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EP invites regional and local associations to speak on EU funding 2014 – 2020

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Brussels, 8 May 2012

In the frame of the EP Committee on Regional Development (REGI), representatives of the EU major regional organisations were invited on 8 May 2012 for an exchange of views with MEPS on the post 2013 EU Cohesion Policy.

The extraordinary meeting chaired by Danuta Hübner, President of the REGI Committee, focused on the 2014-2020 Cohesion Policy Legislative Package proposed by the European Commission last year, that will be adopted by the REGI Committee in July 2012.

The objective of the meeting was to provide members of the REGI Committee with practical proposals to the reports on the future of cohesion, notably the “Krehl-Van Nistelrooij Report”, on the Common Provisions Regulation, the “Olbrycht Report”on the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), the “Irigoyen Perez Report” on the European Social Found (ESF) and the “Manner Report” on the Territorial cooperation.

The positions of the major regional organisations are remarkably close to those of the European Parliament, particularly on key issues such as partnership arrangements, thematic concentration, ex ante conditionality, the simplification of procedures and the territorial dimension and cooperation.

Moreover, the three organisations call for an agreement on the financial framework before the end of the year and support an ambitious budget in order to create a real economic growth in Europe. “The European Commission has proposed to link the Common Strategic Framework (CSF) to the new EU economic governance, which means linking the cohesion policy to the country specific recommendations issued annually. It seems to me that this would constitute an additional layer of conditionality and goes against the very principles of partnership and multi level governance, since decisions would be taken at Member States level with no involvement of regions and their managing authorities. It would also severely put into question pluriannual programming, which is one of the fundamentals of Cohesion Policy.” Declared Jean-Yves Le Drian, President of the Conference of Peripheral Maritime Regions (CPMR) and President of Brittany (FR).

“We fully concur with the principle of concentrating European funds on a reduced number of themes linked to the Europe 2020 Strategy. Already today, many regions focus on a limited number of political priorities. We do however insist on the need of making decisions on these priorities in close cooperation with the beneficiary regions. It is essential to implement bottom-up actions, so as to ensure that the themes fully match the regions’ needs and the potential of their territories. They should not, in any case, be imposed by Europe or by the Member States.” Added Michèle Sabban, President of the Assembly of European Regions (AER) and Vice-President of the Ile de France (FR).

“We wish to see local and regional authorities treated as partners of the Member states, and not as stakeholders. The Council of European Municipalities and Regions (CEMR) calls for the full involvement of local and regional governments in the preparation of the partnership contracts and are very pleased to see that the rapporteurs have tabled amendments to the European Commission’s draft regulation that reflect our view to a large extent.” Concluded Carola Gunnarsson, the Council of European Municipalities and Regions (CEMR) rapporteur on territorial and cohesion policy, 1st Vice-President of the Swedish Association of Local Authorities and Regions.

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

  


For more information: [email protected]

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Pascal Goergen Becomes the New AER Secretary General

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Ponta Delgada, Açores (P), 24 November 2011

Earlier today at the General Assembly of the Assembly of European Regions (AER), Mr Pascal Goergen was named the new Secretary General.

Pascal Goergen, a Belgian citizen born in 1963 in Cologne (D), has a PhD in Political Science on decision-making processes in a new international environment, following the collapse of the Berlin Wall in 1989. Before obtaining his PhD at the University of Louvain-la-Neuve in 1995, Mr Goergen held a BA in Foreign Languages and completed post-graduate studies in International Relations.

Since January 2001, Mr. Goergen works as diplomatic representative of the region of Bruxelles-Capitale to the EU within the Permanent Representation of Belgium. This activity was preceded by 15 years of professional experience in the academic world, first as a research assistant and then as lecturer at the School of Marketing and International Commerce in Brussels, where he was also in charge of various student exchange and placement programmes. Between 2001 and 2011, Pascal Goergen participated in 20 rotating Presidencies of the Council, among which two Belgian Presidencies. In 2001, he was spokesperson for Belgium in the field of research and in 2010 on the urban dimension of structural funds. Thanks to his expertise, gained over 25 years of professional activity, he has acquired a solid knowledge of the European institutions and international affairs. Mr. Goergen has also authored several books on European Institutions and more particularly about regional lobbying and about networking towards the EU.

