow citizens:“Europe is an opportunity for Croatia! We should not be afraid of it; on the contrary we should accept its rules and contribute all of our ideas. In exchange, Europe will enable us to turn these ideas into reality, thanks to the funding we will benefit from. I am also thrilled that my region is a member of AER, because the Assembly is already offering us its expertise to help us prepare for accession. It is now up to our country to proceed with the required decentralisation, to allow us to be competitive and best utilise EU structural funds,” he added.

Michèle SABBAN stressed that “AER offers its members a participatory forum. Since its creation, our Assembly has always been a waiting room for accession countries. We are continuing this mission today with our Croatian members.”

An original element of this debate was the vote participants were invited to participate in: Will Croatian regions and their citizens benefit from EU accession? Their response was a clear sign that citizens are not as Eurosceptic as some may think: 90% of participants voted yes.

This Forum was part of the meeting of the AER political Bureau, the last important date in the AER calendar before its General Assembly that will take place on 11-12 November in Istanbul (TR).

For more information: [email protected]

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AER brings its expertise to the Albanian regions

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Michèle Sabban highlights regions as important stakeholders for youth employment

Tirana (AL), 1st July 2010.

Michèle Sabban, AER President, came to Albania at the invitation of the United Nations Programme for Youth Employment and Migration (YEM).

Ms. Sabban was invited as a keynote speaker during a forum entitled “Youth Employment in Albania: Innovative approaches and financing mechanisms”. In this forum, policy makers, the private sector and partners discussed how innovative approaches – such as public-private partnership (PPP) – at the regional level could promote youth employment in Albania. The main objective of this event was to increase the awareness of the regions and public sector to improve their potential regarding youth employment in a country such as Albania, where fiscal decentralization is in its early stages. The event was attended by Presidents of all Albanian regions, as well as by stakeholders involved in the youth employment, such as the Albanian Ministers of Labour, Social Affairs and Equal Opportunities, Youth and Home Affairs.

The visit of Ms. Sabban was the opportunity to officially launch the Regional Employment Fund of Shkodra in the presence of Gjovalin Kolomba, President of the Shkodra Regional Council. This fund is the first financial instrument in Albania enabling a regional administration to improve youth employment at the regional level: “We know that employment is the first social integrator. The effort to create this fund is really crucial since almost 46% of Albanian citizens are under 25 years old. AER has always valued entrepreneurship and youth participation in European affairs, particularly through its mobility program Eurodyssey and Youth Regional Network (YRN)” said Michèle Sabban.

Ms. Sabban stressed in the presence of all Albanian regional Presidents that AER would provide support and expertise for the future initiatives to give young people the place they deserve on the labour market. 11 out of 12 Albanian regions are currently members of AER: Berat, Dibër, Durrës, Elbasan, Gjirokastër, Korçë, Kukës, Lezhë, Shkodër, Tiranë and Vlore. “The establishment of this fund may provide a compelling argument in favour of the creation of a permanent fund for employment and social issues – like the EU structural or social funds that exist in many countries around the world”, she concluded.

Tomorrow the AER President will meet the President of the Republic of Albania, Bamir Topi. Together, they will discuss different regional models adopted in the AER member regions, as Albania is currently debating and reflecting about decentralisation. On this occasion Ms. Sabban will present to Mr. Topi the AER 2010 Regionalism Report.

For more information: [email protected]

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AER report: the state of regionalism in Europe

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Since the creation of the AER in 1985, Europe has achieved significant advances along the path of regionalisation. This trend has obviously been due to the efforts of our members, who for 25 years have been militating for greater recognition of the key role played by the Regions in the construction of Europe, and specifically in its ownership at political and citizen level. Incidentally, over this period, most European countries have experienced decentralisation, to a greater or lesser degree depending on each one’s constitutional and political traditions. The Lisbon Treaty has taken these trends into account. The rise of the regional layer in multi-level governance is now widely recognised, even if only via the right granted to the Committee of the Regions to appeal direct to the Court of Justice of the European Communities in the event of any violation of the principle of subsidiarity. This shows that the principle of local autonomy has certainly been strengthened, but also fully institutionalised following the highly uncertain phase of European construction that culminated in the signature of the Lisbon Treaty.

