Brussels, 26/01/2001 (Agence Europe) - The presidents of the European Commission and the Committee of the Regions agreed on Tuesday on the broad guidelines for a memorandum of understanding that should enable, according to the Committee of the Regions, "to improve the consultation process and involving the Committee of the Regions more closely in both the Community political debate and the European Commission's information and communication policy." The Committee of the Regions hopes to be consulted as often as possible on the legislative proposal by the Commission, but also on the "main strategic guidelines of the European Union" (White and Green Papers, annual Commission work programme, discussions on post-Nice and governance…). The Memorandum should also foresee a strengthening of the participation by European Commission members and services in the works of the Committee of the Regions and the reciprocal participation of the two institutions in the seminars and conference that they organise. Finally, the Committee hopes to contribute more, through the intermediary of local and regional authorities, in European information campaigns, notably on the introduction of the Euro. The Memorandum of understanding should be finalised within a month.