AER Priorities for 2008

• Economic development
  • Peer Reviews
    Organising Peer Reviews on economic development to measure the potential for improvement in economic development policies in the regions being analysed;
  • AER Innovation Award
    Organising the AER Innovation Award, to disseminate information on innovative tools that the Regions can use to improve their economic development strategies;
  • Corporate Social Responsibility
    Organising an ad hoc Conference, to enhance the feeling for corporate social responsibility in the Regions and their companies;
  • Regional airport
    The exchange of best practice on the development of regional airports as an asset for economically attractive regions.
• Energy policy
  • Peer reviews
    Researching the possibility of launching Peer Reviews in the field of energy;
  • Follow-up and activities planned in 2 interregional cooperation projects launched in 2007:
    - MORE4NRJ project, which aims to set up a monitoring system to evaluate the progress made by the Regions towards their energy targets - WOOD4REGIONS project, which aims at promoting exchange of best regional practices on the use of wood as a source of energy, and the development of the wood sector;
  • Possible interregional projects on energy efficiency and renewable energies
    Further promoting the 'Declaration of the Regions in favour of RES and energy efficiency' Further providing regular information on latest news and forthcoming events in the field of energy policy in Europe (AER Energy Newsletter); Developing an online forum to encourage the exchange of knowledge among members of the working group.
• Sustainable tourism
  • Peer reviews
    Adapting the Peer Review project to offer an analysis of the potential progress in terms of sustainable tourism in the regions and apply for Interreg IVC funds;
  • Web portal
    Improving and further developing the web portal for sustainable tourism, with a series of new partners joining and a few technological updates to make the tool more efficient;
  • Rural Paths for Eco-tourism
    Implementation of the Rural Paths for eco tourism (Interreg IVB project);
  • Collaboration with the BITS
    Actively contributing to the activities of the International Bureau for Social Tourism (BITS), in line with the partnership convention signed in 2007;
  • Newsletters
    Providing regular information on latest news and forthcoming events in the field of sustainable tourism (AER Tourism Newsletter);
  • External representation
    Ensuring the participation of AER member Regions in relevant EU tourism events.
• Rural development
  • Conference on rural development, Oppland (N), 28-29 Feb. 2008
    Organising a Conference on rural development to follow up on the CAP health check and EU sustainable development strategy reform, and disseminate information on innovative tools and methods for diversifying the economy of rural areas;
  • External projects: encouraging our Regions to get involved
    Enhancing the participation of regions in rural development projects: in particular organising dissemination events on the Fuels & Services project, which aims at promoting bio-energy centres in rural areas, and boost regional markets for bio-fuels as a way to diversify rural economy;
  • Newsletters
    Providing regular information on latest news and forthcoming events in the field of rural development (AER Rural development Newsletter);
  • Best practices
    Promoting projects (such as RUR@CT) and best practices regarding rural-urban partnerships and the establishment of sustainable infrastructures in rural areas.
• Environment
  • Climate change
    Ensuring the follow-up of the activities of the European Commission suggested in the Green Paper on Climate Change, including regional round tables and public consultation in view of future White Paper;
  • Water policy
    Launching ad hoc activities for the new working group on water set up in September 2007 and following up on the first breakfast briefing on water held in October 2007 in Brussels. Disseminating best practice of innovative tools for managing water resources.
• Cohesion policy
  • Implementation of cohesion policy in the Regions
    Compiling information on the situation in all EU countries concerning the role of the Regions and the difficulties encountered to implement cohesion policy to prepare the drafting of a report in the future;
  • EU budget review
    Following the debate on EU budget review and lobbying the relevant EU institutions to promote the AER recommendations on future cohesion policy.

Committee 1 Contacts

Ms Agnès Ciccarone, Senior Policy Co-ordinator – a.ciccaronedelete_me(at)aerdelete_me.eu
Tel: +33 (0)3 88 22 74 37

Mrs Estelle Delangle, Junior Policy Coordinator - e.delangledelete_me(at)aerdelete_me.eu
Tel: +33 (0)3 88 22 74 38

Ms Diane Tiefenbacher, Junior Policy Co-ordinator – d.tiefenbacherdelete_me(at)aerdelete_me.eu
Tel: +33 (0)3 88 22 74 48

Ms Céline Dawans, Junior Policy Co-ordinator – c.dawansdelete_me(at)aerdelete_me.eu
Tel: +32 (0)2 421 83 89

a.    Health and Social Affairs

• Develop the regions' model of health and social care in the future – what will be the citizens' needs and expectations in 20-30 years' time?

