The future of Europe

The European Parliament elections that took place in June 2009 brought various political changes in the grass-root level institution of the EU. These are expected to trickle down and impact all governing bodies of the EU. At the same time, a new European Commission will soon be put into place. Read here what the AER demands from the new European Commission.

On 13 December 2007, EU leaders signed the Treaty of Lisbon, bringing to an end several years of negotiation about institutional issues.  The Treaty of Lisbon amends the current EU and EC treaties, without replacing them. It will provide the Union with the legal framework and tools necessary to meet future challenges and to respond to citizens' demands.

The AER has played an active role in influencing the drafting of the Constitutional Treaty since 2001, believing that the Constitution offered a vehicle for the regions to gain more influence in European policy-making. As a result of the AER's advocacy initiatives, the Constitution contained a range of provisions that were beneficial for the regions, including the extension of the principle of subsidiarity to the local and regional level, and the right of the Committee of Regions to take the European Commission to the European Court of Justice for breeches of this principle. For these reasons, the AER has been keen to see a swift resolution to the Constitutional impasse and to ensure that the gains for the regions in the Constitutional Treaty are maintained and implemented as soon as possible.