Pascal Goergen will succeed Klaus Klipp as the AER Secretary General, starting in January 2012 for a 5-year mandate. Klaus Klipp held this position from 2002 to 2011.

For more information: [email protected]

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The AER Takes the Silk Road In North East Asia

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An AER delegation goes to Seoul to meet the members of NEAR, its North East Asian counterpart

Seoul, South Korea, 2 November 2011

The Assembly of European Regions (AER) was the guest of honour at the 5th International Forum organised by its counterpart, the Association of North East Asia Regional Governments (NEAR). A delegation led by Michèle Sabban, AER President, went to Seoul to attend this event. The delegation was formed by Kenneth Backgård, President of the AER working group ‘Energy and climate change’ and Regional Councillor of Norrbotten (S), Preben Jensen, Vice-president of the Committee ‘Economy and regional development’ and Regional Councillor of Syddanmark (DK), and Jacek Pilawa, President of the subcommittee ‘International Commission’ and Regional Councillor of Dolnoslaskie (PL).

Together with business leaders, they presented examples of projects and cooperation plans led by European regions in the fields of energy, environment and transports.

Mrs. SABBAN brought into focus the fight against global warming and invited the NEAR members to join the R20, a group of regions and federated states, whose main priority is to establish cooperation between infra-national governments in order to ensure a sustainable development for the planet.

« Europe and Asia have decided to build bridges between their organisations’ member regions to make the voice of the regions heard and amplify the R20, which aims to develop solutions as a counterbalance to G20 » Michèle Sabban and Jae Hyo Kim, General Secretary of NEAR, declared. « Our ambition is to rise up together to the greatest challenges of the 21Ist century in order to build together new economic models, that will favour green investments and the development of infrastructures to fight against climate change », they added.

Created in 1996, NEAR brings together 70 regional governments from South Korea, China, Japan, Mongolia, Russia and North Korea.

For more information: [email protected]

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CAP: AER advocates for an integrated territorial approach

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Brussels (B), 21 June 2011

Thursday the European Parliament will give its opinion on the report of MEP Albert Dess « The CAP towards 2020 », during its plenary meeting. This vote will be historical and decisive in that co-decision gives Parliament an equal say to the Council on the reform of the Common Agricultural Policy.

For the members of the Assembly of European Regions (AER), who gathered today on the occasion of a debate on the CAP reform this is an opportunity to underline the need for a strong, sustainable and inclusive CAP for the regions.

AER welcomes the evolution of the report towards proposals that better take into account the whole range of challenges rural areas are faced with and supports in particular:

  • Further simplification for an efficient CAP that is able to reach its objectives;
  • The implementation of the principles of subsidiarity and multi-level governance;
  • A more flexible rural development policy that is better coordinated with Cohesion Policy.

Additionally and with views to AER’s wish to constantly put into perspective, exchange and provide concrete information, members will meet today and tomorrow academics from the Wageningen University and Research Center (WUR) as well as different stakeholders of the agricultural sector on the themes of productivity and sustainability.

For more information: [email protected]

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The AER calls for the European Parliament to endorse the SURE report on the next Multi-annual Financial Framework

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Strasbourg (F), 7th June 2011

The report of the Special Committee on Policy Challenges and Budgetary Resources for a Sustainable European Union after 2013 (SURE) to be presented tomorrow during the plenary session of the European parliament addresses the following key issues, which are necessary to ensure the sustainable and cohesive development of the European territory:

• Simplifying and better controlling the implementation of structural funds by applying the principle of proportionality;
• Increasing support to SMEs and addressing the difficulties they face when coping with the red-tape often associated with EU support schemes;
• Ensuring continuous support to all European regions, including intermediary regions, in order to provide them with a clearer status and a more equitable situation.

