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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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The Assembly of European Regions elects its Committee Presidents

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Mallorca, Balears Islands (E), 9 November 2006

The new Bureau of the Assembly of European Regions (AER) elected this morning the Committee Presidents:

Onno Hoes, Member of the Executive Board of the Province of Noord-Brabant (Netherlands) is re-elected President of the Committee on Economy and Regional Development (Committee 1).

Constantin Ostaficiuc, President of Timis County Council (Romania), is elected President of the Committee on Social Policy and Public Health (Committee 2).

Johanna Mikl-Leitner, Landesrätin (Regional Minister) of Niederösterreich (Austria) is re-elected President of the Committee on Culture and Education (Committee 3).

…Some info about them:


Mr. Onno Hoes, Member of the Executive Board of the Province of Noord-Brabant (NL)

Member of the Liberal Party (VVD, People’s Party for Freedom and Democracy), he started his political career in 1992 as Member of the VVD Group in Noord-Brabant Provincial Council. Since 2000, he has been a Member of the VVD Party Council. Onno Hoes is Member of the Board of Provincial Executive of Noord-Brabant since 2001.

Mr. Constantin Ostaficiuc, President of Timis County Council (RO)

Constantin Ostaficiuc is an Engineer in Computer Sciences & Automation. Member of the European People’s Party, he was Vice-President of the Timis Democrat Party (1995-2005). Currently Executive President of the Timis County Council, he was first Deputy Prefect (1996-2000) and then County Vice-President (2000-2004). Mr Ostaficiuc is also Vice-President of the Board of Management of the National Union of County Councils of Romania (NUCCR) and President of the Technical Committee for Decentralization of NUCCR. This is the first time that a President from Romania is elected chairman of an AER Committee.

Mrs. Mag. Johanna Mikl-Leitner, Landesrätin (Regional Minister) of Niederösterreich (A)

After her studies in Business Education and her activities at the Austrian Federation of Industry and an editing company, she started her political career in 1995 for the Peoples Party (ÖVP) of Niederösterreich. Having been elected as the ÖVP’s Regional Executive Manager between 1998 and 2003, she was also member of the Austrian National Parliament for more than three years. Mag. Johanna Mikl-Leitner was named Regional Minister of Niederösterreich for EU Enlargement and Generations in April 2003.

For more information: [email protected]

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General Assembly 2006 in Palma de Mallorca: Think global, but act regional!

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The regions harness the benefits of globalisation

Palma de Mallorca, Balears Islands (E), 9 November 2006

At the occasion of its General Assembly, bringing together over 140 regions from 27 European countries, the Assembly of European Regions (AER) deconstructed the myths surrounding globalisation and adopted its final declaration on how to harness the opportunities of a globalised world. ‘The Regions understand the potential that globalisation can offer them to develop their economies, their cultures and their societies. Regions are not afraid to tackle global challenges head on. Today the Assembly of European Regions has taken a stand on migration, delocalisation, the environment and cultural diversity,’ stated Riccardo Illy, President of the AER and President of the region Friuli Venezia Giulia-I.

‘We insist  that the regions should adopt a responsible and mature approach to migration, based on close cooperation between the host regions and the regions of origin. I understand that at first glance, migration may be perceived as an uncontrolled incursion, but I am convinced that in the long term, it can and will have a positive effect on our cultures, economies and societies. In our Autonomous region, the Illes Balears, we have witnessed the arrival of a large numbers of migrants, and we have already experienced the mutual enrichment that migration can bring. We are eager to share our experience with the other AER member regions, in order to help them overcome the challenges migration poses and to allow them to benefit fully from its potential,’ stated Cristóbal Huguet Sintes, Minister for Labour and Training of the Regional Government of Illes Balears (E), the host region for the meeting.

‘The AER Regions are committed to promoting renewable energies and environment-friendly territorial policies. We demand that regions have the necessary financial and legislative competences in order to strengthen our economies and respond to global competition,’ Riccardo Illy explained. In his speech as re-elected AER President, Riccardo Illy said that the regions are best suited to ‘restart the engine’ and reboost the European integration process, because they are ‘better able to communicate with citizens.’ He stated that Europe’s competitive edge lies in its ‘pluralist society, which is multilingual, multicultural and multireligious’ and concluded that ‘Europe has already been created, now we have to create Europeans. This is one of the main missions of the Assembly of European Regions.’

