Call to empower EU regions

Date: 23/01/03

By Martin Banks

THE Convention on the future of Europe is coming under increasing pressure to increase the powers of regions and local authorities in EU decision-making.

The 105-member Convention will be presented with a 'wish list' by the organisation representing Europe's regions when it discusses the issue of how much power should be devolved to regional bodies at its next plenary (6-7 February).

This follows the adoption, by an overwhelming majority of MEPs, of a report by Italian deputy Giorgio Napolitano on the role of regional and local authorities in Europe's future.

Albert Bore, president of the Committee of the Regions (CoR), welcomed Parliament's adoption of the report, declaring that it provided the "foundations" on which to launch the Convention's discussions next month.

He said the report, which calls for more consultation and involvement of regions in decision-making, was an important step forward in building a more constructive role for regions.

Bore added: "We hope the Convention will take account of the expectations of Europe's local and regional authorities."

The CoR will present a number of proposals to the Convention, including:

• strengthening the role of the CoR;
• recognising the role of local and regional authorities as intermediaries between individuals and Europe, and;
• defining, applying and enforcing the idea of "active subsidiarity".

Eurocities, the Brussels-based group representing 83 EU cities, will also call on the Convention to include a chapter, or article, on Europe's regions when they draw up a new constitution in Spring.

Its president, Wolfgang Tiefensee, mayor of Leipzig, said: "The mayors and leaders of Europe's major cities are convinced that local and regional governments of Europe have an important and positive contribution to make towards the EU's future."

The call was echoed by senior Convention member Andrew Duff, a UK Liberal MEP and constitutional expert, who said: "If the Union is to work better there must be better consultation of regional and local authorities by the EU institutions before laws are made."

The Convention on the future of Europe is coming under increasing pressure to increase the powers of regions and local authorities in EU decision-making.