Interregional cooperation Archives - Page 20 of 22

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Future of cross-border cooperation in the enlarged Europe

3 May, 2004 By Editor

1 May 2004: European citizens build a new Europe

The entry of 10 new countries into the European Union (EU) is the result of many years of work. At the same time it opens up new horizons, opportunities and challenges for the European citizens.

On the occasion of the enlargement, the Presidents of the European interregional organisations ask for the inclusion of the regions as full partners in the enlarged EU. The joint Declaration which they have prepared, entitled “The Future of the European Union”, calls for the following measures:

European Community of values

The integration of the new citizens will be accomplished through a political community of values based on shared cultural, social, economic, and political aims. At the same time, diversity has to be respected, and the regional level has a decisive role to play in this field. “United in diversity” is the regions’ motto.

The new Constitutional Treaty

The discussions that will accompany the finalisation of the EU Constitution will offer the opportunity to discuss the basis of the EU. Of particular importance in this regard are the basic democratic principles, such as clarity regarding the division of competencies and separation of powers. Transparency, information and communication with the citizens on the content are vital in order to ensure that the Constitution is accepted by all the citizens. The regions will pay particular attention to the fields of Services of General Interest, culture, education, health and transport policies.

Cohesion and regional policy in the enlarged Europe

New flexible policies need to be developed for the Structural Funds and the Community Initiatives. Cohesion policy cannot solely focus upon promoting economic growth. It can only be successful if the European Institutions work closely with the regions.

The role of the Regions in the enlarged Europe

The Presidents of the European interregional organisations have mandated their Secretaries General with the preparation of a common White Paper entitled “The role of the regions in the enlarged European Union”.

For more information: [email protected]

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New cohesion policy: still a long way to go – The AER calls for more pragmatic approach

19 February, 2004 By Editor

Strasbourg, 19 February 2004

The AER welcomes the Third report on economic and social cohesion which takes the majority of our proposals into account. The sharing of structural funds for the period 2006-2013 between regions from the new Member states and those from the EU 15, as well as the concentration of objectives on convergence, job creation and competitiveness open to all the regions, with large urban or rural areas, will allow them to tackle the challenges of enlargement and globalisation in a more effective way.

The focus on vital sectors such as services of general interest, the accessibility of peripheral regions and innovation matches well with the AER recommendations and priorities. The recognition of the regions as regional policy makers and main partners is another significant step forward. “We are particularly satisfied with the integration of interregional cooperation in the new architecture for EU cohesion policy; its promotion figures today among the three main priorities, next to convergence, regional competitiveness and job creation” stated Brian Greenslade, President of the AER Regional Development Committee, at the round table organised by the CoR yesterday in Brussels.

“However the delivery modalities of this strategic priority, as well as those for Objective 2, must be clarified; the Cohesion Forum in May would be an opportunity for us to formulate some concrete proposals in this field” he added. The AER insists on the high importance of better coordinating cohesion with other EU policies, especially the Common market and Competition policies. “We must take care in the future that regional development projects subsidized with state aid would not hindered by the competition rules, as recent examples of regional airports have pointed out” Brian Greenslade stressed.

Nevertheless uncertainty remains about the feasibility of this new cohesion policy, because of disagreement between the Commission and some Member States concerning the financial perspectives for the next period.

The AER calls upon the political wisdom and pragmatism of the European Council and of the Commission in finding an agreement, which could allow to overcome the economic difficulties in the EU 15 as well as to face up to the growing need for cohesion in an enlarged Europe.

For more information: [email protected]

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Ryanair/Charleroi: the Regions reaction to the Commission’s decision

3 February, 2004 By Editor

The Assembly of European Regions (AER), as a first reaction to the decision, is pleased to note that the Commission has suddenly taken into consideration the importance of regional airports for the economic development of the Regions.

