Institutional affairs Archives - Page 13 of 13 - Assembly of European Regions

This is the tag for all posts relating to Institution affairs.

Mrs Propok, AER President, met the new Czech regions

5 October, 2001 By Editor

Budweis (CZ), 5 October 2001

Mrs Liese Prokop, Vice-Minister President of Niederösterreich (A) and AER President, met today in Budweis (CZ) the 14 new Czech regions, results from the administrative reform of the country that came into effect on January 1st, 2001. Mrs Prokop’s wish was to meet the new representatives of all these regions in order to win them over to the AER’s cause.

“The Enlargement process of the European Union gives the regions an opportunity to put to the test the model promoted by the AER and to reinforce their political role in Europe. Within the context of the “After-Nice” process and the debate on the future of Europe, the AER, and with it the regions in Europe, draw the attention to the fact that a proper distribution of responsibilities as well as a clear and equitable separation of powers with well-adapted decision and control mechanisms are necessary in order to avoid centralization at European level”, Mrs. Prokop said.

“Now, more than ever, the time for Regions and States has come to convince the European citizens that in the long run only a federal structure can serve as a stable base for further developments of the Union. As regional leaders we have to persuade our populations that regionalism in its federal form is an efficient way to prevent the development of Europe with all power centralized in Brussels. Our way of seeing the rights of democratic participation and decision leaves the necessary margin for autonomous and independent territorial entities, which we cannot imagine functioning without self-responsibility, subsidiarity and competition” Mrs Prokop added in Budweis.

For more information: [email protected]

Follow AER!

Full recognition for the role of the Regions in the future structure of Europe

13 June, 2001 By Editor

Brussels (B), 13 June 2001

“Organisations representing the Regions such as the AER – which brings together both EU Regions and those in applicant countries – must be included in the activities of the future group responsible for preparing the Intergovernmental Conference in 2004” declared Liese Prokop, President of the Assembly of European Regions, at the press conference in Brussels on 13th June.

Whilst welcoming the initiative of the future Belgian Presidency to include the consideration of the role of constitutional Regions in decision-making at Community level in its programme, Mrs Prokop insisted, during her interviews with Mr Van Cauwenberghe, Minister-President of Wallonia, in particular, that this consideration must be more general and lead towards increased participation of all the Regions in European decision-making. “The Regions are the carriers of democratic legitimacy based on proximity and their opinions must be acted on at European level. On this condition, we can fight the current democratic deficit and construct a Europe close to the citizens”.

The AER President also stressed that “it was essential to keep the principle of subsidiarity as the structural element in the current debate on the future and the architecture of the enlarged Europe. This principle will allow us to return to the roots of democracy and ensure proximity with the citizen. It helps to clarify the competences and responsibilities of the various levels of decision making and to apply good governance which satisfies, not only the intellectual elite, but the citizens in general.”

For more information: [email protected]

Follow AER!

The Regions of Europe present their own ideas concerning a European constitutional system

9 February, 2001 By Editor

Willi Stächele: “In the future, We, the Regions, will play a even greater role in discussions within Europe”

The Regions of Europe request a delimitation of competences based on the principle of subsidiarity within the European Union which does not affect the foundations of the autonomy of member States and Regions, declared Willi Stächele, Secretary of State, President of Committee A “Policies and Institutional Affairs” of the Assembly of European Regions (AER) on Friday 9th February 2001 in Berlin.

With the “Declaration on the future of the Union”, the European Council in Nice opened the debate on the European Constitution, stressed Willi Stächele, who is also AER Vice-President. Representatives from over 40 European Regions explained, when speaking during the meeting, how the European constitutional system should meet the future demands of regional autonomy, he added.

At the centre of the Regions’ calls also comes the nomination of an independent authority which would ensure that the respective competences were respected and that the Regions could sue directly. Finally, the Committee of the Regions should be strengthened as the representative of the Regions’ interests, maintained Mr Stächele.

These are the main points for an AER position on the Intergovernmental Conference in 2004, formulated by Committee A “Policies and Institutional Affairs” on 8 and 9 February at the premises of the representation of Baden-Württemberg in Berlin. The German and Austrian Länder were present as well as the Spanish autonomous Communities, the Belgian Regions and linguistic Communities and Regions from all over Europe: Denmark, Holland, Hungary, Italy, Norway, Portugal, Romania, Sweden, Switzerland and the United Kingdom.

Committee A presented other draft resolutions which must be adopted in March by the AER Bureau, added Willi Stächele. The Committee dealt with the European Commission’s draft White paper on “new governance”: the approach to the concept of governance, according to which new forms of cooperation between the various levels of activity and decision within the EU must be found, was well received.

The danger of networking decision-making was also stressed, as this would allow European bodies to be influencial outside of their areas of competences. The concept of governance could be in contradiction with the objective of Nice, i.e. to strictly specify the competences within the EU. The representatives of the Regions in Berlin proposed, in this light, to reduce the complexity of the regulations.

For more information: [email protected]

Follow AER!

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

1 February, 2001 By Editor

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

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

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

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

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

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

For more information: [email protected]

Follow AER!

General Assembly 2002 in Seinäjoki: A woman at the head of the AER!

