14 September 2007

 

 

  

Report

Committee on the Environment, Agriculture and Local and Regional Affairs

Rapporteur: Mr Lluís Maria de PUIG, Spain, Socialist Group

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The report describes the trend of regionalism in Europe in recent years and gives an overview of the situation in the regionalised countries of Europe. It recommends that regional self-government should be regarded not as a problem or a danger but as an effective, unifying means of giving regions a say in political decision-making at both national and European level. It notes that regionalism is on the rise in Europe and that the regions are very interested in and committed to Europe. Regional autonomy must be perceived as a means of enhancing democracy and giving it a firmer foothold in our countries, in parallel with the European unification process and against the background of globalisation. Political trends in Europe do not make it possible to predict the future but it can be noted that the number of states is growing and that the principle of inviolability of borders is losing ground. In the face of this changing situation, regionalism, in its various forms, offers guarantees of greater political stability and greater respect for the Council of Europe's values, in particular as regards the spread of democracy. The draft recommendation calls on the member states, the Committee of Ministers, the Congress of the Council of Europe and the European Union to follow this avenue and support regionalisation efforts by fostering the principles of subsidiarity, proximity, good governance and active citizenship.