Assembly of European Regions

Connecting regions, inspiring Europe since 1985

You are here: Home / Archives for Subsidiarity

This tag is for all posts relating to Subsidiarity.

The Campania Region welcomes the Assembly of European Regions to Naples

By

 


Naples, Campania (I), 22 November 2002

For the first time ever, an Italian region will host the General Assembly of the AER with its 250 members regions from all over Europe, at the invitation of Mr. Antonio Bassolino, President of the Campania Region. 400 political representatives from the European regions are expected in Naples for the 28th and 29th of November.

While the Convention on the Future of Europe begins to rewrite the Constitutional Treaty of the European Union, the Assembly of European Regions will convene its members in Naples to formulate proposals that will bring Europe closer to its citizens. On the threshold of enlargement to more than 20 Member States, the participants will also discuss the future of structural and cohesion policies in an enlarged Europe which may allow them to be competitive and to respond to the expectations of their populations.

In close co-operation with the Campania Region, the AER wishes also to offer, during these two days, numerous opportunities to set a foundation for sustainable partnerships between the regions of the East and West, North and South. The seminar on the theme of “Regional Partnerships for Internationalisation in the Framework of EU Development Policies” will be a particularly select moment where regional delegates will be able to exchange their know-how and experiences on matters of co-operation (28 November, 9:00-13:00). This will also be an occasion for the AER to better determine the upcoming challenges of enlargement and to identify the new needs of the regions in matters of interregional and trans-border co-operation. Such efforts will allow the AER to make them know to the European authorities and to better adapt European programmes.

Another important event: the election of the President, the members of the Presidium and the Bureau of the AER. The new elected team will have the task, for 2003, of pursuing the work of the AER and to increase the political role of the regions in view of the Intergovernmental Conference in 2004.

A press conference will be held Friday, the 29th of November at 14:00, in the Mostra d’Oltremare, the conference centre of Naples (Pavillion 6).

For more information: [email protected]

Follow AER!
Facebooktwitterlinkedinrss

What cohesion policy for an enlarged Europe?

By

AER European Conference

Pécs, Baranya (H), 14-15 November 2002

What objectives for the future cohesion policy? How to more efficiently support the regional policies of the Regions and to encourage their sustainable development? What lessons can be learnt from the current experience of the Regions in terms of structural fund management? How to set up a new type of governance including the Regions, States and the European Union?

Over 220 regional Presidents, Ministers and politicians in charge of regional development are expected at the AER Conference in Pécs whose main objective is to answer these few essential questions and to define the project of the Regions for a new European cohesion and regional development policy. The Conference also aims to promote innovative regional practices in favour of sustainable development, the sharing of know-how and the exchange of experience with Regions in future European Union (EU) member states.

Many Regions contributed to the preparation of this debate by participating in the discussion forum launched by the AER at the beginning of the year. Relevant proposals have already been put forward regarding the objectives of the new regional policy. This should continue to ensure economic, social and territorial cohesion while guaranteeing support for all lesser-develped European Regions. To this end, this policy should remain one of the EU’s main objectives. In fact, the Regions are against any attempt to “renationalise” this policy.

The new regional policy must also be defined with increased coordination with other cohesion related EU policies as a major concern while guaranteeing the implementation of the principles of subsidiarity and partnership. This must be based on real collaboration between the EU, the States and the Regions and contribute significantly to the development of interregional, cross-border and transnational cooperation.

The AER Conference will assist in opening up a dialogue and collaboration in this field between the representatives of the European institutions, States and Regions. Luciano Caveri, President of the European Parliament’s Committee on Regional policies, Transport and Tourism and Jean-Charles Leygues, Director of the Directorate General on Regional policy within the European Commission will join speakers at the Conference as well as representatives of national authorities from various European countries.

For more information: [email protected]

Follow AER!
Facebooktwitterlinkedinrss

The AER at the Johannesburg Summit: Initial reactions and future projects

By

Ten days of tough negotiations at expert and political level were finalised in Johannesburg yesterday when world leaders adopted a plan of action and solemnly reaffirmed principles for sustainable development meant to bring about a better planet.

The AER representatives in Johannesburg illustrated the assets of a full implementation of the principles of subsidiarity, partnership and proximity. By concrete examples, they showed how regions act in favour of economic, territorial and social cohesion.

