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Membership Action Plan: focus on Spain, Italy, France and Switzerland

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At the Executive Board (EB) in Batumi (Ajara-GE) on 15 September, EB members confirmed their concerted efforts to target membership actions in 4 key countries: Spain, Italy, France and Switzerland. A first series of visits in these countries was organised in Spring 2016 and showed great potential to renew links with current members and showing the AER added value to non-members.

The week long visits have been planned as follows:

  • 10-13 October: Cllr Roy Perry (Hampshire-UK), AER Vice-President for Institutional affairs will travel to France
  • 21-25 November: Ms Sonja Steen (Nordland-NO), President of AER Committee 3 will travel to Italy
  • 5-8 December: Mr Lukas Mandl (Lower Austria-AT), AER Bureau Rapporteur will travel to Switzerland
  • 12-16 December: Mr Magnus Berntsson (Västra Götaland-SE), AER Vice-President Treasurer will travel to Spain

Previous articles published on these visits:

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AER Breakfast Briefing and Summit of the Regions

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The Assembly of European Regions and its member region Lower Austria (AT) invite you to attend the Summit of Regions on 28 September in Brussels, at the occasion of the handover of the Book of Signatures of the initiative for a strong renewed regional policy with all regions post 2020.

Prior to the Summit, the AER President will welcome all AER members in the AER office for a Breakfast Briefing on the future of cohesion policy and an informal exchange of views.

Programme

09:00 – 10:00 Breakfast Briefing with the AER member regions

  • Dr. Hande Özsan Bozatli, AER President
  • Mr. Mathieu Mori, AER Secretary General
  • Mr. Sorin Mihai Grindeanu, President of Timis (RO)
  • Mr. Michiel Rijsberman, Regional Minister of Flevoland (NL) – represented by Mrs. Sidony Venema, EU Representative
  • Mr. Vasilis Margaris, Policy Advisor, European Parliament
 AER Brussels Office
(Rue d’Arlon 63)
11:00 – 15:00 EU Summit

The contribution of Europe’s regions to managing our future (agenda here)

 Committee of the Regions, room JDE51
(Rue Belliard 99-101)
15:30 Formal handover of the Book of Signatures to

  • Mrs. Corina Cretu, EU Commissioner for Regional Policy
  • Mrs. Iskra Mihayloiva MEP, Chair of the REGI Committee
  • Mr. Markku Markkula, President of the Committee of the Regions
 Representation of Bavaria to the EU
(Rue Wiertz 77)
16:00 Official Reception

Registration

 

Registrations are now closed for the Summit.
You are still welcome to register for the AER Breakfast Briefing (09-10 am).

Documents and information

Summit of the Regions – Official invitation
Summit of the Regions – Draft programme
Summit of the Regions – Official declaration for “a strong renewed cohesion policy post 2020“

AER meets EU institution leaders

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One week after the Brexit, AER President Dr Hande Özsan Bozatli and Secretary General Mathieu Mori met with Mr Timmermans, first vice President of the European Commission. The aim of the meeting was to discuss the 2017 work programme of the European Commission but also to enquire about the steps the Commission will take following the loss of one of the key EU members. After restating the key AER messages on current key topics such as renewal of cohesion policy, urban agenda while also calling for the Commission to produce a white paper on rural areas that would lead to a post-2020 rural development policy. The implementation of the European fund for strategic investment as well the future of asylum policy where also raised.
AER regretted that no strong signals in favour of a broad debate on the future of the European Union were given after the European Council that finished a few hours before our meeting with Mr Timmermans. AER is ready to take part in this needed debate, by brining forward ideas from its member regions.
Many questions still pending that will need a follow up with the European Commission over the next months.

Following this meeting, the AER President and Secretary General, accompanied by Laurent of Belgium, special adviser to the President met with Mr Markku Markkula, President of the Committee of the Regions. The meeting was the occasion to restate the good cooperation between AER and the CoR. The CoR was encouraged to make the most of the trusted partner that is AER, especially when it tries to reach out to non-EU members. Given the profile of AER membership and of AER President, there are many formal and informal links that can be put in place to work towards a more inclusive Europe.

