The General Assembly of the Conference of Peripheral Maritime Regions of Europe

This event will be dedicated to preparing proposals for the Conference of Peripheral Maritime Regions of Europe with a view to forthcoming negotiations on the role and involvement of the regions in European policies over the next decade. The main current issues of concern across the European Union will be discussed, including:
- the European Union's integrated maritime policy;
- the impact of developments in the Common Agricultural Policy on regional economies;
- the role of the regions in the European Union's climate and energy package;
- regional cohesion and the Lisbon strategy.

The debates will be held in the presence of the European Union Commissioner for Regional Policy, Danuta Hübner, who will present the Commission's Green Paper on this issue; the European Commissioner for Maritime Affairs and Fisheries, Joe Borg, and the Vice President of the Committee of the Regions, Michel Lebrun.

On 1 October, before the General Assembly, the six geographical commissions of the Conference of Peripheral Maritime Regions will hold plenary meetings. 

Conference of Peripheral Maritime Regions of Europe

Created in 1973 on the initiative of 23 regions, the Conference of Peripheral Maritime Regions now brings together almost 160 regions in 28 Member States and non-member States of the European Union representing more than 190 million people. As being located along Europe's shoreline brings both advantages and specific difficulties, the regions work together to ensure that European Union institutions and national governments safeguard their common interests and cooperate on practical projects to fulfil their potential.

To ensure that the specific concerns of all the regions are voiced and taken into account, the Conference of Peripheral Maritime Regions of Europe is organised around six geographical commissions: Islands, North Sea, Baltic Sea, Mediterranean, Atlantic Arc, Balkans & Black Sea. These commissions have their own structures and work in their specific fields while cooperating in areas of common interest and contributing to the coherence and unity of the conference.

The Conference of Peripheral Maritime Regions of Europe is independent from the Community institutions. It is currently chaired by Claudio Martini, President of the Tuscany Region (Italy), and works daily to promote a number of objectives:
- measures in favour of balanced regional development in European Union policies;
- a system of European governance that involves the regional layer of government in the drafting, implementation and assessment of EU policies with a view to efficient public action;
- an ambitious maritime vision for the European Union based on an integrated approach.

• Updated: 23.12.2008

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