Addressing the 500 participants, European Commissioner Danuta Hübner underlined that ‘The importance of local and regional economies for Europe’s growth will inevitably increase, thereby rendering the need for synergies in multi-level governance more urgent. Clearly, our regions should continue to measure their strengths and weaknesses within the European framework of reference; this is the imperative of convergence. On the other hand however, we cannot ignore the fact that European regions and cities are increasingly exposed to the global economy. This means more emphasis on the regions’ position in key global networks, clusters and chains. There is no sustainable cohesion without competitiveness,’ Danuta Hübner added.

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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Commissioner: “Cultural and educational standards will be preserved under the Lisbon strategy”

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Brussels (B), 20 June 2006

The 4th structured dialogue meeting held in Brussels on 20th June with Commissioner Jan Figel on “The European Policy of Education and Culture: its contribution to the success of the Lisbon Strategy – the role of regions and cities’ has been for the Assembly of European Regions (AER) again an opportunity to underline the necessity of regional autonomy in cultural and educational policies.

Speaking on behalf of the AER, Erik Sedig, Member of the Board of Regional Development of Västerbotten (S), pointed out the existing correlation between education, culture, traditions and heritage on the one hand and the dynamics they create for the respective economic sectors as well as economy as a whole on the other hand. With regard to the Lisbon strategy, which he considered essential for making the European project a success, he warned however that ‘subjugating the spheres of culture and education to the rules of a liberalised market alone would reduce diversity and betray European values”.

Commissioner Figel agreed that culture and education policies should not be dealt with from an economic point of view alone and that culture should not be considered under the label of „business-as-usual’. “The European Commission is well aware of the fundamentally different character of culture and education among the EU policy areas and of the fact that in these policy areas the European Regions are the key for their successful implementation”, he continued. Commissioner Figel indicated furthermore that his services are currently working on the question how culture-related industries can be supported in the EU.

Finally, Commissioner Figel welcomed the AER’s offer to serve as an intermediary in the Commissions effort to reach out to the European citizen by accepting Mr Sedig’s proposal to “engage local and regional authorities in order not only to ensure an effective implementation of the European Commission’s policies, but also to facilitate the transfer of its messages to the citizens in the European regions”.

Concluding the meeting, Chairman Luc van den Brande, 1st Vice-President of the Committee of the Regions and former President of the AER, highlighted the long experience of the AER in the exchange of best practices and expressed his particular appreciation of its programmes, such as Eurodyseey, which prove the European regions’ ability and valuable role in promoting European cooperation.

For more information: [email protected]

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‘Education or Training? – The Lisbon process and the European soul’

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Pécs, Baranya (H), 1 June 2006

‘Education or Training? – The Lisbon process and the European soul’ was the title of the speech Minister Johanna Mikl-Leitner (Lower Austria), President of the Assembly of European Regions’ Committee on Culture, Education & Training, Media & Information Technology, Youth and Sport, held on 25 May 2006 in Pécs, capital of the Hungarian County of Baranya. The AER member county of Baranya hosted the international conference ‘Europe’s future – The culture of the future’ in the European Capital of Culture 2010.

Over 100 personalities from cultural policy and cultural management from Hungary, Austria, Romania, the Slovak Republic, the Republic of Serbia, the Federal Republic of Germany and Norway have contributed and participated to the discussions at the conference, which emphasized the notion of the ‘cultural region’.

Committee President Mikl-Leitner underlined the link between culture and education and launched an appeal to the Regions that European education should not be sacrificed for an economy-centred training ‘We live not only in a Europe without frontiers but also in a world without frontiers. Young people should therefore also acquire economic skills earlier than in the past,’ Regional Minister Mikl-Leitner said, who is also responsible for Youth Affairs. ‘But I do not see why we should renounce cultural skills, the knowledge about our origins, our traditions and values.’

The Lisbon process is embedded in a context in which even education is subjected to the logic of the market. There is a danger that cultural and human sciences will be classified as ‘unnecessary’.