This model will then serve as the basis for adopting and implementing regional strategies regarding, for example:

- The organisation, financing and delivery of healthcare and social services

- The e-health tools that can help deliver these services

- The responses to demographic change that we need

- Restructuring health and social services delivery: how can we move to informal/community care?

- Moving to prevention in public health services rather than treatment?

b.    Demographic Change

• Adopt AER priorities for action in order to respond to demographic change.

What will regions do in order to be prepared for the impact of demographic changes on their societies and systems:

- How can we encourage an increase in fertility rates? At the same time, how do we ensure a balance between work and family life?

- How can we promote active ageing?

c.    Ehe@lth

• Establish the regions as a key actor in the development and implementation of ehealth policies and tools;

• Increase the number of regions developing and implementing ehealth tools in Europe;

• Create regional synergies to develop interoperable ehealth tools that will contribute to the responding to the demands of the health and social care model of the future.

d.    Emergency Planning

• Support the exchange of regional experience and best practice and consolidate the regions' emergency preparedness, through a series of training sessions;

• Develop an AER solidarity network, for the exchange of expertise in support of emergency preparedness and response;

• Develop an AER solidarity network, whereby regions can launch calls for assistance in preventing and responding to a crisis;

• Launch an AER programme for the exchange of experts among the regions;

• Raise awareness about the role of the regions in this area, in particular at European level, and help regions contribute to the national and European Risk Prevention strategies.

e.    Gender Equality

• Develop knowledge and best practice on the integration of migrant women, with a special focus on fostering entrepreneurship and economic independence among migrant women;

• Ensure the gender perspective is taken into account in the formulation of the future model of health and social care delivery and on how to respond to demographic changes.

f.    Preventing Alcohol-Related Harm

• Increase awareness among the regions about the harm related to alcohol and encourage the adoption of regional responses;

• Disseminate regional experience on what works, and what doesn't, in the prevention of alcohol-related harm;

• Improve regional policies for the prevention of alcohol-related harm.

Committee 2 Contacts

Ms Ourania Georgoutsakou, Senior Policy Co-ordinator – g.ouraniadelete_me(at)aerdelete_me.eu
Tel: +33 (0)3 88 22 74 47

Ms Claudia Meschede, Junior Policy Co-ordinator – c.meschededelete_me(at)aerdelete_me.eu
Tel: +33 (0)3 88 22 74 43

a. Political and financial framework conditions concerning the work field of Committee 3

Activities in this field are coordinated by the Committee secretariat with the support of the working group on "GATS & Cultural Services" led by Niederösterreich (A).

• Monitoring the developments and, whenever necessary, taking action or contributing concerning:

- the directive on Services of general interest (SGI)- the directive on services in the internal market- the GATS- State Aids- the implementation of the Lisbon strategy- the implementation of the UNESCO convention regarding the protection of the diversity of cultural contents and artistic expressions

b. Interregional and International Cooperation

Activities in the field of Interregional and International Cooperation are coordinated by the Committee 3 Secretariat and the Working Group of International Solidarity under the responsibility of Bourgogne (F).

• Coordination of regional projects in the field of development with the support UNDP, EU and other organisations with a particular focus in 2008 on South-Eastern Europe and the Mediterranean countries;

• Support for decentralisation and regionalisation efforts in countries with no or limited regional structures, e.g. in South-Eastern Europe;

• Support for regional networks of AER Members on specific geographical issues;

• Providing support for the guidelines that were developed by the AER in 2007 on the European Grouping for Territorial Cooperation (EGTC);

• Evaluation of the Sub-Committee during the next Committee 3 Plenary session.

c. Culture

Activities in the field of culture are coordinated by the Sub-Committee on Culture under the responsibility of Gävleborg (S) and the Committee secretariat.

• Launch of the AER Cultural Tourism Initiative during the Cultural Tourism Conference in Silesia (Spring 2008);

• Represent the regional position in the EU discussions on the Communication of Culture;

• Create and develop the Cultural Heritage Network under the Interreg IVC programme and development of other cultural projects.

d. Education and Training

Activities in the field of education are coordinated by the Sub-Committee on Education and Training under the provisional responsibility of Hampshire (UK) and the Committee secretariat.

