ISSN 1681-3235

REGIONS
CITIES
OF EUROPE

NEWSLET TER OF THE COMMIT TEE OF THE REGIONS No 63 February-March 2009

Special report on the European Summit

of Regions and Cities — Prague, 5–6 March 2009
Luc Van den Brande on the political programme of
the Prague Summit
Hans-Gert Pöttering on the European elections
Philippe Maystadt on business initiatives for
coping with the financial crisis
Also in this issue:
The responsibilities of CoR members: Herwig Van Staa, President of CALRE
15 years of the Committee of the Regions: Isidoro Gottardo and Jean-Louis
Joseph
A success story: ‘Structured dialogue’: a bridge between the European
Commission and associations of local and regional authorities
 ➔ Editorial
The regions and cities
in Prague: partners
for and in Europe
The Committee of the Regions intends to make its mark
on the EU calendar by holding a European Summit of
Regions and Cities on 5 and 6 March 2009 in cooperation
with the city of Prague, the capital of the Czech Republic,
which currently holds the six-month presidency of the
European Union.
This summit is set to take place on the eve of the Europe-
an Spring Council, which Heads of State or Government
consider — and even more so this year — to be a key
Luc Van den Brande meeting on the issue of regenerating economic growth
and job creation.
President of the
Committee of the Regions
Five hundred mayors and presidents of regions will meet
in Prague to demonstrate to the Heads of State or Gov-
ernment their commitment to pursuing European inte-
gration. These local and regional representatives will ar-
ticulate their visions on new forms of governance which
should underpin key EU decisions. Key issues for debate
and discussion include: the EU budget review, cohesion
policy reform, the reform of the common agricultural
policy, a sustainable Europe, adapting to climate change,
the growth and jobs strategy, mobilising for innovation,
energy security and the EU demographic challenges. Lo-
cal and regional authorities have practical experience to
contribute and political messages to pass on to their EU
partners.
2009 will be a challenging year for the regions when it
comes to financing regional projects and supporting the
stability of the banking and insurance sectors. Today, Eu-
rope is experiencing the full force of the impact of the fi-
nancial crisis and the economic fallout. Europe will need
to restore confidence through a better regulated and
more transparent banking system and prove its ability to
re-launch economic growth and create jobs by ensuring
SMEs have access to credit.
The active participation of all economic and financial
partners cannot neglect the need to rely on the support
of the cities and regions suffering the economic and
social consequences of the world crisis. I am convinced
that the ongoing crisis cannot be overcome unless all
European political representatives, at all levels, take the
decisions required to stabilise the economy and work
together to find local and regional as well as European
solutions.
Cities and regions are best placed to boose the economy,
guarantee social cohesion and bring citizens on board
the European political project. This means that Europe
cannot impose itself on its citizens but should build itself
from the ground up and focus on improving the areas
where people live and work.
Europe will achieve sustainable growth and employment
through balanced and harmonious regional develop-
ment And it is through sound governance rules based on
partnership, i.e. rules that guarantee that responsibilities
are shared between the local, regional, national and EU
authorities, that Europe will succeed in putting the most
effective economic solutions into practice.
Regions and cities help Europe to move forward and rein-
force European cohesion and European competitiveness.
Innovation and creativity are born in the regions and the
cities, jobs and growth are created in the regions and cit-
ies, and solidarity and social cohesion are built in the re-
gions and cities.
Europe finds its strength in its cities and regions.
In many respects, 2009 will be a year of new beginnings.
The financial crisis has taught us the need to work togeth-
er towards a common goal, i.e. to guarantee stability and
prosperity for as many people as possible. This has always
been an EU objective. The Prague Summit will send out a
clear and positive message to EU citizens. The European
Union, with its single market and currency, is a major
asset for its 27 members when it comes to overcoming
this financial crisis, provided that it becomes strong in
political terms and sends out tangible signals. This is why
Prague was a symbolic choice to host the summit. As Eu-
rope commemorates the 20th anniversary of democratic
change in Central and Eastern Europe, Prague is a clear
symbol of Europe’s proven ability to rise above its divi-
sions. Today, Europe is building itself on its citizens’ free-
dom tosettle and work in 27 Member States. Tomorrow,
Europe will have to enable its regions to be competitive
on the international scene.
The European elections, which will be held from 4 to 7
June 2009, represent a democratic challenge which in-
volves more than just the renewal of the European Par-
liament. They will determine key political, economic and
social choices for the years ahead.
European democracy starts in the cities and regions.
Luc Van den Brande,
President of the Committee of the Regions
2
 European Summit of Regions and Cities, Prague, 5–6 March 2009 ➔

