04/02/2004 (Agence Europe) - MEPs Graham Watson and Nelly Maes chaired a seminar organised by the Liberal and European Free Alliance group at the European Parliament on 4 February in Brussels on the theme of "Empowering the Regions, Stateless nations and Sub-national Government I the New Europe". Participants included European Commissioner Michel Barnier, president of the constitutional committee of the Committee of the Regions Lord Tope, MEP Neil McCormick (former Convention Member), President of the region of Friuli Venezia Giulia Riccardo Illy, the President of the government of the Island of Aland (Finland) Roger Nordlund.