The AER firmly supports the report’s recommendation to earmark a budget envelope for cohesion policy at least equal to that of the current period.

The AER will follow tomorrow’s debate attentively and hopes that it will lead to the adoption of the SURE report by a large majority of MEPs.

For more information: [email protected]

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The Assembly of European Regions and the Tunisian Ministry for Regional Development reach an agreement on regionalization and employment

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Tunis (TN), 13th May 2011

At the heart of the Tunisian democratic transition, Michèle Sabban, President of the Assembly of European Regions (AER), and the Tunisian Minister for Regional Development, Mr. Abderrazek Zouari, signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU), in the presence of Mr. Said Aydi, Tunisian Minister of Vocational Training and Employment.

During two days, this new initiative, supported by a delegation of 20 regional politicians, heads of regional administrations and European entrepreneurs has given way to meetings and discussions with the authorities and civil society in Tunisia. “The challenge of this partnership is to support the growth of this new democratic Tunisia, and to fight the scourge of unemployment. We will quickly establish the conditions to welcome young Tunisian graduates, through internships, among our voluntary member Regions. Increased mobility, as well as the introduction of professional integration programs, will be essential for the country’s growth and development. We have not come here just to sign another protocol. There is an urgent need and we must quickly provide proposals and, hopefully, the beginnings of solutions” commented Michèle Sabban, during the signing of the protocol.

In order to ensure this initiative’s successful conclusion and prepare the next steps, AER will draw its inspiration from its past experiences in the field of mobility and professional education. AER has thus led the programme « Eurodyssey » for 25 years, which allows 600 young Europeans each year to acquire a first professional experience (from 3 to 7 months) abroad, independently from their field of study – the accompaniment and support being provided by the hosting region.

Beyond meeting with the partners involved in the future initiative, the delegation’s visit aimed at supporting the decentralization process which is currently underway in Tunisia. “In the reforms package which is to be implemented after the constituent of July, the reforms for the regionalization of territories will be a major challenge for the Tunisian economy’s reflection and the deepening of the democratic process”, underlined Mrs Sabban. AER has already proposed to share its knowledge and methods of work with the Tunisian authorities. Working groups gathering regional European politicians, representatives of Tunisian ministries, experts of the tunisian-european chambers of commerce as well as actors from the Tunisian civil society are to present their conclusions and recommendations by the end of June.

Next Monday, a gallerie photo will be available on the AER website.

*Members of the AER delegation: Michèle Sabban, AER President and Vice-President of Ile-de-France (F), Jean-Claude Gayssot, Vice-President of Languedoc-Roussillon (F), Dr Hande Özsan Bozatli, Regional Councilor of Istanbul Provincial Council (TR) and President of AER’s ‘Culture, Education, Youth and International Cooperation’ Committee, Armelle Martin, Vice-President of Limousin (F), Pascal Mangin, Regional Councilor of Alsace (F), Antonio Sorgi, Director General of Abruzzo (I), Luis Simas Sousa Rocha, Director of the Observatory for the Employment and Vocational Training (Açores-P), Guylaine CHOUISSA, Head of European and International mobility for youth (Franche-Comté-F), Michel Prud’Homme, Deputy Director General for Personnel and Human Resources (Ile-de-France-F), David-Xavier Weiss, Head of European policies of the Regional Tourism Committee (Paris-Ile-de-France), Jean-Pierre Foubert, Head of International Relations (Languedoc-Roussillon-F), Marie-Laure Meyer, Managing Director for learning, vocational training and integration (Limousin-F), Daniel Haas et Dr Tyll Weber-Carstanjen, Entrepreneurs and Jean-Yves Delanoë.

