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]
