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 Regions of Europe present their own ideas concerning a European constitutional system

By

Willi Stächele: “In the future, We, the Regions, will play a even greater role in discussions within Europe”

The Regions of Europe request a delimitation of competences based on the principle of subsidiarity within the European Union which does not affect the foundations of the autonomy of member States and Regions, declared Willi Stächele, Secretary of State, President of Committee A “Policies and Institutional Affairs” of the Assembly of European Regions (AER) on Friday 9th February 2001 in Berlin.

With the “Declaration on the future of the Union”, the European Council in Nice opened the debate on the European Constitution, stressed Willi Stächele, who is also AER Vice-President. Representatives from over 40 European Regions explained, when speaking during the meeting, how the European constitutional system should meet the future demands of regional autonomy, he added.

At the centre of the Regions’ calls also comes the nomination of an independent authority which would ensure that the respective competences were respected and that the Regions could sue directly. Finally, the Committee of the Regions should be strengthened as the representative of the Regions’ interests, maintained Mr Stächele.

These are the main points for an AER position on the Intergovernmental Conference in 2004, formulated by Committee A “Policies and Institutional Affairs” on 8 and 9 February at the premises of the representation of Baden-Württemberg in Berlin. The German and Austrian Länder were present as well as the Spanish autonomous Communities, the Belgian Regions and linguistic Communities and Regions from all over Europe: Denmark, Holland, Hungary, Italy, Norway, Portugal, Romania, Sweden, Switzerland and the United Kingdom.

Committee A presented other draft resolutions which must be adopted in March by the AER Bureau, added Willi Stächele. The Committee dealt with the European Commission’s draft White paper on “new governance”: the approach to the concept of governance, according to which new forms of cooperation between the various levels of activity and decision within the EU must be found, was well received.

The danger of networking decision-making was also stressed, as this would allow European bodies to be influencial outside of their areas of competences. The concept of governance could be in contradiction with the objective of Nice, i.e. to strictly specify the competences within the EU. The representatives of the Regions in Berlin proposed, in this light, to reduce the complexity of the regulations.

For more information: [email protected]

Follow AER!
Facebooktwitterlinkedinrss

The architecture of tomorrow’s Europe – the Regions of Europe prepare

By

Chaired by Liese Prokop, First Vice-Minister of Niederösterreich (A) and President of the Assembly of European Regions (AER), the new AER Presidium, elected last December, held its first meeting on 31st January 2001 in Strasbourg – where the Assembly of European Regions has had its headquarters since its creation in 1985 – in the aim of fixing the organisation’s priorities for the coming two years.

Bearing in mind the decisions taken at the Intergovernmental Conference in Nice (8th – 9th December 2000): to continue the debate on architecture and consider the ambitions of an enlarged Union in view of a further Intergovernmental Conference in 2004, the AER Presidium established its main aim as the mobilisation of all member Regions and interregional organisations concerning these important stakes in the future of Europe. “The political representatives of the Regions of the European Union and applicant countries must make their position clear and be considered as a source of proposals for this important debate for the future of Europe” stated Mrs Prokop. “In order for the enlarged Europe to be governable and governed, whilst remaining at grass roots level, competences must be clearly distributed between the various levels of government and the concept of subsidiarity must be given a more concrete and clear meaning in the European Treaties and the role of the Regions must be better defined in the construction of Europe” she added.

The institutional affairs Committee of the AER, chaired by Willi Stächele, Secretary of State for European affairs of Baden-Württemberg, received the mandate of preparing a draft AER position both for the next IGC and the White paper on governance in the Union which will be published next July by the European Commission. This Committee will meet on 8th – 9th February 2001 in Berlin. Over 70 European Regions (EU and non-EU) have already confirmed their participation.