Mikl-Leitner recalled the importance of the cultural sciences for preserving the cultural heritage, which is an economic factor and creates jobs in many ways. The worst that can happen to Europe is that cultural education stops being a value. If we wish to promote lifelong learning, it can only be achieved through a broad education at an early age.

Addressing the economy, Johanna Mikl-Leitner launched an appeal, stating that creativity and the capacity to identify multiple solutions are the characteristics of an artistic aptitude and at the same time the pre-conditions for an innovative economy.

For more information: [email protected]

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45 Regions show the way to achieve both regional and European competitiveness

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S’Hertogenbosch, Noord-Brabant (NL), 19 May 2006

At a time when the European Institutions ask the regions to participate in the process of European competitiveness, the Assembly of European Regions (AER) made today its contribution to increase regional economic development.

“We, the Regions, can contribute to a better future for Europe and its citizens. We do not want to wait until the EU gives us the new lines on the financial perspectives to act regionally. There is a need to combine innovation efforts of regional, national and European governments,” pointed out Onno Hoes, President of the AER Committee on ‘Regional Policies’ and Regional Minister for Economic and European Affairs of Noord-Brabant-NL. This is the reason why the AER and the Province Noord-Brabant invited Regions and stakeholders to join a two days Seminar and Partnership Fair: ‘Regions as the driving forces of European competitiveness: from theory to practice’. “We now hope that Brussels is ready to become a real partner for the European regions,” Mr Hoes added. “There has to be a stronger alliance between Brussels and the Regions, because if we have to wait for our Member States to emphasise the issues of the future, we won’t win the competition with the United States and Asia.”

“I am proud to announce that 200 people, representing 45 Regions from 18 European countries, European Institutions and relevant organisations took part in the event!” underlined Onno Hoes. Through thematic workshops, participants shared experiences on how to identify the main economic assets of a Region and the importance of innovation. “One of our main goals is to connect economic innovation with the environmental and social agendas,” Mr Hoes stated. “This is the moment where political aims and the possibilities for Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) meet each other.” The topic of innovation was also present thanks to an exhibition area where participants could discover examples of best practices in energy, ageing or revitalisation of the countryside.

This event is one more step in the long-term strategy of the AER. “We will pursue our action with our 255 member Regions at our General Assembly in November 2006,” underlined Klaus Klipp, Secretary General of the AER. “In today’s globalised world, European competitiveness must come from the Regions. We have no reason to fear the global economy, we just have to adopt a practical and realistic approach, like we did today.”

For more information: [email protected]

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Interregional cooperation for competitiveness and innovation

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Two weeks ago, the Assembly of European Regions (AER) stressed in a  meeting with Commissioner Hübner the importance of interregional cooperation. This week on 19, 20 and 21 April the AER took in Valencia another important step to support and promote interregional cooperation. At the AER Centurio conference, regional best practices in the field of innovation and competitiveness have been presented and studied by participants from 31 regions from all over Europe. „Competitiveness can only be reached on local and regional levels by directly sharing knowledge between the Regions’ stated Rafael Ripoll, Vice-Minister for European Affairs and Development Cooperation of the Comunitat Valenciana-E.
Several workshops for regional innovation, economic development and tourism allowed participants to have a debate between each other and with European experts about the ways of transferring best practices from one Region to another.

The future of interregional cooperation was as well discussed during the conference. Ulla Ropponen from the DG Regional Policy of the European Commission presented the possibilities on interregional level for the period of 2007 until 2013. ‘Within the new Territorial Cooperation objective, Interreg III C will have one single successor programme for thematic interregional cooperation with strong focus on Lisbon (the EU strategy on innovation) and Gothenburg (sustainable development in economy, environment and employment)  priorities’ she announced.

As an example of positive sharing of experiences, the Danish Region of Vejle transferred its best practice “Green Network” to the Region of Olomouc in Czech Republic. The Green Network model is a voluntary co-operation on environmental improvements between private industries and public authorities, involving already 280 companies. The main idea of the common pilot project is now to foster a cooperation based on dialogue between the public sector and private companies or organizations in the region of Olomouc.

