Prague, 05/03/2009 (Agence Europe) - The European Summit of Regions and Cities was opened by Luc Van den Brande, President of the Committee of the Regions, on Thursday 5 March at the Žofin Palace in Prague. The first day was devoted to the financial crisis and to the role that regions and cities of Europe can play. They must show “solidarity and unity during the economic and financial crisis” without falling into the trap of protectionism, Mr Van den Brande said. The president of the Committee spoke of “multi-level governance”, saying: “We must make Europe together, today and tomorrow in Prague, as a partnership”. The regions and the cities of the European Union must play an active rather than a passive role, adopting an “attitude that is open to the future”.
Claudio Martini, President of the Tuscany region in Italy and of the CONST Commission (Constitutional Affairs, European Government and the Area of Freedom, Security and Justice), supports the idea that what is truly urgent is to kick-start Europe. It is necessary at all cost to “counter attack”, “limit short term damage” and avoid the “domino effect”, he said but this he explained is only possible if work is done at every level. He suggested organising a summit, as a matter of urgency, between the European Commission, the Council of Europe and the regions and cities of Europe in order to tackle the subject of the economic and social crisis as well as concrete problems that are encountered in each region. Mr Martini stressed that “one cannot limit discussion to banks” as it is necessary to look at “all dimensions of the problem”, to study the “different facets of the crisis”. Mr Martini went on to add that the subject is “not restricted to European borders”, hence the importance of Barack Obama's visit on the occasion of the Prague summit on Sunday 5 April 2009.
Consistency in European Union policies can only be achieved if there is consultation, discussion and participation by European regions and towns, said Marcos Bonturi, a member of the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development. This would make it possible to target a specific community that has been affected and to respect the capacity of absorption as well as the particular features of a region. (E.M./transl.jl)