In addition, the Presidium approved the Action programmes of the three other AER Committees for the period 2001- 2002:
– The Social Affairs Committee: Social protection and wellbeing in Europe post enlargement – Economic and social policy in the EU concerning the Regions post 2004 – Health, pensioners, equal opportunities
– The Regional policy Committee: Enlargement and future European regional policy – Report and forum on cohesion in Europe– 6th European environmental action programme – Trans-European Networks – and, of course, considering the current agricultural crisis, Sustainable agriculture and consumer protection.
– The culture Committee: Involvement of young people in public affairs at regional level – Adult education and training – Regional and Minority languages within the year of languages – Sport in the Regions.

The Presidium introduced the idea of organising two Conferences of Ministers and regional representatives in the field of environment and culture in 2002.

The Presidium also decided to give a more political dimension to the AER training programmes such as Centurio and the Summer School which aim at training regional elected representatives and managers of the CEEC as well as Eurodyssey which allows young Europeans to gain experience abroad for the first time.

For more information: [email protected]

Follow AER!
Facebooktwitterlinkedinrss

European Governance: for subsidiarity and cooperation in an enlarged Europe

By

 


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]

Follow AER!
Facebooktwitterlinkedinrss

Newsletter Winter 2000: What architecture for tomorrow’s Europe? The Regions of Europe prepare

By

Headlines:

  • What architecture for tomorrow’s Europe? The Regions of Europe prepare
  • Key terms: proximity, subsidiarity, simplicity
  • Portrait A woman at the head of the AER! Liese Prokop (Niederösterreich-AT)
  • The AER and Governance >Leading towards a position of the Regions of Europe
  • Enhance democracy “from the bottom up”
  • Respect for shared values
  • The protection of diversity in Europe
  • A more extensive role for the regions in the construction of Europe
  • A definition of the principle of subsidiarity within the Treaty
  • Delimitation of competences and clarification of responsibilities
  • Recognition of the value of regional Self-Government
  • Extension of the democratic basis of the European Parliament
  • Less EU standardisation
  • Reassertion of the role of the Committee of the Regions
  • Increased cooperation between those who govern
  • Improved communication and exchange

(Use pop-out button to view & download the publication)

The newsletter is available in English, French and German:

Follow AER!
Facebooktwitterlinkedinrss

15th General Assembly of the Regions of Europe: 7–8th December 2000, Seinäjoki, Etelä-Pohjanmaa (FIN)

By

At the invitation of Mr Kyösti Virrankoski, President of the Regional Council of South Ostrobothnia, the representatives of around 270 Regions from 26 countries, members of the Assembly of European Regions (AER), will meet on 7th and 8th December 2000 in Seinäjoki, Finland, for their General Assembly.

The AER will take this occasion to open a debate on the new forms of governance in Europe. The “post-Nice” will also play an important role along with members Regions’ contribution to the White paper of the European Commission which is currently being prepared. Discussions will mainly deal with the role of the Committee of the Regions in the European Union, the Regions’ participation in the implementation of European policies with an impact at regional level, the direct participation of citizens in European affairs and the process of decentralisation which is currently underway in EU member States.

This years’ General Assembly will be marked by the sign of change in the AER. Members will elect their new President, Vice-Presidents, Committee Presidents as well as the 46 members of the executive Bureau and their alternates, for a two year mandate. One new item is on the agenda: in order to respect the balance between the Regions of Western Europe and the Regions of Eastern and Central Europe – which represent over 40% of AER members – a second Vice-President should be elected for the first time this year.

Also on the agenda: this 15th General Assembly is the first to take place in a Scandinavian country. Five years after the entry of Finland in the European Union and the creation of real regional bodies in this country, this is the occasion to present the level of regional administration in the Region of the Batic Sea to participants. This led to the idea of a seminar preceding the General Assembly, where the issues of the information society and the possibilities offered by information technologies in order to improve and develope democracy and cooperation in Europe would be discussed.

For more information: [email protected]

Follow AER!
Facebooktwitterlinkedinrss

The Regions of Europe wish to continue the EU reforms beyond the Intergovernmental Conference

By

 


Nyon, Vaud (CH), 27 October 2000

At its meeting in Nyon, the political Bureau of the Assembly of European Regions (AER) debated the draft reform of the European Institutions in the context of the Intergovernmental Conference. This reform is indispensable to Union enlargement which has become a political necessity for applicant countries and for the Union itself.

