CPMR > The way we work

The CPMR works at both an operational and
a political level :

• Our 4 means of action
• Some of the CPMR's achievements

OUR 4 MEANS OF ACTION

The CPMR is:

- A mine of cooperation projects
As a vast network, the CPMR facilitates the development of cooperation projects between its members. It helps to bring them into being and run them, and directly invests in some of them.

- A focal point for the expression of regional interests
As a political forum, the CPMR helps to articulate the common interests of peripheral and maritime regions at European level. Being the first body to have brought European regions together for discussion and debate, it has acquired an increasingly large audience over the years.

- An active source of proposals
The CPMR has acknowledged expertise and privileged access to information. It provides its member regions and European partners with sharp analysis on topics of concern for their territories.

- The representative voice of the regions
The CPMR lobbies national governments and European institutions to take on board the positions adopted by its members. It works to ensure that the interests of its member regions are taken into account when EU legislation is being prepared.

SOME OF THE CPMR'S ACHIEVEMENTS

2010
The CPMR was successful in including Regional Policy for all EU Regions in the 5th Cohesion Report presented at the end of 2010 by the European Commission. The report also launched the idea of Macro-Regions corresponding to the CPMR’s aspirations and natural shape in Geographical Commissions. It also established the “Development Contract” matching the principle of a “Territorial Pact” that the CPMR has been calling for since 2008.
After contributing to the creation of the Intergroup Seas and Coastal areas in 2009, today the CPMR ensures its secretariat and contributes to its proposals. The CPMR is also actively involved in the “Intergroup” 174, which gathers MEPs from specific territories such as islands, mountains and sparsely-populated areas.
The CPMR is currently working with Maria Damanaki, EU Commissioner in charge of Maritime affairs and with the Seas and Coastal Areas Intergroup on the creation of a “Maritime Erasmus” called "Vasco da Gama".

2009
During its annual General Assembly in Göteborg, the CPMR will adopt its proposals for the negotiations of the multi-annual financial perspectives 2014-2020. The CPMR will present and develop them throughout the Spanish six month presidency in 2010.
The CPMR is involved in exchanging experiences between regional politicians on the impact of the economic crisis in the territories. This work will conclude in a political seminar to be held in Marseille at the end of 2009 with the expected participation of the new European Commission and the new Parliament.

2008
In October, the Commission adopted the Green Paper on territorial cohesion. This is rewarding for the CPMR after all the years of hard work: the CPMR having already managed to get this concept accepted in the draft Constitutional Treaty within the Convention thanks to the lobbying efforts led by all its Regions together with the support of Michel Barnier, former European Commissioner for Regional Policy. With regard to this, the CPMR was the only organisation of regions to participate in the "Hearing on territorial cohesion" in the European Parliament's Hemicycle on 2 December 2008 and at the Conference on territorial cohesion and the future of cohesion policy organised in Paris during the French presidency. The CPMR was also involved in the work of the European Council during the Portuguese and French presidency.
From now on, the 20 May will be "European Maritime Day". The CPMR made the decision to become involved by mobilising all its regions to celebrate this date in the territories.

2007
The conclusions of the Portuguese presidency included the sea and a maritime policy was finally launched. The "Blue Book on the sea" was approved after a public consultation over several months, in which the CPMR actively participated, following the Green Paper "Towards a Future Maritime Policy for the Union: A European Vision for the Oceans and Sea". The Motorways of the Sea have also been included within the framework of the MARCO POLO programme. A great success for the CPMR, who had demanded greater involvement in maritime and marine policy areas since the very beginning of the Barroso Commission.
Portuguese Luis Valente Oliveira, former President of the CPMR and President of its Scientific Council was appointed as "European Coordinator for Motorways of the Sea" by the European Commission.

2006
Motorways of the Sea are included in the new TEN-T regulation: when the initial proposal prepared by the Commission did not mention the Motorways of the Sea, despite being a TEN-T priority project since 2004, the CPMR successfully addressed the European Parliament's Transport Committee Chairman, Paolo Costa, as well as the Italian Government before the December Council in order for this to be remedied.

2005
On 2 March 2005, José Manuel Barroso, President of the European Commission, and Joe Borg, the Commissioner for fisheries and maritime affairs, officially announced the start of work on a maritime policy for the Union.
This represents a first step towards the development of a European maritime strategy as a means of boosting growth, which the CPMR recommended in 1993.

2004
On 14 July 2004, the European Commission adopted legislative proposals on the reform of cohesion policy. Following on from the Third Report on Cohesion, these proposals for regulations incorporated the recommendations of the CPMR for an ambitious and fair regional policy.

On 29 October 2004, the Heads of State and Government signed the draft Constitutional Treaty in Rome. The CPMR managed to have them include provisions acknowledging the role of the regions in Europe and stressing the notion of territorial cohesion.

2002
In April 2002, the CPMR obtained observer status with the the International Oil Pollution Compensation Funds (IOPC). This status became permanent in 2004.

1999
The CPMR secured the inclusion of ports in the Trans-European Transport Networks (TEN-T). Agenda 2000: 1.5 billion euros are allocated to the Interreg B and C cooperation programmes.