Mere hours after his arrival from the Johannesburg Summit, one of the AER representatives Mr Thomas Hagg, Councillor form Jämtland (S) was willing to share his first impressions with colleagues – members of the AER.

“The world expected the Johannesburg Summit (WSSD) to make significant progress towards eradicating poverty and protecting the environment. In order to live up to these expectations, concrete measures will be necessary, of course, to implement the WSSD plan of action”, Mr Hagg said. He also stated: “The Summit raised the awareness of all sectors of society about the need for a global commitment for sustainable development. The sense of inevitability provoked indeed a strong mobilisation of local and regional authorities, non-government organisations, the private sector and civil society. Sustainable development is not only a question of environmental protection. It is mainly a matter of political commitment in favour of democracy, participation and Human Rights. The European regions are indispensable pillars of the institutional framework and the partnership initiatives which will implement the WSSD plan of action.”

The AER will further develop co-operation with all other active regional and local stakeholders (International Council for Local Environmental Initiatives-ICLEI and the newly established Regional Government Network for Sustainable Development) as a preparation of the forthcoming AER Interregional European Summit on Sustainable Development to be organised in 2003.

For more information: [email protected]

Follow AER!
Facebooktwitterlinkedinrss

AER at the European Convention’s Hearing: The future of Europe must be rooted in regions and communities

By

This is the key message which the Assembly of European Regions has addressed to the members of the European Convention through its Vice-President Lambert Van Nistelrooij, at the hearing organised in Brussels today (25th June).

“From the point of view of the regions and local authorities, the objective of the Convention must be a constitutional treaty which creates a union of states, that associates regional and local authorities to the definition and the implementation of policies” pointed out Mr Van Nistelrooij.

“On the basis of the existing treaties and in accordance with the principle of subsidiarity, this treaty should summarise the competencies of the EU, which it needs in order to achieve its goals and values. In such a distribution of competencies, we recommend that central areas of responsibilities of the member states should be protected in order to improve clarity. Above all these would include the internal structure of the Member States, including the regional structures and local selfgovernment… We also recommend that the exercise of competencies be governed by the principle of limited empowerment and the principle of subsidiarity, where in future the regions and local authorities should be mentioned, and the principle of proportionality” he added.

“Concerning the principle of subsidiarity whose application the treaties currently limit to the relation between the EU and member states (Art. 5.2 of the EC Treaty), we demand that this principle be explicitly applied in the constitutional treaty with regard to the regions and local authorities, and enforced by a system of control” Mr Van Nistelrooij underlined, while proposing the creation of a working group on the regional and subregional dimension within the European Convention.

In the document “Contribution from the AER in view of the hearing at the European Convention”, the organisation representing European regions expressed a series of other proposals including the improvement of the European Parliament’s rights to collaboration and the reinforcement of the role of the Committee of the Regions.

For more information: [email protected]

Follow AER!
Facebooktwitterlinkedinrss

Consensus between the Regions of Europe for a sustainable European Union

By

At Stuttgart, the President of the Assembly of European Regions (AER) took up position on the future European Constitution. “The development of regionalism in Europe may continue if the Regions act together. What can be said for the Member States of the European Union, can also be said for the Regions: consensus is needed in order to maintain diversity in regional identities. The aim is to ensure that the Regions are fully borne in mind in the European Treaties and that the internal organisation of Member States is respected along with that of the Regions and Local Self-Government”, declared Dr Palmer, Minister for European Affairs for Baden-Württemberg-D and President of the AER Institutional affairs Committee, at the AER Presidium meeting.

On 24th and 25th June 2002, the AER will present its conception of the future European Constitution in Brussels at the Convention on the future of Europe. The AER represents the largest regional group in Europe with 250 member Regions.

“A sustainable European Union requires initiative and creativity at all levels”, stated Dr Palmer, Minister of European Affairs. In the context of enlargement, consideration and action in a regional perspective must be developed and reinforced. The AER speaks in favour of greater coordination between the Regions. “Throughout the whole of Europe, the search for wide consensus is decisive. This is the only way for the Regions, which seek to incorporate their status as Nations into the European Constitution in an appropriate manner, to ensure that their interests – legislative competences for example, be taken into consideration”, concluded Dr Palmer.

