Brussels, 03/03/2006 (Agence Europe) - The first round of “territorial dialogue” organised by the Committee of the Regions (CoR) on 1 March in Brussels (see EUROPE 9143) ended in establishing two things: the importance of the role of regions and cities in implementing the Lisbon strategy and the seriousness of the communication problem with citizens of the EU. It was in these terms that the Vice-President of the Commission and Commissioner for Industry and Enterprise Günter Verheugen spoke to the press after the conference.
“Policies are implemented at local level, and it is at that level that their negative effects are visible. The involvement on regional and local authorities is vital”, explained Mr Verheugen. “From the beginning, the Commission has asked the Member States to work closely with the regions and civil society in preparing the national reform programmes. But this message has not got through everywhere”, he admitted, adding that the Commission is currently identifying the weaknesses in these programmes and “will not fail to put pressure on the Member States to respect the democratic nature of the process by further involving the local and regional levels, which are key actors”. “I am struck by the fact that there is a more serious communication problem than I thought. But it is wrong to think that EU communication is the sole responsibility of those working in Brussels. It is also up to national actors!”, Mr Verheugen concluded on a firm note.
In the view of the Commissioner for Regional Policy Danuta Hübner, the Lisbon strategy will not work unless not only national actors but also regional and local ones are involved. “The fact that the regions contribute to the national reform programmes is a sign of good democratic health”, commented Ms Hübner, who told representatives of the regions: “I guarantee that I will ask Member States to include you more in the future, and I count on you to commit yourselves. Tell your ministers how your regions intend to use the structural funds to promote growth, employment and innovation!”. Ms Hübner also indicated that her services work closely with those of Vice-President Verheugen “to make the regional policy a policy to raise the competitive profile of Europeans”. She referred to the proposals of President Barroso according to which “the regions need Lisbon and Lisbon needs the regions”. On the subject of the EU's regional policy, the Commissioner pointed out that “we are ten months away from the launch of a new generation of the European cohesion policy”. “We must therefore mobilise all local efforts to this effect”, also with the help of the media, concluded Danuta Hübner.