The AER regrets, however, that the promise contained in the title of the Commission Communication – “The Commission’s decision on Charleroi airport promotes the activities of low-cost airlines and regional development”- remains rather undeveloped within the actual text. The Commission continues to insist on the “prudent private investor criterion” and thereby seems to ignore the general interest aspect of regional air transport.

The Commission suggests that the Ryanair/Charleroi Airport case is a one-off, whereas its decision will most certainly affect all regional airports in Europe. Mr Onno Hoes, Chairman of AER’s “Regional Aviation” group, comments: “The decision should have been based on an in-depth analysis of the complexity of the issue and the diverse regional situations in Europe. The small airport of Knock in Ireland cannot be compared to Frankfurt-Hahn (D) and these two cannot be subjected to the same rules.”

The AER therefore questions the wisdom of the Commission’s intention to establish common rules and principles for this sector. Imposing a maximum duration of 3-5 years for regional aid could in many cases endanger the Regions’ long-term investments and their sustainable economic development. Within a constantly fluctuating market, there is no room for applying a European-wide definition of “normal operating conditions”.

The AER is convinced that its member the Walloon Region negotiated the contract with Ryanair in the full interest of the Charleroi area and its citizens, aiming to address the area’s industrial decline and the high level of unemployment. There remains no doubt that the Regional Government used public funds in the best interest of the tax payer.

Dr Franz J. Stummann of the AER Secretariat, referring to the AER’s political objectives, insists that interregional cooperation and solidarity, rather than uniform European rules, will benefit both the passenger and the Regions.

At the initiative of the AER, the Regional Ministers for Transport will meet in Brussels on 12th February to evaluate the impact of the Commission’s decision and to formulate an initial position.

For more information: [email protected]

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The New Challenge for Democracy: regions engaging citizens in a changing Europe

18 November, 2003 By Editor

Strasbourg (F), 18 November 2003

Is European democracy failing its citizens? What role can the regions play in increasing civic participation? To address these questions, the Assembly of European Regions (AER) will hold its 6th General Meeting the 27th-28th November 2003 in Poznan (Wielkopolska Region-Poland).

500 high-level regional politicians and civil servants from “Greater Europe” are expected in Poznan to join in this 2-day open debate, at the invitation of Mr Stefan Mikolajczak, Marshal of the Wielkopolska Region, and Mrs Liese Prokop, President of the AER. The following figure among the main speakers:

Mr. Leszek Miller, Prime Minister RP
Mr. Jozef Oleksy, Former Prime Minister RP and member of the Polish Parliament
Mr. Marek M. Siwiec, Secretary of State in the Chancellery of the President of the Republic of Poland
Mr. Robert Collignon, President of the Walloon Parliament (Belgium)
Mr. Jeremy Rifkin, President of the Foundation on Economic Trends

Within the theme “Regions engaging people in a changing Europe – the importance of decentralization for citizen participation”, participants will analyse the impact on the regions of globalisation and the current advancements in the European construction, and then undertake common political commitments, which will guarantee an equilibrated development and the construction of a democratic Europe close to the citizens.

The future of Services of General Interest, the modernisation of public life, the involvement of new models of citizen inclusion in the political sphere, as well as the reinforcement of interregional cooperation, particularly with the neighbour regions of the new EU, will also be debated.

Also during this event, the AER will honour the Regions Winners 2003 “The Most Youth Friendly Region Award”, which will be given to the British County of Lancashire and “The Most Environmentally Friendly Region Award”, which will acknowledge the Comunitat Valenciana (Spain).

Download the CVs of the Speakers:

For more information: [email protected]

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Election results for the AER: Mrs Liese Prokop has been re-elected President

29 November, 2002 By Editor

Naples (Campania), 29 November 2002

Liese Prokop, Vice-Minister President of Niederösterreich (Austria), was re-elected President of the Assembly of European Regions for a two year mandate. During President Prokop’s first mandate she remained particularly committed to the development of cooperation between the European interregional organisations, particularly in the context of the activities of the Convention on the Future of Europe and enlargement. The Summit of interregional organisations in Linz in March 2002 was held at her initiative.
Liese Prokop has also supported initiatives encouraging dialogue between European Regions and on crucial issues such as the future of European cohesion policy post-enlargement, the liberalisation of public services in culture and education under GATS negotiations, aging in European populations and the quality of elderly care or the involvement of young people in politics and public affairs.