European Summit of
Regions and Cities,
Prague, 5–6 March 2009
Every two years the Committee of the Regions holds a
European Summit of Regions and Cities in a Member
State of the European Union. Following Amsterdam,
Wrocław and Rome, the next summit will be held on 5
and 6 March in Prague, at the invitation of Mayor Pavel
Bém, who is also Vice-President of the CoR.
This summit comes at a crucial time for democracy in
the European Union. It comes just before the European
Spring Council, where discussions will focus on the im-
plementation of EU measures to tackle the economic
and financial crisis and the necessary re-launch of the
European growth and jobs strategy.It also precedes the
renewal of the European Parliament and the European Go to www.
Commission by a few months. As a result, it will provide PragueSummit2009.
an opportunity to present the point of view of European eu, for further informa-
regions and cities on the pressing challenges ahead. tion on the summit pro-
gramme and an online
Five hundred mayors and presidents of European re- registration link. Please
gions will come together to send a political message to note that participation in
the Heads of State or Government. On this occasion, Luc the summit is by invita-
Van den Brande, CoR President, will welcome Mirek tion only.
Topolánek, Prime Minister of the Czech Republic and
President of the European Council, and José Manuel
Barroso, President of the European Commission.

Pavel Bém, Mayor of Prague: ’The central theme of the summit

will be cohesion policy in Europe today and, above all, the future
of the European Union.
It is a policy whose effects are felt particularly by those of us at
local and regional level on a daily basis. At this summit, we shall
try to identify together the direction in which we want to move
forward with this common European policy, whose primary aim is
to bolster the least developed areas of Europe. The purpose of the
summit is to provide a forum for all those of you who want and
have something to say about the cohesion policy of the future, and
I am greatly looking forward to the findings and initiatives that will
come out of this meeting.
I would like to invite you to take part in the programme of events which will be
taking place on the streets of the centre of Prague over the two days of the summit,
and which will acquaint both local residents and visitors alike with the most valuable
resource we have — the cultural diversity of Europe’s regions.’

Programme Thursday, 5 March Friday, 6 March (At Žofín Palace)

2 p.m.–6 p.m.: Meetings on ‘Global
challenges and territorial policies’,
attended by:
t
Claudio Martini, President of CPMR
t
Michaël Schneider, Chairman of the
COTER Commission
t
Omar El Jazouli, Mayor of Marrakech
t
Indermit Gill, World Bank, Director of
the 2009 World Development Report
t
Jan Olbrycht, MEP
7 p.m.: Official opening of the summit at
the Municipal headquarters (Obecní dům)
9 a.m.–9.45 a.m.: Formal political opening, attended by:
t
Mirek Topolánek, Prime Minister of the Czech Republic,
President of the European Council
t
José Manuel Barroso, President of the European Commission
t
Luc Van den Brande, President of the Committee of the Regions
t
Pavel Bém, Lord Mayor of the City of Prague
t
Philippe Maystadt, President of the European Investment Bank
10 a.m.–12.30 p.m.: The Prague Summit work sessions will focus on
two themes: ‘Europe will grow with its regions and cities’ and ‘Shar-
ing responsibility, making partnership concrete’ and the adoption
of the summit conclusions
1 p.m.–2 p.m.: Televised debate on ‘The challenge of the European
elections’, with the participation of the leaders of Europe’s major
political groupings

REGIONS AND CITIES OF EUROPE ➔ FEBRUARYMARCH 2009 3

 ➔ European Summit of Regions and Cities, Prague, 5–6 March 2009
Hans-Gert Pöttering
(EPP/DE) has been
President of the European
Parliament since January
2007. In 2009, as occurs
every five years, elections
will be held to renew the
European Parliament
towards the middle of the
year. In this interview he
recalls the role of local
and regional authorities
in helping EU citizens
understand how Europe
affects their daily lives.
European elections:
’Regions and municipalities must explain
loudly and clearly how financial support from
Brussels has made it possible to initiate and
complete numerous projects’
Hans-Gert Pöttering,
President of the European Parliament
Why is Europe important to the regions?
In order to be precise, this sentence should be read both
ways since regions are very important to Europe. There
can be no conception of Europe without its regions. We
have committed ourselves to build Europe on the prin-
ciple of subsidiarity. We call for as many decisions as pos-
sible to be taken at the level closest to the citizen. This is
why the Committee of the Regions is becoming more
important in the EU institutional framework. Indeed, the
CoR is the place where regional interests come together
and gain a strong voice in Europe.
Furthermore, it is precisely at a time of economic and fi-
nancial crisis that the European Union and the euro show
just how vital a role they play in mitigating the difficul-
ties faced by EU citizens. The solidarity that emerges is an
important aspect of EU policy. This solidarity is also put
into practice in our regional development programmes.
In the past, the latter have mostly helped Europe’s eco-
nomically disadvantaged regions to reach an EU level of
development. Without the EU, many regions would have
developed far more slowly.
The European Parliament elections are approach-
ing fast. What do you expect from the local and re-
gional authorities?
EU aid and Structural Funds are distributed mainly at
grassroots level in our municipalities. EU funds give rise
to, support and develop many local projects. But citizens
are often unaware of this. In 2009, I would like regions
and municipalities to explain loudly and clearly how fi-
nancial support from Brussels has made it possible to
initiate and complete numerous projects. For the ongo-
ing term alone, i.e. between 2004 and 2009, numerous
projects have been accomplished. I am sure that these
concrete examples will help generate interest in the Eu-
ropean elections. Indeed, this will show clearly that the
EU also makes things happen on the ground in very con-
crete terms.
What are the European Parliament’s priorities until
the elections? What projects must the Parliament
complete without fail during its current term?
We have to find a solution to the Irish ‘No’ to the Lisbon
Treaty. The treaty creates greater democracy, scope of ac-
tion and transparency in the EU. Among other things, the
right to local autonomy has been recognised for the first
time in the European treaties. The principle of subsidi-
arity has been strengthened via a new form of monitor-
ing. This is why the Parliament calls for the Lisbon Reform
Treaty to be ratified as soon as possible by all Member
States. It is in the interest of its citizens that the EU should
become more democratic, transparent and have greater
decision-making capacity.
The package of measures for fighting climate change,
which the Parliament and the Council have drawn up,
should now be implemented. We are currently working
on the reform of financial markets legislation in the hope
that a financial crisis like this one never happens again.
We are preparing the consolidation of the energy mar-
ket in order to be able to prevent future price distortions
and we are discussing rules for greater maritime security,
which should also establish liability in case of accident.
4
 European Summit of Regions and Cities, Prague, 5–6 March 2009 ➔

