The German Presidency of the and the Committee of the Regions German Chancellor Dr Angela Merkel on Michel Delebarre Emilia Müller the German presidency President of the head of the German Committee of the Regions delegation in the of the Council of the Committee of the Regions European Union

Much is expected of the German presidency of the Council in On 1 January 2007 took over the presidency of the the other hand it is essential to give fresh impetus to the the first half of 2007. Council of the European Union for six months. The 50th constitutional process. These two objectives will shape the course anniversary of the signing of the Rome treaties, which took place of presidency. In particular, the presidency is foreseen to outline a timetable on 25 March 1957, falls during the German presidency. The world that will smooth the way towards a European constitution before Up until the Spring Summit in March, clear priority will be given has changed radically over the past fifty years. It is the task of the Photo: to economic issues. We want to create in Europe the prerequisites the European Parliament elections in 2009. Here Germany can Bundeskanzleramt European Union to respond constructively to the changes on our for lasting economic success in order to safeguard the European draw on the symbolic power of the 50th anniversary of the Rome continent and in the world and to help actively shape events model as regards their living conditions and the European social treaties, which falls during those six months. To mark the through dynamic restructuring. model. If we are to achieve greater economic dynamism, we need occasion, the Committee of the Regions has been invited by the n1 January 2007 German assumes the presidency of the to have a fully operation internal market. Bringing about a single region of Lazio to hold its plenary session in Rome on 23 March A particular reason for marking this anniversary is to step up O European market is an ongoing process and one which is far from 2007. At this plenary session, the Committee plans to draw up a dialogue with the general public about the values and tasks of the Council of the EU for a period of six months. The German government fully recognises the responsibilities and opportunities complete in areas such as postal and telecommunication services contribution to the informal meeting of the European Council EU. We must consider people's expectations and hopes for which this role involves. European unification undoubtedly and company taxation. which will be held on 25 March in Berlin. The contribution is European unification as the guiding principle of our everyday constitutes a success story despite the fact that it has passed We also want to promote the internal market in energy. This is intended to assess the future of European integration and political activity. Europe will only succeed if it is seen as a through a number of difficult phases. We, as the representatives of essential if we are to make European industry in this field more encourage the presidency to give a new impulse to the democratically legitimate organisation which provides its citizens the federal government would like to make our contribution constitution process. competitive and to provide both the public and the business world with greater security, economic opportunities and skills, while towards ensuring that European unification continues to be a with access to energy supplies which offer the best possible value In conjunction with the 50th anniversary, the European meeting its social and environmental responsibilities. Regions and successful venture, albeit under differing basic conditions. for money. The goal of European energy policy should be to Commission has announced that new proposals for completing municipalities have a particularly important communication role ensure competitive, secure and lasting supplies of energy. With this to play here, since they are in direct contact with citizens. In a world marked by increasing globalisation, each European state the internal market will be put forward in 2007. The Committee is, on its own, too small to meet the cross-border challenges which aim in mind we want to step up the promotion of energy-efficient of the Regions welcomes this, but the agenda for social and The extended "period of reflection" declared by the EU following arise, such as the need to create a fair system of world trade geared technologies and research in the field of renewable sources of economic reform is certainly not limited to the internal market. the "no" votes in the on the constitutional Treaty in to the promotion of competition, and the need to cut illegal energy. Under Plan D (Democracy, Dialogue and Debate), it has become France and the Netherlands has given way to renewed confidence migration, to bring about adequate protection of the environment One clear message stands out in this context, namely that the EU clear that European Union