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Sign here for the future of Cohesion policy

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The current programming period of cohesion policy is set until 2020. However, the discussions already started behind the doors of the European Commission and other institutions, especially as we are coming close to the mid-term review of the Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF), which will serve as a strong working base to prepare the post-2020 period. The EU Cohesion policy, as one of the biggest beneficiary of the EU budget, will obviously be discussed as well as the question whether Cohesion policy should cover all regions or only less developed regions in the future. This could be questioned as it is the only policy solely dedicated to the benefit of the regions and as such gives visibility to the regions of Europe and legitimation of regions as such.

Each decision taken in the framework of the discussions for the MFF will impact regions. Yet, the regions are not included in the decision-making process of the Multiannual Financial Framework. We do have a voice in shaping the content of EU Cohesion policy, yet no voice with regards to the MFF negotiations.

The region of Lower Austria (AT) launched an initiative to gather all regions of Europe to make their voices heard by the European Commission, the European Parliament, and the Council of the EU, as the regions are not included in the discussions about their own future. As stated by Erwin Pröll, Governor of Lower Austria, “(as) many European regions as possible and their interregional organisations as well as the European Committee of the Regions need to make a strong commitment for EU Cohesion policy. The more regions and organisations participate in this initiative the better is our democratic justification for this demand and the higher are the chances for the continuation of the EU Cohesion policy as a policy for all regions.”

AER took at active role in the Lower Austria initiative together with regional representation offices in Brussels. On top of the technical work, AER President, Dr. Hande Özsan Bozatli, headed a delegation of member regions to meet with Commissioner Crețu in order to discuss the first outcome of this initiative. We invite you all to join the initiative by signing the declaration by and sending it back to the AER Secretariat by 15 July .

The Book with all the signed political declarations will be handed in to the Presidents of the EU institutions at the Summit of the Regions on 28 September, with the attendance of regional and international media. The Presidents of the AER member regions are invited to attend the Summit together with the AER President, to raise awareness and exercise influence as early as possible in this key process of shaping a renewed EU Cohesion Policy after 2020.

Letter from Erwin Pröll, Governor of Lower Austria, to the AER members

For your signature: Political declaration “a strong renewed cohesion policy for all regions”

English version
German version
French version
Italian version
Spanish version
Finnish version
Swedish version
Romanian version
Hungarian version

Contacts

You want more information about this initiative or wish to remain informed about the next activities of AER regarding EU Cohesion Policy? Please contact Alexandre Brecx (+32 2 400 10 50).

 

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A conference on non-formal education in Brussels to close the YBB project

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AER would like to share the invitation from the Abruzzo region (IT) to take part in the final conference of the project: “yBBregions – Youth and Brussels-based“, which will be held at the premises of the Abruzzo region in Brussels from 9.00 on 16th June 2016.

The yBBregions project offered 80 young people coming from Abruzzo and three other regions (Dubrovnik-Neretva in Croatia, Lubuskie in Poland, and Prešov in Slovakia) the same cooperation platform which operates on daily basis for their respective regional office in Brussels. It created a set of opportunities to go through a unique non-formal learning experience.

The conference “Non-formal learning in the Brussels-based regions: lessons learnt and recommendations for the future” will present the outcome of the project and discuss with European and regional stakeholders a long-term approach to non-formal learning by the Brussels-based offices of our regions. You can download the agenda of the conference and a summary of project activities and main achievements.

After the conference, a buffet will be offered. A photo exhibition with images from the project will be inaugurated and open to the general public. This is a great opportunity for all stakeholders interested in non-formal education, youth issues, and regional cooperation, to discuss about the future of NFE and to draft a strategy for the upcoming years. If you wish to attend the conference, please contact the Abruzzo region office at [email protected].

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Re-connecting with the French regions

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Following the meeting on 20 May between AER President Dr Hande Özsan Bozatli, Secretary General Mathieu Mori and the new politicians from the Ile-de-France region, three more French regions have been visited from 25th to 27th of May by the AER. After the regional elections that took place in France a few months ago and the reform of French regions, AER wanted to meet the new executives of the regions and show its solidarity with its members at a challenging institutional times which has seen many regions merge.