The AER emphasises to the Convention that a bottom up Europe can only be fully understood if the Regions and Local authorities are specifically mentioned in the Treaty. In the future, the distribution of competences must lay out clear indications and be respected in the interests of the Regions. The main political fields of Member states such as internal organisation, regional structures, local self-government, culture and the application of Community regulations must be guaranteed by the Constitutional Treaty. The Regions expect the Treaty to put essential values and decisions in priority and to define the principles governing competences such as the principles of proportionality and subsidiarity. “The principle of subsidiarity included in the Treaties must also mention national and local levels”, declared Liese Prokop, AER President and Vice-Minister President of Niederösterreich. The Regions also expect European solidarity to be re-defined and EU assistance to focus on the Regions present clear weaknesses.

Enlargement is one of the key themes for the AER. The Danish government has placed this issue on its list of priorities for the EU Presidency (2nd half 2002). “We are in favour of rapid progress for enlargement. Initial accords may be signed before the end of this year”” said Liese Prokop. “The AER insists on the need to differentiate between applicant countries depending on individual progress. The “Copenhagen criteria” remain essential for all countries. Countries meeting criteria can join the EU without any hesitation” she added. In this perspective, the AER will co-organise, a Conference entitled “Enlargement in a local and regional perspective” with the regional and local representations in Brussels, on 5th July 2002 in Brussels (B).

The AER also decided to act in the field of regional twinning, which, although existing in various forms, has no legal nor institutional status. The AER institutional affairs Committee is entrusted with creating a working group on regional twinning in the aim of distributing information and promoting the concept and seeking formal recognition with the European institutions. The Presidium is also in favour of a “Year of local and regional twinning” at European level.

For more information: [email protected]

Follow AER!
Facebooktwitterlinkedinrss

How to ensure a sustainable future for our European citizens? The regions’ answer

By

More than one hundred regional leaders from all over Europe (EU and non-EU), experts from the Assembly of European Regions (AER), the European Environment Agency (EEA) and the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities in Europe (Council of Europe), will gather in Bödo, Capital of Nordland (N), on 14th and 15th June 2002, to prepare a global political action plan for sustainable regions and towns.

In view of the upcoming Earth Summit (Johannesburg, 26th August – 4th Sept. 2002) and the 1st Conference of Regional Ministers of Spatial planning, organised by the AER for 14th and 15th Nov. 2002 in Pècs (Baranya, H), this meeting organized by the AER Regional policy Committe aims:

– to assess the regional dimension of sustainable development in the various fields (management of local natural resources, agriculture and the rural world, transport, tourism…),
– to compare innovative regional practices in favour of sustainable development,
– on this basis, to make recommendations in view of the reform of European policies such as CAP, regional and cohesion policies, and of the new transport policy,
– and finally, to find out the best issues and solutions for sustainable development at regional level.

On 15th June, the participants will attend a seminar “The Regional Level- Trends and Future Propects” organized by the authorities of Nordland which will focus on recent developments in the EU as well as in the Nordic countries such as the Swedish Pilot Regions and the Norwegian debate on the need for a pertinent regional level.

For more information: [email protected]

Follow AER!
Facebooktwitterlinkedinrss

A new team leading the CLRAE

By

At its Plenary session (4-6th June 2002), the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities in Europe (CLRAE/Council of Europe) renewed its Presidency and Bureau.

Liese Prokop, President of the Assembly of European Regions, sent a message of congratulations to Innsbrück Mayor Herwig Van Staa, Vice-President of the Confederation of Austrian Cities, for his election as Congress President. “On behalf of the AER and its 250 member Regions, I would like to express my full support for our common objective of bringing the construction of Europe closer to the citizens” declared Mrs Prokop. “In order to encourage sustainable stability and peace in South East Europe, may we suggest continuing with joint initiatives with the Congress, particularly concerning the AER training programmes such as Centurio, for example”.

President Prokop also congratulated Mr Giovanni Di Stasi, Regional Councillor of the Molise Region (Italy), AER member, for his election as President of the Chamber of Regions of the Congress. “We will provide all support necessary towards the adoption of the European Charter of Regional Self Government, which you quote as the priority for your mandate alongside of the promotion of regional democracy in greater Europe” emphasised President Prokop.