Adrien Zeller, President of the Regional Council of Alsace (France) and Ivan Jakovcic, President of the Region of Istria (Croatia) were elected as AER Vice-Presidents. Wilhelm Schnyder, State Councillor for the Canton of Valais (Switzerland) was elected Vice-President Treasurer. Peter Straub, President of the Landtag of Baden-Württemberg (Germany) and Stig-Erik Westmark, President of the International Commission for Västmanland (Sweden) were elected as Presidents for the Institutional Affairs Committee and the Social cohesion, Social affairs and Public health Committee respectively.

Brian Greenslade, Leader of Devon County Council (United Kingdom) and Bruno Hosp, Assessore for Culture for Bozen-Südtirol (Italy) were respectively re-elected Presidents of the AER Committees on Regional policy, Spatial planning, Infrastructure, Environment & Tourism and on Culture, Education & Training, Youth, Media & Information technology, Sport.

Jean-Claude Van Cauwenberghe, Minister-President of Wallonie (Belgium), replaced Jean-François Humbert, President of Franche-Comté (France) as President of the AER Eurodyssey programme, which allows young Europeans to gain professional experience abroad.

Luigi Anzalone, Assessore for Finance and Mediterranean regional policy of the region of Campania (I), Presidium member, was entrusted with the development of North-South cooperation and Mihai Mugerel Arbagic, President of the County of Calarasi (RO) was entrusted with relations with Eastern Europe.

The new AER Presidium will be responsible for enhancing the political role and the place of the Regions in the future structure of Europe, closer to the citizens, and as of January 2003. They will also aim to set up new mechanisms for interregional cooperation leading to assistance in the process of enlargement and to harmonise relations between the east, west, north and south of Europe.

For more information: [email protected]

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How can Regions ensure a sustainable future for their citizens? The AER answer

17 June, 2002 By Editor

More than 40 Regions from all over Europe gathered in Bødo, Nordland, on 14 and 15 June 2002. The Regions’ contribution to sustainable development was the major issue for this meeting of the ‘Regional policy’ Committee of the Assembly of European Regions (AER) in view of the forthcoming UN Johannesburg Summit (27 August – 4 Sept. 2002).

Major European institutions, such as the European Environment Agency (EEA) and the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of Europe took active part in the AER debate and expressed their interest in further co-operation with the AER in view of common action in favour of sustainable development.

Various good regional practices in sustainable development were presented, such as, for example: development of renewable energies (Niederösterreich-A, Jämtland-S), preservation of water and land resources (Pest, Heves-H, TulceaRO), sustainable transport (outcome of the 1st workshop Regions’ contribution to sustainable transport, Florence, April 2002), eco-tourism (Västerbotten-S, Thüringen-D) and sustainable rural development (Gloucestershire-UK).

On the basis of its member Regions’ concrete actions, Committee C unanimously adopted a Final Statement as the AER contribution to the Johannesburg Summit and designated Thomas Haag, Councillor, from Jämtland as its representative at the Summit. “In this statement we expressed our strong conviction on the fundamental role of Regions and interregional cooperation for the promotion of sustainable development in all its environmental, social, economic, and cultural dimensions” said Brian Greenslade, Committee C President, Leader of Devon. “We urged all regional authorities to identify the results that the Summit should aim for and committed ourselves to specific strategies as a concrete follow up to the Johannesburg Summit at regional level” he added.

In this context, a major interregional Summit on Sustainable Development will be organised next year, in joint cooperation with all AER member interregional organisations and major European bodies. The first AER European EcoRegion Prize will be awarded on this occasion, with the support of the Royal Award Foundation, and the EEA.