Financial crisis:
’In 2009, EUR 15 billion a year will be
targeted at some of the regions and sectors
hit hardest by the financial crisis’
What is the EIB doing to help Europe respond to
the economic and financial crisis?

At the request of our shareholders — the 27 EU Mem-

ber States — we plan to increase our volume of lending
this year by 30 % to around EUR 63 billion. We plan to
sustain that effort in 2010. The extra lending of around
EUR 15 billion a year will be targeted at some of the re-
gions and sectors hit hardest by the financial crisis.

Can you be more specific?

One fear is that the financial crisis will make banks more
reluctant to lend to companies. So, we are increasing our
lending for small and medium-sized enterprises, mean-
ing we will, via commercial banks, make around some
EUR 30 billion available for SMEs in the period 2008–11.

In addition, we are accelerating our lending to less-fa-

voured regions under our convergence objective, with a
particular desire to help countries in central and eastern
Europe advance their investment plans. We are also in-
creasing our lending in support of the EU’s energy and
climate change objectives.
The European
Investment Bank
The European Investment Bank (EIB) was
established by the Treaty of Rome in 1957.
Its mission is to further the objectives of the
European Union by making finance (loans
and guarantees) available for investment in
the public and private sectors. These projects
and programmes must be viable in four
areas: economic, technical, environmental
and financial.
The EIB is based in Luxembourg and its
shareholders are the Member States. The
European Investment Fund (EIF) is an EIB
subsidiary specialised in improving the
financial environment for small and medium-
sized enterprises.
Philippe Maystadt, President of the
European Investment Bank (EIB)
The Belgian Philippe
Will regions benefit from this extra support? Maystadt has been
Absolutely. As I have said, we are increasing our conver-
President of the European
Investment Bank (EIB), the
gence lending to some EUR 20 billion a year.
EU financial institution,
Just to give a few examples, projects currently in the
pipeline include an urban regeneration fund in the East
since 2000. He will be
Midlands in the United Kingdom, an urban transport
among the key speakers
redevelopment in Komotini, Greece, and an energy ef- at the European Summit
ficiency programme for public buildings in the Czech of Regions and Cities in
Republic.
Prague. In this interview
he speaks to us about
Can we expect further initiatives?
business initiatives for
We have decided to modernise and simplify our inter- tackling the financial
mediated loans for local authorities. We are also closely crisisPhilippe
following the Covenant of Mayors proposal. We hope
we can use some of the extra funds set aside under our
climate change initiative to promote energy efficiency
at local level, for example by investing in the renovation
of public buildings, social housing or cleaner bus fleets.
The idea would be to develop and finance energy effi-
ciency programmes, with EIB products designed to lev-
erage local and regional governments’ limited budgetary
resources, including through private public partnership
solutions.