The AER was delighted with the outcome of the CLRAE Bureau elections for Committee VicePresidents and Presidents of the Chamber of Regions. Four out of the seven newly elected VicePresidents represent AER member Regions – Helena Pihlajassarari (Keski-Suomi/FIN), Peter Rabe (Niedersachsen/D), Hans-Martin Tschudi (Basel Ville/CH) and Léon Kieres (Woj. Dolnoslaskie). Hans Ulrich Stöckling from St-Gallen/CH, AER member Region, was elected as President of the Congress Institutional Committee. “I am particularly proud of the election of Jan Olbrycht (Woj. Slaskie/PL), AER Bureau member, and Lambert van Nistelrooij (Noord-Brabant/NL), Vice-President of our organisation, as President and Vice-President of the Institutional affairs Committee of the Chamber of Regions respectively” added President Prokop.

For more information: [email protected]

Follow AER!
Facebooktwitterlinkedinrss

Meeting in Madrid: Convention, Enlargement, Reform… The regions in action for tomorrow’s Europe

By

The institutional affairs Committee of the Assembly of European Regions (AER) made the following decisions and set out the following guidelines at its meeting in Madrid on 14th May:

The AER will present its political position to the European Convention at its hearing on 6th and 7th June 2002 in Brussels. This position has been drawn up on the basis of a résumé of the contributions of AER member Regions which gave their view of the need for institutional reform and better regional policy in an enlarged Europe.

“Reform in competence distribution within the European Union (EU) is indispensable for bringing Europe closer to its citizens and increasing transparency. The Regions must be considered as more than mere administrative units, they are essential bodies and authorities in a democratic Union” proclaimed Dr. Palmer, President of the AER Institutional affairs Committee. “This aim can only be reached via strengthening the existing principle of subsidiarity and via control by an independent EU body. This would lead to the establishment of the Regions as a 3rd level of power. The Convention must be capable of creating a legal and political framework for a solid, united and strong Europe in the future”. The AER considers that it is also essential for the Convention to set out a clear and understandable distribution of competences, in the form of a catalogue for instance.

“The AER would like to see the EU leave room for the development of regionalisation in order to ensure that the enlarged Europe be governed in an efficient and democratic manner, close to the citizen. The reality of regional policy must be institutionalised and find its place in the Treaties. The strengthening of the role of the Committee of the Regions in the decision-making process at European level is essential in this line of thought, the Committee of the Regions must be brought up in ranking to that of a decision-making body” concluded Dr. Palmer.

A hearing on EU enlargement has also been organised in order to identify problems faced by the Regions and to clarify what help the AER can offer. In its Declaration, the AER considers enlargement as a political and economical necessity to be integrated into economic, social and territorial cohesion policies throughout Europe. “Enlargement must take place rapidly and deadlines must be set in order to ensure controlled progress”, declared Philip Johnsson, Vice-President of the AER Institutional affairs Committee. “It is also vital to differentiate between candidate countries according to the progress of each individual state and to allow those meeting accession criteria to join the EU without any hesitation” added the Vice-President. The AER also feels that EU agricultural and structural financing should be subject to reform from 2006.

Committee members looked at the activities of Regions with legislative powers, i.e. 60 Regions from 8 EU member states: Germany, Austria, Belgium, Spain, Finland, Italy, Portugal and the United Kingdom. They stressed that Regions with legislative powers are particularly concerned by European integration and that it remains indispensable to consider these Regions as a potential source of impetus for all Regions in terms of regionalisation.

Participants also produced an intermediary report on the Spanish Presidency and weighed up the initial programme of the Danish EU Presidency.

For more information: [email protected]

Follow AER!
Facebooktwitterlinkedinrss

The Regions and sustainable transport: What future for Common Transport Policy?

By

The Assembly of European Regions organised a workshop on “The Regions and sustainable transport” on 19th April in Florence, Toscana-I, in the aim of demonstrating the role which the Regions must play in future European transport policy.

Several examples of good regional practices in the field of sustainable transport, and their concrete impact and added value in comparison to European and national initiatives in particular, were looked at by over fifty participants at this workshop. In this context, participating Regions talked of their experience in the implementation of European and national policies and of European programmes (INTERREG IIIB, PHARE, ISPA…), gave their point of view on the advantages and drawbacks of these programmes and current legislation and laid out the content and objectives of the regional policies used towards sustainable development in transport by the Regions.