Conscious of the fact that it would be become more and more difficult to make unanimous decisions, the AER Bureau recognised that in the future qualified majority voting would be necessary for the progress of Europe. However, the Bureau feels that as long as no clear definition of competences of the European institutions exists, drawn up on the basis of the principle of subsidiarity, unanimous voting must be maintained in order to respect the current priorities of numerous European Regions, in particular in the field of culture, education and training, and in this way encourage their participation in European decisions.

The Bureau felt that this IGC was merely the first step towards an indepth reform which would take the interests of all governance levels in Europe into account. “The European Council in Nice must make a decision on the continuation of reforms aiming to simplify the Treaties, the inclusion of the European Charter of Fundamental Rights in the body of Treaties which constitutes a united Europe and a completely new definition of competences. The calendar and the direction to take must clearly appear in the outcome of the current Intergovernmental Conference” said Luc Van den Brande, AER President.

The following appeared among the main AER demands:

– the Committee of the Regions (CoR) should become a fully fledged body of the European Union with the right to appear in a legal court of justice in order to defend its own rights, as well as the right to question its members on affairs with a regional aspect;
– the right for the Regions with legislative powers to represent themselves within the Court of Justice of the European Communities.

For more information: [email protected]

Follow AER!
Facebooktwitterlinkedinrss

AER Conference: The Regions plead in favour of regional diversity in Europe…

By

 


Nyon, Vaud (CH), 27 October 2000

At the First European Conference of Regional Ministers of Culture, organised by the Assembly of European Regions (AER) on 25th and 26th October 2000 in Nyon (Vaud-CH), 140 regional cultural Ministers and representatives from 75 Regions and over twenty countries adopted a declaration in favour of regional diversity in Europe.

Faced with the globalisation of the economy and the standardisation which accompanies it, regional decision-makers expressed the concerns of their populations regarding the weakening of their regional identities and their cultures. They therefore stressed the need to coordinate the action of the Regions of Europe in order to ensure that negociations taking place within the World Trade Organisation (WTO) do not lead to the suppression of public co-financing in the field of culture at European, national, regional and local level. “In order to allow Europe to keep its diversity and pluralism, the legislative and financial competences of the Regions in the field of cultural policies must urgently be included in international law” stated Mr Claude Ruey, State Councillor for the Canton of Vaud and host of this Conference.

Participants also debated another issue of great importance for the Regions, i.e. the current reform of the European institutions in view of the enlargement of the Union. Regions from federal countries which have large competences in the field of culture (in Germany, for example, local authorities finance 95% of the total budget for cultural policies) fear losing their autonomy in this field with the change from the current unanimous voting system to majority decisions. “With reference to this reform, the European Regions, members of the Assembly of European Regions, must work towards obtaining a clear definition of the competences of each level of decision-making (EU, States, Regions and Communes)” pleaded Luc Van den Brande, AER President. “Without this definition, the change to majority voting represents the danger of centralising cultural policies in Europe, on the contrary to the principle of subsidiarity and we must fight against this” specified Mrs Liese Prokop, Vice-Minister President of Lower Austria, President of the AER Culture Committee and instigator of this Conference.

The regional decision-makers, just like the representatives of the European Commission and the Council of Europe, also insisted on the importance of interregional intercultural dialogue and crossborder cooperation, in particular in this field, as an instrument of peace and stability in Europe. The positive role of adapted cultural policies was stressed in particular in the reduction of ostracism and a better integration of immigrants.

Conference participants committed themselves to contributing to the spread of regional and minority languages, in particular over the year 2001 which has been declared European year of languages by the EU and the Council of Europe.

For more information: [email protected]

Follow AER!
Facebooktwitterlinkedinrss

AER Conference: “Regions and Culture in the Europe of tomorrow”

By

Nearly 150 regional representatives charged with culture from twenty odd countries are expected, at the invitation of Mr Claude Ruey, State Councillor for the Canton of Vaud (CH) and AER VicePresident, on 25th and 26th October 2000 in Nyon at a Conference organised by the Assembly of European Regions on the theme of: “The Responsibilities and Competences of the Regions in the field of culture in the Europe of tomorrow”.