REGIONS AND CITIES OF EUROPE ➔ FEBRUARYMARCH 2009 5

 ➔ The responsibilities of CoR members

Interview with Herwig Van Staa,

For further information on
cooperation between the
Committee of the Regions
and regional and local
associations, please visit
the CoR website and click
on ‘Activities and events’,
then ‘Cooperation with
associations.
President of the Tyrol Regional
Parliament, member of the Committee
of the Regions, President of CALRE
You were elected President of the Conference of
European Regional Legislative Assemblies (CALRE)
in November. What are your views on relations be-
tween regional assemblies and the CoR and the
European Parliament?
Relations between the regional assemblies, CALRE and
the CoR are already well developed. One of the strong
points of our presidency is that we have established
close cooperation with all active regional organisations
at the EU level. In this way, we are determined to work
together to promote the regionalisation process of the
European Union.
We also intend to continue to cooperate with the na-
tional parliaments and the Committee of the Regions in
order to monitor the application of subsidiarity in EU leg-
islation, and develop stable relations with all European
associations of local and regional authorities in order to
influence EU policy.
The regions and local authorities have to restore and
strengthen their relations with citizens because we are
all aware of the fact that we need public support to be
able to pursue the unification process of Europe. There
is no other alternative. Regional assemblies should be
more closely involved in the European decision-making
process because they are the ones who have the closest
contact with citizens.
CALRE is a firm defender of the Lisbon Treaty and
the principle of subsidiarity in Europe. What are its
main demands?
During my presidency, my main concern will be to
strengthen the legal position, roles and responsibilities of
regional legislative assemblies.
The Charter of Regional Democracy is of fundamental im-
portance to the regionalisation of Europe. It guarantees
the rights and powers of regions and sets out a widely
recognised and binding definition of a European region.
This is why we all need to work towards the ratification of
this charter by European States. We need to find a way to
encourage and strengthen regionalism and regional de-
mocracy throughout Europe.
In future, I will also apply myself to defending and guaran-
teeing the rights acquired by regional assemblies under
the Lisbon Treaty. Monitoring the subsidiarity and propor-
tionality of EU legislation are among the foremost of these
rights. As President of CALRE, I will also step up my efforts
to ensure that European regions with legislative powers
obtain the right of recourse to the Court of Justice of the
European Communities.
You are also the CoR rapporteur on ‘Greening the
transport sector’. What does the CoR expect from
the EU in this area?

In my capacity as a CoR rapporteur, I drew up an opinion

The Conference of European Regional
Legislative Assemblies
The Conference of European Regional Legislative Assemblies (CALRE) was
set up in 1997. It comprises EU regional assemblies with legislative powers.
This includes a total of 74 regions in 8 countries. Together they represent a
population of over 200 million citizens. Since these regions have legislative
powers, they are each responsible for incorporating EU directives in
their own legislation, and play a strong part in defending the subsiarity
principle.
Members of CALRE includes: the parliaments of the autonomous communities of
Spain; the regional councils of Italy; the assemblies of the regions and communities of Belgium; the
parliaments of the Länder of Austria and Germany; the autonomous Åland Parliament (Finland); the
regional assemblies of the Azores and Madeira (Portugal); and the assemblies for Wales, Scotland and
Northern Ireland (United Kingdom).
Regional assemblies are more than a mere expression of a political vision; they are vehicles for a cultural
identity and are better placed than any other body to safeguard this identity in the globalisation
and unification process. Noticing that regional assembly legislation was not sufficiently apparent
in European integration, CALRE sees the EU as a challenge with respect to institutional integration
and works to ensure that regional assemblies are recognised as partners in their own right in the EU
legislative process. CALRE has also concluded a number of joint action plans with the Committee of the
Regions since 2003 for the purpose of establishing more efficiently targeted operational cooperation
on shared objectives and activities. CALRE contributes, together with 26 regional assemblies, to the
subsidiarity monitoring network.
on the Commission proposal entitled ‘Greening transport’.
One of the most important points in this opinion is that
the fundamental right to health and a clean environment
must not be made subordinate to the unfettered free
movement of goods.
The CoR also points out the need for a transparent alloca-
tion of all external costs such as health, climate change,
the environment in general, accidents, the costs of energy
production and of vehicle production, maintenance and
disposal, impacts on pedestrians and cyclists, land use;
and that costs should by borne by the polluter. The al-
location of external costs cannot be left to the discretion
of the Member States, but instead a transparent system
based on appropriate criteria should require Member
States to allocate external costs and to invest revenues for
a particular purpose. Road user charges should be used to
change driving behaviour and encourage the transfer of
freight flows from road to rail.
6
 Activities of the political groups ➔

EPP
Fifteen years ago, the CoR held its first ever meeting and
the political groups began to organise themselves. Even
at this stage, the EPP was the largest political group in
the CoR and its Chairman was Jacques Blanc, President
of the Languedoc-Roussillion Regional Council in France.
Over the years that followed, the EPP has always led the
debate for more subsidiarity and a greater involvement
of the local and regional level in European decision-
making. To date, the group has held 12 extraordinary
meetings and seminars, thus reaching out to Europe’s
cities and regions and viewing first hand their strengths
and concerns. In addition, the annual summer university
for local and regional media, the EPP/CoR study visit and
competitions targeted towards young people have pro-
moted decentralised communication and given citizens
an opportunity to speak out.
As we approach the European elections, it is an oppor-
tune moment to reflect on how much the European
Union has brought to our cities and regions and what
can be done to strengthen their role in the future. The
EPP group is therefore delighted to welcome Antonio
López-Istúriz, Secretary-General of the EPP and mem- Antonio López-Istúriz,
ber of the European Parliament, to its group meeting on secretary-General of the
11 February to consider how the EPP members in the EPP and member of the
CoR can further develop their cooperation with the Euro- European Parliament
pean Parliament with the aim of bringing Europe closer
to citizens.

