Assembly of European Regions

Assembly of European Regions
Coat of arms
SecretariatStrasbourg and Brussels
Official working language English
Type Trade bloc
Leaders
 •  President Hande ÖZSAN BOZATLI
(Region:Istanbul)
Website
aer.eu

The Assembly of European Regions (AER) is the largest independent network of regions in wider Europe. Bringing together regions from 35 countries and 15 interregional organisations, AER is the political voice of its members and a forum for interregional cooperation.

Historical background

On 15 June 1985, at Louvain-la-Neuve (Walloon Brabant), 47 Regions and 9 interregional organisations founded the Council of the Regions of Europe (CRE), which would later become the Assembly of European Regions in November 1987 at the second General meeting of the Regions of Europe in Brussels.

The year 1985 was proclaimed by the United Nations as the International Youth Year. The same year AER launched its first programme, Eurodyssey, designed to promote and encourage youth mobility.

In 1990, AER’s Tabula Regionum Europae published the first map of its kind citing a Europe made up of regions and not simply of countries. The year after, the principle of subsidiarity became the leading AER campaign to promote the role of regions in all European and national decision-making processes. Soon thereafter its success was to be evident as the principle was recognized in the Maastricht Treaty of 1992.

The creation of the Committee of the Regions (CoR) in 1994 and the Chamber of the Regions in the framework of the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities (CLRAE) in 1994, exemplified a victory for AER in advocating for the regions in Europe.

In 1995, AER launched a massive campaign to promote regionalism in Europe. As a result, 300 AER members adopted in 1996 the Declaration on Regionalism in Europe immediately initializing a reference document for new and developing regions.

In 2002, AER presented its position on the “Future of Europe” to the European Convention. AER actively contributed to the drafting of the European Constitution, demonstrating strong political involvement. The final text included all AER proposals, namely

In 2008, AER established the Youth Regional Network, Europe’s first and only platform of regional youth councils, parliaments and organisations.

Definition of "Region"

According to the AER statutes, in principle the term "region" refers to a territorial authority existing at the level immediately below that of the central government, with its own political representation in the form of an elected regional assembly.

Mission and core objectives

AER's mission is to be the voice of the regions of Europe.

AER’s core objectives are:

Values

AER believes in the following values:

Democracy and transparency

– two totally complementary and inseparable values: AER will act transparently to focus on defending the interests of all member regions while respecting democratic principles.

Fairness and solidarity

– the root of mutual respect and acceptance of cultural, linguistic and socioeconomic differences: AER advocates solidarity between all regions of Europe, while urging fairness as a source of cohesion between member regions and promoting equal opportunities for all.

Openness and dialogue

AER is open to all European regions and their elected representatives, men and women alike, from all non-extremist political movements. AER promotes dialogue and dares to confront ideas;

Boldness and effectiveness

AER seeks to stimulate creativity and encourage political debate, and aims to transform the regions via forward-looking projects.

Services

Informing & Exchanging

AER aims at helping its members and partners implement policy actions in various fields by first and foremost informing them on the options and methods available to them. Our members and partners are encouraged to exchange regional stories and best practices.

Advocacy & Networking

AER uses its wide network to advocate in favour of regional causes, making sure that regions and their voice are heard at the right time, at the right place and by the right people. Networking is also an effective tool to spread the news on what’s accomplished by our members and partners, placing them on the international scene.

Projects & Programmes

AER has extensive experience in all aspects of European project management and funding and can assist our members with EU or regional projects and programmes.

Capacity building & Advising

AER offers members access to expert political analysis, advice on strategical aspects of regional politics and connection, and intermediation with European institutions. In effect, members and partners are accompanied through the European decision-making process.

How to become a member of AER?

In accordance with AER’s statutes, regions are defined as “local authorities immediately below the level of central government, with a political power of representation embodies by an elected regional Assembly.”Since regional capacities differ from one state to another, six distinct set-ups are currently possible:

In order to request adhesion: please send an official letter, signed by the president of your region, to the President of AER. Once your request has been accepted by AER’s Bureau or Presidency and the fee is paid, you are free to participate in all our activities. In accordance with our statutes, your application will be ratified during our annual General Assembly

List of presidents of the AER

Hande Özsan Bozatli - Istanbul (TR) - 2013–now

Michèle Sabban - Île-de-France (FR) - 2008–2013

Riccardo Illy - Friuli-Venezia-Giulia (IT) - 2004–2008

Liese Prokop - Lower Austria (AT) - 2000–2004

Luc Van den Brande - Flanders (BE) - 1996–2000

Jordi Pujol - Catalunya (ES) - 1992-1996

Carlo Bernini - Veneto (IT) - 1988–1992

Edgard Faure - Franche-Comté (FR) - 1985–1988

External links

This article is issued from Wikipedia - version of the 10/22/2016. The text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share Alike but additional terms may apply for the media files.