Brussels, 04/11/2008 (Agence Europe) - At the 11th Conference of Presidents of European Regional Legislative Assemblies (CALRE) held in Bilbao (Basque region, Spain) on Monday 3 November, European Commissioner for Regional Policy Danuta Hübner highlighted the importance of the recently published Green Paper on territorial cohesion and urged regional leaders to participate in the consultation process on the Green Paper, which runs until the end of February 2009. She also held talks with Juan José Ibarretxe, President of Spain's Basque Government, on the region's priorities for its Cohesion Policy programme for 2007-2013.
At the conference, the Commissioner highlighted the important role that regional legislative assemblies can play in informing citizens about the rationale for Europe's Cohesion Policy and its success as a catalyst for growth and jobs. In 2007-2013, the Basque Country will receive €240.6 million from the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), 85% of which will be devoted to the priorities of the EU's Lisbon Strategy for jobs and sustainable growth. The Community-backed programme will help create more than 2,500 jobs, according to initial estimates, co-finance more than 7,400 research, development and innovation projects, and establish 15 research centres. This investment will help to trigger a further €560 million in private investment.
The Conference of European Regional Legislative Assemblies is an association which brings together the leaders of the legislative federal state parliaments of Europe. In total, there are 74 regions with legislative assemblies in eight countries, representing more than 200 million citizens. (O.L./transl.rt)