PES
As 2009 is a crucial year for European integration, marked
by decisive political events such as the European elec-
tions, a new European Commission and, hopefully, the
conclusion of the ratification process of the Lisbon Treaty,
the common thread of the various political and informa-
tion activities of the PES group for 2009 is ‘Communicating
the added value of the EU at grassroots level’.
The project of the PES group involves the organisation of
a one-day conference in Brussels later this year. It will be
complemented by a publication consisting of members’
contributions on tangible examples of the EU’s added
value at the local and regional levels. A photo competi-
tion on the same topic is being launched by PES mem-
bers in their constituencies for young Europeans aged
18–30. They are asked to capture in photographs what
European integration has brought in real terms (for in-
stance, through interregional cooperation or the use of
Structural Funds) to their regions and cities.
Building on the lessons learnt from the current profound
financial and economic crisis caused by the failure of un-
regulated market economy, the aim of the PES group in Mercedes Bresso,
the CoR is to demonstrate how a Europe that is closer to president of Piemonte (IT)
its citizens can make more of a real difference to people’s and president of the PES-
everyday lives. CoR group

UEN-EA
During 2009, the UEN-EA group will continue a number mote the EU and members’
of successful projects to promote the CoR and the EU work in the CoR. Finally our
among young people. The group will run its Fourth An- group will also organise an
nual Secondary Schools Competition, which includes a event which will highlight
multiple-choice quiz and essay competition, in the first the ‘Marketplaces of Eu-
half of the year. This year there will be a focus on en- rope’. Details of all events
couraging people to vote in the European Parliament will be on our website
elections. During the second half, the UEN-EA group will (www.uen-ea.cor.europa.
concentrate on primary schools with initiatives to pro- eu). Winners of the 2008 Annual Secondary Schools
Competition, during the CoR Plenary session

ALDE ALDE-CoR President, Flo

Clucas, meeting Anders
Fogh Rasmussen,
At the invitation of Jens Arne Hedegaard, ALDE mem- pants. In his address to the
Danish Prime Minister,
ber and Deputy Mayor of Brønderslev Kommune, the congress, Fogh Rasmussen
ALDE group in the Committee of the Regions organised welcomed the initiative of
a seminar ‘All European politics is local’ alongside the Ven- the ALDE-CoR group and
stre Party Congress on Friday 14 November. ALDE-CoR reiterated his government’s
President, Flo Clucas, was invited to meet the Danish commitment to subsidiarity
Prime Minister, Anders Fogh Rasmussen, and present and decentralisation.
him with the resolution drawn up by the seminar partici-

REGIONS AND CITIES OF EUROPE ➔ FEBRUARYMARCH 2009 7

 ➔ Fifteen years of the Committee of the Regions

The Committee of the

Regions celebrates its
15th anniversary in
1994–2009: The Committee
2009. This theme will
run through the next
few newsletters, talking
of the Regions 15 years
to local and regional
elected representatives
down the line
who have been on
the Committee of Interview with Isidoro Gottardo of decentralised cooperation, in particular in the field of
the European neighbourhood policy. Whenever we talk
the Regions from the about the future of the CoR within the field of external
outset. relations — be this in the Euro-Mediterranean area, the
Balkans or the Black Sea — our motto should be multi-
level governance. It is essential that local and regional
authorities work in close cooperation with other institu-
tional levels and partners. The territorial level of govern-
ance is the level from which solutions are often devised
because they witness challenges and successes on an
everyday basis. We are also ideally situated to ensure that
the practical benefits of cooperation are comprehensible
to citizens by turning declarations of principle into tangi-
ble measures.

The year 2009 is an important year for the European

Union — 20 years after the fall of the Iron Curtain,
five years after the largest EU enlargement, a year
of a new Commission and European Parliament
elections. What does this mean for you as a local
Isidoro Gottardo, Municipal Councillor of Sacile and representative?
member of the Italian national Parliament (EPP/IT),
has been a member of the CoR for 10 years. He is The European scene has changed dramatically over the
currently Chairman of the EPP group in the CoR and last few years. I firmly believe that the 27 EU Member
Chairman of the working group on Croatia. States need to find a common approach towards the cur-
rent challenges. At the same time, a better connection
As Chairman of the EPP group, you have partici- with citizens is crucial and this is where the CoR, as the
pated in many external meetings and conferences. institution representing local and regional issues, can be
Is there one that particularly stands out in your strengthened.
mind and which you think really enabled the CoR
to speak out? Interview with Jean-Louis Joseph
Every single initiative of the CoR throughout the past 15
years has contributed towards creating a path of settle-
ment and strengthening the role of local and regional
authorities. However, in my personal view, the first ex-
traordinary meeting of the EPP group in Athens in 2004,
devoted to civil protection, marked an important step in
strengthening cooperation between European cities in
the face of growing security threats, and demonstrated
Committee the added value of involving all levels of governance.
of the Regions’
You were recently rapporteur for an opinion on Eu-
document: ro-Mediterranean relations and a strong supporter
CdR 236/2008 of the initiative to set up an assembly of local and
Opinion on the Barcelona regional authorities for the Euro-Mediterranean
process: Union for (ARLEM). Do you think that it is important for the
the Mediterranean — CoR to become more present in the field of external
Implications for regional relations in the future?
and local authorities
CdR 353/2008 The CoR has to be visionary when its members feel the Jean-Louis Joseph, Mayor of La Bastidonne and Vice-
The energy performance need to represent their regional and local authorities President of the Regional Council of Provence-Alpes-
of buildings and the beyond the strict scope given by the Treaty. Reality hap- Côte-d’Azur (PES/FR), has been a member of the CoR
second strategic energy pens faster than institutional tools develop and the role since 1994. He was Chairman of the French delega-
review of regional and local authorities is growing in the field tion from 1998 to 2002, and from 2005 to 2006.