The aim of this Conference is to analyse the impact of the introduction of qualified majority voting on Regional autonomy and to a adopt a joint position for the Regions of Europe in view of the upcoming Intergovernmental Conference (IGC). The current system of unanimous voting (Art.151, EC Treaty) encourages the application of the highly valued notion of subsidiarity in the Regions of Europe due to the action of EU institutions being limited to the support of the independent cultural policies of the member States, whilst respecting the national and regional diversity of these States. A change in this system could go against the principle of respecting national identity (Art. 3, EC Treaty) and the regional identities which create it. It could also leave the door open to the globalisation of cultural policies and to the centralisation of European decision-making at the expense of regional authorities in particular. It is therefore of primordial importance that regional decision-makers and actors in the field of culture express themselves on the role of the Regions in the drawing up of cultural policies in Europe in order to be able to influence future European perspectives.

The Conference also aims to evaluate the impact of EU cultural programmes on cultural policies at regional level. It will also be the occasion to present the results of a survey undertaken by the AER on the cultural initiatives of the Regions and interregional cooperation programmes.

For more information: [email protected]

Follow AER!
Facebooktwitterlinkedinrss

AER Presidium meeting: Discussing new forms of European Governance

By

 


The Assembly of European Regions (AER) will hold a Presidium meeting on Friday 8th September in the bureau of the Land of Niederösterreich (A) in Brussels. The meeting will focus on establishing positions for the Regions of Europe concerning the institutional reform of the Union in the context of the Intergovernmental Conference, the draft Charter of fundamental rights for the European Union, the White paper of the European Commission on new forms of European governance in view of enlargement and the European Charter of regional SelfGovernment of the Council of Europe.

Presidium members will also discuss the state of preparations for the main AER meetings over the last three months of 2000:
– the First European Conference of Regional Ministers for Culture will be held in Nyon, Switzerland, on 25th and 26th October 2000 and aims to allow regional decision-makers to debate a “Catalogue of competences”, the concept of “European cultural policies” and possible change in voting procedures in the field of culture at European level. This Conference will be followed by the AER political Bureau meeting on 27th October 2000;
– “new forms of governance” will be the main theme for the General Assembly (Seinäjoki-Finland, 7th and 8th December 2000).

This General Assembly, a special meeting point for all of the around 280 AER member Regions, will also include elections for the Presidium, Vice-President, Vice-President Treasurer and AER Bureau members for the coming two years.

For more information: [email protected]

Follow AER!
Facebooktwitterlinkedinrss

Luc Van den Brande Laureat of the Emperor Maximilian Prize 2000

By

Mr Luc Van den Brande, President of the Assembly of European Regions (AER) since December 1996, received the Emperor Maximilian Prize 2000 for his work in favour of the development of the Europe of the Regions. Luc Van den Brande, current member of the Flemish Parliament and President of the Flemish Parliamentary Commission for Foreign Affairs, was Minister-President of Vlaanderen (B) between 1992 and 1999.

An international jury met in June and decided to reward the consistant work of Minister-President Van den Brande in the field of the promotion of regionalism, interregional cooperation and the respect of democracy. The prize will be awarded to Mr Van den Brande on 7th July 2000 in Innsbruck (A) in the presence of Mr Bartoszevski (Former Polish Minister), Mr Weingartner (Landeshauptmann of Tirol), Mr Van Staa (Mayor of Innsbruck) and many other European VIPs.

The Emperor Maximilian Prize, which represents 10 000 Euro, was created in 1997 by the Land of Tirol and the town of Innsbruck. Each year it rewards one person having worked particularly hard for the reinforcement of the role of the Regions and the communes at European level. Special attention is paid to efforts made in order to consolidate the principle of subsidiarity and the content of the Charters of Regional and Local Self-Government of the Council of Europe.