For more information: [email protected]

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For European Regions, the opening of a satellite office in Turkey answers a necessity

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On Monday the 4th of April, during a stop over in Istanbul, the President of the Assembly of European Regions and Turkish regions agreed on the opening of an AER satellite office in the Bosphorus

Istanbul (T), ‘ April 2011

While the slow opening of thematic chapters continues to delay the entry of Turkey into the European Union, the Assembly of European Regions (AER) proposed opening a branch in Istanbul, Turkey, following a meeting of the President of the Assembly of European Regions Michèle Sabban and key representatives of the Provincial Council in Istanbul.

“We are principally based in Strasbourg and Brussels, that is to say in the institutional heart of Europe, which is also the heart of old Europe. By opening an office in Istanbul, we are saying that we are on the side of the future as well” said Michèle Sabban. “No matter how long it takes for Turkey to join the European Union, our member Regions have been working for years in close cooperation with the Turkish Regions. As of today, AER counts seven Turkish members, the first region joining having been Kahramanmaras in 2006. From our perspective, there is absolutely no doubt that Turkey belongs to Europe and Europe needs Turkey today more than ever”.

The Istanbul satellite office, as the one AER opened in Alba, Romania in 2004, should enable easier working relationships with all the regions of Eastern Europe. AER took the opportunity to announce the opening of an AER office in Turkey during its second conference of the Black Sea in Batumi, Georgia, proving a strong commitment of European Regions to their neighbours of the Caucasus. 13 Turkish Regions made the trip to deal with issues of natural resource management and interregional cooperation.

 “After our last General Assembly which we held in Istanbul, we took full measure of the aspiration to be part of Europe that inspired our colleagues and Turkish counterparts. And what better place than the Bosphorus Strait to play the integrating role to those who wish to work together for territorial development and the deepening of local democracy in Europe?”, added Michèle Sabban.

By September 2011, AER Committees 2 (social policy and public health) and 3 (culture, education, youth and international cooperation) will also hold their plenary sessions in the new premises of the Provincial Council of Istanbul, opened in August 2010.

For more information: [email protected]

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AER tribute to Carlo Bernini

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Strasbourg (F), 12 January 2011

The Assembly of European Regions (AER) pays tribute to Carlo Bernini who recently died after a long battle with illness.

Carlo Bernini invested himself throughout his life to the cause of defending regionalism, and in the field of transport policy. At a young age, Mr. Bernini began his involvement with Italian local and regional politics: he became President of Treviso (1970-1980) and afterwards President of the Veneto Region (1980-1989).

In 1987, as President of the Veneto Region, Mr. Bernini was elected President of the Assembly of European Regions succeeding Mr. Edgar Faure. Carlo Bernini was one of those most committed to affirming and strengthening the role of regions in Europe.

His energy and enthusiasm opened the AER to the regions of Central and Eastern Europe following the fall of the Berlin wall.

After this painful loss, the Assembly of European Regions offers its deepest condolences to the family of Mr. Bernini.

The career of Carlo Bernini:

– Born in the province of Ferrara; graduate in Economics and Commerce and graduated in law from the Midlands Northwood Institute (Michigan).
– 1970-1980: President of the Province of Treviso
– 1980-1989: President of the Veneto Region
– 1982-1984: President Working Community of the Alps (ARGE ALP)
– 1988-1992: President of the Assembly of European Regions
– 1989-1992: Minister of Transport of the Government of Giulio Andreotti
– 1992: Retired from political life.

For more information: [email protected]

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Official launch of the R20: Regions of the world take action

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By signing the Climate Action Charter in Davis, California, the AER President commits the Action Tank alongside the R20

California (USA), 16 November 2010.

Just days after her reelection to the presidency of the Assembly of European Regions (AER), Michèle Sabban visited the 3rd Summit of Governors for Climate in order to sign on behalf of the European Regions, the Charter for Regional Climate Action R20.

It is in California that the R20 has just been formally established. Mrs Sabban was accompanied by representatives from several European regions, who wished to sign the charter on an individual basis: Alba (RO), Flevoland (NL), Azores (P), Istria (HR) and Donetsk (UA); other AER member regions could not make the trip but also expressed interest in this initiative, including Andalucia (E), Lombardia and Puglia (I), Norrbotten (S), Linköping (S) and Istanbul (TR).