8
 Photo gallery ➔

Why have you chosen to invest your efforts in the

Committee of the Regions, in addition to your local
commitments?

The Committee of the Regions is a privileged discussion

and meeting forum. It is an honour for me to be one of its
members. I represent one of the smallest, if not the small-
est, local authority since my municipality in Provence has
only 700 inhabitants and I sit side by side with the may-
ors and presidents of much larger cities and regions of
Europe. This says a lot for the diversity and wealth of our
regions.

I have held many responsibilities at the CoR as a mem-

ber of the Bureau, its executive body, and later as Vice-
President of the Committee. I have also been Chairman
of the French delegation twice, and I have watched it 19 November: Luc Van den Brande, President of the CoR, with the
grow in strength. winners of the 2008 European Regional Champions Awards, held in
partnership with the Regional Review. This event includes 10 categories for
Today, the Committee of the Regions is a respected and innovative regional projects, such as European best practices.
useful institution that defends the social values under-
pinning the construction of Europe.

Could you give us examples of areas the Commit-

tee of the Regions has defended?

The Committee is a privileged forum for relaying the

opinion of citizens via their local representatives. This is
the place where they can draw up opinions on subjects
that have real repercussions on European cities and re-
gions.

I am proud to have voted for several very important

opinions, especially the 2001 opinion on services of
general interest (i.e. public services), which was the first
report on this issue to be adopted by a European institu-
tion, and was then taken up by the European Parliament,
the Council of the European Union, and now resonnates
with the Lisbon Treaty, in that it provides a legislative ba-
sis for the adoption of a text providing a protective legal
framework at European level. 3 December: Luc Van den Brande, President of the CoR, meets a
delegation of Japanese MPs, an illustration of the diplomatic dimension of
I am currently working on a strategic report on the ‘en- the activities of European local and regional authorities.
ergy package’ and ‘the energy performance of buildings’.
I believe that the Committee of the Regions is doing a
useful job that will benefit future generations.

What, in your opinion, are the future challenges

facing the Committee?

I believe that the Committee of the Regions helps new

Member States to integrate properly into the EU and also
fosters a sense of belonging and European citizenship
because it addresses the practical and vital issues of to-
morrow, issues that impact on citizens’ daily lives.

What it lacks is the right to veto directives that would

have a negative impact and grave socioeconomic or
even cultural consequences on our regions and citizens.

9 December: Karsten Uno Petersen (PES/DK), CoR rapporteur on

the application of patients’ rights in cross-border healthcare, welcomes
Androulla Vassiliou, European Commissioner for Health, to a structured
dialogue event with key European and national associations of local and
regional authorities.

REGIONS AND CITIES OF EUROPE ➔ FEBRUARYMARCH 2009 9

 ➔ The rapporteur speaks

’SMEs are the lifeblood of our

Constance Hanniffy
is a member of Offaly County
Council (EPP/IE) and Chairman
of the CoR Commission for
Economic and Social Policy
(ECOS). She was appointed
CoR rapporteur on the
communication from the
European Commission ‘Think
small first — A Small Business
Act for Europe’.
She presents the main
conclusions of her work.
Committee
of the Regions’
document:
CdR 246/2008
Opinion — Think small first
— A Small Business Act for
Europe
Small business,
big ideas:
first European
SME Week
local and regional economies and
we need to do what we can to
ensure that they survive’
What impact is the financial crisis having on SMEs
in the regions?
The Small Business Act for Europe (SBA) was prepared
when the economic context was more benign than it is
today, but the financial and economic crisis makes the
need for the SBA even more necessary. At the ECOS con-
ference in Athlone, Ireland, in September, the key issue
echoed by all participants, especially the entrepreneurs
themselves, was that of access to finance.
In my own region, small businesses represent about 98 %
of all businesses and are the main driver of the economy.
Many of these businesses are facing a combination of
falling consumer confidence and pressures on public
spending, less business-to-business trading, below-cost
selling to generate cash flow, and a credit famine from
banks in terms of overdraft facilities and lending.
Some 54 % of small businesses have been refused access
to finance or an extension of existing credit lines in recent
months and, of the 46 % who were successful, nearly
40 % could not meet the stringent conditions attached
by their banks to secure the funds. The short-term cash
flow for otherwise healthy businesses is a major problem
and many small businesses cannot and will not survive
for much longer if conditions do not change.
The SBA has been adopted. What should happen
now?
Firstly, credit must go to the French presidency for the
urgency it provided to the negotiations on the SBA. The
conclusions of December’s European Council are very
welcome, as they recognised the SBA and its action
plan, adopted by the Competitiveness Council, as a cru-
cial pillar of Europe’s economic recovery. The Member
States are aware of the difficulties SMEs are facing and
of the positive role that the SBA can play to tackle the
current economic downturn
I see three things as being crucial now: firstly, a strong
political commitment, as a follow-up to the direction
given by the European Council; secondly, use of the SBA
by all relevant authorities, in particular for implementing
the ‘think small first’ principle to ensure that all policies
are SME friendly; and, thirdly, rapid and full implementa-
tion against agreed targets and timetables, with regular
assessment to monitor progress.
Your opinion suggests that local and regional au-
thorities should take greater political responsibil-
ity for the SBA. How do you think this could be
done?
Local and regional authorities already support small
businesses in their areas in many ways. We provide the
enabling environments for SMEs, we are significant cus-
tomers of their goods and services, and we provide a
range of advisory, financial and other supports to ensure
that they survive and prosper.
As I said earlier, all authorities should now make use of
the SBA and work towards realising its objectives. In
the current economic climate this may mean that we
as elected representatives need to be better attuned
to SMEs’ concerns, listening to what they have to say,
responding to their needs and supporting their devel-
opment.
In my opinion I make a number of suggestions such
as: establishing consultative forums between local/re-
gional government and SME interests; improving access
for SMEs to public sector contracts by re-balancing the
buying culture in our authorities; looking at the levels of
charges, rates and fees applied to small business; and
reassessing our service provision structures and proce-
dures with the small business person in mind.

