By Martha Moss - 6th March 2009
There is a real possibility that local and regional authorities are in the right situation to overcome and face the crisis
Committee of the Regions president Luc Van den Brande
Prague: There is a "deep need" to involve Europe's regions and cities in tackling economic and social difficulties, according to Committee of the Regions president Luc Van den Brande.
Speaking at the opening of the European summit of regions and cities in Prague on Thursday, Van den Brande called for European unity in tackling the current economic downturn.
He told delegates that the EU was "confronted with a serious crisis" and needed "to commit to finding answers to the questions and challenges of today".
Calling for "solidarity" across member states and between local, national and European governments, he stressed the need to "work together because people want answers".
"We need to make it very clear that people need a strong, reliable Europe that is rooted in our towns and regions," he added.
As EU capitals squabble over how to react to the economic crisis, Van den Brande warned that, "All levels of government need to work together. Now is not the time for us to be competing with each other."
He also spoke of a "growing awareness of the fact that European governance needs to be inclusive".
And calling for a bottom-up approach, he said that Europe's politicians "will only deliver on the ground".
The summit is also looking at the best way of mobilising voters ahead of the European elections, Van den Brande said the CoR "want to contribute to the European electoral campaign by stressing that Europe needs a new agenda".
"European regions and cities need to be proactive," he said.
Later he told reporters that the summit offered a "political opportunity - coming as it does at a time when the EU is having to shoulder its responsibilities".
"It is not enough that there is a political will of member states," he added. "It's a prerequisite but there is a deep need to involve regions.
"There is a real possibility that local and regional authorities are in the right situation to overcome and face the crisis."
Some 500 elected representatives have gathered in Prague for the bi-annual summit to discuss the role of Europe's regions and cities in meeting the key challenges over the next few years.
