In Spring  2007, the European Commission published a consultation on Europe's Social Reality. This consultation was ment to provide a counterbalance to the  EU Lisbon-Strategy and provided an opportunity to highlight the challenges that Europe and it's regions are facig today.

AER Committee 2 response to the consultation

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Annex to the Pécs declaration on the integration of ethnic minorities

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The Secretariat-General of the Commission intends to publish all contributions received from institutional and individual contributors. For further information click here.

In March 2007, AER Committee 2 organised an international  Seminar on questions related to the intgration of ethnic minorities.

Pécs declaration on the integration of ethnic minorities

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Annex to the Pécs declaration on the integration of ethnic minorities

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All contributions to the conference, together with some complementary information, can be found on the event's page.
Please click here! 

Regions today are faced with a number of challenges that have a significant impact on their societies: demographic changes; the impact of the European internal market rules on health and social systems; the economic and social impact of globalisation; increasingly diverse societies and citizens' diverse needs. Regions need to understand these new realities and to develop policies that respond to their citizens' changing needs.

Europe is grounded in diversity and the regions are an excellent illustration of this. However, the AER member regions acknowledged the existence of a European Social Model, which is grounded in fundamental principles common to all.To read more about this, please click below to download the AER Declaration and the AER Glossary on the European Social Model.

AER Declaration on the Future of the European Social Model

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Glossary

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In the context of the debate of services of general interest in Europe, the AER has actively responded to EU proposals for the regulation of social services.

AER member regions have also debated how to guarantee the future sustainability of social services, in light of demographic challenges.

For further information on AER activities in this area, please click here.

Europe's regions are facing important demographic changes that will largely influence their labour markets and their social systems. Regions need to identify policy responses to demographic challenges, in order to guarantee the financial sustainability of their health and social systems, the social coexistence of the generations, the role of the family in society and the educational systems.

To find out more about the region's initiatives on demographic challenges and the activities of the European Union, please click here.

The AER organised a seminar entitled "Disabilities as a wealth for the regions" in Timisoara (Timis, RO) on28-29 September 2006.

The aim of this seminar was to raise awareness about the contribution of disabled persons to society and the need for inclusive regional policies that take into account their needs.

Please visit the website of this event for a full list of the seminar contributions and the conclusions - click here.