“On the eve of COP16 in Cancun, the signing of the Climate Action Charter by sub-national groups sends a strong message to national governments and international institutions. The message is that regions must be recognised for the actions they undertake in support of innovation and adaptation to climate change whilst global policy makers should learn from our ability to develop new forms of cooperation. I am particularly proud that the AER is among the founding members of this movement,” said Michèle SABBAN during the signing.


Background info:
The mission of the R20 will be to develop and implement low-carbon and climate resilient projects through cooperation among subnational governments from around the world.
During its first year, the R20 will facilitate public-private partnerships, share best practices, accelerate the development of green innovations and begin implementing clean energy demonstration projects. Within five years, the R20 aims to have at least twenty subnational governments enact comprehensive low-carbon policies and implement projects, using successful models from progressive subnational leaders as a guide.

For more information: [email protected]

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AER 2010 Awards for the regional best practices in the fields of ‘Communicating Europe’ and ‘Innovation’ go to…

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The best Communicating Europe Region 2010

Istanbul (TR), 12 November 2010.

The Assembly of European Regions (AER) awarded this year the French Region of Rhône-Alpes for its project “Support and information campaign for project holders in Rhône-Alpes”. Aimed at communicating in a creative and different way the European Funds, the project was mainly addressed to projects holders and to media. Thanks to this massive communication on a rather technical and operational matter, Rhône-Alpes succeeded in bringing Europe closer to its citizens, making it more accessible and tangible. Moreover, the project resulted in a better use of EU funds in the region, as further projects were presented afterwards.
Through a series of twelve workshops, the creation of a dedicated webpage, the publication of a European projects’ handbook and even an own graphic chart, the project also succeeded in creating a sustainable network of project holders in the region.

This year, the jury also awarded Vrancea County (RO) with a Special Mention for the project “Your identity – a chance for equal rights”. As the situation of some Roma citizens lacking ID papers or birth certificates precludes all chances of their social inclusion and integration, Vrancea initiated a dialogue with representatives of Roma community in the region in order to find viable solutions. After a first round of awareness rising actions on the importance of being legalised, 1113 Roma citizens were legalised. The project truly represents a best example in communicating the values of a social and inclusive Europe for all its citizens.

AER rewards Innovative projects in three categories: Technology, Economy and People

This year, the winner in the category “Technology” is the German Land Mecklenburg-Vorpommern. The project “Entrepreneurial Technology Transfer” has the ambitious aim to identify the potential in the region and encourage people to start up their own business. “This project illustrates three important success factors for innovation projects: it is sustainable, it adopts a holistic approach and it is based on a public private partnership”, jury member Dr. Joachim Hafkesbrink, President of Technology Transfer and Innovation, commented. The result is impressive: more than 468 innovative technologies were analysed and 204 ideas with patent potential have been developed.

The Swedish Region Uppsala presented the “SUF-Resource Centre” which was rewarded in the category “Economy”; the project aims at reducing the marginalisation of families, where parents have intellectual disabilities. The objective is to improve their situations and reduce isolation, and to build bridges between many different parts of the governance structure at local and regional level. Dr. Peter Heydebreck, Managing Director of Inno AG, one of the jury members, noted: “I am particularly fond of this initiative which is an excellent example of social innovation with a huge impact on economic welfare.”

In the category “People”, the jury was most convinced by the “Demola” project of the Finnish Region of Tampere. The Council of Tampere provides a collaborative and multidisciplinary innovation environment to students and companies. Students create demonstrations of novel service and product concepts originating from companies. The project has reached some remarkable results: more than 400 students in projects, 71 projects completed and 17 more in progree, 95% of the results are licenced by project partners, 3 new companies to be established.

For more information: [email protected]

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AER Elections 2010: Michèle Sabban re-elected President

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Under the lead of its President, AER elects a new Bureau in order to tackle the numerous challenges that regions will be facing until 2012

Istanbul (TR), 11th November 2010.