But this does not mean that the dynamic of regionalisation and decentralisation has been completed or even that it has become widespread. The most recent European legislative elections gave us a reminder that politically, Europe remains both uncertain and perfectible. There is no doubt that in that respect, multi-level governance needs to make a fresh qualitative leap in the years ahead in order to bridge the gulf that has opened between the institutional life of the Union and that of its citizens. The budgetary period currently starting must enable us to achieve the objective of territorial cohesion laid down by the Lisbon Treaty.

It is the objective of better grasping the Regions’ new framework of action that is driving the AER to organise a conference in December that will bring together institutions from the EU, member regions and States, primarily for the sake of exploring a better use of the structural funds. In other areas – be it the fight against climate change or the economic recovery – we must continue to use the exchange of good practices and the development of local solutions to press on towards our common goal of a Europe which is sustainable and geared to its citizens.

 

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Budget Commissioner expresses willingness to collaborate with decentralised government

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Brussels (B), 18 May 2010

EU Budget Commissioner, Janusz Lewandowski, recognised the vital role of local and regional authorities and expressed his willingness to work with these in the context of the EU budget review and beyond, at the occasion of a high-level informal exchange held on 17 May, in Brussels.
The exchange brought together the Commissioner and representatives from the Assembly of European Regions (AER), the Conference of Peripheral Maritime Regions (CPMR), the Council of European Municipalities and Regions (CEMR) and EUROCITIES.

Decentralisation and multi-level governance


“Europe needs to concentrate on how to improve the delivering mechanism of cohesion policy, but I am sure of the fact that this must be done through a decentralised management system and multi-level governance.    Local and regional authorities must feel a sense of programme and policy ownership, so as to help close the gap between distant Brussels and European citizens,” Janusz Lewandowski, EU Financial Programming and Budget Commissioner.

Cohesion Policy and sectoral organisation of EU Policies


“We are against the renationalisation of Cohesion Policy. It must remain a strong EU policy covering all of our regions. In this, the local and regional levels are the European Commission’s natural partners,” Daniel Termont, EUROCITIES Executive Committee member and Mayor of Ghent, Belgium.
“A sectoral organisation of policies has never existed at the EU level, and nor should it. Sectoralisation would not lead to efficient spending with impact and would create a very negative image of Europe in its citizens’ eyes,” Klaus Klipp, AER Secretary General.

Management of EU funds


“EU money creates an opportunity for growth and innovation that would not be there otherwise because our normal basic budgets are not able to do anything like that. Our concern is that a drastic reduction or an absence of funds in the next programming period could result in serious damage to our economy as well as jeopardising the efforts made thus far,” Carolyn Rule, Cabinet Member for Economy and Regeneration, Cornwall Council, United Kingdom.“Structural funds are not a tool, they are a policy for regions lagging behind but also for competitiveness. We must reassure local and regional authorities using funds that the Cohesion Policy will continue to stand on its own and will become ever stronger in the future,” Eleni Marianou, CPMR Secretary General.
“In the context of a possible Europeanisation of funds, I believe that the EU should be competitive and should thus remain balanced in its approaches and ambitions. We must avoid the dismantlement of existing policies,” Janusz Lewandowski, EU Financial Programming and Budget Commissioner.
“Small, interregional and private-public projects, among others, can provide European policies with added-value while mobilising citizens locally. Thus, it is very important that the EU budget not solely concentrate on bigger projects as this would allow for smaller municipalities and regions to be a part of the European project-building and so that everyone may benefit from EU funds,” Frédéric Vallier, CEMR Secretary General.

For more information: [email protected]

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Thematic dossier n°23 on Economy and Growth – Spring 2010

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Economy and Growth

Table of contents:

  • Editorial: Håkan Sandgren, President of AER’s ‘Economy and Regional development’ Committee, County Councillor of Jönköping (S)
  • And the winner is… 5th innovation award
  • Young ambition: Europe must support young entrepreneurs
  • Interview: Anton Kuzmin, President of the Olomouc youth county council (Czech Republic)
  • 2020 vision: Europe will fail to meet its 2020 targets if it does not recognise the role of regions in its implementation
  • The Baden-Württemberg’s example
  • Gender agenda: AER conference on how best to promote female entrepreneurship in regions
  • Regional governance boosts economic success, says report: AER study shows positive economic impact of decentralisation

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