The Assembly of European Regions (AER) is the largest independent network of regional authorities in wider Europe, bringing together over 270 regions from 34 countries along with 16 interregional organisations. 

Established in 1985, AER is a forum for interregional co-operation and a lobbyist for regional interests on the European stage: AER was a key player in the creation of the advisory bodies to the Council of Europe (Congress of Local and Regional Authorities) and the European Commission (Committee of the Regions).

AER’s policies are driven by a Presidium and Bureau consisting of regional presidents and other high-level politicians. Those policies are implemented within three working committees and three standing committees, which are chaired by regional politicians and co-ordinated by staff within AER’s General Secretariat in Strasbourg and Brussels. The committees are pragmatic, non-bureaucratic structures that continuously evolve and respond to the diverse needs of AER members.

Committee (1) | Committee (2) | Committee (3) | Standing Committees I
AER lobbying, networking, programs and communications | Becoming an AER member

is currently working in areas such as:

• Economic development and rural development – Apart from hosting invaluable seminars and conferences on these issues, AER lobbies the European institutions in the economic interests of its member regions. This year, as the economic downturn continues, AER has released a major independent study (“From Subsidiarity to Success”) proving that greater decentralisation leads to better economic performance in countries and their regions. In addition, each year AER presents an Innovation Award to regions displaying innovative excellence.
• Energy and climate change – AER regularly organises seminars, working groups and good practice exchange across member regions to foster energy efficiency, the use of renewable energies as well as innovative responses to climate change and water scarcity. AER’s partnerships with leading stakeholders in these areas – including UNDP and General Electric (GE) – offer members a global perspective in tackling these challenges. AER is also a partner in EU-funded projects involving member regions, such as MORE4NRG and PRESERVE.
• Cohesion and regional policy – AER has been a key partner in the European debate on future cohesion and regional policy, and continues to fight for greater regional representation in EU policy-making and the allocation of cohesion funds.
  
  

is focusing on areas such as:

• Health – AER’s ehe@lth network is supporting regions to develop common ehealth technologies and strategies, and to establish groups working on the implementation of ehealth policies and tools in their territories. The committee also works on the prevention of alcohol-related harm and participates in a Euregio III project optimising the regions’ use of Structural Funds in the field of health.
• Emergency planning – AER’s emergency planning network is a forum for regions to exchange best practices and create partnerships with the aim of developing prevention and response strategies.
• Social policy and equal opportunities – Committee 2 members openly address such challenging issues as demographic change, equal opportunities between women and men, as well as LGBT issues and the integration of migrants, ethnic minorities and people with disabilities.
  
  

has a broad working mandate that includes:

• Cultural tourism – AER is organising seminars and developing a network to help members tap into the vast potential that cultural tourism can bring to the regions, as shown on AER’s Tourism Network web portal.
• Youth issues – AER is extremely active in bringing together young people from across Europe to co-operate on projects and support the work of AER’s committees. The “Do you speak European?” debates and “Most Youth-Friendly European Region” award have been complemented this year with AER’s development of Europe’s first – and so far only – Youth Regional Network.
• Interregional and international co-operation – Regular events such as the week-long Summer School and Youth Summer School are an opportunity for AER members to share experiences and develop partnerships with counterparts from across Europe. AER also co-operates with partner organisations from across the world on issues as diverse as climate change (UNDP), urban development (UN-Habitat), energy (General Electric) and heritage conservation (EuroIndia Centre).
  
  

AER’s three committees are complemented by three standing committees:

• Institutional Affairs (dealing particularly with the European institutions), which organises regular European Citizens Forums in member regions;
• Equal Opportunities (to facilitate an exchange of experience and best practice between regions on equal opportunities issues);
• Monitoring and Evaluation (ensuring that AER continues to respond to members’ needs).
  
  

Giving members the opportunity to participate in its committees is just one part of AER’s work. In addition to co-ordinating the committees, the AER Secretariat supports its members in the following areas:

• Lobbying – AER’s extensive contacts within European institutions, organisations and media in Brussels and Strasbourg open a door for regions wanting to establish a political, economic and cultural presence on the European stage. Apart from offering member regions real lobbying power in Brussels, AER offers a Training Academy for politicians and officers wanting to learn more about European affairs, as well as regular Breakfast Briefings on various policy issues for the regional representations in Brussels.

• Networking – AER helps regions establish partnerships with the European institutions and with other regions across Europe. AER’s Funding Tracker and online Partnership Pool keep members informed of the latest funding sources and partnership opportunities, while AER study visits and tailor-made Peer Reviews help members to develop sustainable regional development strategies with the support of leading experts from “best-practice” regions.
  
• Programs and events – Apart from the activities organised within the committees, AER members are invited to participate in other events and programs taking place across wider Europe. The AER General Assembly (GA) each year attracts more than 600 regional politicians and officers (including around 100 presidents), as well as special guests from the European institutions, NGO-sector and academia. Moreover the “Eurodyssey” program, currently chaired by the Azores region (PT), has for the past 25 years given over 10,000 young people an opportunity to live and work in a region abroad.

• Communications – On the one hand, AER members receive a Daily MonitoringWeekly Media Review of the most relevant European, state and regional issues. On the other, they are able to post their own Visiting Cards, press releases, and videos on AER’s website, giving them easy and direct access to a worldwide online audience (see AER’s home page at: www.aer.eu).
  
  

Membership is open to any regional authority with an elected representation immediately below the level of a Council of Europe member state.

• AER is financed almost excusively by its member regions, thus guaranteeing its independence and responsiveness to members’ needs. The annual subscription fee is calculated according to the number of inhabitants in a region. The subscription rates for 2008 are: 3,663 EUR per year for regions with under 333,000 inhabitants, and 0.011 EUR per inhabitant for regions with between 333,000 and 4 million inhabitants. Regions with over 4 million inhabitants pay a ceiling rate of 44,000 EUR per year. A 25% discount is offered to all regions in countries whose GDP falls below 75% of the EU average.
• Regions wishing to apply for AER membership should complete and return the official request for AER membership. In accordance with AER’s Statute, requests will be submitted to AER’s political Bureau for a decision and then to the General Assembly for ratification. Regions are able to participate actively as an observer immediately and as a full member once the Bureau has taken a positive decision.