The President of the “Regional policy, Transport and Tourism” Committee of the European Parliament, Luciano Caveri, spoke on the theme “What future for Common Transport Policy? The European Parliament’s contribution of the definition of new Governance”. “Subsidiarity only currently exists at state level, and it is up to the Convention to give the Regions a real role” he declared. “There will be no sustainable development in any field as long as both local and regional levels of government are not the main actors. The reform of Trans-European Transport Networks (TEN-T) and the incorporation of new routes on these networks requires the involvement of the Regions” he concluded.

Riccardo Conti, coordinator for AER sub-Committee “Sustainable Transport Development and the Environment”, and Assessore for the Region of Toscana, host of the event, stressed that “Common Transport Policy is but an instrument for harmonisation, and the Regions must develop their own transport policies”. He added that “the transport network must allow for sustainable economic development and not simply turn the Regions into transit zones”.

This AER workshop is the first real step towards a long-term strategy aiming to: – bring the attention of national and European authorities to the efficient role of the Regions in the field of transport, – request that the Regions wield the necessary legal and financial means for the implementation of their policies in this field, – encourage the exchange of good practices and experience as well as cooperation between Regions in the EU and Regions in accession countries.

For more information: [email protected]

Follow AER!
Facebooktwitterlinkedinrss

Presentation of the AER position on the European Convention to Valéry Giscard d’Estaing

By

The AER intends to observe the Convention’s activities and to participate as the representative umbrella organisation of the Regions, both within the European Union and in accession countries. The AER also hopes to play an important role – along with other political organisations such as the Council of European Municipalities and Regions (CEMR) – in the Forum set up by the Convention.

“The AER insists that the Convention must take into full account the legal status of the European Regions”, Liese Prokop, AER President, explained in her statement to Valéry Giscard d’Estaing, President of the Convention. For the AER, the European institutional framework must establish a Europe of the Regions as a third level of Government.

On the occasion of a debate organised by the CEMR with representatives of regional and local organisations and Valéry Giscard d’Estaing (March 7, 2002 in Valencia, Spain), Liese Prokop asked for a distinction between legislative and executive competences – a question closely linked to that of a catalogue of competences.

Other topics were:

– Distribution of competences according to the principle of subsidiarity,
– Right to referral before the European Court of Justice concerning the principle of subsidiarity,
– Enlargement and a Constitutional treaty: a proper representation for the Regions and their citizens in the decision-making process is necessary,
– Regions as direct partners in cohesion policy: a new scenario, for future cohesion policy based on the principles of increased decentralisation, competitivity and subsidiarity.

For more information: [email protected]

Follow AER!
Facebooktwitterlinkedinrss

The AER asks the European Union to review its level of involvement in culture and education

By

Considering the EU Convention an opportunity to achieve the comprehensive and full-fledged application of the principle of subsidiarity, AER Committee D (Culture, Education, Training and Youth) appealed to its members to insist that the EU reviews on this occasion its involvement in certain policy areas, in particular culture and education (TEU articles 149-151). “Members should also insist that these domains remain in the competences of members states and regions, with the obligation of unanimous voting” said Committee President Dr Bruno HOSP at the meeting on 28th February and 1st March in Kielce (PL).

These issues will also underpin the 2nd European Conference of Regional Ministers of Culture that the AER is going to organise on 18th October 2002 in Brixen (I) under the title “The globalisation of culture and education – WTO and the effects of GATS for public service in the fields of culture and education”.

Debates also extended to education and training with a focus on eLearning. The Sub-Committee on Education and Training (led by Baranya – H) introduced a proposal for setting up adequate educational facilities combining education and training for migrant groups, in particular Roma and Sinti communities, throughout Europe.

The deliberations of the Youth Sub-Committee (led by Sörmland – S) concentrated on the organisation of the AER’s 1st Youth Summer School to be held in Autumn 2002 and the recently published EU White Paper “A New Impetus For European Youth”.

The Youth Sub-Committee, considering young people as an important factor to be immediately associated in the processes of building democratic societies, welcomed the EU White Paper, which is a comprehensive report providing a good overview of existing problems but which at the same time remains too general. Despite the extensive scientific expertise it shows, it fails to offer any strategic information on how young people should be involved in the participatory processes. Examples from the Regions of Nordland (N), Vestfold (N), and Sörmland (S) provided the participants with evidence of how this could be achieved.

The Youth Sub-Committee also questioned whether the EU is the appropriate level for implementing new Youth Programs and pronounced itself in favour of the EU supporting projects already existing at local and regional level in order to avoid high administrative costs and unnecessary bureaucracy.

