CoR calls for further regionalising and decentralising reform in enlargement countries

The European Committee of the Regions adopted on Thursday its recommendations for European Union's enlargement strategy. The opinion, drafted by Prof. Franz Schausberger (AT/EPP), Delegate of the Region of Salzburg to the Committee of the Regions, analyses the situation in each of the candidate and potential candidate countries, aiming to facilitate the task of the local and regional authorities to prepare for their future responsibilities in the European Union, to obtain recognition of their role and to establish and develop contacts and cooperation with their EU counterparts.

The CoR shares the view of the European Commission on the need for a period of consolidation, but stresses that this must not result in a standstill. The period of five years must be understood as a phase of intense preparation and adoption of the policies required to meet the criteria for EU membership. A realistic prospect of EU membership is a key stabilising factor and an important incentive to implement the necessary political and economic reforms. The opinion underlines the fundamental role of local and regional representatives in the enlargement process and encourages enlargement countries in their decentralisation and regionalisation efforts.

"Without effective regional and municipal administrations, it will be very difficult for Macedonia, Montenegro, Serbia and especially for Albania, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Kosovo [under UNSCR 1244] and Turkey to join the EU. It is therefore essential for local and regional representatives to become part of the accession process in good time. If this does not happen, there will be dire consequences, with huge problems especially with the implementation of EU policies and the use of European funds", the rapporteur Schausberger writes in the April edition of CoR's Regions & Cities of Europe newsletter.

The CoR calls for European Commission to exert much more pressure to enforce the subsidiarity principle and points to the need for further regionalising and decentralising reform in the enlargement countries.

"It is absolutely vital that in its future enlargement strategy reports the European Commission goes into much greater detail about local and regional self-government. In most accession countries, democratic institutions such as regional assemblies and governments, municipal councils and mayors and electoral processes, among other things, must be brought up to European standards", Schausberger stresses.

The opinion underlines the necessity of strengthening democratic institutions and respecting fundamental rights and the rule of law, including fair electoral processes and proper functioning of parliaments, regional assemblies and municipal councils, and constructive and sustainable dialogue across the political spectrum.

"Targeted action plans for the reform of regional and local authorities — such as those in Montenegro and Serbia — have been positive", Schausberger notes.