2005

25 November 2005 - President Barroso joins the European Regions in Urging Member State Governments to Adopt Financial Perspectives
750 political regional representatives from throughout Europe, as well as representatives of the European Institutions, joined the AER in Strasbourg today to celebrate its 20th anniversary. Riccardo Illy, President of the AER, emphasised the important role that innovation in the regions plays in ensuring economic growth and employment, which in turn are key elements for guaranteeing a successful social policy...
24 November 2005 - The AER honours the European Most Youth-Friendly Region
Hungarian County of Veszprem is declared winner among 31 candidates
The AER has celebrated the third edition of the Youth-Friendly Region prize, on the occasion of its General Assembly. 31 regions from across Europe, among which 10 AER non-member regions, took part in this competition.
Johanna Mikl-Leitner, Vice-President of the AER in charge of Youth, stated on this occasion...
13 October 2005 - The European Social Model must be grounded in diversity, the AER stated
“The European Social Model cannot be defined as a single model, which can apply in the same way to all European regions and states..."
12 October 2005 - Innovation in Europe – Using the creative potential of the regions:
General Meeting of the European Regions, Strasbourg, 24th – 25th November 2005
“The Regions' initiatives are key ingredients of a winning Europe. However, the success of many regions - sometimes spectacular in terms of economic development – depends on their capacity to reinvest their local resources in an innovative way. The General Meeting of the European Regions in Strasbourg, co-organised with the Alsace Region, will be an opportunity for them to exchange their know-how and experience in this field and to build or re-launch cooperation projects...
06 October 2005 - “Europe is on standby- we must adopt the budget now” the AER warns the European Union
“To give Europe a chance to overcome its difficulties, the European Union has to adopt the budget 2007-2013 as soon as possible.” This is the message sent to the European Council by the Bureau of the AER, meeting today in Poznan, Wielkopolska-Poland...
27 September 2005 - What a future for the cohesion policy in a new Europe without a European budget for 2007-2013?
The Political Bureau of the Assembly of European Regions (AER) will hold its next meeting on the 6th October in Poznan (Wielkopolska-PL). Two European issues under the current debate are on the top of this meeting’s agenda..
16 September 2005 - Professional and social inclusion of young people: a new priority for Europe
During the European Conference on "Promoting vocational training and youth mobility - an investment in Europe's future", organised today by the Assembly of European Regions (AER), Pierre Moscovici, Vice-President of the European Parliament, stated..
16 September 2005 - European Capital of Culture: The AER Committee on Culture encourages the nomination of regional capitals in the new Member states
In view of the forthcoming selection of the European Capital of Culture (ECC initiative), the AER Committee on Culture, who held its plenary meeting in Besançon..
13 September 2005 - First comments of the Forum of European Regional Airports (FARE) and the Assembly of European Regions (AER) on the Airport Guidelines, issued on 6 Sep. 2005 by the EU Commission
FARE and AER are seriously worried by the impact that the Guidelines will have on the development of regional airports and on interregional air services within the EU.
12 September 2005 - Reforming State Aid - The European Regions say “yes”, so long as this reform supports the objectives of economic, social and territorial cohesion, stated President Illy
The Presidium of the Assembly of European Regions (AER), meeting today in Trieste, Friuli Venezia Giulia (I), has declared itself overall in favour of the European Commission’s proposed “State Aid Action Plan”.
03 August 2005 - Consultation towards AER reactions on state aid and on cohesion policy
Commitee C invites all AER members to send their comments on the new EC draft guidelines on state aid and on cohesion policy.
28 July 2005 - AER Summer School & Youth Summer School 2005 - Crossing the Bridge – Welcome to Europe
The 2005 Summer School will focus upon the theme 'Regions as the motors for Prosperous and Inclusive Societies'...
Parallel to the main Summer School, the AER is also organising its 4th annual Youth Summer School...
01 July 2005 - Sustainable energy policy: Renewable energy and rational management are crucial for European Regions
With the rise in global energy consumption, the need to set up sustainable and long-term energy policies is becoming all the more essential. This should be done by developing alternative energy sources..
29 June 2005 - Youth unemployment: an inevitable fate? European regions pin their hopes on vocational training and international mobility for young people
Nearly 20% of young Europeans are currently out of work. The figures from Poland, Greece and Italy are particularly worrying, but they are also high in France, Germany, Finland and Belgium.
15 June 2005 - The AER celebrates its 20th anniversary
15 June 1985 – 47 European regions and 9 interregional organisations met in Louvain-la-Neuve in Belgium to seal the commun future of the European regions.
01 June 2005 - The Assembly of European Regions urges the EU to respond to new challenges
The Bureau of the AER met in Sankt Gallen (CH) today and urges the EU to respond to new challenges for the future of the Europe, that rise from the outcome of the referendum in France.
20 May 2005 - Recognising the vital role of the regions: a crucial stake for Europe
“European economic growth, which has been dynamic for the past ten years, will be in danger, if the Constitutional Treaty is not ratified,” warned Riccardo Illy..
17 May 2005 - Europe's Regions demand "power-sharing" over GMO crop decision - GMO Free zones reach all time high
European regions have today reiterated their demand to be included in any decisions over the commercial cultivation of genetically modified crops (GM or GMOs)..
11 May 2005 - Promoting Sustainable Development: Learning From Regions’ Experience
The regions of Europe have to take up the new challenges of a rapidly changing European and global context. Growth and competitiveness depend on the capacity of the regions to enhance their self-development based on sustainability.
10 May 2005 - Regions of Europe back the implementation
of the Lisbon Strategy
‘The ambitious objectives of the Lisbon Strategy will only be reached through coherent European policies and the EU budget adapted to the challenges emerging from the last enlargement and globalisation”, stated Onno Hoes..