Committee C also focused on the preparation of the 1st AER Conference of Regional Presidents and Ministers on the Future of Regional Policy (Baranya, 14-15 November 2002). The Committee meeting was followed by a seminar organised by the host Region. The crucial current situation of regionalisation in Norway and other countries of Northern Europe, on the one hand, and the political support of the AER in this process on the other hand, were the major issues of this successful seminar.

For more information: [email protected]

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A common voice for the European Regions on the Future of Europe in Linz

13 March, 2002 By Editor

On 21st March 2002 in Linz (A), the Assembly of European Regions will bring together the Presidents of the European interregional organisations. The aim of this Conference of Presidents of the European interregional organizations is to enhance cooperation between these organisations at a crucial point in time for the future of Europe. Common political positions will be adopted on issues of major importance for the Regions as a first step in giving European regions one voice.

Four topics will be discussed in particular:

– European governance as well as the regions participation in the work of the Convention on the future of Europe,

– new instruments for European Regional Policy after 2006, with special regards to interregional and transborder cooperation,

– the regional perspective for the implementation of Trans-European Networks (TENs) and the contribution of interregional cooperation to the development of environmentally sound transport,

– new quality models for Common Agricultural Policy in line with sustainable development and the concerns of rural populations.

Organised at the initiative of Liese Prokop, President of the Assembly of European Regions, and thanks to the kind invitation of Josef Pühringer, Landeshauptmann of the Land of Oberösterreich, this Conference will also involve the Committee of the Regions (CoR), the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of Europe (CLRAE) as well as the Council of European Municipalities and Regions (CEMR).

Interregional organisation which are organising the evtn are: Assembly of European Wine-growing Regions (AREV), Assembly of European Fruit and Vegetable Growing and Horticultural Regions (AREFLH), European Association of Regions with Industrial Technology (RETI), Association of European Border Regions (AEBR), Working Community of the Adriatic Alps (ALPE ADRIA), Working Community of the Alpine Countries (ARGE ALP), Working Community of the Western Alps (COTRAO), Working Community of the Lower and Middle Adriatic, Working Community of GaliciaNorth Portugal, Working Community of the Jura (CTJ), Working Community of the Danube Countries (ARGE DONAULÄNDER), Working Community of the Pyrenees (CTP) and the Conference of Peripheral and Maritime Regions (CPMR).

For more information: [email protected]

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A working programme for 2002, capable of meeting the stakes in a Europe for the Regions

1 February, 2002 By Editor

The members of the Presidium of the Assembly of European Regions (AER), at their meeting in Strasbourg on Friday 1st February 2002, welcomed the outcome of the Belgian Presidency of the European Union which led to further involvement for the Regions in European decision-making. They regretted the absence of regional policy on the priority list of the new Spanish Presidency. According to the AER, Regional policy and the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) are heavy players in current accession negociations, and will create impetus for new governance in an enlarged Europe, therefore reform seems indispensable. The AER now asks the future Danish Presidency (2nd half 2002) to include these two priority items in its programme.

At this meeting, the AER Presidium adopted the AER working programme for 2002. “We have already produced common proposals of the Regions of Europe concerning the European constitution, new governance, enlargement, cohesion in an enlarged Europe and the setting up of environmentally friendly European transport networks. In 2002, we will compare these positions with those of other interregional organisations in order to act in collaboration with the latter at European level. The 2nd summit between the Presidents of the Interregional organisations in Europe, organised by the AER, will take place on 21st March 2002 in Linz (Austria). I hope that this event will lead to a major contribution in strengthening the role of the Regions in Europe and making their expectations heard in the Convention on the future of Europe” said Liese Prokop, AER President, at the press conference.

The President also gave the kick off for the activity programmes of the four Committees: Institutional affairs, Health, Regional policy and Culture, and its three programmes – Centurio, Eurodyssey and the Summer School.
She entrusted the Committees with organising three Conferences on important issues for the Regions and for the development of interregional cooperation in Europe:

– the 2nd Conference of Regional political leaders in the field of Culture,
– the 2nd Conference on Health,
– the 1st Conference on Spatial planning.

