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From: "Honrath Dr Barbara" <[log in to unmask]>
European Regional Politics: a Vision for Europe?
Cumberland Lodge Conference
20-22 November 2002
In co-operation with Goethe-Institut Inter Nationes
The idea that European integration along supranational lines would
provide a framework for the re-emergence of the regions of Europe is
almost as old as the EU itself. Edouard Herriot, French statesman and
Co-founder of the Council of European Municipalities and Regions,
believed that "everything divides states and everything unites
municipalities". He thought that towns and regions could successfully
co-operate with their counterparts in other countries.
Considerations of national unity have led many countries, notably
France and the UK, to resist the emergence of powerful ethnic,
linguistic and political entities within their territories. Others
(e.g. Germany and Belgium) are based on the federal principle, which
is one in a range of possible models currently being debated by the
Convention for the Future of Europe.
The establishment of the Committee of the Regions was an official
response to local and regional authorities' demand for more
representation within the EU. This Cumberland Lodge conference will
explore types of regional activity, official EU policies and their
implementation. EU experts, politicians, lobbyists, journalists and
academics will address the following questions:
- How important are the regions for the acceptance of EU policies? Do
the regions facilitate EU devolution or cohesion?
- Is the importance of the regions reflected in EU treaties and
representation in EU bodies? Are regional identities backed up by
(regional, national and EU) politics?
- How successful is regional lobbying in Brussels?
- Are the regions the ultimate answer to citizens' fears of a
European "Super State"?
Conference Chair: Dr Martyn Bond, Director, The Federal Trust
PROGRAMME
Wednesday, 20th November
16.00 Arrival, tea
16.45 Welcome by Alastair Niven, Principal Cumberland Lodge
17.00 Plenary 1: "The regions: A vision for Europe"
Speaker: Danuta Hübner, Secretary of State for European Affairs,
Poland
18.30 Reception in the Drawing Room
19.00 Dinner
20.30 Plenary 2: Panel discussion with Victoria Glendinning
(President of English PEN), Dagmar Leupold, Novelist, Jonathan Fenby,
writer and journalist
Thursday, 21st November
08.15 Breakfast
09.00 Plenary 3: "Everything divides states and everything unites
municipalities"
Speaker: Heinrich Hoffschulte, First Vice-President of the Council of
European Municipalities and Regions
10.15 Break
10.30 Discussion Groups 1
11.30 Plenary 4: "The regions' resurgence: devolution or cohesion?"
Speaker: Sir Stephen Wall, Head of European Affairs Secretariat,
Prime Minister's Office
12.45 Lunch, followed by free time to enjoy the Great Park
15.00 Plenary 5: "Can Brussels earn the right to act: matching
subsidiarity with performance in EU Politics"
Speaker: Mark Leonard, Director, Foreign Policy Centre
16.00 Tea
16.15 Plenary 6: "EU Regional Policy: purpose and challenges"
Speaker: Guy Crauser, DG Regional Policy, EU Commission
17.15 Discussion Groups 2
18.30 Reception
19.00 Dinner
20.30 Plenary 7: "The political power of the regions"
Speaker: Sir Albert Bore, President of the Committee of the Regions
Friday, 22nd November
08.15 Breakfast
09.00 Plenary 8: "A lobby for the regions"
Speakers: Arlene McCarthy MEP, Donald MacInnes, Chief Executive,
Scotland Europa, John Purvis MEP, Lindsay Jenkins (The Bruges Group)
10.15 Coffee
10.30 Plenary 9: "How does it work? Cross-border success stories"
Speakers: Eva-Riitta Siitonen, President of Eurocities and Mayor of
Helsinki, Jozef Moravcík Mayor of Bratislava, Wim Deetman, Mayor of
The Hague
12.30 Wrap-up and delegates' comments
13.00 Lunch and disperse
(Please note: programme can be subject to change)
For further details and a registration form, please contact the
conference organiser:
Dr. Jutta Huesmann, Cumberland Lodge, The Great Park, Windsor SL4 2HP
United Kingdom
Email: [log in to unmask]
Tel: +44-(0)1784-49 77 89
Fax: +44-(0)1784-49 77 99
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