10 May 2005 - 17 May 2005: Rendez-vous in Brussels "For a sustainable European agriculture"
On 17th May 2005, the Assembly of European Regions (AER) is organising a conference on 'Safeguarding sustainable European agriculture: coexistence, GMO free zones and the promotion of quality food produce in Europe'..
03 May 2005 - What role for the regions in a Europe of 2010?
"European competitiveness and entrepreneurship will not improve unless they can build on existing conditions and opportunities in Europe's regions, towns and municipalities", said Mrs Catarina Segersten Larsson..
03 May 2005 - Scenario Europe 2010 - The AER launched its work on the White Paper on the role of the regions
“EU enlargement and globalisation have created new opportunities and challenges for the European regions. The Constitutional Treaty currently in the process of being ratified in the Member States and the Lisbon Strategy imply the greater involvement of regions..
22 April 2005 - "The Directive on services must be revised" says the AER
“At a time when the Directive on Services (Bolkestein Directive) and the Constitutional Treaty are under debate in all European countries, the Assembly of European Regions (AER) strongly reaffirms that this Directive must be revised to take better account of the European social model,” said Stig-Erik Westmark, President of the AER ‘Social Cohesion, Social Services and Public Health Committee and Chairman of the International Committee of Västmanland (Sweden), at the meeting of the Committee in Västerås (S).
24 March 2005 - GMO – The EU current regulations are far from exhaustive
Last Tuesday, the European Commission confirmed its confidence in the existing legal framework regulating genetically modified organisms (GMO), considering that it is strict enough in terms of labelling and scientific assessment. Therefore, the EU executive will go on authorising new GM seeds when the European Council cannot manage to reach an agreement on the issue. The Assembly of European Regions (AER), which campaigns for a European legal framework on co-existence between conventional and GM crops, strongly reaffirms that the existing European regulatory framework is far from exhaustive.
23 March 2005 - Bolkestein Directive - the AER welcomes the European Council's decision
The Assembly of European Regions (AER) welcomes the European Council’s decision on the Directive on Services (Bolkestein Directive). The AER has insisted that the Bolkestein Directive must be revised to take better account of the European social model. “The regions fully support the European Union’s initiative to complete the internal market in services and to promote European economic growth,” said Stig-Erik Westmark, President of the AER Committee for Social Cohesion, Social Services and Public Health and Chairman of the International Committee of the Västmanland region (S).
16 March 2005 - The European Constitution: "Your Question Answered"
The Assembly of European Regions (AER) has published a guide "The European Constitution: Your Questions Answered" which aims at inceasinsing awareness and understanding of the Constitutional Treaty and its implications for the citizens.
03 March 2005 - We need exemption of small airports from EU Guidelines
Riccardo Illy, President of the Assembly of European Regions (AER), meeting today with the President of the European Commission José Manuel Barroso, welcomed the new EU guidelines on aviation and regional airports, as well as the Commission initiative to launch a consultation before adopting a final regulation.
03 March 2005 - The EU needs a new vision
“After the internal market, the Euro, enlargement and the Constitutional Treaty, the EU lacks a clear vision for its future" said Riccardo Illy, President of the Assembly of European Regions (AER) and President of Friuli Venezia Giulia-I, meeting today with José Manuel Barroso, European Commission President.
02 March 2005 - Creating the conditions for effective regional democracy:
a challenge for the States and Regions of Europe
“European democracy must be built from the bottom-up. The regional and the local authorities are the levels of government closest to the citizen, providing key services and acting as the main interface between the citizens and the state. However, regions cannot operate effectively unless they are provided with adequate financial resources and a legal and constitutional framework that assists them in exercising their rights and carrying out their responsibilities in an optimal manner”, declared Riccardo Illy, President of the AER and of Friuli Venezia Giulia-I.
15 February 2005 - European Parliament and Regions work hand in hand
to promote the creation of a European framework for Cross-border Co-operation
Despite indicatations that Europe is becoming an ‘ever-closer Union’, in some key areas European co-operation still faces a myriad of obstacles. Many European regions still encounter opposition from national governments when trying to co-operate with their counterparts in other countries. Members of the European Parliament met today with 70 members of the AER, representing Regions from to the European Union and its neighbouring countries, to discuss the future of cross-border co-operation in the European Union.
09 February 2005 - Competitiveness, growth and cohesion: the EU must fund its ambitions
The Presidency of the AER met in Strasburg today and expressed its deep concern about the future of cohesion policy in the new Europe. While the Barroso Commission has just announced an ambitious initiative in order to re-launch growth and job creation in Europe, many Member States are lobbying for that the EU budget be limited to 1% of the EU GNP for 2007-2013 programmation.
21 January 2005 - "Cohesion should be at the service of the competitiveness of the regions and not a competition between the regions", the AER says to Commissioner Hübner
Representatives of the Assembly of European Regions (AER) discussed today with Commisioner Hübner on the future of cohesion policy in the framework of the ongoing reform.
20 October 2005 - Economic attractiveness, jobs creation, access to services:
the AER’s ambition for rural areas
In their final declaration, the 150 participants to the AER Conference on 'Promoting competitive regions: what role for rural areas in the Lisbon strategy' today in Devon County Council (UK), stated that "rural areas represent an important part of the new EU territory and are therefore a key factor of cohesion and competitiveness...
04 November 2005 - Regions important factors for stability and economic growth
About 200 presidents and political representatives of regions from all over Europe are today meeting in Odessa, under the auspices of the AER, to discuss the importance of regions for stability and economic growth...
17 December 2005 - Letter to the Financial Times
The negotiations on the financial perspectives 2007-13 have severely damaged Europe's credibility and raised additional doubts for the citizens on the future of the EU...

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