The future of Europe
2007 has been and 2008 will be a crucial year for the debate on the future of Europe: firstly the December Council of 2007 saw the signature of the heads of states and governments of the EU 27 to the new Lisbon Treaty marking an end of a long period of negotiation and reflection on the future institutional structure of the EU starting with the Laeken Declaration in 2001. Secondly, the year 2008 will be crucial, because the ratification of the Lisbon Treaty will have an impact on the upcoming elections of the European Parliament in 2009.
But the EU Constitution and the Lisbon Treaty are not the only major developments affecting the European institutions. At the same time the Union committed itself to widen the opportunities for stakeholders to participate actively in EU policy-shaping and to ensure a high level of transparency and accountability of the institutions. Against this background the Commission launched the European Transparency Initiative in November 2005. Both initiatives are to put the EU back on its democratic roots.
The AER is and has been monitoring all these events and presented the voice of the regions within these new initiatives and for the future of Europe.
The Treaty of Lisbon
For forther information regarding the AER position and AER activities concerning the Lisbon Treaty, please consult this page.
EU Constitutional Treaty
For further information on the past AER activities on the Constitutional Treaty, please consult this page.
EU Transparency Initiative and Code of Conduct
The European Transparency Initiative was introduced by the European Commission in order to increase transparency, openness and accountability of EU governance processes. Please consult following page in order to get further information about AER involvement and AER positions.
AER cooperation with European institutions and associations
The AER is cooperating with a number of regional institutions within the European context: first and foremost with the European Union - in particular the Committee of the Regions - and the Council of Europe - in particulare the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities. Apart from that the AER is also cooperating with other European regional associations. Please use following page in order to find out more about these activities.
Institutional Affairs Plenary session on the Treaty of Lisbon
The Standing Committee on Institutional Affairs will dedicate its next Plenary session on 11th of June 2008 in Wroclaw (PL) on the new Treaty of Lisbon. During the session the focus will be on the impact of the new treaty on the regions and the regional representations within the EU institutions. For further information of this session, please consult following page.
AER Position Paper on the Code of Conduct
In the framework of the Transparency Initiative the Commission opened a consultation on a code of conduct for interest representatives in Brussels. For further information about this, please consult following page.
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