THE ACADEMIC WORLD APPROVES THE IDEA OF A WORLD REGIONS' ORGANISATION

Nicolas Levrat, Director of the European Institute of the University of Geneva participated in the 2nd International Convention on a Regional and Local Approach to Development, which took place in Tangiers 12-14 May 2008, in a session chaired by Danuta Hübner, and dedicated to Regions and Globalisation.

EM: Professor Levrat, why is it important for Regions to be represented at global level?

NL: In the academic world, many of us wonder whether the concept of governance, as defined by the Commission's White Paper of 2001, can be implemented at global level as it is in Europe. In particular, I wonder whether Regions in the future can play a role in global governance as they do today in Europe. Personally I believe it is possible. In Geneva there are a number of International Organisations which have a direct impact on regional and local authorities. Of course I am not thinking about the Security Council, but rather the World Trade Organisation, the International Labour Organisation, the World Health Organisation, or the World Meteorological Organisation which deals with climate change etc...

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WHY HAS THE "ERIKA 3" PACKAGE BROKEN DOWN?

On 20th May, the European Union celebrated the Sea for the first time through the organisation of the “Maritime Day”. The previous week, a large conference was held, devoted to the future of the Outermost Regions and focusing mainly on the role of these European Regions as a leading base in the Indian Ocean and Caribbean. DG MARE has just launched an important invitation to tender, aiming to promote the sustainable development of coastal fishing areas in establishing a network (FAR-Net) for the running and follow-up of the territories receiving support under Axis 4 of the European Fisheries Fund.

After turning our backs on the sea for a long time, we finally become aware that these initiatives demonstrate that part of the future of Europe is determined by the seas and oceans...

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2nd INTERNATIONAL CONVENTION ON A REGIONAL AND LOCAL APPROACH TO DEVELOPMENT (MOROCCO), 12-14 MAY 2008

The Region of Tangiers-Tétouan, with the support of the Region of Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur, FOGAR, the CPMR and the UNDP, hosted the 2nd International Convention towards a territorial approach to development, in Tangiers (Morocco), from 12 to 14 May 2008. This meeting followed the 1st Convention, which was held in Marseille in March 2007, during which the Regions expressed their willingness to contribute towards the achievement of the Millennium Development Objectives.

The 2nd Convention has provided us with the opportunity to take stock of the progress achieved since March 2007 and to continue to take forward the vision of a territorial approach to development and better local governance...

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