The AER President congratulated Valéry Giscard d’Estaing, President of the Council of European Municipalities and Regions (CEMR), for his nomination as President of the Convention on the future of Europe, and Mr Erwin Teufel, MinisterPresident of the Land of Baden-Württemberg, represented on the AER Presidium, for his nomination as member of this Convention. Mr Teufel has been a distinguished member of the AER since its creation.

For more information: [email protected]

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The Future of Europe: Full steam ahead for a Interregional Organisations Presidents Conference

14 January, 2002 By Editor

On 14th January 2002 in Strasbourg, the Assembly of European Regions met with the Secretaries General of its 13 interregional organisation members, to strengthen interregional cooperation and set up a common political platform for the increased participation of the regional organisations in decision-making at european level. They unanimously decided that today’s european context calls for the organisation of a top level conference of regional leaders and the launch of concrete steps for the conference of the 14 Presidents of the main interregional organisations in Europe to be held in Linz (A) on 21st March 2002.

Four topics will be discussed in particular:

– new governance and the future of Europe as well as the regions participation in the work of the Convention launched by the European Council in Laeken,
– new instruments for European Regional Policy after 2006, in favour of a polycentric development of our continent,
– the regional perspective for the implementation of Trans-European Networks (TENs) and the contribution of interregional cooperation to the development of environmentally sound transport in Europe,
– new quality models for Common Agricultural Policy in line with sustainable development and the concerns of rural populations.

The Committee of the Regions (CoR), the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of Europe (CLRAE) Council of European Municipalities and Regions (CMER) will be involved in this intitative.

AER member interregional organisations are: Assembly of European Wine-growing Regions (AREV), Assembly of European Fruit and Vegetable Growing and Horticultural Regions (AREFLH), European Association of Regions with Industrial Technology (RETI), Association of European Border Regions (AEBR), Working Community of the Adriatic Alps (ALPE ADRIA), Working Community of the Alpine Countries (ARGE ALP), Working Community of the Western Alps (COTRAO), Working Community of the Lower and Middle Adriatic, Working Community of GaliciaNorth Portugal, Working Community of the Jura (CTJ), Working Community of the Danube Countries (ARGE DONAULÄNDER), Working Community of the Pyrenees (CTP) and the Conference of Peripheral and Maritime Regions (CPMR).

For more information: [email protected]

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“Mosan EuroSalute” Event in Milan

3 October, 2001 By Editor

Milan, Lombardy (I), 3 October 2001

Mrs Liese Prokop, as AER President, and the Vice-President of the European Parliament, Mr Podesta, opened “Mosan EuroSalute” in Milan together.

The first meeting between regional ministers for social affairs and health took place within this Conference and the exhibition, which presented new developments in the social and health sectors.

President Prokop stressed the importance of interregional cooperation, a sine qua non condition for the development of joint projects in a sector of primordial consequence for the population.

These words were welcomed by the Minister of Health for Bayern, Mrs Stevens, by Senator Schöttler from Berlin and by the Secretary of State from Baden-Württemberg, Mrs Lichy, as opening up new prospects. The opening session showed to what extent, today, prevention for pensioners is a highly discussed current affair in all Regions.

It was unanimously recognised that training for medical personel must be at the same level in Regions as in European member States. This issue must continue to be treated in an indepth manner within the AER Committee for Social affairs and public health.

According to several observers, this Conference “Mosan EuroSalute” jointly organised by the AER, was a long awaited initiative which is expected to strengthen the impact of European cooperation in the Regions.

For more information: [email protected]

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Summer School of the AER: Constanta, host region for 2001

25 July, 2001 By Editor

The 6th AER Summer School will be held from 26th to 30th August in Constanta, Romania, on the Black Sea Coast. Over one hundred regional politicians and administrators from applicant countries and representatives from the regions of the European Union are expected.