Mr Magnus Berntsson, AER Vice-President, SG Mathieu Mori and officer Mikael Appelqvist have visited the new regions of Aquitaine-Limousin-Poitou-Charentes ; Bourgogne-Franche-Comté and Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes.


Aquitine-Limousin-Poitou-CharentesWednesday 25 May – Aquitaine-Limousin-Poitou-Charentes

Mr Mori met in Bordeaux with Ms Isabelle Boudineau, Vice President for European and International affairs in Aquitaine Limousin Poitou-Charentes. Youth mobility through Eurodyssey, e-health and green energy are topics which have been identified during the meeting, where work with AER could be envisaged. The new region will need time to adjust to its new institutional framework but the dialogue will continue in order to hopefully see a revitalised partnership in the forthcoming months.

 

 

Bourgogne-Franche-ComtéThursday 26 May – Bourgogne-Franche-Comté

AER met in Dijon with Ms Océane Charret Godard, Vice-President in charge of research, higher education and university and her team in the newly created region. The newly elected representative of the region has confirmed the continuation of the regional engagement in the Eurodyssey programme and its enlargement to the youth of Burgundy. Apart from the obvious advantage for youth, the programme was also praised for giving the opportunity to regional SMEs to welcome foreign young people, which is less the case with other European mobility programmes. The region would like to use Eurodyssey to go further in welcoming young people in the specific field of expertise of their regional companies in order to promote their very specific skills. After the region settles into its new ways of working, Ms Charret Godard would like to widen the involvement of the region in AER on the topics of education, innovation and research. AER and its regions look forward and stay ready for this further commitment.


Auvergne-Rhone-AlpesFriday 27 May – Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes

A new executive in a new region, represented by Mr Philippe Meunier, Vice-President for international partnerships welcomed in Lyon the AER delegation. The emphasis of their mandate is put on economic growth, developing business links with investors from other regions and promoting youth employment. The fact that AER covers much more than the EU member states is a great asset for the region. Particularly interested in developing links with Eastern Europe, Russia, the Balkans, the Black Sea area, AER will work at developing the links between its members from this geography and this highly dynamic and innovative region. The Eurodyssey programme will remain a key involvement of the region especially for the young persons with a more technical profile.

With a highly recognised cluster on e-health, the region would also be welcomed to join our work in this area.

With bigger regions and new politicians in many regions, AER looks forward to strengthening its partnership with French regions and will continue to meet with them throughout the year. If all French regions we met ask for some more time to be again 100% operational in international networks, time to organise the new way regions work and, in some cases time for newly elected politicians to settle down in their new positions, they know that AER is ready to help them in any way it can and is eagerly looking forward to having them on board as soon as they can.

 

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A more efficient implementation of environmental policies through the regions

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“It is useless to come with directives, regulations and strategies if they are not implemented“: Karmenu Vella, Commissioner for Environment, Maritime Affairs and Fisheries, opened the meeting with the delegation led by AER Vice-President Magnus Berntsson on 20 May 2016 in a frank and honest way, stressing the importance for the European Commission to cooperate with the regions for an efficient implementation of the environmental policies.

Magnus Berntsson took the opportunity of this meeting to introduce the keynote discussion on the topic of the Arctic that AER will hold in the framework of its 2016 General Assembly on 23 June in Nordland (NO). M. Vella presented the European Commission’s communication on “an integrated European Union policy for the Arctic” and expressed the crucial need to find global solutions and to take global actions in this area. The Arctic region indeed “represents a huge potential in terms of economic opportunities, which can only be sustainable by taking our environmental responsibilities” added the Commissioner. This potential was also raised by M. Berntsson, highlighting a.o. the blue growth and the green tourism.