The first European SME Week, which takes place from 6 to 14 May 2009, will promote These SMEs are the lifeblood of our local and regional
entrepreneurship and inform entrepreneurs about the support available to them at the economies and we need to do what we can to ensure
European, national and local levels. It aims to make it easier for SMEs to find information, that they survive and create jobs and growth.
advice, support and ideas to help them develop their activities.
European SME Week is coordinated by the European Commission’s Enterprise and
Industry Directorate-General but most of the events and activities will take place in the
participating countries and will be organised by business organisations, support providers,
regional and local authorities, etc.
For further information, please visit the Enterprise and Industry DG website:
http://ec.europa.eu/enterprise

10

’The European Union must ensure
that all regions are able to benefit
from its impetus for development’
In your opinion, you say that you find it regrettable
that there is no definition of territorial cohesion in
the Commission’s Green Paper.
Territorial cohesion is an issue that is of key importance
for the Committee of the Regions. Its members are ide-
ally placed to speak about the benefits that good territo-
rial cohesion can have on people’s lives, by reducing the
inequalities that affect them on a day-to-day basis. The
European Union must ensure that all regions are able to
benefit from its impetus for development.
For the Committee of the Regions as a political body,
the most important thing is for territorial cohesion to be
made an objective of the European Union — or, in other
words, to become a cross-cutting goal in all Community
allocative and regulatory policies and, in compliance with
subsidiarity, at all levels of governance.
In concrete terms, how could this new EU objective
be translated into Community policies?
As elected representatives responsible for the future of
the districts and regions we represent, the members of
the Committee of the Regions are directly concerned
by the inconsistencies — and sometimes contradictions
— between the various public policies that apply to re-
gions.
On the ground, the members of the Committee of the
Regions have long been aware of the contradictions
between Community policies, such as when a TEN-T in-
frastructure crosses an area protected under the habitats
directive. Another example would be the new Commu-
nity objectives on combating climate change, which, al-
beit legitimate, may cause difficulties for outlying regions,
which are more dependent than others on road and air
transport.
Our call for territorial impact studies to be conducted
ahead of policy decisions reflects a desire to avoid the
distortions caused by an overly sectoral approach to the
implementation of policies, which are often designed far
away from the grassroots level.
Turning to another issue, services of general inter-
est ... your opinion highlights their importance to
territorial cohesion.
Yes indeed. The defence of local services is an imperative
for those of us working on the ground.
Firstly, in the new liberalised framework that is being pre-
pared, there is no guarantee that universal access to local
services will be maintained, particularly in areas with low
population density. Secondly, the ability of the Member
States and local and regional authorities to fulfil their pub-
REGIONS AND CITIES OF EUROPE ➔ FEBRUARYMARCH 2009
The rapporteur speaks ➔
lic service obligations by paying aid to service operators
in compensation for additional costs is restricted by the
competition rules. Lastly, the additional costs of provid-
ing services in regions with low population density will
be passed on to the taxpayer. Might this not risk placing a
heavy burden on the budgets of already disadvantaged
regional authorities?
The objective of territorial cohesion should help us to Jean-Yves Le Drian,
ensure that the needs of local and regional authorities
and the users of services of general interest are taken President of the Brittany
into account more effectively. The current systemic crisis Regional Council (PES/
should help to raise awareness of the urgent need for a FR) and member of the
greater focus on solidarity and integration in the Euro- Commission for Territorial
pean venture.
Cohesion Policy (COTER).
There is also the issue of multi-level governance. Following the adoption
of the Green Paper on
There is a CoR working group on subsidiarity looking into territorial cohesion by the
this general issue. In relation to territorial cohesion in par-
ticular, I would stress that the main issue is the need to
European Commission last
strengthen territorial cohesion, without having a detri- autumn, he was appointed
mental effect on the ‘competitiveness and employment’ rapporteur for the CoR
objective. Experiences such as the EGTCs [European opinion on this issue. On
Grouping of Territorial Cooperation] and the Baltic Sea
the occasion of its adoption
region strategy are particularly useful for extending the
principle of territorial cohesion outside the borders of at the plenary session, he
the EU. outlines the priorities he
defends.
On this point, does territorial cohesion have a role
to play in relations with non-EU countries?
We cannot restrict the territorial cohesion objective to
the current borders of the EU. The countries of the Euro-
Mediterranean periphery are also concerned, particularly
