Brussels, 09/09/2011 (Agence Europe) - The inaugural conference of regional and local authorities for the Eastern Partnership (CORLEAP) was held in the Polish city of Poznañ on Thursday 8 September. The new platform was set up by the EU Committee of the Regions and brings together 36 mayors and regional politicians from the EU and Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Moldova and Ukraine. It aims to promote cross-border cooperation and give regional and local authorities a voice in the EU's Eastern Partnership.
In a declaration which was adopted, CORLEAP members called for regional and local authorities to be given more say in the Eastern Partnership and urged more funding for projects strengthening local democracy, human rights at local and regional levels and citizens' participation. They also requested that the new bilateral agreements to be negotiated between the EU and the Eastern partner countries must contain specific sections on strengthening local and regional self-government. Committee of the Regions President Mercedes Bresso will present these requests to heads of state and government at the Eastern Partnership summit, which will take place in Warsaw on 29-30 September.
Political developments in Europe's Eastern neighbourhood have an impact on the EU's prosperity and stability. This is why the European Union launched the Eastern Partnership in December 2008. Proposed measures to deepen the EU's relationship with the six neighbouring countries range from the negotiation of comprehensive free trade agreements to gradual visa liberalisation.
European Neighbourhood Commissioner Štefan Füle is confident that the new platform “will become a thriving centre of cooperation between regional and local authorities from the EU and the Eastern Partnership countries”. (transl.rt)