Brussels, 15/02/2008 (Agence Europe) - At a working meeting of the Forum of Global Associations of Regions (FOGAR) Political Bureau in Brussels on 8 February, chaired by Claude Martini (see EUROPE 9596), the importance of the regions in the European project was highlighted, along with the fact that this experience could be used as a model for non-European countries, explained CoR President (hosting the meeting), Luc Van den Brande.
'We are still far from a new political integration, but we have created a good base. Now we should not stop, but look forward,' commented Eneko Landaburu, Director General of DG External Relations at the European Commission: 'We can export a model of regional integration that can become a key element to face globalisation better. We have been creating cohesion among citizens in Europe and in a period when history and geography were reconciled in our continent… cohesion is the top issue.' Director General at DG Regional Policy, Dirk Ahner, said: 'We will promote twinning between regions at the world level, a cooperation platform and 'stock market' for cooperation where contributor and receiver regions will meet,' pointing out that the Commission is preparing a Green Paper on Territorial Cohesion for September 2008.
Communications Director at CPMR (the Conference of Peripheral Maritime Regions) Enrico Mayrhofer announced FOGAR's next meetings: 1) the Second International Convention on a regional and local approach to development at Tangiers (Morocco) on 12 - 14 May 2008; and 2) the Second World Summit on Regions and Climate Change organised by the global Network of Regional Governments for Sustainable Development (http://www.nrg4sd.net ) in Saint-Malo (France) on 29-30 October 2008. Information: http://www.cprm.org (G.B.)