Assembly of European Regions General Assembly

“Regions Master Globalisation”

(Ponta Delgada, Azores, Portugal, 24-25 November 2011)

Speech by Keith Whitmore, President of the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe

Madam President,

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Dear colleagues,

It is a great pleasure for me to address your Assembly, in the spirit of the long-standing tradition of co-operation between our two organisations. The theme of this conference – Regions Master Globalisation – is of particular importance today, given the global context of the current situation. Against the background of such global upheavals as the economic crisis, changes in the European neighbourhood and climate change – to name but a few – the theme of this conference reflects the urgent need for raising the capacity of regions (but also local communities, I would add) to respond to these challenges.

In the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities, we are convinced, paradoxically as it may sound, that the era of globalisation is also the era of the local community. In fact, globalisation brings to the forefront the need to relocalise our societies – and by “local” I also mean of course regions. Today, national governments can no longer be the only representative voice of nations, because globalisation opens markets and brings the competitive edge all the way to the grassroots level. This is why today, regions and local communities are at the heart of the revival and sustainability of our societies. We are pleased that these issues are being addressed in the draft Ponta Delgada Declaration before us, and the Congress fully endorses its proposals, which reflect the Congress’ approach as well.     

This General Assembly is taking place in the context of a historic challenge for Europe marked by the deep economic and financial crisis which has hit hard both member states as well as local and regional communities of our continent. This crisis is threatening indeed the very fabric of our democratic societies.

We are convinced that the current situation calls for putting our public action under the sign of solidarity and for joining forces in responding to the common challenges we are facing. I am speaking about solidarity between national governments of our members states, but also between all levels of governance within our nations.

For example, solidarity in building our way out of the crisis. Our communities, our towns, cities and regions play a crucial role in the economic revival. Within the European Union alone, local and regional authorities represent more than 30% of total public expenditure, 65% of public investments and some 16% of public debt – you simply cannot move forward with restructuring the European economy in this era of globalisation without involving them.

Globalisation, the current crisis and the changing political landscape in Europe have also affected the role that local and regional governments play today. Today, their role transcends mere demands for greater autonomy, subsidiarity and decentralisation for the grassroots level. Today, territorial communities are playing a crucial part in ensuring coherence of action between the different levels of governance. Regions in particular, as a link between the local and national levels, are key to this coherence.

The Congress was able to present this position during the Conference of European Ministers responsible for Local and Regional Government in Kyiv, Ukraine, in early November. The need for joint action in these times of crisis – the need for an agenda in common – was the main theme of the Kyiv Conference, and I am pleased to see that this is also the approach taken up in the proposed Declaration. Let me take this occasion also to thank Magnus Berntsson and Klaus Klipp who represented the AER in Kyiv very actively and supported the proposals for the Congress. Klaus, the cooperation of the Congress with you was of a special quality, you always were a reliable friend and committed partner for us. I wish you all the best for the future and again: thank you!

I have asked our Secretary General Andreas Kiefer to discuss concrete joint activities in the follow up of this Ministerial Conference, which set the agenda for the next 2-3 years for the respective activities in the Council of Europe. Here your new Secretary General Pascal Goergen, who I want to wish well for his new responsibilities, will have an important work to do.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

I am convinced that in mastering globalisation, much as in responding to the crisis, we must be guided by the same key principles.

First, we must do our utmost to prevent the economic crisis from becoming a social disaster, to make sure that cuts in social expenditure do not jeopardise access to and delivery of social rights for our citizens.

Second, European and national frameworks for financing the local and regional level should be based on further decentralisation of financial decision-making and greater budgetary autonomy. Local and regional authorities know best the needs of their communities and can ensure an optimal use of local resources. This is why they show a better economic performance overall than the national level – not least also for reason of better transparency and accountability to citizens.

Third, regions and local communities must have their say in financial policy-making and become fully-fledged partners in national and European financial mechanisms. Local and regional financing must also be seen as an investment in kick-starting the local economy and in local innovation. Innovative approaches and practices are one area where local and regional communities represent a great potential and must play a major role, and I am pleased with the emphasis on innovation in the proposed Declaration of this Assembly. 

Fourth, measures must be taken at national, regional and local levels, as well as in the financial sector, to improve borrowing and debt management in order to avoid so-called “toxic” loans and enable investment.

Finally, the crisis, as much as globalisation, must be seen not just a source of difficulties but also as a source of opportunity for new initiatives, closer co-operation and better synergies between all levels of governance. In other words, responding to the crisis, and mastering globalisation must combine action by governments in helping local and regional communities, and the input from the grassroots authorities to national policy-making in handling the crisis.

The discussions during this General Assembly have shown that you, too, share this approach.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

A few words about the current activities of the Congress, in particular our work for the inclusion of Roma at the grassroots level. Our efforts in this area have been marked by two main events:

- a Summit of Mayors on Roma, organised in Strasbourg on 22 September;

- and the adoption by the Congress of a resolution and a recommendation on the situation of Roma as a challenge for local and regional authorities, during its session in October.

We are pleased that representatives of your Assembly took an active part in the Summit, which we see as the beginning of a process. Our ambition is to establish a European Alliance of Cities and Regions for Roma Inclusion, which would help to coordinate and steer action at local and regional levels, improve local and regional capacities for project implementation, launch projects and ensure their financing. A number of municipalities and regions have already committed themselves to joining the Alliance, and formed a core group for building it – including the Borsod County from Hungary, one of your members and indeed the member who will participate in the Strasbourg meeting on 9 December. We hope that the Assembly of European Regions will respond actively to this initiative, and that more regions will join the future Alliance. We also invite your regions to implement the Congress recommendations on Roma inclusion, included in our resolution.

Apart from the debate on the situation of Roma, the Congress session in October addressed a wide range of topical issues and current affairs, including a debate on energy supply and efficiency for local and regional levels, which is most relevant to our discussions today. In its resolution on the subject, the Congress called for specific local and regional action to help the transition to a new energy framework, in which regions and local authorities would be genuine owners and decision-makers in energy supply and use. I am confident that Congress proposals will be taken up also by AER and its member regions.

To conclude, I wish to stress this has been a very productive General Assembly, focusing on a very important subject. It is now up to us to implement its conclusions and decisions, and the Congress will be fully supporting our partner, the Assembly of European Regions, in this task.

Thank you.