This prize was awarded to Jordi Pujol, President of the Generalitat of Catalunya (E), in 1998 and to Josef Hofmann, Former President of the Chamber of local authorities of the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities in Europe (CLRAE), in 1999.

For more information: [email protected]

Follow AER!
Facebooktwitterlinkedinrss

“Yes, to the concept of a European Federation, but…”

By

On behalf of the Assembly of European Regions Mr Luc Van den Brande, its President, was delighted with the depth and the quality of the debate launched at European level by the speech of Joshka Fischer, German Minister of Foreign Affairs asking for the creation of a European Federation with a constitution, a government, a two chamber Parliament and a President elected through universal suffrage.

“The project of Mr Fischer has the merit of relaunching the debate on the long term vision and governance of an enlarged Europe which the too limited agenda of the next Intergovernmental Conference, regrettably, does not leave room for; however, these proposals seem to cover, voluntarily or non voluntarily, the regional level despite the interesting proposals put forward by his political party on this issue” – said the AER President.

Although, according to Mr Fischer, globalisation and europeanisation are rejected due to their complicated nature and imply a need for security for the citizen “Either the Region or the State will offer them this” stated Mr Van den Brande. “Indeed, the Region is one of the nearest political bodies to the citizen and, through interregional cooperation, actively participates in bringing European people closer to each other. The Europe of citizens, of which Mr Fischer sincerely wishes to see the construction, already exists and can be clearly seen in the profusion of concrete projects, twinnings and interregional networks. Their contribution is particularly useful for the process of accession and allows the abstract character of European negociations to be counterbalanced through concrete action.”

Although the project for the creation of a European Federation aims to directly combat the democratic deficit of the European institutions and to construct a more ‘human’ Europe, the political role of the Regions must be guaranteed and respected. The Regions must be better represented in present and future European institutions both at executive level and within the Parliament, in view of directly participating in European governance.

Although, according to Mr Fischer, it is important for the new governance in Europe to have a two chamber Parliament, “I can but support this issue” stated Mr Van den Brande “on the condition that the representatives of the Regions of Europe can be represented within one of them, which is not the case today.”

Indeed, since its creation, the AER has promoted the idea of a real Chamber of the Regions at European level. At its meeting on 5th May 2000 in Stuttgart, its political Bureau, which debated the subject of governance at European level, spoke in favour of the creation of this chamber and of a clarification, in the new Union Treaty, of the distribution of competences between European, national, regional and local levels on the basis of the principle of subisdiarity.

For more information: [email protected]

Follow AER!
Facebooktwitterlinkedinrss

The Regions claim more competences in Europe

By

 


Stuttgart, Baden Württemberg (D), 5 May 2000

At its meeting in Stuttgart on 5th May 2000, the political Bureau of the Assembly of European Regions (AER) debated the Intergovernmental Conference (IGC), enlargement and the Charter of Fundamental rights of the EU.

Intergovernmental Conference
Firstly the members of the AER Bureau discussed the question of the distribution of competences between the different levels of governance at European level. “Before the enlargement of the Union, it is primordial to identify the fields of competences of the European authorities and those which would be better managed by national, regional or local authorities” stated the Secretary of State, Willi Stächele, representative of the German Länder within the Conference which presented a report on the negociations. The production of a “catalogue of competences” would allow the principle of subsidiarity, presented in the Treaty of Amsterdam to be clarified. Bureau members also pleaded in favour of reinforcing the Committee of the Regions of the EU which must become a full European institution, and greater legitimacy of the European Parliament through the creation of a Chamber of Regions.

Enlargement
The enlargement of the Union to the States of Eastern, South Eastern and Central Europe is a political, economical, historical and cultural necessity to which, according to the AER, there is no political alternative. It offers the possibility of lasting peace, freedom and prosperity in the whole of Europe. The AER, which has been contributing to the European integration of the Regions of the CEEC for over 10 years considers this as a great opportunity to overcome the divisions which still exist in Europe.

