Brussels, 02/05/2002 (Agence Europe) - In an open letter to the Members of the European Convention, the hundred large European cities members of the Eurocities network call for a "more inclusive approach to European governance" that takes account of cities. Eurocities calls on the Convention to come down in favour of the EU recognising the principle of self-government, as defined by the Council's of Europe's European Charter of Local Self-Government and to "develop appropriate mechanisms in order to strengthen co-operation between the various spheres of governance (local, regional, national and European)", and to "provide channels for systematic and transparent dialogue between the European Commission and representatives of local and regional public authorities". The major European cities also call on the Committee of the Regions to be granted the status of Institution and not simply advisory body. Eurocities would also like a Constitution or Constitutional Treaty to confirm these principles.