7 December, 2000 By Editor

15th General Assembly of the Regions of Europe

Seinäjoki, South Ostrobothnia (FIN), 7 December 2000

Mrs Liese Prokop, Vice-Minister President of Niederösterreich (Austria) since 1992, has just been elected AER President for 2001-2003. She is therefore the 5th AER President following Edgar Faure (Franche-Comté – F), Carlo Bernini (Veneto – I), Jordi Pujol (Catalunya – E) and Luc Van den Brande (Vlaanderen – B).

For the last 30 years, Liese Prokop, Austrian, has been a front running political actor in her country. For the AER, the election of Mrs Liese Prokop represents an additional asset with Austria being the long standing geographical link between the Regions of Western, Central and Eastern Europe.

Liese Prokop is also an outstanding performer in the world of sport as a top athlete. She won a silver medal for the pentathlon at the Olympics in Mexico in 1968; was junior champion in 1967 and broke the world record in 1969, again in the pentathlon. She is currently President of the Austrian Union of Sports Organisations.

With the election of Liese Prokop, the AER efforts to encourage equal opportunities for men and women are given added impetus.

The new AER President will be assisted in her tasks by the Vice-President Jan Waszkiewicz, President of the Region of Dolnoslaskie – PL, Vice-President Lambert van Nistelrooij, member of the Regional Council of Noord-Braabant – NL and Vice-President Treasurer Claude Ruey, State Councillor from the Canton of Vaud – CH (second election).

The new Committee Presidents are:
– “Institutional Affairs and East-West Cooperation”: Willi Stächele, State Secretary for Baden-Württemberg (D)
– “Social cohesion, Social services, Public Health, Employment”: Ragnar Kristoffersen, President of Akershus (N)
– “Regional Policies, Spatial planning, Infrastructures, Environment, Tourism“: Brian Greenslade, President of Devon (GB)
– “Culture, Education and Training, Youth, Media, Sport“: Bruno Hosp, Minister of Culture of BozenSüdtirol/Bolzano-Alto Adige (I)

In addition, a special mandate concerning the participation of young people in public regional life and the development of interregional cooperation in the Balkans was given to Roberto Antonione, President of Friuli Venezia-Giulia (I).

For more information: [email protected]

Follow AER!

14th General Assembly of European Regions: 2-3 December 1999, Lyon, Rhône-Alpes (F)

28 September, 1999 By Editor

At the invitation of Anne-Marie Comparini, President of the Rhône-Alpes Region, the representatives of 300 Regions from 26 European countries, members of the Assembly of European Regions (AER), will take their General Assembly in Lyon on 2nd and 3rd December 1999.

A few days before the European Council of Helsinki (10-11 December), this General Assembly will be the occasion for the Regions to formulate their common position in view of the next Intergovernmental Conference (IGC), which will deal with the way improving the organisation of the EU institutions and the decision-making process at European level.

The Regions will also prepare their proposals relative to the foreseen European Constitution and the Charta on fundamental rights of the EU. As a forum for exchanges between European Regions and debates with representatives of European institutions, the General Assembly will also raise other subjects of interest to the European Regions, such as their role in the enlargement process and the European integration of central and western European Regions, the question of training and employment, as well as the reinforcement of interregional cooperation networks to enhance peace and solidarity in Europe.

For more information: [email protected]

Follow AER!

Meeting of the AER political Bureau

12 May, 1999 By Editor

Brussels, 12 May 1999

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

• Regions faced with the situation in Kosovo;

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

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

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

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

For more information: [email protected]

Follow AER!

AER Declaration on Regionalism

30 August, 1996 By Editor

The “Declaration on Regionalism” in Europe was adopted by the AER in 1996 during the General Meeting of European Regions in Basel (CH). It is a reference document for new regions or those undergoing expansion. It defines the norms and criteria for regional development and fixes the different steps to be undertaken so that the region can beacknowledged as a fully-fledged political entity. There is currently awide range of different regional structures in Europe. The “Declaration” has not chosen to promote a specific type of regionalism but sets out ageneral framework within which the regions may develop.
“The Assembly of European Regions strives to have regionalism recognised not only within the European Union but also beyond. At a time when, within Europe, the strengthening of the European Union is being reflected upon, the role of the regions in the unification process is gaining importance. Themes such as the distribution of responsibilities and the cooperation through partnerships between the various policy levels have consequently come to the fore, subsidiarity being the basic principle to define everyone’s role. The movement for regionalism is strong within the European Union as well as beyond. It is fuelled by the belief that the powers vested in the European Union, the (Member-) States and the regions are complementary.Regions, federated states and autonomous communities are above all mainstays of democracy; they strongly support cultural diversity in Europe and they are major partners in socio-economic development. This is why they should be able to take responsibilities in the policy areas where they have a competitive advantage, amongst others, in economics (employment), culture, the environment, regional and country planning, scientific research etc.The Declaration on regionalism adopted by the Assembly of European Regions offers a reliable guide for regions on the way to enlargening and strengthening their powers. It is a document of norms and standards, an entity of beacons and stepping stones. It is not a charter that fixes the minimum norms for recognition of a region. The rich diversity of regions in the AER yields a great number of models and structures to streamline regional development. The Declaration on regionalism sets out the guidelines within which the AER member regions develop. Thus they endorse the AER objective: strengthening regional development.
By this Declaration the AER wants to show what it, together with its members, strives for. They can enrich and strengthen the AER. This is why the Declaration is distributed, presented and discussed within the AER as well as beyond. In our capacity as former and current Presidents of the AER, we want to further promote regionalism in Europe, thereby enabling regions to take up more responsibility in a Europe that is closer to the citizen”.