citizens expect the European social and energy. The German presidency will provide an opportunity to and to ensure internal and external security. To achieve these aims will only be able to defend its interest in this field in dealings with model to be fleshed out. The German Council presidency can do find new ways of continuing the constitution process, and of we need a strong, united Europe. its external partners if it speaks with one voice. The pursuit of a much to encourage this, particularly with respect to services of implementing the considerable advances of the constitutional Public recognition of this fact does, however, appear to be joint strategy in this area must therefore involve adopting a general interest and social services. treaty, in particular institutional reform, which also strengthens the diminishing. common stance in dealings with external partners, such as negotiations between energy producers and the major consumers. Another high point of the first half of 2007 in addition to the Committee of the Regions and thus the connection with ordinary people. Europe, as a topic of public interest, barely gives rise to plenary session in Rome will be the Territorial Dialogue to be enthusiasm. Many people have no clear image as to the direction Consistency and unity are also important when tackling the issue held in Brussels on 14 February, when the network of 65 local EU citizens also want a debate to take place on the purpose of the in which the development of Europe should be travelling and the of climate protection. This field, in particular, provides an excellent example of the power of the EU when it comes to the authorities set up by the CoR will present its analysis on EU. It is essential for Europe's identity that its external contours goal of the process of European unification. This confusion was involving local and regional levels of government in the Lisbon reflected in the failed referendums held in France and the shaping of policy. During its presidency, Germany wants to seek to should be more clearly demarcated. But at the same time plans achieve agreement on a negotiating package for a future climate- strategy. must be framed for an open neighbourhood policy at the EU's Netherlands. We cannot close our eyes to this reality. One of the most urgent tasks of European policy must therefore be to create a protection regime. Incentives for all groups of states also have to be The 24 German members of the CoR will play a key role, external borders. The Committee of the Regions can also provide established and appropriate contributions in respect of all key an important contribution on these issues. new trust in the European institutions and to strengthen popular representing the 16 Länder and 12 900 district authorities, support for the process of European integration. sources of emissions are to be provided for in the period following towns and municipalities in Germany. They are active in Energy and climate protection are key questions for the future, the initial commitment period of the Kyoto protocol. expressing the CoR's views, and they bring European debates to Europe's regions have a particularly important role to play in this which Germany will address in its dual role as Council presidency A further issue of key importance to the German presidency is the local level and work with us to strengthen support for European context. They symbolise active European cooperation in a Europe and G-8 presidency. The Committee of the Regions has already which is both close to the people and fully transparent. removal of bureaucracy. We have to liberate the energy which integration. It should be noted that in 2007 German CoR addressed these issues and can continue to provide a valuable people possess rather than impeding it. The impact assessment of members will be organising a series of CoR conferences, e.g. a contribution. The Committee of the Regions provides the regions with a voice planned legislation is therefore to be improved. Decisions are also meeting of the CoR Bureau in Würzburg on 20 April, a meeting at European level. By virtue of their close links with the regions to be taken more quickly on simplification proposals put forward of the CONST Commission in Münster at the beginning of May The CoR vocally supports application of the subsidiarity principle, and municipalities, members of the Committee of the Regions by the Commission. The principle whereby planned legislation on the future of the EU, a meeting of the COTER Commission since political decisions should be taken at the closest possible level have a vital role to play in informing and convincing public which is unfinished at the end of a legislative period will then lapse on the EU's territorial agenda (in Halle) in preparation for the to the general public. Let us cooperate to help people come opinion. I therefore hope that members of the Committee of the has proved its worth at national level. We want to discuss