Brussels/Rome, 27/03/2007 (Agence Europe) - The Committee of the Regions (CoR) closed its meeting in Rome on 22-23 March with the adoption of its “Declaration for Europe” (see EUROPE 9392). It also unanimously adopted its 2008 budget, with an increase of 9%, or €6 million, on the 2007 budget, and only 6% (€4 million) are linked to current expenditure. As well as the opinions from Robert Pella (EPP-ED, Italy) on European policies linked to participation and information for young people, and Manuel Chaves Gonzales (PES, Spain) on the leverage effect of the Structural Funds (see EUROPE 9394), the CoR also unanimously adopted the opinion from David Parsons, leader of Leicester County Council and chair of the East Midlands Regional Assembly (UK) on the future of the single market and taking stock of European social reality. In this opinion, Mr Parsons stresses that, if they want to achieve their economic ambitions, European regions must be able to adapt to the changes in their external environment and to work together to meet the medium- and long-term challenges facing them (globalisation, skills development, need to re-engage in dialogue with European citizens).
The political groups in the CoR (EPP, PES, ALDE, UEN-EA) met on Tuesday 22 March to prepare the celebration of the 50th anniversary of the Treaties of Rome and the CoR plenary session of Friday 23 March. In a statement delivered by Wilfred Martens, the EPP group in the CoR called on the EP to support a European charter for interfaith dialogue, and on the European Commission and member states to organise a “European Platform for Interfaith Dialogue” with input from local and regional authorities, in the spirit of Article I-52.3 of the treaty establishing a Constitution for Europe, with a view to setting up, initially in cities and regions, a systematic and coherent dialogue to encourage peaceful and harmonious relations among all European citizens. Speaking on behalf of the PES group in the CoR, Group leader Mercedes Bresso stressed the need to bring citizens closer together and to discuss with young people and explain how important Europe will be for their futures. “This great European project has to be given a heart,” she said. The ALDE group approved its mission statement for the European Union, which will “make Europe stronger,” as Pat Cox emphasised, with its objectives of: guaranteeing peace and security inside Europe and its neighbourhood; the promotion and preservation of democracy and fundamental rights in Europe and worldwide; strengthening the European economy and promoting solidarity in Europe working in partnership with public authorities at national, regional and local levels; the promotion of equality and tolerance in the face of diversity; protecting the environment; ensuring that Europe's voice will be heard in the world; and listening to citizens. The UEN-EA group held a debate with young elected representatives on the theme of “50 years of the EU: prospects for the future”, chaired by Maria Corrigan. Further information can be found on http://www.cor.europa.eu (gb)