Azores hosts #CPMR debates on future EU policies

Around 160 peripheral and maritime regions from across Europe have gathered for the annual General Assembly of the Conference of Peripheral Maritime Regions (CPMR) in Ponta Delgada, the Azores from 2-4 November.

The CPMR is a lobby and think tank for regions which campaigns for of a more balanced development of the European territory, brings together some 160 Regions from 25 States from the European Union and beyond.

The 44th CPMR General Assembly involves 200 delegates, including Region Presidents, elected politicians, MEPS and European Commission officials. The meeting has been organised at the kind invitation of Vasco Cordeiro, CPMR President, and President of the Government of the Autonomous Region of the Azores.

CPMR Secretary General Eleni Marianou said: “This meeting comes at a crucial time, given the current precarious situation faced by the European project. Our regions across Europe will seize the opportunity to share their experiences and offer potential solutions to the issues affecting their citizens.”

The agenda at the meeting includes debates on the future of the EU Cohesion Policy, Integrated Maritime Policy, Transport and Accessibility and the migration crisis, as well as a panel on the future of the EU project.

President Cordeiro will chair the opening session on the first day, to be followed by a debate on ‘Transport and accessibility – Connecting the European peripheries and its neighbors.’ This will include a keynote address MEP Juan Fernando López Aguilar, and a video address by Brian Simpson, European Coordinator, DG MOVE.

There is also a discussion led by Enrico Rossi, CPMR Vice-President, and President of the Italian region of Tuscany, on the EU Cohesion Policy, which will also involve the Deputy Director General of DG Regional Policy of the European Commission, Nicholas Martyn.

The second day begins with discussions on the Integrated Maritime Policy, involving the DG MARE’s Director General, the Azorean João Aguiar Machado, and on Migration, with a video message from European Commissioner Christos Stylianides. There will also be a presentation by Yoomi Renström, Mayor of Ovanåker, Sweden, and Co-Rapporteur for the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe.

The Final Declaration of the CPMR General Assembly – containing the key messages to be addressed to the European institutions and others – will be discussed and adopted on the second day.

This will be followed by a debate on the ‘Future of the European Union Project,’ moderated by former MEP from the UK Sir Graham Watson, involving Monica Frassoni, co-Chair of the European Green Party, Drew Hendry, UK MP and former CPMR vice president, Forough Salami-Dadkhah, Vice-President of the Brittany Region, Apostolos Katsifaras, Regional Governor of Western Greece and President of the CPMR Intermediterranean Commission, Patrizio Bianchi, Regional Minister of the Emilia-Romagna Region.

To find out more and read the full agenda for the CPMR General Assembly, visit the CPMR website.

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