the countries that come under the European neighbour-
hood policy (ENP), which already have the possibility to
become associated with EU policies. In addition, sustain-
able management of transnational maritime and river
basins (the Baltic, the Danube, the Black Sea and the
Mediterranean) also involves close cooperation with
third countries, which already receive Community aid Committee
for this, for example for participating in cross-border and
of the Regions’
transnational programmes with their counterparts in the
EU. document:
CdR 274/2008
What do you see as the next step?
Opinion on the Green Paper
on territorial cohesion
As far as incorporating territorial cohesion is concerned,
the Green Paper is only the beginning. We are calling
on the Commission, as a logical next step, to produce a
White Paper, as soon as it has assessed the results of the
consultation. The Committee of the Regions will play an
active role in the discussions on implementing territorial
cohesion and the means of doing so.
11
 ➔ A success story
Regions & Cities of Europe — No 63
CoR Directorate for Communication,
Press and Protocol
Director: Laurent Thieule
Editor in chief: Christian
Gsodam, Head of Unit for Media,
Communication, Associations
Photos: Unit for Media,
Communication, Associations
Graphics: Office for Official
Publications of the European
Communities (Luxembourg)
Committee of the Regions
Press and Communication
Directorate
Rue Belliard 101
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Tel. (32-2) 282 21 55
Fax (32-2) 282 20 85
Internet:
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Regions & Cities of Europe is a
newsletter of the Committee of the
Regions, published by the Press and
Communication Directorate.
The content of this newsletter does
not necessarily reflect the opinions
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Neither the institutions/bodies of
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information provided here.
Available in seven languages.
Available online/PDF format: http://
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newsletter.html
© European Communities, 2009
Printed in Belgium
Structured dialogue since 2004:
15 high-level political meetings, i.e. six general and nine thematic
meetings;
84 participating associations: 28 European associations and 56 national
associations;
13 members of the European Commission have been invited: two
Commission presidents and 11 commissioners.
For further information and useful links go to the CoR website and click on
‘Activities and events’, then go to ‘Structured dialogue’.
Reactions/comments:
regionsandcities@cor.europa.eu
The ‘structured dialogue’: a bridge between
the European Commission and associations
of local and regional authorities
The ‘structured dialogue’ Benita Ferrero-
was launched by the Euro- Waldner, European
pean Commission and the Commissioner for
Committee of the Regions External Relations: ‘As
in May 2004. Its aim is to elected representatives
boost transparency and
in the municipalities
improve the quality of EU
legislation by ensuring that
and regions of our
the associations of regional Union, you are at
and local authorities are consulted before formal deci- the heart of people’s
sion-making processes start. everyday preoccupations and aspirations. Your
knowledge and experience can help us to
This general and sectoral consultation and dialogue sharpen our strategy further, achieve it even
process between associations of regional authorities more effectively and thus contribute to a real
and the European Commission is a new form of contact, “Europe of results”.’
which is additional to institutionnal consultation meth-
ods and contributes to enhancing the preparatory work
of the Committee of the Regions’ consultative role. José Manuel Barroso,
President of the
The dialogue takes place at the political level and in- European Commission:
volves European commissioners and local and regional ‘I was most happy to
representatives. It is open to all associations of local join you for a discussion
and regional authorities that address themselves to the
as part of the structured
CoR, on condition that they have broad regional and
democratic representation and that their members are
dialogue with local and
involved in the implementation of the policy under con- regional authorities in
sideration. the European Union.
I urge you — from a
Margot Wallström, Vice-President of the European European perspective — to remain critical
Commission for Institutional Relations and Communica- and demanding of the Commission and the
tion Strategy, has already announced that she will meet European institutions as a whole. It is also
with the associations to present the European Commis- necessary for the associations you represent to
sion’s annual strategic policy, which sets out the Com- relay the public’s expectations to the European
mission’s priorities for 2010. Louis Michel, Commission- Commission.’
er for Development, will hold a ‘structured dialogue’ on
decentralised cooperation in June.
Ewa Samuelsson, Vice-
Mayor of Stockholm
and member of the
Swedish Association
of Local Authorities
and Swedish
Federation of County
Councils: ‘Thanks to
their close ties with
their electorate, local and regional politicians
are clearly able to engage in direct dialogue
with the public. It is therefore essential that
the Commission should maintain and develop
contacts with the political leaders of national
associations of local and regiona
QG-AA-08-063-EN-C