‘The exchange of experience is only one aspect of interregional cooperation. The next step is even more important: concrete actions to make use of the knowledge gained. The Centurio Programme has now been running for one and a half year and the participating Regions have already started the preparation of a new application for the next programming period’ said Klaus Klipp, the AER Secretary General.

The AER Centurio Interreg III C Programme runs for two and a half years and is co-financed by the European Commission with about EUR 1 Mio.

For more information: [email protected]

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The European regions call on MEPs to reach a compromise on the Services Directive

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The 255 member regions of the Assembly of European Regions (AER) call upon the European Parliament to reach a compromise on the Services Directive during its debate on Tuesday 14th February 2006.

‘The debate on the services Directive has lasted for almost two years. Since the very beginning, the AER has raised the citizens’ concerns over this Directive. The regions now call upon the MEPs to resolve this debate and to adopt a compromise opinion during the vote on Thursday 16th February 2006,’ stated Johanna Mikl-Leitner, President of the AER Committee for ‘Culture, Education & Training, Youth’ and Minister for European Affairs of Niederösterreich (A). ‘The AER welcomes the fact that the European Parliament has acknowledged the special position of cultural, education and audiovisual services in the European economy. We call on the MEPs to ensure the exclusion of these service sectors from the scope of the Directive in order to save their diversity and quality,’ she added.

‘Health and social services are integral to the achievement of European economic growth. This however does not mean that these sectors are a part of the European internal market,’ added Stig-Erik Westmark, President of the AER Committee for Social Cohesion, Social Services and Public Health and Member of the County Council of Västmanland (S). ‘The European Parliament should therefore also exempt health and social services from the Directive’, he stated.
Regions must be guaranteed the right to uphold the public interest according to the specificities of their territories. The inclusion of the abovementioned service sectors under the scope of the Directive would have an adverse effect on the regions’ capacity to respond to their citizens’ needs. It would result in the harmonisation of public interest standards across Europe, irrespective of territorial or social particularities.

The AER’s long experience in regional diversity has shown that regions must have at their disposal a variety of means in order to serve the interest of their citizens.

For more information: [email protected]

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Innovation in Europe – Using the creative potential of the regions: General Meeting of the European Regions

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Strasbourg, 24th – 25th November 2005

‘The Regions’ initiatives are key ingredients of a winning Europe. However, the success of many regions – sometimes spectacular in terms of economic development – depends on their capacity to reinvest their local resources in an innovative way. The General Meeting of the European Regions in Strasbourg, co-organised with the Alsace Region, will be an opportunity for them to exchange their know-how and experience in this field and to build or re-launch cooperation projects. I look forward to welcoming you together with Adrien Zeller, President of the Regional Council of Alsace and Fabienne Keller, Mayor of Strasbourg, who have both given their support to this event’ said Riccardo Illy, President of the Assembly of European Regions (AER) and of the Region Friuli Venezia Giulia-Italy, initiator of the project.

Innovation and the role of the regions in the European project will be the two main issues of the General Meeting of the European Regions, organised by the AER on the 24th-25th November 2005 at the European Parliament in Strasbourg, where more than 600 regional representatives from the wider Europe are expected.

José Manuel Barroso, President of the European Commission, and well-known experts in the field of innovation and economic development, such as Isaac Getz, Professor at the European School of Management (ESCP-EAP), Paul Atkinson, member of the World Economy Group (Institut d’Etudes Politiques-Paris) and Edward Cameron, Director of the European Regions Research and Innovation Network (ERRIN), are among the main speakers. Several discussion tables will allow participants to debate and share their experiences, or simply to learn about what other regions do in the fields of innovation and economic development.

This event, preceded by the AER’s annual General Assembly, will also be an opportunity to celebrate the 20th Anniversary of the organisation. Charlie Jeffery, Professor of Politics at the University of Edinburgh, will speak about the role of the regions in the European project in the past twenty years and the perspectives for the future. The AER will also give award for the most Youth Friendly European Region 2005.

