AER: New challenges, new co-operation
Launch of the European Platform of regional and local actors for development cooperation

Strasbourg, Alsace (F), 17 November 2008.

The European Platform of regional and local actors for development cooperation was launched today on the occasion of the 3rd European Development Days in Strasbourg. The Assembly of European Regions (AER) is part of the platform led by the Council of European Municipalities and Regions (CEMR), which will receive funding of 470.000 € over the next 2 years.

The overall objective of the action is to set up a platform of European local and regional authorities to facilitate networking, the circulation of information, the exchange of experiences and best practice, as well as the co-ordination of their initiatives and positions. The regular dialogue with the European Commission will help the transfer of information and messages from the Commission, and ensure that the Commission takes into account the role and positions of local/regional authorities on the main current areas of European development policy, such as decentralisation assistance, capacity building, the Euro-Africa partnership or the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals.

In this context, AER organised a round-table discussion on the common Climate Change project together with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the Conference of Peripheral and Maritime Regions (CPMR) and others. The event marked the start of an ambitious cooperation programme in the field of climate change. This highly anticipated project aims at supporting regions in developing countries to adapt to climate change. AER's role will be to participate in the project’s steering committee, disseminate information about the project among AER members and organise awareness & training workshop in Eastern or South-eastern Europe.

The Assembly of European Regions (AER) is the largest independent network of regions in wider Europe. Bringing together more than 270 regions from 33 countries and 13 interregional organisations, AER is the political voice of its members and a forum for interregional co-operation.

AER Contacts:
Richard Medic, Spokesperson / Director of Press and Communications, r.medic@aer.eu - Tel (mob) +33 678 695 235
Francine Huhardeaux, Press and Communications Officer, f.huhardeaux@aer.eu - Tel. +33 3 88 22 74 49