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]