• Developing concepts and projects in order to ensure continuity in the educational career of migrant and travelling children and guaranteeing the information and portability of experiences, degrees and diplomas;

• Promotion of Youth Entrepreneurship in form of projects and the AER Summer School;

• Represent the position of the AER Member Regions vis-à-vis the European Union in their Multilingualism initiative;

• Promotion of the AER Eurodyssey Programme.

e. Youth

Activities in the field of Youth are coordinated by the Sub-Committee on Youth under the responsibility of Norrbotten (S), the Committee secretariat and the AER Youth Team (President: Claire Bridges).

• Further development of the AER Youth Team;

• Continuation of the AER Youth Ambassadors and awarding of the Youth Ambassador Award in early 2008;

• Contribution to the Organisation of the AER Summer Schools;

• Promoting regional action in favour of youth and showcasing innovative approaches by organising the competition for the Most youth-friendly European Region and by a peer review initiative.

f. Media and Information Technology

Activities in the field of Media & Information Technology are coordinated by the corresponding Sub-Committee under the responsibility of ...(to be decided)...  and the Committee secretariat.

• Exploring the impact, challenges and opportunities of media on new forms of regional governance;

• Development of a interregional network on e-Skills and e-Inclusion;

• Represent the AER member regions in the discussions with European Institutions on Information Technologies.

Committee 3 Contacts

Mr Martin Mühleck, Senior Policy Co-ordinator – m.muehleckdelete_me(at)aerdelete_me.eu
Tel: +33 (0)3 88 22 74 47

Ms Doris Materne, Junior Policy Co-ordinator – d.maternedelete_me(at)aerdelete_me.eu
Tel: +33 (0)3 88 22 74 43

• Assisting Regions in Bridging the Gap Between Europe and its Citizens
  • European Citizens Forums
    The aim of the AER European Citizens' Forums is to engage citizens and regional politicians in a debate with representatives of the European Union on the future of Europe. The forums operate as a two-way process, informing citizens about the European Union's concrete work, and listening to people's expectations about what should be done in the future. In 2008, the AER aims to organise 4 European Citizens Forums across Europe.
  • 'Do You Speak European?' Competition
    The Standing Committee will organise an Europe-wide debating competition for young people on Europe. The aim of the competition will be to increase the awareness of young people of the European context in which they live. The competition will operate through three levels: (i) each participating region will organise a regional debating competition amongst their schools and youth councils; (ii) the winners of the regional competition will go on to compete in a national competition; (iii) the winners of the national competitions will compete at a European level, to identify the European debating champions. This concept is based on an existing programme in the AER member region of West Sussex (UK).
  • Communicating Europe Award
    The AER launched the 'Communicating Europe' award in 2007, to identify the regions that could demonstrate best practice in informing and engaging their citizens in issues of European interest. A showcase of the winning entries will be organised in Brussels in Spring 2008, in the presence of Margot Wallström, Vice President of the European Commission, responsible for Communication. This event will be combined with a conference on the role of the regions in communicating Europe, which will promote the AER’s White Paper on Communication (published in 2006) and focus on lobbying the European Commission to introduce a funding programme for communication initiatives at the local and regional level. The 2nd edition of the Communicating Europe award will be launched in Spring 2008.
• Promoting the Development of Innovative, Participatory and Inclusive Regional Governance
  • Development of a Web Portal and Expert Network on Regionalism
    In order to promote the principles of regional democracy, the Standing Committee for Institutional Affairs is in the process of developing a web portal on regionalism. The aim is to create a one-stop information shop on regionalism in Europe, which should become the first place that people search when they want to find out about regional developments in any country in Europe. The Standing Committee is also establishing a network of academic experts and practitioners, that will link into the web portal, in order to create a hub of knowledge on regionalism and regionalisation processes in Europe.
  • AER Training Academy
    The AER Training Academy will link together public administration institutes across Europe to offer European-wide training in all aspects of regional public administration for civil servants and politicians from AER member regions. In 2007, the Standing Committee on Institutional Affairs developed the first module of the Training Academy in European Decision-making, funding and lobbying. This module will be delivered 3-4 times in 2008. The Standing Committee also undertook background research and prepared a concept paper on the Training Academy. In 2008 it will take up contacts with bodies interested in participating in the scheme, and set up further modules.
• Ensuring that the Optimal Framework Conditions are Provided for the Development of Regional Democracy in Europe
  • European Charter on Regional Democracy
    The Congress of the Council of Europe is in the process of rewriting the European Charter on Regional Democracy, in the hope that member states can reach agreement on its content in 2008. The Standing Committee will work with the Congress to try to ensure that Member States endorse the Charter.
  • Responding to Challenges to Regional Democracy in Europe
    The Standing Committee will organise ad-hoc seminars or workshops to respond to specific challenges to regional democracy in individual countries, as required. It will work together with the region of Donetsk (UA) to examine the future of regional democracy in Ukraine.
• Ensuring the Greater Involvement of Regions in European Decision-making
  • Safeguarding the Principles of Regional Democracy Set Out in the EU Reform Treaty
    Now that agreement has been reached on the way in which negotiations on a new EU Reform Treaty will proceed, it is imperative that the AER ensures that all the gains realised for the regions in the Constitutional Treaty are maintained. The content of the Treaty should be secured before the end of 2007, so in 2008, the AER will focus on equipping its members to inform their citizens of the implications of the Treaty for the EU, the regions and the citizens.
  • European Transparency Initiative
    The European Transparency Initiative aims to improve the way in which the European institutions interact with lobbyists. In 2007, the AER succeeded in ensuring that regional representations in Brussels were excluded from the new guidelines on lobbyists. In 2008, the Commission intends to revise some aspects of the Initiative, and the AER will ensure that these revisions are not detrimental to the regions.

