Brussels, 24/05/2006 (Agence Europe) - To show the way to achieve both regional and European competitiveness, 200 representatives from 45 Regions in 18 European countries met in 's-Hertogenbosch (Netherlands) on 18-19 May at the invitation of the Assembly of European Regions (AER) and the Dutch province of Noord-Brabant for an inter-regional Seminar and Partnership Fair. Through this meeting, AER sought to make its contribution to strengthening regional economic development, putting the emphasis particularly on the importance of innovation.
President of the AER Committee on Regional Policies and Noord-Brabant Regional Minister for Economic and European Affairs Onno Hoes called for a stronger alliance between Brussels and the Regions because, he said, “if we have to wait for our Member States to emphasise the issues of the future, we won't win the competition with the United States and Japan”. AER Secretary General Klaus Klippe added, “In today's globalised world, European competitiveness must come from the Regions. We have no reason to fear the global economy, we have just to adopt a practical and realistic approach”.