For more information: [email protected]

Follow AER!
Facebooktwitterlinkedinrss

AER: Reform of CAP and structural funds necessary to avoid the discrimination of the accession countries

By

“The proposals made by the European Commission on the financing of enlargement are not up to expectations and confirm our fears for a future multi-track Europe despite Commissioner Fischler’s declarations” Mr Brian Greenslade, Vice-President of the AER, stated today. “Once again, financial concerns have dominated over the real problems faced by the future of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) and European Regional Policy” he underlined.

“Transitional steps will not succeed without true reform of the CAP in the run up to enlargement. This reform must be increasingly based on the principles of environmentally friendly sustainable rural development and meet consumer requirements in terms of quality and security. Without major change and better consideration of the expectations of the citizens, I feel that it will be difficult to construct an enlarged and united Europe close to the citizens. This reform must not, however, act as justification for slowing down the enlargement process and European integration” pointed out Mrs Liese Prokop, President of the AER, after Commissioner Barnier’s press conference in Brussels today (30/01/2001).

As early as May 2001, with reference to the future of structural funds, the AER Regional policy Committee, chaired by Mr Brian Greenslade, recommended, in its document “Cohesion policy in an enlarged Europe?”, that the objectives of cohesion be clarified and the funds benefit from more flexible management, in due respect of the polycentric development of Europe and the new geographical priorities in the fight against inequality post-enlargement.

“We request that the Regions, both in the EU and in accession countries, be included in drawing up a new Regional policy and a new definition of objectives, in accordance with the principles of subsidiarity and partnership. As I see it, the success of enlargement will depend on the quality of dialogue launched with and between regional authorities. It will also depend on the impetus provided by Europe for the development of the Regions towards real decision-making abilities and the capability to efficiently meet the expectations of all Europeans” concluded Brian Greenslade.

For more information: [email protected]

Follow AER!
Facebooktwitterlinkedinrss

Mrs Propok, AER President, met the new Czech regions

By

Budweis (CZ), 5 October 2001

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

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

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

For more information: [email protected]

Follow AER!
Facebooktwitterlinkedinrss

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

By

 

Brussels (B), 13 June 2001

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

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

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

For more information: [email protected]

Follow AER!
Facebooktwitterlinkedinrss

Conclusions of the AER Bureau meeting in Oberkirch

By

Oberkirch (A), 2 March 2001

At the invitation of Mr Stächele, Secretary of State of Baden-Württemberg (D) and President of the AER Institutional Committee, the political Bureau of the Assembly of European Regions held a meeting on Friday 2nd March in Oberkirch.

Under the chair of Mrs Prokop, AER President, Bureau members were informed on the activities of the four AER Committees and of the three resolutions produced by the Institutional Committee concerning the new Fundamental European System, the “White paper on European Governance” and enlargement which form the basis of the positions of the regions of Europe in the debate on the future structure of the European Union in particular.

Among the major claims of the regions of Europe can be found:
– the constitution of a Fundamental European System including the regions and underlining the principle of subsidiarity;
– a more precise legal definition of this principle in the European constitutional Treaty;
– a distribution of competences based on the principle of subsidiarity in order to protect the autonomy of member States and regions and a clear definition of competences;
– increased involvement of the regions in European decision-making thanks to the transformation of the Committee of the Regions into a fully fledged body of the Union with the same rights as the other institutions,….

The AER Bureau was also delighted with the initiative of the Institutional Committee to create two working groups, one on European Governance and the other on the Fundamental European System, which will allow the AER to prepare its contribution for the next Intergovernmental Conference in 2004.

Willi Stächele, President of this Committee, declared the following on the subject of post-Nice: “A satisfactory distribution of competences requires a debate on the clarification of responsibilities in which the regions must be fully implicated. At the Intergovernmental Conference in 2004 the foundations of a Fundamental European System will be set. The AER must, now, formulate the main points of the opinion of the regions in order to influence the discussion concerning the bases of this Fundamental European System at the appropriate time.”

For more information: [email protected]

Follow AER!
Facebooktwitterlinkedinrss

Library

Statutory Documents
AER Strategies
Minutes
Media Kit
Activity Reports
Newsletters
European Regions Map

Join AER!

Become a Member

Job Opportunities

Sign up for our Newsletter

Website map