Blue growth was at the heart of the discussions with a number of concrete examples given by the members of the AER delegation. Following the presentation made by the Commissioner on blue growth economy and the potentiality for outermost region (OR), Cyrielle Cuirassier, representing the outermost region of Guadeloupe (FR), took the opportunity to ask for the state of the art (technical level) regarding the task force to be launched. In line with the presentation made by the Commissioner, she reminded him about the specificities of the archipelago of Guadeloupe (art.349), and brought specific data such as the youth unemployment rate (Eurostat), and the added value of Guadeloupe as an OR in accordance with the communication of the EU commission (2012). Commissioner Vella promised to strengthen the dialogue on these topics with Commissioner Cretu, in charge of the outermost regions. Magnus Berntsson emphasized the need for common standards in the education system related to maritime professions, also to attract young people.

On top of the need to safeguard the oceans with sustainable fisheries and aquaculture, the Commission emphasized on the potential of energy (including innovative forms such as wave energy) that represent the oceans, and the question of global governance it raises to face these new challenges.

Making the link between maritime affairs and environment, all the parties around the table agreed on the urgent need to take actions regarding the use of plastics and its consequences on the oceans and shores. Again, the Commissioner called for a global response as “marine litter is a global problem: all possible waste end up in the oceans that we share globally” he said.

The topic of circular economy, especially green public procurement, was also discussed by the delegation. Giving an example of best practice from his home region of Västra Götaland (SE), M. Berntsson asked for a clearer definition and proved that “green public procurements and tenders can be used as incentives and to create new markets”. 

Commissioner Vella praised the work of AER in the field of circular economy, and more specifically the ongoing Regional Innovation Award which will be presented in December 2016 in Brussels.

To close the meeting, Mitar Vasiljevic exposed to the Commissioner the main elements addressed by the region of Vojvodina (RS) regarding environmental policies, and called the Commission for a greater support from the main funding programmes of the EU to the candidate countries, such as LIFE+.

Quoting the work done during the COP21, AER and the team of Commissioner Vella will keep on working together in the next months and years to achieve their common goals: a better implementation of the environmental policies in Europe and globally.

Meeting pictures

Commissioner Vella Magnus Berntsson

Karmenu Vella

Commissioner Karmenu Vella discovers the AER’s map of regions presented by AER Vice-President Magnus Berntsson

meeting Vella

 

Vella Berntsson

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For a better digital single market with regions

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An AER delegation led by President Hande Özsan Bozatli met today with Andrus Ansip, Commissioner for digital single market. With a communicative passion for his portfolio, Commissioner Ansip was glad to meet representatives of regions when he is mainly used to deal with national governments. AER and its members work on many topics that fall under his responsibility : e-health, e-government, cultural and creative industries, data protection, interoperability…

Ensuring personal data protection is key and is ensured, although too often used as an argument to prevent progress in the spread of the digital single market which would mean a more transparent, more efficient and more practical Europe for citizens.

Commissioner Ansip who has a local background is convinced of the need for him to cooperate with AER as innovation often comes quicklier from local and regional levels.

AER will follow closely the digital agenda and will make the most of this new relationship with Mr Ansip.

We encourage all our members who are interested in these issues to come forward with questions or proposals of cooperation that we will gladly put to Mr Ansip’s attention.

Members of the AER delegation:

Dr Hande Özsan Bozatli, AER President, Istanbul

Mr Magnus Berntsson, AER Vice President, Västra Götaland

Mr Mathieu Mori, AER Secretary General

Ms Emma Broberg, Västra Götaland

Mr Mitar Vasiljevic, Vojvodina

Meeting pictures

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Acting together for the future of cohesion policy

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AER met on 19 May with Commissioner Corina Creţu in charge of regional policy. A delegation reflecting the diversity of AER members, led by President Dr. Hande Özsan Bozatli with the presence of Magnus Berntsson, AER Vice President, and AER Secretary General Mathieu Mori discussed the future of cohesion policy.

Ms Crețu highlighted her priorities for the future of cohesion policy : flexibility, performance and delivery, simplification.

AER President insisted on the following AER messages : cohesion policy must continue to cover all regions for the post 2020 period ; grants must continue to be a key funding instrument for all regions. Finally, at a time when Europe is so criticised, it is crucial that the policies which benefit in the most concrete and closest manner to the citizens be continued.