this informal meeting of ministers in Leipzig on 24-25 May 2007, together in a "Europe of the regions", which gives us Europeans a Regions, in particular, will make an active contribution towards matter at EU level, too. and a seminar of the ECOS Commission in on place in the globalised world, while strengthening cultural the success of the German presidency. The achievement of better legislation involves constantly demographic change in May. I would like to thank you in traditions and characteristics and so providing citizens with a home Under our presidency we wish to pursue two key goals. On the questioning which regulations we need at EU level, which ones and an identity. advance for your involvement. one hand, we want to boost economic dynamism in the EU. On can be simplified and which ones can be abolished. Cutting down

2 3 on the cost of bureaucracy by introducing more efficient rules analysis, the debate on the European constitution also revolves enables the general market to operate more smoothly and to around the issues of democratic legitimacy and a clear distribution Dr Kerstin Kiessler (PES) Plenipotentiary of the Hanseatic City of to the Federal Government and provide the prerequisites for the successful internationalisation for of powers between the Member States and the Union. These two for European Affairs European enterprises. Furthermore, the achievement of economic points are of such importance because they make the EU more Dr. Karl-Heinz Klär (PES) State Secretary, Plenipotentiary of the Land of Rhineland-Palatinate to the Federal success allows us to regain confidence in Europe in a pragmatic transparent for its citizens, thereby enabling us to counteract Government and for Europe way. scepticism about the EU. Dr Ulrich Maly (PES) Mayor of Nuremberg Europe is, however, not just an economic community. It is The constitutional Treaty also strengthens the regions. It founded on common values, namely, freedom, democracy, recognises regional and local self-government and expressly Prof. Ursula Männle (EPP) Member of the of pluralism, the rule of law, justice and solidarity. During the safeguards regional autonomy. Furthermore, the Committee of the Emilia Müller (EPP) State Secretary for Federal Government and European Affairs, Land of Bavaria German presidency we will be celebrating the 50th anniversary of Regions would be granted the right to institute legal action within Karl Rauber (EPP) State Secretary for Federal Government and European Affairs, Land of Saarland the signing of the Treaties of Rome. We want to use this the framework of the early warning system in respect of anniversary as an opportunity for considering the foundations on subsidiarity. Dr Michael Schneider (EPP) State Secretary for Federal Government and European Affairs, Plenipotentiary of which the European Union is based. With this aim in view, I have the Land of -Anhalt to the Federal Government invited the Heads of State and Government of the EU Member We recognise that we have set ourselves ambitious goals for our EU States and the presidents of both the European Parliament and the presidency. Six months is clearly not a very long period of time. We Sandra Speckert (EPP) Member of Bremen City Parliament European Commission to hold a meeting in Berlin on 24 and 25 will therefore have to pass on many of our plans to the next two Willi Stächele (EPP) Minister in the State Ministry and Minister for European Affairs of March 2007. At this meeting we will not only be looking back at Member States which will hold the Council Presidency after Baden-Württemberg previous year but also, and above all, looking forward to the tasks Germany, namely Portugal and Slovenia. Along with these two Peter Straub (EPP) President of the Baden-Württemberg Landtag which we will have to carry out in the future. countries, Germany will also instigate the first "trio presidency" in Hans-Josef Vogel (EPP) Mayor of Arnsberg These tasks include the establishment of a road map for the the history of the European Union. In the course of the German constitutional Treaty. I am convinced that Europe needs a presidency we want to give fresh impetus to the process of further (EPP) State Minister and Head of the Saxony State Chancellery European unification. In pursuing this goal, I shall also rely on the constitutional Treaty. There is a need on the one hand, to have a Gerold Wucherpfennig (EPP) State Secretary for Federal Government and European Affairs, Land of Thuringia binding Treaty in order to ensure that the institutions of the EU support of the Committee of the Regions. In the Europe of the are able to function effectively. On the other hand, the Regions your Committee is a vital mediator which enhances fundamental rights set out in the constitutional Treaty clearly understanding of the role of the European Union, namely that of Alternates indicate that Europe is more than just a coordinating body. a guarantor of peace, freedom, security