The Assembly of European Regions launches an International Solidarity Network

Dijon. The AER "International Solidarity Network" was launched today in Dijon – Bourgogne-F by the 'Regional Partnership' Working Group of the Assembly of European Regions (AER), in the presence of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). Chaired by Marie-Francoise Muller, Vice-President of the Regional Council of Bourgogne, the founding regions of the "International Solidarity Network" committed themselves to promoting interregional cooperation with developing countries outside Europe.

"European Regions have the potential to make a significant contribution to achieving the Millennium Development Goals of the United Nations" stressed Vice-President Muller. "By creating a network between regions, we will be able to cooperate more efficiently in the field of development policies and projects."

The International Solidarity Network links the AER to the UNDP, with whom a Memorandum of Understanding had previously been signed. The UNDP programmes designed for territorial authorities will give the regions the opportunity to be recognized as valuable contributors to de-centralized development aid.

The "International Solidarity Network" is part of the AER's International Co-operation policies that – among other issues – also focuses on developing co-operation with the Southern Mediterranean and Eastern and South-Eastern Europe.

The following founding members of the network were present: Açores (P), Auvergne (F), Bourgogne (F), Bruxelles-Capitale (B), Essex (UK), Genève (CH), Hedmark (N), Jura (CH).

^{The Assembly of European Regions (AER) is the political organisation of the regions in Europe and their spokesperson at European and international level. Its vocation is to defend the regions' interests in the political process and develop interregional cooperation. AER brings together 255 Regions from 30 European Countries and 14 interregional organisations www.a-e-r.org}

^{AER Contacts: Martin Mühleck, Policy Coordinator of the 'Culture and Education' Committee, m.muehleck@a-e-r.org and Araceli Gomez, Assistant to the 'Institutional Affairs' Committee, a.gomez@a-e-r.org - Tel: +33-3-88 22 74 47/45}