21 September, Brussels - The Assembly of European Regions hosted a visit of a delegation from the East Border Region that is representing politicians and officers from local county councils in Ireland/Northern Ireland. Apart from learning more about AER, the delegation discussed with AER's Vice-president treasurer, Magnus Berntsson (Västra Götaland/SE) the role of broadband in … [Read more...]
This tag is for all posts relating to Rural development.
Farmers leave their fields to protest in Brussels
6000 farmers gathered in Brussels on the occasion of the Agriculture and Fisheries Council on Monday 7 September. Jan Jacob Van Dijk, Chairman of the AER working group on rural development, stresses the key role played by farmers for territorial attractiveness and as entrepreneurs: "Farmers play an important role to keep the countryside alive and vigorous. They invest in … [Read more...]
Efficient regions for efficient energy
In the framework of the EU sustainable Energy Week (EUSEW) which took place in Brussels from 15-19 June and upon the kind invitation of the House of Dutch Provinces, AER Committee 1 Working group on Energy and Climate change, led by Councillor Melville Kendal, took this opportunity to meet on the 18th, in order to discuss the future of Energy security, Energy Efficiency and … [Read more...]
Committees 1 & 3 joining forces
Following last year’s positive experience, AER Committees ‘Economy and Regional development’ (1) and ‘Culture, Education Youth and International Cooperation’ (3) joined forces again from 5-7 November to discuss in Arnhem (Gelderland-NL) about the state of play of their political priorities and activities. This time the format of the plenary meeting changed with the main … [Read more...]
No money for renewables?
Baia Mare, Maramures (RO), 2 October 2014 Regions4GreenGrowth provides recommendations on how to boost investments in RES & EE “The European Union (EU) aims to get 20% of its energy from renewable sources (RES) by 2020, as well as to cut 20% of Europe's annual primary energy consumption”. (Source: EC website.) The stakes are high, but unfortunately, the fact is that … [Read more...]
The reality of European rural areas: an overriding issue for EU competitiveness
At a Press Conference organised in cooperation with the European Countryside Movement (ECM), regions and international organisations called on the future Parliament and Commission highlighting three key messages: Rural areas contribute to the Europe 2020 Strategy: Today the EU has a tendency to focus on increasing effectiveness by using factors such as competitiveness, … [Read more...]
The reality of European rural areas: an overriding issue for EU competitiveness
In the run up to the European elections, regions and international organisations call on the future Parliament and Commission to further take into account the new reality of rural areas. Brussels, Bruxelles-Capitale (BE), 29 April 2014 The European Union (EU) is facing several key challenges and responding to these will prove to be a particularly complex and expensive … [Read more...]
RUR@CT: mutual learning as a key for regional development
Mutual learning and transfer of best practices are key to promote economic, social and environmental growth in European regions. This is the conclusion of the first edition of the RUR@CT Benchmarking Seminar on rural development that took place on 29 April in Brussels, at the kind invitation of the Walloon region. Gathering 70 regional stakeholders, the Seminar presented a … [Read more...]
First joint plenary session for AER Committees 1 & 2
Joining forces for the first time in a joint plenary session, the members of AER Committees for Economy and Regional development (1) and for Social and Health policy (2), discussed in Edirne (TR) about the state of play of their political priorities and activities. During the first half of the session the Committee 1 Working Groups invited members to join them for their core … [Read more...]
AER and AEBR : joining forces on rural and urban challenges
Cross-border Urban and Rural integrated areas - Challenges and Chances" was the topic of the annual AEBR conference which took place in Liège (B) on the 7th of November and to which AER President Dr Hande Özsan Bozatli was invited as a keynote speaker. Together with Danuta Hübner, MEP and Chair of the Regional Development Committee of the European Parliament, and other high … [Read more...]
Plenary session of Committee 1 – preparing 2014
One of the major events in the Committee 1 calendar, the Autumn Plenary Session gathered in Brussels on 6 November. During this fruitful meeting key steps were taken to strengthen Committee 1: The Committee 1 Presidium was reinforced through the election of Kenneth Backgård, Norrbotten (SE), Vice-President for Rural Development, Energy and … [Read more...]
Committee 1 working group meetings : focused and productive
The work plans of the working groups are their actual backbone and ensure both coherence and continuity in the activities realised during the year. They are also a useful tool to compare results against objectives. This is why on 4 November the AER Committee 1 members gathered to discuss the mandates and work plans of their three existing working groups (energy and climate … [Read more...]
Essential for rural development:
The agenda of the working group on agriculture and rural development was quite packed on 24 September. After a presentation by Iman Boot from DG Agri on the European Innovation Partnership (EIP), members discussed the current setting up of operational programmes and the difficulties regions face in having their voice heard at national level. But all in all, the topic that … [Read more...]
Rurality and regional development
The report advocates the potential of rural regions in Europe and puts forward suggestions to ensure it is fully exploited. Opening up these territories through transport infrastructure and digital development is the key to attract new industries and jobs. Creating a new rural development policy, independent from the agricultural one, becomes therefore necessary. Jean-Paul … [Read more...]
Electric vehicles – Quality of life – Regional development: AER publishes three political reports
Paris, Ile-de-France (F), 18 May 2013 The Assembly of European Regions (AER) adopted three new political reports. AER developed the concept of reports with the purpose of raising the political voice of European Regions on concrete issues. After adoption, the reports become the tools to lobby key European and National policy makers to determine a way forward. “The role for … [Read more...]