By Martin Banks - 11th March 2009
The only way to tackle the crisis is to establish dialogue between regions and cities
Claudio Martini
The organisation representing some of Europe's outermost regions has called for an EU summit to discuss the current economic crisis.
The conference of peripheral maritime regions (CPMR) says the aim is to find ways of helping peripheral regions withstand the "ravages" of the credit crunch and the "schizophrenia of the financial markets."
Claudio Martini, president of the Rennes-based organisation, said that such regions had been among the worst-hit by the current economic downturn.
He said coordinated action was necessary to help them cope, adding, "The only way to tackle the crisis is to establish dialogue between regions and cities, national governments and the EU.”
Martini, also president of Tuscany region, said the CPMR is keen to start looking at exchanging experiences between regional politicians.
"This work will hopefully conclude in a political seminar designed to put forward proposals to be held in Marseille at the end of 2009, with the expected participation of the new commission and parliament," he said.
Meanwhile, Xavier Gizard, secretary-general of the CPMR, has expressed reservations about elements of the commission's green paper on territorial cohesion.
Gizard says the green paper "fails" to properly define the concept of territorial cohesion.
He also said it is "unfortunate" that the document "does not adaquately address the issue of governance."
Speaking after a six month consultation exercise on the green paper recently concluded, he said, "There is a vital need for a detailed analysis of the diverse range of stakeholders concerned within the EU, of their responsibilities and of the different coordination mechanisms.
"But there will be no real and effective implementation of the principle of territorial cohesion without the coherent and collaborative mobilisation of all levels of European governance."
Gizard has announced that after 13 years he will step down from his post at the end of this year.
He said,"This is a good time to hand over the reins. My departure aims to ensure that the CPMR's resources continue to be managed and utilised throughout the negotiations on EU policies for the next decade."
During this period, the CPMR has expanded to cover 160 regions. The organisation's bureau has launched a call for applications for his successor.
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