Mrs Michèle Sabban, Vice-President of the Region Ile-de-France (F), was this morning re-elected President of the Assembly of European Regions (AER) for a second two-year mandate, during the AER’s General Assembly in Istanbul.

“Being re-elected as AER President, is not only a honour but also a great challenge, since regions will be playing an important role on the future cohesion policy, the fight against climate change and the economic growth. We need to foster local democracy within and beyond Europe, we need to be the engines of change“ declared Mrs. SABBAN after her election.

The new AER Presidium members
The President, the two Vice-Presidents, the Vice-President Treasurer and the Presidents of the Committees, elected for two years, form the Presidium. In the interim period between the Bureau meetings and by delegation, the Presidium can meet and make decisions, which are then submitted to the following Bureau. To work with President SABBAN, the AER members elected:

Vice-Presidents
Johanna Mikl-Leitner, Niederösterreich (A)
Giovanni Chiodi, Abruzzo (I)

Vice-President Treasurer
Urs Wütrich-Pelloli, Basel-Landschaft (CH)

The AER welcomed the following candidates for the Presidency of AER Committee’s to be ratified tomorrow morning by the new Bureau:

President of the Committee on Economy and Regional Development (1)
Håkan Sandgren, Jönköping (S)

President of the Committee on Social Policy and Public Health (2)
Vladimir Kosic, Friuli Venezia Giulia (I)

President of the Committee on Culture, Education and Youth (3)
Dr. Hande Bozatli, Istanbul (TR)

President of the Standing Committee on Institutional Affairs
Roy Perry, Hampshire (UK)

President of the Standing Committee on Equal Opportunities
Monica Carlsson, Norrbotten (S)

President of the Standing Committee on Monitoring and Evaluation
Urs Wüthrich-Pelloli, Basel-Landschaft (CH)

The Presidium in brief

Mrs Michèle SabbanVice-President of the Regional Council of Ile-de-France (F) since 1998. Before being elected for her first mandate as AER President in 2008, she was AER Vice-President and also chair of the Gender Equality Group.

Mrs Johanna Mikl-Leitner Elected Regional Minister for Employment, Women, Family, Social and EU affairs of the Land Niederösterreich (A) in 2003. She’s been President of AER Committee 3 since 2004.

Mr Giovanni Chiodi Elected President of the Abruzzo Region (I) in December 2009. Before he was Mayor of the Municipality of Teramo.

Mr Urs Wüthrich-Pellioli Minister for Education, Culture and Sport of the Canton Basel-Landschaft (CH) since 2003. He was elected AER Vice-President Treasurer in 2008.

Mr Håkan Sandgren County Councillor of Jönköping County (S). Active in AER Committee 1 since many years, he was elected Committee President in 2008.

Mr Vladimir Kosic Current Regional Minister for healthcare and social protection of Friuli Venezia Giulia (I). President of the Regional Council of Associations of people with disabilities since 2000.

Dr Hande Bozatli Vice President of Istanbul Special Provincial Council since April 2009. Very involved in AER’s activities, Mrs. BOZATLI supported the creation of the AER Working Group on Equal Europe for People with Disabilities.

Mr Roy Perry Deputy Leader Hampshire County Council (UK) and former MEP for 10 years. For the past three years he is the Vice-President of the AER Standing Committee on Institutional Affairs.

Mrs Monica Carlsson Member of the County Council Executive Committee and County Councillor of Norrbotten County (S), with special responsibilities for gender equality and personnel. She was Vice-President of the AER Standing Committee for Equal Opportunities.

For more information: [email protected]

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AER Tribute to Georges Pierret

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Strasbourg (F), 12 August 2010.

The Assembly of European Regions (AER) pays tribute to Georges Pierret who passed away Sunday night in Rennes.

Georges Pierret devoted his life to the defense of regionalism in France and Europe. Since the beginning of his professional career, he understood that strengthening the political role of regions was essential for their development, in particular that of his dear Bretagne.

