Brussels, 20/07/2010 (Agence Europe) - The Conference of Peripheral Maritime Regions of Europe (CPMR) will be meeting for its general assembly on 30 September to 1 October in Aberdeen (Scotland). It will be chaired by Claudio Martini, the former president of Tuscany (Italy) and the president of the CPMR since 2002. The work will focus on the role of the territories in the European strategy and budget for 2020, regional policy as a driving force of a new model for European development, and integrated maritime policy.
Maria Damanaki, the commissioner for fisheries and maritime affairs, and Johannes Hahn, the commissioner for regional policy, will be taking part in the meetings. The president of the regional development committee at the European Parliament, Danuta Hübner, and Corine Lepage MEP (ALDE, France) who is a member of the environment, public health and food safety committee and Chair of the seas and coastal areas intergroup will also speak during the debate. Other figures expected include Catherine Day, the secretary general of the European Commission, Rudy Demotte, the minister president of Wallonia (Belgian Presidency of the EU), Vicente Alvarez Areces, the president of the Principality of Asturias (Spain) and rapporteur for the Committee of the Regions on the European Commission's communication, “GDP and beyond”.
On Thursday 30 September, Peter Stephen, the mayor of Aberdeen City Council, and Claudio Martini will begin the day's proceedings, divided into four sessions: (1) CPMR balance sheet and perspectives: Eleni Marianou, the secretary general of the CPMR, will present the activities report for 2010 as well as the strategic plan for 2010-14 and work plan 2010-11; (2) Leading Europe from the crisis, role of the territories in the European strategy and the 2020 budget. Danuta Hübner will present the European Parliament's point of view; (3) Regional policy, driving force of a new model for European development. Johannes Hahn will examine the European Commission's proposals and Eleni Marianou will put forward those for the CPMR; (4) Accessibility at the heart of the TEN-T review, with Marcelino Iglesias Ricou, the president of Aragon and the CPMR intercommission working group on TEN-T. At the end of the afternoon, the general assembly will elect its political bureau and new president, who will take over from Claudio Martini.
During the day (1 October), the work schedule will be divided into two main sessions: (1) Integrated maritime policy: Jean-Yves Le Crian, the president of the region of Brittany (FR) and the Aquamarina group will present the CPMR's maritime agenda. Damanaki will examine the European Commission's priorities. Lepage will explain the European Parliament's view point; (2) Synergies between regions, the framework programme for research and development, the framework programme for competitiveness and research. Nicole Belloubet, the first vice president of the Midi-Pyrénées region, will introduce the session. Lambert van Nistelrooij (EPP, Netherlands), rapporteur on “Synergies between the Structural Funds and the framework Programme for Research and Development”, will give the European Parliament's point of view. Info: (http://www.cpmr.org ). (G.B./transl.fl)