The 2001 edition of the AER Summer School will focus on the crucial topic of EU enlargement. Under the title “Our Future: European Regions and European Expansion”, the participants will insist on the Regions’ role in the construction of Europe and on concrete aspects of regional development.

The main issues to be looked at this year are:
· Regions towards the EU enlargement process
· Regions’ contribution to the environmental protection
· Tourism at regional level as a motor of economic and sustainable development
· European spatial planning and future European regional policy

The Summer School 2001 will consist of a number of Plenary sessions, followed by smaller workshops that will deal with the above mentioned issues in more detail and on the practicalities of Phare and Tacis projects. This year, it has received again the support of the European Commission (General Directorate Enlargement) and of the Council of Europe. The AER invites all persons interested to take part in this event. The practical information are available on the Web sites of the AER http://www.are-regions-europe.org and of the Constanta Region http://www.cjc.ro/school/index.html

The AER launched its Summer School programme in 1996. Previous editions were held in Pest-H, Krakow-PL, Thüringen-D, Istra-HR and Vilnius-LT. The Organising Committee, which makes this event possible each year, is made up of 7 member regions: Constanta (RO), Friuli-Venezia-Giulia (I), Gloucestershire (GB), Noord-Brabant (NL), Thüringen (D), Uppsala (S), Wien (A). Over the years, this event has become one of the pillars of AER policies in favour of EU enlargement and East-West interregional cooperation.

For more information: [email protected]

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AER political Bureau meeting Presentation

22 February, 2001 By Editor

The political Bureau of the Assembly of European Regions (AER) will meet on Friday 2nd March. At the invitation of Mr Stächele, Secretary of State for Baden-Württemberg (D) and President of the AER Institutional Committee, this meeting will take place in Oberkirch – Baden-Württemberg.

Roughly 50 representatives, chaired by Mrs Prokop, AER President, from the regions of Europe will mainly focus on three priority issues:

1. Governance: only a few months from the publishing of the “White paper on European governance” the Bureau will finalise, among other issues, the preparation of its contribution for the public hearings of the European Commission planned for midMarch.

2. The European constitutional system: The AER Institutional Committee met on 8th and 9 th February in Berlin, chaired by Willi Stächele, and drew up a draft position on this important issue. On the basis of this document, the Bureau will discuss the AER’s position, in particular in view of the next Intergovernmental Conference in 2004.

3. Cohesion: The AER wishes to make a major contribution to the debate on the future of Regional policy in view of the cohesion forum to be held in May 2001. The Bureau will therefore specify the overall lines which will allow AER members to develop an indepth discussion on the future of Regional policy. The contribution of AER member regions’ from EU applicant countries will represent real added value for this debate.

For more information: [email protected]

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European Governance: for subsidiarity and cooperation in an enlarged Europe

8 December, 2000 By Editor

Seinäjoki, South Ostrobothnia (FIN), 8 December 2000

Mrs Liese Prokop, the new AER President, declared in her opening speech for her mandate that the acceptation of enlargement, the application of subsidiarity at European level aiming at increased involvement of the populations of the Regions in Europe and the development of interregional cooperation will be the three main lines for her activities within the Assembly of European Regions in the coming two years.

The AER member Regions met at their General Assembly in Seinäjoki, at the same moment in time as the European Summit in Nice and debated, with the participation of other institutions and interregional organisations such as the Committee of the Regions (CdR), the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities in Europe (CLRAE)…. the new forms of Governance in an enlarged Europe in view of the Regions of Europe’s contribution to the White paper to be redacted by the European Commission.

The AER and its sister interregional organisations decided, on this occasion, to work together to reinforce the involvement of regional actors in European decision making. They approved the guidelines drawn up by the AER and the CPMR which aims at the implementation of a system of Governance in which the competences of all levels – European, national, Regional and local – would be clearly specified and the principle of subsidiarity correctly defined.