Mr. Pierret is considered to be one of the main contributors to the creation of the AER. Following the establishment of the Council of the Regions of Europe (CRE), which later became the AER, he became the first Secretary General of our organization, from 1985 to 1992, alongside AER’s first President, Edgar Faure.

Bretagne has lost a great defender of its territory and Europe a brilliant advocate for the regional cause on our continent. The spread of the subsidiarity principle in Europe, as well as its legal recognition in national and European institutions would not have been possible without the contribution of Georges Pierret.

In light of this tragic loss, the Assembly of European Regions offers its most sincere condolences to the family of Mr. Pierret and especially to his wife Christiane.

Main achievements of Georges Pierret:

– 1967 : Secretary General of the Study and Linkage Commission of the Breton interests (CELIB)
–  May 1968: member of the delegation responsible for negotiating the future of Bretagne with the government of Pompidou
– 1973-1995 : Secretary General of the Conference of Peripheral Maritime Regions (CPMR)
– 1985-1992 : Secretary General of the Assembly of European Regions

For more information: [email protected]

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Open letter from AER President to J.M. Barroso: “Don’t take away the ESF from Cohesion policy!”

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Mr. President,

The Assembly of European Regions (AER) is closely following developments relating to the future financial framework for 2014-2020, especially the place that cohesion policy will hold in this framework.

We recently learned that the European Commission plans to remove the European Social Fund from the domain of cohesion policy in order to finance a new European Union strategy for employment. The speeches given on the 23rd and 24th of June by Mr. Andor, Commissioner for Employment, Social Affairs and Inclusion, seem to confirm this orientation, which only leaves us wondering.

Let us be clear: it is of course essential and particularly opportune to propose an efficient financial instrument dedicated to an asserted social policy. We welcome the efforts by the European Commission in this area and that respond to repeated demands by the AER and numerous other partners to set up a true employment policy.

Is it really necessary though to take away the substance and the financing of what today represents a large part of cohesion policy? The notions of territorial cohesion and integrated approach seemed to have unanimous support only a few months ago, and the current recession does not justify a return to short-term sectoral policies. Sectoralisation has shown its inefficiency in the harmonious development of regions and its difficulties in promoting the multi-level partnerships necessary for adequately addressing the socio-economic needs of territories. Do we also have to remind the Commission that regions are the privileged partners of the 22 million SMEs that represent the most dynamic source of employment across the European territory?

We beg to disagree, and on this matter concur with Ms. Hübner’s point of view, expressed in a letter dated 29 June, that the role of the ESF within the cohesion policy extends much further than only employment. It is the key tool for achieving social cohesion – one of three Treaty objectives for the cohesion policy.

Through the synergy between the ERDF and the ESF, cohesion policy responds, through its integrated and long-term action, not only to structural issues but also to economic difficulties. The flaws of this policy, that we recognise, must not lead to its dismantlement but rather to the thorough re-examination of its functioning and its priorities, leading to an even more integrated approach, refocused priorities and modernised governance.

Finally, we are quite surprised that discussions of such importance made it to such an advanced stage without the slightest consultation with concerned stakeholders and institutional partners. This opacity is quite surprising for a European Commission with a priority to fill in a democratic deficit that has been denounced many times. According to the ex-post evaluation of programmes from 2000-2006, the totality of ESF projects concerned almost 28 million European citizens: its functioning deserves better than decisions made behind closed doors.

In our mail from 23 October, we had announced that the AER would remain vigilant concerning threats of re-nationalisation and sectoralisation of the cohesion policy. Today, we find ourselves obliged to reiterate this message of concern. We had also deplored, as we do today, a striking lack of consultation.

We therefore ask you to communicate, to the other institutions as well as the general public, tangible elements on this fundamental question of the future functioning of the cohesion policy. Such elements will allow for informed and constructive debate with all concerned parties. The regions of Europe are ready to bring you their expertise based on their experience with the European Social Fund and the cohesion policy in general.

We remain at your disposal, Mr. President, and are eagerly awaiting your response.