AER is involved in the initative on the future of cohesion policy which gathers hundreds of European regions. On behalf of this group, Ms Ilse Penders-Stadlmann (Niederösterreich-AT) highlighted the importance of the political backing that cohesion policy must come from the regions. In order to strenghten Commissioner Crețu’s messages on the importance of the policy, AER members and all members of the initiative will gather hundreds of signatures from regional presidents on a joint political declaration to strengthen cohesion policy. These signatures will be presented to the Presidents of European institutions on the 28th of September at the occasion of a big rally of regions in Brussels. AER President will be present and we already invite our members to block their President’s agenda. The political declaration has now been finalised. AER will circulate it to its members to get the signature of their Presidents.

Ms Sidony Venema (Flevoland-NL) presented the Commissioner with a report with recommendations on how to simplify the access to structural funds and the auditing process. Commissioner Crețu assured us that proposals for more flexibility and simplifications will be made during the midterm review and the post 2020 discussions.

Mr Mitar Vasiljevic (Vojvodina-RS), as a representative of a non-EU member, stressed the fact that his region like many others on the road to accession, are following these discussions very closely and are working hard in order to be ready to gain access to regional funds once they will become members.

 In short, AER backs Commissioner Cretu’s efforts to continue cohesion policy. This support is very much appreciated and needed. We therefore count on all AER members support. You can show your support by signing the political declaration on cohesion policy that we will send out to you in the very near future (or contact Alexandre Brecx for more information).

Meeting pictures

13243924_699022600246850_4197106066020245832_oCommissioner Corina Creţu and AER President Hande Özsan Bozatli

Meeting Commissioner CretuThe AER delegation with Commissioner Corina Creţu and her team

IMG_0315AER Vice-President Magnus Berntsson and Commissioner Corina Creţu

IMG_0568Mrs. Ilse Penders-Stadlmann, Head of the Brussels office of Lower Austria (AT) presenting the initiative on cohesion policy to Commissioner Corina Creţu

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AER visit to Northern Italy: another successful field mission

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AER President, Dr. Hande Özsan Bozatli, alongside the President of the AER Commitee on Education, Culture and Youth, Mrs. Sonja A Steen, her Director of International Office, Mr. Eirik Fiva and AER Secretary General, Mr. Mathieu Mori, spent last week visiting nine Regioni in Northern Italy with the aim of both strengthening the existing links between the AER and its members (Friuli-Venezia Giulia and Trentino-Alto Adige), and introducing the AER to five non-member regions (Emilia-Romagna, Lombardy, Marche, Piedmont and Veneto), as well as to two Autonomous Provinces (South Tyrol and Trentino).

After five days of enriching discussions around the priorities of the regions, their approaches to different topics, their needs in terms of  building and enhancing cooperation channels and their new ways of working, as well as ours, we are certain that the outcomes of this field trip have been very positive to all parties involved. 

Members of the AER are enthusiastic about exploring new paths towards cooperation in the frame of the upcoming challenges set in the working agenda, while non-members have been invited to take part in future events to see concretely what we do, and to meet current members hoping that they will soon actively contribute to our work, while reaching their goals and enhancing the Southern European Representation in the AER. 

This trip to the welcoming Northern Italy was a very valuable opportunity to understand the reality of our territories from a closer perspective in order for us to better provide for their integral development.

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YRN plenary: Last Days for Candidacy & Registrations!

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Spring is the Season of Youth!

The next YRN plenary meeting (30 April – 2 May in Oppland) will see the election of the new YRN executive board. The elections will take place on the last day of the Spring plenary, on Monday 2 May. This day will therefore be the YRN General Assembly. You will find on our website all the necessary information about the elections, including the positions available, the positions’ description and the way to apply. Please find all information regarding this meeting and the online registration form here.

REGISTRATION

If you have not done so, please register to the YRN plenary! Deadline for registration: 22 April 2016, midnight.

All applications should be sent to Alexandre Brecx.

 

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AER Letter of Condolences to the Government and People of Belgium

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After the tragic events that occurred in Brussels, the AER President Dr Hande Özsan Bozatli has addressed a letter to Mr Charles Michel, Prime Minister of Belgium.
In this letter she conveys the condolences to the families of the victims and to the Belgium people and underlines, sadly once again, that it is important for Europeans to stand strong for the values they believe in: freedom, democracy and justice.

