Regions face opposition to boost in role

Date: 03/04/1997

A BID by Europe's regions for greater influence over EU affairs has run into opposition from two member states whose stand is crucial to the outcome of the current Intergovernmental Conference on Union reform.

Denmark and the UK have declared themselves against giving the Committee of the Regions (CoR) greater organisational autonomy and its calls for a rewrite of the 'subsidiarity' clause in the Maastricht Treaty to make specific mention of regional and local authorities.

The CoR is planning to step up its campaign for changes to the treaty to boost its role at a special summit of representatives of Europe's cities and regions in Amsterdam on 15-16 May.

The CoR says most member states have indicated support for its call for a rewording of Article 3b of the Maastricht Treaty, which defines in general terms the share-out of powers between member states and the EU.

A majority is also in favour of greater autonomy for the Committee, which wants organisational independence from the Economic and Social Committee (ESC). It shares logistical support services with the ESC, which can cause practical problems.

There is, however, less support among member states for the CoR's demand that it be given the power to defend its right to be consulted on proposed EU legislation at the European Court of Justice, with only Austria, Germany, Belgium and Germany so far declaring themselves in favour of such a move.

Less controversial is its desire for its advisory role to be expanded to include new areas of environment, information society, vocational training, social policy, agriculture and energy.

However, the Committee has stopped short of demanding that its opinions be binding, in the hope that a step-by-step approach to expanding its remit will be more successful at the IGC.

"Most of our members agreed it would be immodest to demand co-decision powers because we are still young," said one official.