Charter of Fundamental rights of the EU
The AER supports the decision of the European Council to draw up the Charter of Fundamental rights and is currently preparing its contribution: it insists, in particular, on the importance of the right to national and regional identity in virtue of the principle of subisdiarity and on social rights, which are the fundamental rights of man (the right to work, to accomodation, to medical care…).

AER action
Moreover, the AER Bureau adopted a strategic document for its action in a growing Europe. Its main objectives are:
– increased cooperation between the Regions of Eastern and Western Europe and acceleration of the enlargement process of the EU;
– the drawing up by the IGC of a European Treaty built on the principle of subisdiarity including clearly defined fields of competences;
– the development of regionalism and the reinforcement of interregional networks. In its action plan the AER also wishes to include Regional Parliaments in its activities to a greater extent.

For more information: [email protected]

Follow AER!
Facebooktwitterlinkedinrss

Meeting of the political Bureau of the AER

By

The political Bureau of the Assembly of European Regions (AER) will meet on the 5th May 2000 in Stuttgart – Baden-Württemberg (D).

The meeting will be chaired by AER President Luc Van den Brande. On this occasion the 60 representatives of the European Regions which make up the Bureau will give priority to the following two themes:

1. The White paper of the European Commission on the new forms of European governance – this theme is of primordial importance due to it being debated by all of the AER member Regions at its next General Assembly (Seinäjoki-FIN – 7th and 8th December 2000) – , the Intergovernmental Conference, the Charter of Fundamental rights of the European Union.

2. The Assembly of European Regions’ own directions, the AER’s role and activities are in constant evolution according to the political transformations in Europe. Its role as a privileged forum for discussion for the Regions and a hub for interregional cooperation is more current than ever, in particular in view of the enlargement of the European Union.

For more information: [email protected]

Follow AER!
Facebooktwitterlinkedinrss

General Assembly 1999 in Lyon: For a Europe with its Regions

By

 


Lyon, Rhône-Alpes (F), 3 December 1999

At its General Assembly in Lyon on 2nd and 3rd December 1999, the Assembly of European Regions (AER), which represents 300 European Regions from 26 countries, wishes to bring the European Council of Helsinki’s (10-11 December) attention to:

1) The need, in the general interest of Europe, to acknowledge the role of the Regions in the unification process, in particular regarding the full application of the principle of subsidiarity;

2) The need for a correct legal and political definition of this principle in the Treaty, in order to allow the Regions of the enlarged Europe to jointly paricipate in the construction of Europe by building on their great diversity.

As the new treaty which will result from the Intergovernmental Conference (IGC) will be the first in a series of successive treaties which will have a serious influence on the life of our peoples, regional authorities wish to be informed and have a direct impact in the elaboration of these important international instruments. The Regions of Europe feel that the IGC Agenda is too limited and too focused on procedures, therefore not allowing for the preparation of the new European Society. A vision combining a general perspective with respect for the diversities to be found in the Regions is necessary so that the reforms currently underway on the continent and, in particular, Union enlargement, keep and develop their social, economic and territorial cohesion.

In the various negociations in which the Union participates, on a world wide scale, in particular those of the WTO, we express our wish for Europe to adopt a strong, but flexible position taking into consideration the preparation for globalisation without compromising the diversity of peoples and cultures which form the foundation of the political and social organisation model of Europe.

Ever faithful to its declaration on regionalism in Europe, the AER calls for an adaptation of the European institutions without compromising the construction of an Europe with its Regions and wishes to actively participate in this debate along with other interegional organisations, cosignatories of this declaration (CEMR, CPMR, AEBR, RETI).

In the perspective of a new dimension in the enlarged Europe, the Regions of Europe aim to involve young europeans to a greater extent in public affairs. Aware of the hopes, expectations and aspirations, but also of the growing tendancy in young people to doubt the capabilities of elected members, and the political system in general, to fight against unemployment and meet the challenges of the world economy, the regions wish to create the appropriate structures, such as “youth groups” in order to participate actively in public life and to make their opinions heard in the drawing up of youth policies. The AER will create a body which will be uniquely responsible for young people within its midst.