Download the letter:

Answer by the Prime Minister of Belgium:

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AER Delegation visit to Northern Italy

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Following a first trip to Spain, last month to meet with AER member and non-member regions, an AER delegation composed of the AER President, Dr. Hande Özsan Bozatli; the President of the AER Commitee on Education, Culture and Youth, Mrs. Sonja A Steen and her director of international office Eirik Fiva and the AER Secretary General, Mr. Mathieu Mori; will meet Presidents, Ministers and other regional representatives from nine northern Italian Regioni in the week of 4th to the 8th of April.

The planned agenda for this tour includes the visits to two AER members (Friuli-Venezia Giulia and Trentino-Alto Adige), five non-member regions (Emilia-Romagna, Lombardy, Marche, Piedmont and Veneto), and two Autonomous Provinces (South Tyrol and Trentino) in order to deepen the existing links between the AER and its members, as well as to introduce the AER to the non-member regions. Presenting our organisation’s new working scheme, sharing the political priorities and the most relevant topics for the regions, and exploring new paths towards cooperation are some of the matters that will be at the heart of the discussions held during these days.

This trip is part of the initiative to strengthen the Southern European representation within our Assembly. Southern Europe has been particularly affected by the economic crisis in previous years making European cooperation, in some cases, less of a priority. With a gradually improving economic situation and the increasing challenges arising in the Mediterranean, it is time for the AER and the Southern European regions to enhance their cooperation channels.

A very similar purpose motivated the trip to Spain in the week of the 11th to the 17th of March, where seven regions were visited by our President and Secretary General.

You will be able to follow the day-to-day AER official trip to Northern Italy on our Twitter and Facebook accounts.

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Successful field mission to the Spanish regions

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AER President Dr Hande Özsan Bozatli and AER Secretary General Mathieu Mori spent the whole of last week meeting representatives of Spanish regions in their home regions. Politicians from AER member regions, Valenciana, Catalonia, Murcia but also non AER members Aragon, Navarra, Castilla la Mancha and Madrid welcomed the AER delegation. Going directly to the contact of the regions, in their environment, will enable AER to answer their needs even better. Understanding the reality of our territories to better serve their development is our core mission. Back to basics with this initiative !

With new executives in place in many of the regions visited, the timing was chosen to trigger discussion on the new priorities and ways of working of the regions.

While enthusiasm towards AER and good will to cooperate came out of the trip, the work is only starting. The AER member regions visited clearly showed will to deepen their cooperation with AER. Catalonia will for instance present a politician to take the lead on the sub-committee on youth at the next AER committee meeting in Timis ; Murcia will make proposals internally to work more on culture and the Mediterranean strategy. Non AER members have been invited to take part in future events to see concretely the work of AER and to meet current members with the aim that some of them will soon enrich the work of our Assembly.

We encourage you to read the article “AER President meets Spanish counterparts” and to go on the  AER facebook page to read a short report published after each meeting.

Starting Monday 4 April, AER will do a similar visit to various Italian regions. Should you wish to join the team on this trip, please get in touch with us !

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AER President meets Spanish counterparts

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On the week of 7-11 March, AER President Dr Hande Özsan Bozatli and AER Secretary General Mathieu Mori, will meet Presidents, Ministers and other regional representatives from seven Comunidades Autonomas of Eastern Spain.

The AER President visits SpainDr. Bozatlı and M. Mori will visit three AER members (Valencia, Catalunya, Murcia) and four non-member regions (Aragon, Navarra, Madrid, Castilla La Mancha) for this week long tour in order to deepen the existing links with its members and introduce AER to non members. Presenting the new ways of working of the organisation; sharing on the political priorities and the major topics of relevance for the regions and exploring new paths of cooperation will be at the heart of discussions. 

This trip is part of an initiative to strengthen the Southern European representation within our Assembly. Southern Europe has been particularly affected by the economic crisis in previous years making in some cases European cooperation less of a priority. With a gradually improving economic situation and increasing challenges in the Mediterranean it is time for AER and Southern European regions to strengthen their cooperation even more. 

