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Jean-Claude van Cauwenberghe: “The reference framework marks a new departure for the promotion of regional democracy in Europe”

The proposal of governments to use the European Charter of Regional Democracy, adopted by the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities in 2008, to draw up a “reference framework for regional democracy” will allow for guaranteeing and strengthening regional democracy throughout Europe, says Jean-Claude van Cauwenberghe (Belgium, SOC), Rapporteur on regionalisation.

Interview 18.06.2009

Question: Together with several of your fellow Congress members you support the idea of turning the European Charter of Regional Democracy into a “reference framework” for regional democracy. In what main ways would this differ from the Charter, and what advantages would the new text offer?

Jean-Claude van Cauwenberghe: Even if we regret the Ministers’ decision, we were expecting it and we think that the drafting of a “reference framework for regional democracy” will make it possible to continue promoting regional democracy in Europe: it will mark a new departure in our work, whereas if we do nothing we risk losing the benefit of our past efforts. Of course, the new reference framework will not have the legal force of a convention, but, in applying it, states will see that, far from being controversial, the promotion of regional democracy is beneficial both to them and to the regions.

Question: If it is not binding, what force will this reference framework have and how can it be useful to the regions?

Jean-Claude van Cauwenberghe: We are going to breathe life into this text by promoting it and publicising it together with our partners, including the European Committee on Regional Democracy, and we hope that it can be adopted by the Ministerial Conference in Utrecht. This reference framework will be useful for the regional monitoring carried out by the Congress, and should also provide inspiration for states wishing to reorganise their structures on a more regional basis. This document will incorporate, in addition to the draft Charter, the so-called Helsinki principles and will constitute a reference corpus serving the needs of efficient and democratic regional development based on the subsidiarity principle.

Question: Do you intend to continue working within the Congress on a new project which would again take the form of a convention, and, apart from a convention, do you see any alternative mechanism for establishing a legal framework at regional level?

Jean-Claude van Cauwenberghe: Our philosophy and our ideas remain the same and, once again, the reference framework is not an end, but a beginning. It will mark a further political step towards an international legal instrument. If it is adopted in Utrecht in November, it will put regionalism back on the agenda and will update certain principles, such as the Helsinki principles, while permitting their practical application. We continue to dream of organising regional self-government at European level by establishing strong principles of subsidiarity, democracy and good governance.