Round table on the  co-operation between  the Congress and associations representing regions in Europe

26.10.2010 – In the framework of the 19th Session of the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities, a round table, took place on 26 October 2010, in order to discuss the Co-operation between the Congress and the associations representing regions in Europe.

Members of the Chamber of Regions adopted a resolution calling for improving and increasing the co-operation and relationships between these organisations. The members of the associations representing regions in Europe focused, in particular, on aspects of the Congress reform in terms of empowering pan-european co-operation at local and regional level.

Ligia Krajewska, Vice-President of the Council of European Municipalities and Regions (CEMR), underlined the importance of fostering and promoting local and regional authorities and she expressed her willingness to strenghthen the relationships with the Council of Europe’s Congress.

Nazario Pagano, President of the Conference of European Regional Legislatives Assemblies (CALRE) stressed the “precious role of the Congress of Council of Europe” in putting into practice the objectives drawn up by the Lisbon Treaty in order to foster the role of Regions in Europe.

“The aim of this co-operation is the integration of Europe on the basis of democratic values” Michèle Sabban, President of the Assembly of European Regions (AER) said.

Karl-Heinz Lambertz, President of the Association of Europen Border Regions (AEBR) stressed the importance of increasing trans-border co-operation. “National borders are becoming less and less important but border regions are more and more playing a strategic role”, he said.

“In order to build a more integrated Europe, we need less strength within national States and more strength within Regions”, concluded Alberto Jao Jardim, Member of the Political Bureau of the Conference of Peripheral Maritime Regions of Europe (CPMR).