In the same manner, AER will lead a similar mission in Italy. From 4-8 April, ten Italian regions will be visited by the President and the Secretary General.  

You can follow the AER official trip to Eastern Spain day by day, on our Twitter and Facebook accounts.

Meetings feedback

Valencia

Monday 7 March, Valencia

Meeting with Myriam Fernandez Herrero, in charge of finances and European funds. Valencia will take the opportunity of the AER Spring Committees’ Plenary in Timis (RO) to engage in new topics within AER. Thanks for great meeting and see them soon!

 

CatalunyaTuesday 8 March, Catalunya

Meeting with Maria Badia i Cutchet, Vice-President in charge of Foreign Affairs, Marta Vilalta i Torres, regional councilor in charge of youth, Montse Mirabent, politician in St Boi and Esther Estany Campos from the labour department, in charge among other things of Eurodyssey in the region.

The meeting led to a convergence of view between AER and one of its historic partners. Agreement that the cooperation must continue and deepen. As a consequence, on top of the region’s already big implication in the Eurodyssey programme, Ms Marta Vilalta i Torres, young politician from the region will present her candidacy to chair the AER sub-committee on youth at the next AER plenary meeting in Timis (RO)

AragonTuesday 8 March, Aragon

Fruitful meeting with the President of the Comunidad Autonoma de Aragon, Mr Francisco Javier Lamban Montanes. Interested in the work of AER and willing to cooperate especially in the fields of transport (international connectivity, Atlantic/Mediterranean corridor) and culture (recognized universities in visual culture that need better visibility), Aragon and AER have a lot to share and we hope to find in this dynamic region an active partner for the future.

 

 

 

NavarraWednesday 9 March, Navarra

AER President and Secretary General met Ms Ana Ollo Hualde, Regional minister for institutional relations and spokesperson of the Government.
At a time when the Navarra government is redefining its European strategy, AER’s visit was very timely. Involved in some smaller thematic networks, the government representative showed great interest in the activities and diversity of topics dealt with in AER. Being involved in such a wide and strong network would give Navarra’s action in Europe a bigger dimension and help them find new partners to cooperate with. 

MadridThursday 10 March, Comunidad de Madrid

Dr Hande Özsan Bozatli and Mathieu Mori met with Ms Yolanda Ibarrola de la Fuente, regional councilor from the Comunidad de Madrid in charge of European affairs. A fruitful exchange took place on the priorities of the region of Madrid: employment, health and the environment. Interested in the way AER works with its members to promote the best practices and voices of regions on these topics, it is a trustful dialogue which began today between AER and the capital-region of Spain.

 

Castilla la Mancha

Thursday 10 March, Castilla la Mancha

Good meeting with a region led by a strong political will to increase its European profile and influence. AER President and Secretary General met in Toledo with Mercedes Gomez Rodriguez, coordinator of institutional relations and European affairs and Francisco Javier Pedraza Rodriguez, head of European affairs in Castilla la Mancha. In this rural region touched by a high unemployment rate but with plenty of potential and innovation-oriented, increasing its profile in Europe and finding partners throughout wider Europe and beyond is a priority. AER applauds the political vision of the government and is ready to help the region reach its goals!

MurciaFriday 11 March, Murcia

Final meeting for AER President and Secretary General was in Murcia. This AER member region was represented by Ms Noelia Arroyo Hernandez, Culture Minister and government spokeswoman; Mr Manuel Pleguezuelo Alonso, Director General for public participation, European union and external affairs and Mr Francisco Javier Sánchez López, Director General for Youth. The young and enthusiastic representatives of the new Murcia government started by saying how pleased they were by the AER Eurodyssey mobility programme as they send every year more and more young people to get a first job experience. Further involvement in AER activities was touched upon, especially on culture, youth and Mediterranean affairs. The invitation was also made to AER to organise an event in Murcia. AER is looking forward to always deeper cooperation with Murcia.

A positive end to an intense week of meetings. Going directly to the contact of the regions, in their environment, will enable AER to answer their needs even better. Understanding the reality of our territories to better serve their development is our core mission. Back to basics with this initiative !

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