The AER General Assembly has also adopted several resolutions drawn up by the thematic Committees and destined for the respective European Institutions, in particular:

• A resolution on EU territorial planning as well as the Commun Agricultural Policy, especially in view of enlargement,which brings the EU’s attention to the need to take into account the diversity of territories and their economic development, in particular, in rural, agricultural and peripheral areas, and the Region’s responsiblity in these two areas.

• A resolution on regional communications which underlines the interdependancy between regional politics and transport and, in consequence, brings the EU’s attention to the importance of the participation of regional authorities in the formulation of European policies on transport; this resolution also calls for the setting up of European co-financing for the development of public and other forms of transport, in particular for connecting rural and peripheral zones in the EU, but also for improving connections with candidate countries for future EU membership.

• A resolution on the Charter of fundamental rights in the EU, the preparation for which has been launched by the Council for General Affairs of the EU, which requests that all EU partners be consulted, regional authorities included, in the elaboration of this charter.

At the General Assembly, the AER also elected Mrs Liese Prokop (58 years old), Vice-Minister President of Lower Austria (A) and President of the Culture, Education and Training, Youth, Media and Sport Committee of the AER since 1996, as First Vice-President and Hans de Belder (61 years old), Flemish (B), former senator and diplomat, First Director General of the Flemish Office for External Trade, as Secretary General.

For more information: [email protected]

Follow AER!
Facebooktwitterlinkedinrss

Meeting of the AER political Bureau

By

 


Brussels, 12 May 1999

The first meeting of the AER political Bureau, in its new composition issued from elections at the General Assembly in Linz (A) in last December, will be held on 12th May in Brussels. Several subjects will be discussed and in particular:

• Regions faced with the situation in Kosovo;

• Project of the European Constitution, the Subsidiarity, the EU Enlargement, the next Intergovernmental Conference (IGC);

• Regionalisation in progress: results of elections in Scotland and Wales, development in Hungary;

• Adoption of resolutions and decisions made by the AER Committees (January to May 1999):

  • Commission A ”Institutional Affairs and East-West Cooperation”
    – Programme of Seminar “Strong Regions for a strong Europe” (27-28 May, Stuttgart-D),
    – Project of the Conference “Regions and EU Enlargement process” (21-22 Sept., Wroclaw-PL),
    – Information relative to the Summer school (28 August, Istra-HR) and Centurio, two AER training programmes;
  • Commission B “Social Cohesion, Social Services, Public Health and Employment”
    – Resolutions and decisions which will be made at the next meeting (6 May, Trondheim-N),
    – Declaration of Turin relative to the men-women equality;
  • Commission C ”Regional Policy” (Meeting of 18-19 March, Umea-S)
    – Views on the last Environmental Action Programme (EAP) of the EU and contribution to the next EAP,
    – Views on the respect of environmental norms in tourism,
    – Participation in the European Sustainable Cities and Towns Campaign and in the next Earth Summit,
    – Role of the Regions and interregional cooperation in the implementation of ESDP,
    – Declaration of Grado – Interregional Organisations common position on the Interreg III,
    – Regional twinnings ;
  • Commission D “Culture, Education/Training, Youth, Medias, Sport” (Meeting of 19- 20 April, Nyborg-DK)
    – Preparations for a pan-European Conference of Regional Cultural Ministers (2000) and support to the initiative of creating a network for exchanging information via the Internet between regional public libraries (“Culture” Subcommittee),
    – Requests for amendments of Community programmes, especially following the nonadmission of EU candidate countries to the pilot project “Parliaments representing the Youth of Europe” (“Education & Training” Subcommittee),
    – Creation of a programme of solidarity for Romanian street children and orphans – ”Streetkids-Romania 1999”- organised by the Region of Piemonte (I) and proposal put forward by the Region of Odessa (UKR) to organise a conference on the “Participation of Youth in management and public life at regional level” by spring 2000 (“Youth” Subcommittee).

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