Sincerely,

Michèle Sabban
President

For more information: [email protected]

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Cohesion Policy and Europe 2020: AER challenges EU decisions to affect Europe for the next 10 years

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Alba (RO), 16 March 2010.

110 representatives from 39 regions across 15 countries met for the plenary session of the Committee ‘Economy and Regional Development’ of the Assembly of European Regions (AER), which took place in the Alba County (Romania). Together, they reviewed the AER‘s strategy in to relation to cohesion policy and agreed on what European regions should expect from the new Europe 2020 strategy.

AER is constantly looking for ways to improve the daily life of all European citizens, especially in relation to work. Therefore, AER and the Brussels-Capital Region (B) will hold a high level conference on 7 December in Brussels: ‘Cohesion in Europe: Regions take up the challenge. Towards a visionary and innovative regional policy for all Europeans’. In order to maximise the content and the impact of the conference, AER will organise three workshops in April, June and September, which will allow the experts and civil servants to work on core technical issues in order to prepare the political debate in December.

About the Europe 2020 Strategy: AER is determined to avoid the mistakes of the Lisbon Strategy. “We call upon European policymakers to finally focus on a bottom-up approach and establish a multi-level governance. Remember that the future strategy will be implemented over the next 10 years! Only then will the EU finally reconnect with its citizens” underlined Håkan Sandgren, President of AER Committee for ‘Economy and Regional development’, and County Councillor of Jönköping (S). Participants also stressed that cohesion policy is certainly an instrument but it must never be subordinated to Europe 2020. They finally highlighted that agriculture and rural development were not included in the text in its current version, which is an issue.

AER, as always, will now approach the European and national policymakers to inform them of the demands of its members and provide them with field experience.

For more information: [email protected]
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Communicating the European Citizens’ Initiative: Regions contribute to make Europe more democratic

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Brussels, 12 February 2010.

The Assembly of European Regions’ (AER) debated yesterday the new European Citizens’ Initiative (ECI) introduced by the Lisbon Treaty, which sets the frame for a new form of direct democracy and public participation in European Union policy shaping.

According to Johannes W. Pichler, Professor for European Law at the University of Graz and Director of the Austrian Institute for European Law and Politics in Salzburg (A), “The European Union is more than just an association of sovereign states. Therefore, we need to find new instruments in order to democratically legitimize the decision making. It is only via the European citizens that opinions and clear majorities can emerge. Article 11.4 of the Lisbon Treaty by no means is the miracle solution, but it represents a possibility to reduce the democracy deficit in Europe. And regions are at the forefront to communicate this new means of direct democracy to its citizens.“ Sebastian Kurpas, representing the European Commission, added: “The European Commission has an interest in getting regions on board when it comes to communicating this new instrument and raising awareness about it.”

The ECI enables one million citizens who are nationals of a significant number of Member States to call directly on the European Commission to bring forward an initiative of interest to them in an area of EU competence. As regions are the point of reference for regional identity and the best promoter of a European identity, it is therefore one of the priorities of AER as a regional network and information multiplier to explain this unique tool to the citizens.

Thanks to a Live Web Streaming organised by co-organiser Steiermark (A) region, participants were able to directly answer to citizens’ questions and concerns. Over 100 internet users joined the live webstreaming, some of them asking questions such as whether it is possible to sign their cause for an initiative online. Erich Korzinek, Head of the Steiermark Office Brussels, underlined: “We as Steiermark believe that webstreaming as a communication tool has a big future. The challenge is how to reach the citizens in Europe and raise awareness about European topics. Webstreaming can be a useful tool to reach citizens and to create ownership and legitimacy.”

Yesterdays’ meeting also kicked off the 4th edition of the AER Communication Award, this year split into two categories:
– Communicating the ECI – AER will award those regions which promote a citizens friendly understanding
of the new instrument.
– Communicating received European funding – AER will award those regions which communicate in the most effective ways the financial assistance provided by the funding to their citizens.

For more information: [email protected]

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