and prosperity in a globalised world. Sylvia Bretschneider (PES) President of the Landtag of Mecklenburg – Western Pomerania The extent to which the capital Member States of the EU have Peter Harry Carstensen (EPP) Premier of Schleswig-Holstein moved ever closer is illustrated by, for example, the progress made Angela Merkel in the fields of justice and internal affairs policy and by the Dr Karl Döhler (EPP) Member of the proposed appointment of an EU foreign minister. In the final Chancellor of the Federal Republic of Germany Norbert Kartmann (EPP) President of the Landtag of Guido Kosmehl (ALDE) Member of the -Anhalt Stefan Kraxner (EPP) Member of Hamburg City Parliament German delegation in the Committee of the Regions Ulrike Kuhlo (ALDE) Vice-President of the Landtag of Lower Saxony The German delegation in the Committee of the Regions comprises 24 full members and 24 alternates. Helma Kuhn-Theis (EPP) Member of the Landtag of Saarland Wolfram Kuschke (PES) Member of the Landtag of North Rhine-Westphalia Clemens Lindemann (PES) District councillor, Saarpfalz district council Members Winfried Mack (EPP) Member of the Landtag of Baden-Württemberg Dietmar Brockes (ALDE) Member of the Landtag of North Rhine-Westphalia Martina Michels (PES) Member of the Berlin House of Representatives Hermann Dinkla (EPP) Member of the Landtag of Lower Saxony Prof. (EPP) Premier of Saxony Uwe Döring (PES) Minister for Justice, Labour and Europe, Schleswig-Holstein Nicole Morsblech (ALDE) Member of the Landtag of Rhineland-Palatinate Wolfgang Gibowski (EPP) State Secretary, Plenipotentiary of the Land of Lower Saxony Günther H. Oettinger (EPP) Premier of Baden-Württemberg to the Federal Government Barbara Richstein (EPP) Member of the Landtag of Rolf Harlinghausen (EPP) Member of Hamburg City Parliament Dr (EPP) Mayor of -am-Main Dr Gerd Harms (PES) State Secretary, Plenipotentiary of the Land of Brandenburg for Federal and European Affairs Michael Schroeren (EPP) Member of the Landtag of North Rhine-Westphalia Monika Helbig (PES) State Secretary, Plenipotentiary of the Land of Berlin to the Federal Government Fritz Schröter (EPP) Member of the Landtag of Thuringia and for European Affairs Dr Iris Spiess (EPP) Member of the Bremen City Parliament Volker Hoff (EPP) State Minister for Federal and European Affairs, Plenipotentiary of Dr (EPP) Premier of Bavaria the Land of Hesse to the Federal Government Günter Thum (PES) Chairman of the European Affairs Committee of the German Federation of Cities No candidat Mecklenburg - Western Pomerania and Municipalities Helmut M. Jahn (EPP) Landrat (Head) of Hohenlohe district Christine Wischer (PES) Member of the Bremen City Parliament Werner H. Jostmeier (EPP) Member of the Landtag of North Rhine-Westphalia, Chairman of the Executive Christian Wulff (EPP) Premier of Lower Saxony Committee

4 5 Germany – a Federal Republic Representations of the German Länder to the EU LAND ADDRESS HEAD The Federal Republic of Germany comprises sixteen states ■ Baden-Württemberg 60-62 rue Belliard – Brussels Richard Arnold Hesse () Tel.: +32/2/741-7711 – Fax: +32/2/741-7799 or Länder and over 12 000 municipalities. ■ Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania (Schwerin) E-Mail: [email protected] URL: www.stm.baden-wuerttemberg.de ■ Lower Saxony (Hannover) Bavaria 77 rue Wiertz – 1000 Brussels Heidrun Piwernetz LÄNDER ■ North Rhine-Westphalia (Düsseldorf) Tel.: +32/2/2374-811 – Fax: +32/2/2374-943 E-Mail: [email protected] ■ Rhineland-Palatinate (Mainz) URL: www.bayern.de ■ Baden-Württemberg (Stuttgart) ■ Saarland (Saarbrücken) Berlin 71 avenue Michel-Angelolaan – 1000 Brussels Gert Hammer ■ Bavaria () Tel.: +32/2/7380070 – Fax: +32/2/7324746 ■ ■ Berlin (city state and federal capital) Saxony () E-Mail: [email protected] ■ URL: www.berlin.de ■ Brandenburg (Potsdam) Saxony-Anhalt (Magdeburg) Brandenburg 11 rue Joseph 108 – 1000 Brussels Dr. Marcus Wenig ■ Bremen, city state ■ Schleswig-Holstein (Kiel) Tel.: +32/2/737-7451 – Fax: +32/2/737-7469 E-Mail: [email protected] ■ Hamburg, city state ■ Thuringia (Erfurt) URL: www.brandenburg.de Bremen 22 avenue Palmerston – 1000 Brussels Christian Bruns The federal system of government adopted by the Federal those which could have considerable cost implications for the Tel.: +32/2/230-2765 – Fax: +32/2/230-3658 Republic of Germany is based on the following features: the Länder, have to be endorsed by the Bundesrat. In all other E-Mail: [email protected] sovereignty of the Länder, their participation in the legislative cases, the Bundesrat may raise objections to laws adopted by URL: www.europa-bremen.de procedure, and the financial independence of the federal the Federal Parliament or , and these objections can Hamburg, 20 avenue Palmerston – 1000 Brussels Thorsten Augustin (SH) government on the one hand and the Länder on the other only be overruled by a qualified majority of votes. Schleswig-Holstein (Hanse-Office) Tel.: +32/2/285-4640 – Fax: +32/2/285-4657 Roland Freudenstein (HH) hand. E-Mail : [email protected] The substantial participation rights of the Länder, exercised URL: www.hanse-office.de Under the German constitution (the Basic Law), all state via the Bundesrat, also cover matters relating to the European Hesse 19 avenue de l’Ýser 19 – 1040 Brussels Friedrich von Heusinger duties connected with the legislative procedure, the Union. In the case of, for example, legislative acts drawn up Tel.: +32/2/732-4220 – Fax: +32/2/732-4813 administration of justice and government are divided between by the EU (Directives and Regulations) the Bundesrat always, E-Mail: [email protected] the nation state (the federal government) and the Länder. In as a matter of principle, has to be involved in policy-making URL: www.hessen.de the legislative field the federal government can only adopt by the federal government. The views of the Bundesrat have Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania 80 boulevard Saint Michel – 1040 Brussels Dr. Reinhard Boest laws in those specific cases in which it has been given the to be taken into account by the federal government in the Tel.: +32/2/741-6004 – Fax: +32/2/741-6009 requisite competence under the constitution. In all other E-Mail: [email protected] negotiations. In cases where the main point at issue concerns URL: www.mv-regierung.de cases, the Länder alone have the competence to establish their the legislative powers of the Länder, the establishment of their own laws in the areas of life concerned. Lower Saxony 61 rue Montoyer – 1000 Brussels Michael Bertram authorities or the administrative procedures of the Länder, the Tel.: +32/2/2230-017 – Fax: +32/2/2230-1320 Each of the Länder has its own state parliament (known as the federal government has to follow the views expressed by the E-Mail: [email protected] Landtag or, in the city states, the City Parliament or House of Bundesrat. URL: www.stk.niedersachsen.de Representatives). These parliaments exercise the legislative North Rhine-Westphalia 8 avenue Michel-Ange – 1000 Brussels Hans H. Stein powers attributed to the respective Länder. Tel.: +32/2/739-1710 – Fax: +32/2/739-1707 MUNICIPAL LEVEL URL: www.europa.nrw.de The members of the Land Parliament are normally elected Rhineland-Palatinate 60 avenue de Tervuren - 1040 Brussels Pia Wenningmann every five years under a system of free, universal suffrage. Each The municipalities and the city authorities are responsible, Tel.: +32/2/736.97.29 – Fax: +32/2/790-1333 of the Land Parliaments elects a Land Government (known as E-Mail : [email protected] the Senate in the city states), presided over by a Prime above all, for carrying out tasks relating to their local URL: www.landesvertretung.rlp.de Minister (in the city states the equivalent post is that of mayor population. They also perform administrative tasks Saarland 46 avenue de la Renaissance – 1000 Brussels Stefan Feiler or governing mayor) who represents the respective Land in its incumbent on the state in cases where the requisite Tel.:+32/2/7430793 – Fax: +32/2/7327370 contacts with external bodies. responsibility is transferred. As the smallest organisational URL: www.saarland.de unit of the State, municipalities and towns have no legislative Saxony 67 avenue d'Auderghem – 1040 Brussels Ulrich Beyer The Länder have a particularly important role to play in the powers but are able to adopt local regulations and by-laws. Tel.: +32/2/235-8720 – Fax: +32/2/235-8722 implementation of laws. The Land authorities are not only The principal of local self-government is enshrined in E-Mail: [email protected] responsible for enforcing the legal provisions adopted by the constitutional law. URL: www.sachsen.de Land Parliaments; they are also usually individually Saxony-Anhalt 80 boulevard Saint Michel – 1040 Brussels Thomas Wobben responsible for implementing legal provisions adopted by the Municipalities, towns and rural districts or Landkreise have Tel.: +32/2/7410-930 – Fax: +32/2/7410-939 national legislative body, i.e. the federal government. joined a variety of national-level associations for E-Mail: [email protected] municipalities: URL: www.stk.sachsen-anhalt.de In addition to their own separate legislative and administrative ■ Thuringia 111 rue F. Pelletier – 1030 Brussels Christine Holeschovsky activities, the Länder also participate to a considerable degree the Deutscher Städtetag (Congress of German towns) Tel.: +32/2/737-5241 – Fax: +32/2/736-5379 in the national legislative procedure through their ■ the Deutscher Landkreistag (the Congress of URL: www.thueringen.de involvement with the upper house of the Federal Parliament, German Rural Districts) the Bundesrat. Each of the Land Governments sends representatives to the Bundesrat. This latter body has to play ■ the Deutscher Städte- und Gemeindebund its part in all draft legislation. Particular national laws, such as (Association of German towns and Municipalities).

