The Congress,

Further to the proposal from the Chamber of Regions,

1. Taking note of the report, “Assessment of the results of the Economic Forums of the Regions of Europe 1996-99”;

2. Fully endorsing the final declarations of the First East/West Economic Forum of the Regions of Europe (Geneva, 18-20 January 1996) and the Economic Forums of the Regions of Europe in Dortmund (23-26 June 1996), Moscow (25 and 26 November 1996), Vienna (9-12 September 1997), Bucharest (2-4 July 1998) and Weimar (3 and 4 May 1999);

3. Drawing attention to:

a. the function of pursuing socio-economic action assigned to the Council of Europe, and hence the Congress, in inter alia Articles 1.a and 1.b of the Council of Europe Statute, signed in London on 5 May 1949;

b. Recommendations 23 (1996), 27 (1996), 37 (1997) and 69 (1999) on the results of a number of these forums, which were addressed to governments and international institutions and were aimed at promoting inter-regional and transfrontier socio-economic co-operation between regions of Council of Europe member states and increasing their socio-economic powers;

c. Resolutions 38 (1996), 42 (1996) and 86 (1999) on a number of these forums, Resolution 54 (1997) on sustainable development and Resolution 72 (1998), “The regions and employment: contribution to social cohesion in Europe”;

d. Parliamentary Assembly recommendations supporting governments’ policies in this field, particularly with regard to countries in transition in central and eastern Europe;

e. the Final Declaration and Action Plan of the Second Summit of Heads of State and Government of the Council of Europe, which stated that social cohesion and transfrontier co-operation were among the Organisation’s priorities;

f. the report of the Committee of Wise Persons to the Committee of Ministers entitled “Building Greater Europe without dividing lines”, which emphasised the need for the Council of Europe “to ensure that all member states comply with Council of Europe standards and to reach out to new members and assist them in their legal, political and social transformation”;

4. Pointing out:

a. the relevance of the themes dealt with by the various Economic Forums of the Regions of Europe since 1996, and their constant aim of promoting east/west partnerships at local and regional level with a view to sustainable development;

b. the very large number of leading economic and political bodies, representing a broad spectrum of regions and municipalities, which have taken part in the forums, forged new links and, in some cases, had the opportunity to display - and hence raise awareness of - their products or achievements,

I. Requests regional authorities and those attending the forums to:

a. play a more systematic part in following up the forums by keeping the Congress and the FEDRE informed of contacts concerning joint co-operation projects and partnerships set up at the forums and how those contacts develop;

b. to make known their real needs and subjects to be treated by future forums;

c. inform the Congress and the FEDRE of their aims and needs regarding socio-economic partnerships;

d. disseminate CLRAE and FEDRE documents about the forums and their results among potentially interested bodies or associations in the socio-economic field;

II. Recommends that the Bureau of the Congress instruct the competent Commission:

a. to authorise the organisation of a further East/West forum in 2001, to invite applications to host it and to propose attractive subjects for its programme;

b. consider how to clarify and formalise relations and the apportionment of tasks between the Congress and the Foundation for the Economy and Sustainable Development of the Regions of Europe (FEDRE), as permanent co-organisers of the forums;

c. draw up a set of requirements which cities or regions applying to host future forums must undertake to meet. (These had to include all technical details for its organisation);

d. use the FEDRE and the CLRAE website as an interactive channel for forum information and publicity both during and after the forums;

e. to contribute with these activities to the aims of the Stability Pact for South-Eastern Europe and the sustainable development of this region.