Signature of the co-operation agreement

between the Congress and the CALRE

Strasbourg, 17 September 2010

Speech by Giovanni KESSLER, President of the Conference of European Regional Legislative Assemblies

I am delighted to sign the agreement with the Congress of the Council of Europe, which represents another step in the growth of the Regional Legislative Assembly’s model, and is an honor for CALRE.

In the Declaration of Trento of 2010, which is the annual “statement” of our association, we are willing to mention the evolution in the regional institutional framework, which has faced a huge change since 1986 all around Europe.

Today CALRE represents more than seventy assemblies, either deep rooted in their model, such as the German Landtags, and younger realities, such as the Belgian Communities.

Nonetheless seven years before CALRE’s foundation the Congress was already promoting our cause thanks to the good work of the working group of Regions with legislative powers, whose work cannot be forgotten, and is worth continuing within the framework of the Congress.

The spread of the institutional model we represent is is motivated by the tangible successes of the legislative regions in the governance of their territories, and in their ability to properly deal with the evolving international framework here represented by the Congress.

I do believe the use of a democratic model allows strengthening of the rule of law, which is a necessity for the maintenance of a prosperous economy, and is necessary to be able to grant the respect of human rights for the local populations.

Because to ensure a good life quality for our citizens we must grant both economic wellness and possibly even third generation human rights.

Regions with legislative powers are playing an important role also for their national contexts because they have the possibility to correct inefficiencies and to give a better implementation of general policies, through modeling them on the territorial needs.

I hope this agreement to be the first stone of a long lasting collaboration, which will allow CALRE and the Congress to promote the regional legislative assembly institutional model.

I believe we shall work together for the enactment of long term programs, like the constitution of think-tanks, and through the study of joint conferences on the role and possibilities of the local democratic governance.

There are many areas in which a stronger synergy could be a great path for success, and I do believe that we could start to collaborate also during some of the ongoing institution building projects.

I wish to thank you for the efforts in promoting the agreement, and I am looking forward to welcome President Sfirloaga at our next annual plenary session in Trento.