“Only by recognising the mediating role of regional authorities with the citizens and also their federal role within the territories which they represent within the European Union can the challenge of good European Governance be met and the social, economic and territorial cohesion of an enlarged Europe be maintained” declared L Prokop, AER President.

Final Resolutions

The last day of the 15th AER General Assembly, many documents have been approved on several important topics as well. Representatives of the European Regions stressed their point of view about the Charter of fundamental rights of the European Union, Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE), trade in women and children, subsidiarity and cooperation in an enlarged Europe.

All this documents are now available here below.

Download the “Resolution on the Charter of fundamental rights of the European Union”:

Download the “Resolution on Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE)”:

Download the “Resolution on the trade in women and children”:

For more information: [email protected]

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Seminar on the Information Society: Region of the Future, closer to citizens

7 December, 2000 By Editor

Seinäjoki, South Ostrobothnia (FIN), 8 December 2000

On 7 December 2000, the Region of South Ostrobothnia and the Assembly of European Regions (AER)organised in Seinäjoki (Finland) a reflection seminar about the impact of the development of new communication technologies, and in particular that of the Internet, at the regional and local levels. Numerous regional and transregional services instantaneously accessible via the Internet, such as social services, telemedecine, distant learning, virtual universities, databanks, etc. are being created and today almost all the regions have at least one web site at their disposal. New information technologies contribute to the creation of new jobs but they can also lead to the reduction of jobs in the traditional fields, and even cause the marginalisation of people who do not know how to or do not have the opportunity to use Internet resources. “It is a very important challenge for regional administration to be able to measure the impact of this development and to take the most adequate decisions to preserve the cohesion of society”, said Mr Latva-Rasku, the Executive Director of the Regional Council South Ostrobothnia, in his introduction to the seminar.

New technologies also offer opportunities regarding interregional cooperation in Europe in fields so diverse as communication, exchange of experiences, economic development, interregional services or working in a network. Mr Lunnas from the Association of Finnish Local and Regional Authorities – who presented some major interregional projects(Locregis, Erisa, Teleregions, Ernact, etc.)- underlined the advantages of projects related to information society for regions: increased efficacy and profitability, better communication and increased supply of services. He also insisted on the importance of political engagement all along the development of technology projects in order to assure their success.

Dr. Macpherson from PSAMRA-Integral Studies, Berlin, outlined different opportunities that communications technologies offer with a view to increase citizens’ participation in public affairs. “The diffusion of information and transparency form the base of democracy, and all the levels of governance should use these new technologies to make citizens involved with the democratic process. However, projects related to electronic democracy are not yet very highly developed and this remains an important challenge to meet“, he said.

M. Haglund from the Information Society Project Office (ISPO) of the European Commission emphasized that founding of information society was among the key priorities for regional and local development schemes in Europe. Several programmes and initiatives have already been launched by the Commission, aimed at developing the fields of technology, legislation, economy, commercial applications, services for citizens as well as at taking social and societal aspects into account.

The Region of South Ostrobothnia, which receives European structural funds for Objectives 2 and 3, participates in this development in cooperation with other Finnish regions and municipalities.

For more information: [email protected]

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Future of cross-border cooperation in the enlarged Europe

1 May 2004: European citizens build a new Europe

New cohesion policy: still a long way to go – The AER calls for more pragmatic approach

Ryanair/Charleroi: the Regions reaction to the Commission’s decision

The New Challenge for Democracy: regions engaging citizens in a changing Europe

Election results for the AER: Mrs Liese Prokop has been re-elected President

How can Regions ensure a sustainable future for their citizens? The AER answer

A common voice for the European Regions on the Future of Europe in Linz

A working programme for 2002, capable of meeting the stakes in a Europe for the Regions

The Future of Europe: Full steam ahead for a Interregional Organisations Presidents Conference

Summer School of the AER: Constanta, host region for 2001

AER political Bureau meeting Presentation

Seminar on the Information Society: Region of the Future, closer to citizens

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