Brussels, 16/01/2003 (Agence Europe) - The President of the Committee of the EU Regions welcomed the adoption by the European Parliament of the Napolitano report on the role of the regions in the European Union (EUROPE 15 January, p.5). "It's an important step forward in building a more constructive role for Europe's local and regional authorities", declared Albert Bore in a press statement. Mr Bore was particularly satisfied that the report reefers to recommendations that had been proposed by the Committee of the Regions, directly consulted by the European Parliament on the subject. The Committee of the Regions considers that the Napolitano report constitutes a good basis for the discussion that the Convention will hold on 6 February concerning the role of local and regional authorities in the EU. In this context, Mr Bore focused on: enhancing the du role of towns and regions at all levels of preparation and implementation of European policies, a better definition of subsidiarity, the enhanced role of the Committee of the Regions by giving it the right to go to the Court of Justice. In a resolution adopted in November, the Committee of the regions drew up its aims vis-à-vis reform of the institutions (EUROPE 24 November, p.5).
European Parliament Plenary Session