For more information: [email protected]

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Professional and social inclusion of young people: a new priority for Europe

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During the European Conference on “Promoting vocational training and youth mobility – an investment in Europe’s future”, organised today by the Assembly of European Regions (AER), Pierre Moscovici, Vice-President of the European Parliament, stated:

“The EU Member states must absolutely promote youth employment, in order to reduce unemployment among young people. They have to set up adequate paths towards youth employment and provide an appropriate assistance in job seeking. Most of the young people, who voted ‘no’ in the referenda on the European Constitutional Treaty in France, in Netherlands and in Luxembourg, wanted to express their worries: Europe is more a threat to them than a protection”, he added. “If we wish to involve them in the achievement of the Lisbon goals, we should help them to acquire knowledge and news skills through vocational training, to find jobs and to reconcile professional and family lives. In order to give an appropriate support to this new priority for Europe, the EU budget 2007-2013 for the European Youth programmes and initiatives should be higher than currently planned” stressed Mr Moscovici at the AER conference in front of 250 participants from 70 European regions

Nearly 20% of the young Europeans are jobless. “The indicators are extremely worrying in many European regions, both in the new Member states and the EU 15” said Raymond Forni, President of the Franche-Comté Region, initiator of this conference, which was aimed at mobilising regional authorities from across Europe and involving them in the AER Eurodyssey programme for the development of youth vocational training and international mobility.

“We wish to involve more regions in this programme which provides our young people a first work experience abroad. It is of major importance at this time of globalisation of our economy. We would be delighted if regions from the new EU Member states, the accession countries and from Ukraine and the Balkan states were to join us. A youth exchange scheme like Eurodyssey also encourages the development of interregional and transborder co-operation in other fields and fosters European integration’ stressed Riccardo Illy, President of the AER.

The AER campaign for the development of youth vocational training and international mobility will continue in 2006, declared the European Year of workers’ mobility, to which the European Commission has allocated a budget of 6 millions Euros and which is also open to local and regional initiatives.

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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Scenario Europe 2010 – The AER launched its work on the White Paper on the role of the regions

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Dubrovnik (HR), 29 Aprile 2005

‘EU enlargement and globalisation have created new opportunities and challenges for the European regions. The Constitutional Treaty currently in the process of being ratified in the Member States and the Lisbon Strategy imply the greater involvement of regions in all aspects of European governance in the next future, especially if we want to bring the European project closer to the citizens’ stated Lars-Gerhard Westberg (Västra-Götaland-S), Vice-President of the AER ‘Institutional Affairs’ Committee, at the conference on ‘The role of the regions in Europe: a Scenario for 2010’, organised by the Assembly of European Regions (AER) in Dubrovnik on 29th April.

‘European competitiveness and entrepreneurship will not improve unless they can build on existing conditions and opportunities in Europe’s regions, towns and municipalities’, said Mrs Catarina Segersten Larsson, Chair of the Värmland County Council Executive Committee (S). In her contribution “The Lisbon Strategy: the role of the regions in creating the world’s most competitive and dynamic knowledge-based economy by 2010”, Mrs Segersten Larsson pointed out that it is crucial for achieving the ambitious goals of the Lisbon Agenda, that the EU develop more grass-roots perspectives in all European policies and that the regions accept their responsibility in this process. Referring to the discussion paper by Mr Anders Gustâv, Chair of the ECOS, Committee of the Regions, which will be presented next week, Mrs Segersten Larsson insisted on a two-way approach to the implementation of the Lisbon Agenda on the regional level: improving regional competitiveness and developing public-private partnerships.

The conference also allowed regions to have an in-depth discussion on the impact of the Constitutional Treaty on the role of the regions in European governance, on new opportunities for regional participation in European policy making and on how the regions can contribute to the goal of bringing Europe closer to the citizens.

The conference was held in Croatia, a country where the issue of EU membership is currently at the forefront of the citizens’ minds. If the current stalemate between the EU and the Croatian government over co-operation with the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ITCY) is settled, it will be the regions that will have a leading role to play in preparing the country for EU membership. Through drawing upon the expertise of its 250 member regions, the AER will assist the Croatian regions in preparing for this challenge.

For more information: [email protected]

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What role for the regions in a Europe of 2010?