Standing Committee Contacts

Joanna Benfield, Director, AER Brussels Office – j.benfielddelete_me(at)aerdelete_me.eu
Tel: +32 (0)2 421 87 57

Stephanie Von Hayek, Policy Officer – s.vonhayekdelete_me(at)aerdelete_me.eu
Tel: +33 (0)3 88 22 74 46

AER Summer School and Youth Summer School

The Summer School and Youth Summer School 2008 will take place in Östersund, Jämtland (SE) from 24th – 30th August. Adult and youth Summer School participants will work together to develop and share best practice on the topic of youth entrepreneurship in Europe's regions. By bringing regional policy makers and officers together with the young people affected by their policies, the Summer School will be an opportunity for developing these policy ideas further, meeting the needs of both the young people and the regional authorities.

During the week, participants will chose to focus their work on one of 4 key areas:

• Entrepreneurship education in schools
• Non-formal entrepreneurship strategies
• Youth entrepreneurship strategies for disadvantaged groups
• Youth participation and entrepreneurship

Within these themes, participants will work in small groups to develop strategies and project outlines that could be used by regional authorities to promote youth entrepreneurship. At the end of the week, there will be a competition to identify the best project concept.

By the end of the week, participants will have developed concrete ideas about what they can do to improve the entrepreneurship strategies in their region. During the last day of the Summer School they will have the opportunity to make pledges about what they will do turn their ideas into reality on their return home.

Contacts
Joanna Benfield, Director, AER Brussels Office – j.benfielddelete_me(at)aerdelete_me.eu
Tel: +32 (0)2 421 87 57

Stephanie Von Hayek, Policy Officer on Institutional Affairs – s.vonhayekdelete_me(at)aerdelete_me.eu
Tel: +33 (0)3 88 22 74 46

Eurodyssey

Eurodyssey was the first exchange programme for young people to be established at the European level and today it is a particularly effective tool for regional promotion of vocational training and employment. The programme gives young people aged between 18 and 30 years the opportunity to acquire professional European experience in the course of a three to seven-month work placement in another country and to improve their foreign language skills.

29 regions actively participate in the Eurodyssey programme. 10 new regions are currently proceeding to their first exchanges and should become full-fledged members in 2008. Contacts with 24 interested Regions will be followed-up and the AER will aim to further extend participation through awareness raising, meetings and visits in the Regions.

A new website will be set up which will allow for better promotion and more interaction.

Since the General Assembly 2006, the Eurodyssey programme is chaired by the Açores (P). The annual forum of the programme will take place during the second half of September or first week of October 2008 in a venue to be confirmed.

Contacts
Martin MÜHLECK, Senior Policy co-ordinator Committee 3 – m.muehleckdelete_me(at)aerdelete_me.eu
Tel: +33 (0)3 88 22 74 47

Doris MATERNE, Junior Policy co-ordinator Committee 3 – d.maternedelete_me(at)aerdelete_me.eu
Tel: +33 (0)3 88 22 74 43