6 7 e Representations of the local authorities REPRESENTATION ADDRESS RESPONSIBLE Europabüro des deutschen Avenue des Nerviens 9-31 – 1040 Brussels Tanja Struve Landkreistages (DLT) Tel.: +32/2/740.16.32 – Fax: +32/2/740.16.31 E-Mail: [email protected] Europabüro des deutschen Städte- Avenue des Nerviens, 9-31, bte 3 – 1040 Brussels Klaus Nutzenberger und Gemeindebundes Tel.: +32/2/740.16.40 – Fax: +32/2/740.16.41 E-Mail: [email protected] Europabüro des deutschen Avenue des Nerviens, 9-31, bte 3 – 1040 Brussels Walter Leitermann Städtetages Tel.: +32/2/740.16.20 – Fax: +32/2/740.16.41 E-Mail: [email protected]

DATE MEETING VENUE JANUARY 25 Commission for External Relations and Decentralised Cooperation (RELEX) Brussels 29 Committee for Administrative and Financial Affairs (CAFA) Brussels 31 Commission for Territorial Cohesion (COTER) Brussels FEBRUARY 2 Commission for Economic and Social Policy (ECOS) Brussels 12 Committee Bureau Meeting Brussels 13/14 Plenary session Brussels 27 Commission for Constitutional Affairs, European Governance and the Area of Freedom, Brussels Security and Justice (CONST) MARCH 6 Commission for Sustainable Development (DEVE) Brussels 12 Committee for Financial and Administrative Affairs (CFAA) Brussels 16 Commission for Territorial Cohesion (COTER) Brussels 22/23 Plenary Session Rome 29 Commission for External Relations and Decentralised Cooperation (RELEX) Brussels 30 Commission for Economic and Social Policy (ECOS) Brussels APRIL 16/17 Commission for Culture, Education and Research (EDUC) Bolzano 19/20 Extraordinary meeting of the Committee Bureau Würzburg MAY 2/3 Commission for Constitutional Affairs, European Governance and the Area of Freedom, Münster Security and Justice (CONST) 23/24 Commission for Territorial Cohesion (COTER) Halle 31 Commission for External Relations and Decentralised Cooperation (RELEX) Brussels JUNE 5/6 Committee Bureau Meeting Brussels 6/7 Plenary Session Brussels 19 Commission for Sustainable Development (DEVE) Brussels 22 Seminar organised by the Commission for Economic and Social Policy (ECOS) Potsdam 27 Commission for Culture, Education and Research (EDUC) Brussels 28/29 Commission for Economic and Social Policy (ECOS) Reggio Emilia

Contact points Dr. Thorsten Hemming Monika Pietrzak Committee of the Regions Registration and support services for Bavarian State Chancellery Committee Members Franz-Joseph-Strauß-Ring 1 Committee of the Regions January 2007 D-80539 Munich Building Jacques Delors Edited by Press and Communication Unit Tel.: +49/89/2165-2642 Rue Belliard 99-101 Fax:+49/89/2165-2129 B-1040 Brussels Committee of the Regions Building Jacques Delors E-Mail: [email protected] Tel.: +32/2/282/2509 Rue Belliard 99-101 Internet: www.bayern.de Fax: +32/2/282/2119 B - 1040 Brussels E-Mail: [email protected] Internet: www.cor.europa.eu Tel.: +32 2/282 21.55 • Fax : +32 2/282 20.85

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