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Dubrovnik (HR), 29 Aprile 2005

“European competitiveness and entrepreneurship will not improve unless they can build on existing conditions and opportunities in Europe’s regions, towns and municipalities”, said Mrs Catarina Segersten Larsson, Chair of the Värmland County Council Executive Committee (S), at the conference on ‘the Role of the regions in Europe: a Scenario for 2010’, organised by the Assembly of European Regions (AER) in Dubrovnik on 29th April.

In her contribution “The Lisbon Strategy: the role of the regions in creating the world’s most competitive and dynamic knowledge-based economy by 2010”, Mrs Segersten Larsson pointed out that it is crucial for achieving the ambitious goals of the Lisbon Agenda that the EU develop more grass-roots perspectives in all European policies and that the regions accept their responsibility in this process and contribute in practical terms to its implementation.

Mrs Segersten Larsson insisted on a two-way approach to the implementation of the Lisbon Agenda on the regional level: improving regional competitiveness and developing public-private partnerships (PPP). Referring to the discussion paper by Mr Anders Gustâv, Chair of the ECOS, Committee of the Regions, which will be presented next week: “Europe needs more entrepreneurs and successful small businesses. Most new companies start out as small-scale local businesses. As public players and democratic institutions, the local and the regional authorities have an important influence on the soil that companies take root in and the climate that helps them to flourish” she highlighted.

Among other solutions, Mrs Segersten Larsson put forward:
-the development of cooperation with universities and colleges in order to promote higher education and disseminate research results,
-encouraging educational institutions, companies and employees to pull together in order to advance life-long learning,
-the promotion of public procurement an active, transparent instrument for promoting competition,
-the promotion of a culture of enterprise by introducing entrepreneurship in schools both as a specific subject and as an integral part of the curriculum
-the improvement of public communications in order to facilitate labour mobility,
-to ensure ease of access to local and regional transport systems as well as to broadband services.

Regarding the development of Public-Private Partnership on which Mrs Segersten Larsson has been rapporteur on behalf of the Committee of the Regions, she said that “public and private parties can no longer view themselves as conflicting parties, but on the contrary new forms ofr collaboration must be given scope to develop where both parties can participate and assume responsibility, share risks and simultaneously develop services in the best interests of the citizens”.

For more information: [email protected]

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We need exemption of small airports from EU Guidelines

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Riccardo Illy, President of the Assembly of European Regions (AER), meeting today with the President of the European Commission José Manuel Barroso, welcomed the new EU guidelines on aviation and regional airports, as well as the Commission initiative to launch a consultation before adopting a final regulation. ‘The AER, who called for the publication of EC guidelines in order to remove the legal uncertainty created as a result of the EC decision in the Ryanair/Charleroi case, recognises that the new guidelines adopt a flexible approach, acknowledging the vital role of regional airports for citizens’ mobility and the economic development of many regions of Europe’ he said. ‘More specifically, they clarify the role of national, regional and local authorities in the provision of key infrastructure and offer an improved set of conditions for public funding to assist the development of regional airports and interregional air connections’ he highlighted.

However, Riccardo Illy pointed out that ‘small airports, e.g. up to one million passengers a year, should have the choice to decide which measures they want to take to attract airlines. A European guideline should not reduce their bargaining power when negotiating with airlines. This may also create a legal problem for existing agreements, in larger airports, usually concluded for an average duration of 10 years’.

On behalf of the AER and the European Forum of Regional Airports (FARE), who share the same position, Riccardo Illy called upon the Commission President to ensure that such obstacles for the future development of regional airports and the obligation of prior notification of start-up aids, especially for small regional airports, are removed from the final regulation.

The exponential development of low-cost carriers in Europe has significantly contributed to the development of regional airports and of a network of interregional air connections, supporting citizens’ mobility, regional economic growth and job creation, as well as increasing the accessibility of peripheral regions in Europe. The new EU guidelines, currently under consultation, must aim at creating a favorable climate for further development of regional airports. To do so, they should not impose rigid rules regulating a market which is constantly evolving, but help to clarify the legal provisions regarding state aid in this field and reconcile the Market Economy Investor Principle with the need for the regions to secure their own development.

For more information: [email protected]

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