Note to editors

The Congress welcomes the election of the new President of the EU Committee of the Regions, Luc van den Brande

Strasbourg, 07.02.2008 – Today the President of the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe, Halvdan Skard, sent a letter of congratulations to Luc van den Brande on his election as President of the EU Committee of the Regions on 6 February 2008.

In his message Halvdan Skard said that he was sure that Mr van den Brande’s work at the head of the Committee of the Regions would help European towns, cities and regions to make their opinions heard more clearly in the European Union’s decision-making processes.

Halvdan Skard also voiced his satisfaction that Luc van den Brande, who is already a member of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, is now discharging important duties in the European Union context, saying, “I am convinced that your action will enable both our institutions to expand our co-operation even further”.

Contact:

Dmitri Marchenkov, Head of Congress’ Communication Unit

Tel. + 33 (0)3 88 41 38 44 ; dmitri.marchenkov@coe.int