Conference of European Regions with Legislative Power

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Conference of European Regions with Legislative Power
Conference of European Regions with Legislative Power logo.png
Logo
Headquarters Brussels
Type Intergovernmental organisation
Membership73 participating regions from 8 sovereign states
Leaders
 President of CALRE
José Manuel Rodrigues
Establishment
 CALRE
7 October 1997
 RLEG
2000

The Conference of European Regions with Legislative Power (RLEG) is a political network and joint initiative of leading regions in Europe with legislative power, their own system of government, parliament and head of government. It primarily consists of representatives of regional governments from European Union (EU) member states. The countries of Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales are members of the conference, and although located in Europe, they are no longer part of the European Union. It is not a formal EU institution, and only 73 regions of 8 member states participate.

Contents

Background

The Conference of European Regions with Legislative Power advocates for a system of multilevel governance across the European Union (EU) by advocating for co-responsibility in the integration process. The body suggests that this would ensure the "precise application of the decentralised dimension of the principles of subsidiarity and proportionality". [1]

The network aims to bring together the regions across the European Union and continental Europe who hold legislative powers with devolved systems of government which hold legal competencies that have been created as a result of the political and constitutional mechanism of the member states of the European Union in which the region is part of. [2] In the case of Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales, these three countries are no longer part of the European Union, following a United Kingdom wide decision to leave the European Union in 2016.

At a point, the regions part of the conference accounted for 56% of the total population of the European Union. [3]

History

Conference of European Regional Legislative Assemblies

On 7 October 1997, the Conference of European Regional Legislative Assemblies (CALRE) was established in Oviedo, Spain, following a period of meetings to enhance European roles for regional legislatures.

Three precedents were the founding principles: [4]

The Conference of European Regional Legislative Assemblies serves as a conference of the seventy-four presidents of the regional legislative assemblies across continental Europe and European Union member states. The current composition of Conference of European Regional Legislative Assemblies is made up of representation from the parliaments of the Spanish communities, Italian regional councils, the federated states of Germany and Austria, the Portuguese regions of l'Açores and Madeira, the countries of the United Kingdom with devolved national parliaments – Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, Ǻland Islands in Finland and Belgium community and regional chambers. [4]

Conference of European Regions with Legislative Power

Following the Barcelona Conference held in 2000, six presidents (heads of governments of the membership regions of the conference) were appointed to manage the network which was agreed following the conference held in Barcelona. The six members responsible for managing the network following the Barcelona Conference were Baden-Württemberg, Catalonia, Scotland, Tuscany, Tyrol and Wallonia. Flanders spearheaded discussions around the creation of a political declaration by Bavaria, Catalonia, North-Rhine Westphalia, Salzburg, Scotland, Flanders and Wallonia and defining regions with legislative power as "regions having a legislature as defined in Article 3 of the First Protocol to the European Convention on Human Rights". [5]

In November 2002 during a meeting of the conference held in Florence, the REGLEG conference called for greater roles and representation of regions with legislative across the European continent in regards to the European Union. Previously, in 2001, the European Council adopted the Laeken Declaration as part of the Convention on the Future of Europe which acknowledged the enhanced roles regions of Europe with legislative power could have in regards to decision making across the European Union. The European Commission formally recognised the White Paper on Governance which highlighted the role regions of Europe with legislative power and own system of government could. As a result, the European Commission formally recognised the "enhanced inclusion of the sub-national authorities can contribute to the quality of European decision- making" and called on each of the member states of the European Union to suggest how relations and decision making processes between the European Union and regions with legislative power can be improved. [3]

Leadership

Membership

Members

Member nameSymbolsParliamentHead of governmentStatus
ArmsFlag
Scotland Royal Arms of the Kingdom of Scotland.svg Flag of Scotland.svg Scottish Parliament First Minister of Scotland Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Countries of the United Kingdom
Wales Arms of Wales.svg Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg Senedd First Minister of Wales
Northern Ireland -- Northern Ireland Assembly First Minister and deputy First Minister of Northern Ireland
Burgenland Burgenland Wappen.svg Flag of Burgenland.svg Landtag Burgenland Governor Flag of Austria.svg States of Austria
Carinthia Kaernten CoA.svg Flag of Karnten.svg Carinthian Landtag Governor
Lower Austria Niederosterreich CoA.svg Flag of Niederosterreich.svg Landtag of Lower Austria Governor
Salzburg Wappen at salzburg stadt.png Flag of Salzburg, Vienna, Vorarlberg.svg Salzburg Landtag Governor
Styria Steiermark Wappen.svg Flag of Styria.svg Landtag Styria Governor
Tyrol AUT Tirol COA.svg Flag of Tirol and Upper Austria.svg Tyrolean Landtag Governor
Upper Austria Oberoesterreich Wappen.svg Flag of Oberosterreich.svg Landtag of Upper Austria Governor
Vienna Insigne Vindobonae.svg Flag of Wien.svg Municipal Council and Landtag of Vienna Mayor and Governor
Vorarlberg Vorarlberg CoA.svg Flag of Salzburg, Vienna, Vorarlberg.svg Landtag of Vorarlberg Governor
Flemish Region Blason Comte de Flandre.svg Flag of Flanders.svg Flemish Parliament Minister-President of Flanders Flag of Belgium (civil).svg Regions of Belgium
Wallonia Official coat of arms of Wallonia.svg Flag of Wallonia.svg Parliament of Wallonia Minister-President of Wallonia
Åland Coat of arms of Aland.svg Flag of Aland.svg Parliament of Åland Lantråd Flag of Finland.svg Regions of Finland
Baden-Württemberg Coat of arms of Baden-Wurttemberg (lesser).svg Flag of Baden-Wurttemberg.svg Landtag of Baden-Württemberg Minister President of Baden-Württemberg Flag of Germany.svg States of Germany
Bavaria Arms of the Free State of Bavaria.svg Flag of Bavaria (lozengy).svg Landtag of Bavaria Minister President of Bavaria
Berlin Country symbol of Berlin color.svg Flag of Berlin.svg Abgeordnetenhaus of Berlin Governing Mayor of Berlin
Brandenburg Brandenburg Wappen.svg Flag of Brandenburg.svg Landtag of Brandenburg Minister President of Brandenburg
Bremen Bremen Wappen.svg Flag of Bremen.svg Bürgerschaft of Bremen Mayor of Bremen
Hamburg Coat of arms of Hamburg.svg Flag of Hamburg.svg Hamburg Parliament Mayor of Hamburg
Hesse Coat of arms of Hesse.svg Flag of Hesse.svg Landtag of Hesse Minister President of Hesse
Lower Saxony Coat of arms of Lower Saxony.svg Flag of Lower Saxony.svg Landtag of Lower Saxony Minister-President of Lower Saxony
Mecklenburg-Vorpommern Coat of arms of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania (great).svg Flag of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania.svg Landtag of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern Minister President of Mecklenburg
North Rhine-Westphalia Coat of arms of North Rhine-Westfalia.svg Flag of North Rhine-Westphalia.svg Landtag of North Rhine-Westphalia Minister-President of North Rhine-Westphalia
Rhineland-Palatinate Coat of arms of Rhineland-Palatinate.svg Flag of Rhineland-Palatinate.svg Landtag of Rhineland-Palatinate Minister President of Rhineland-Palatinate
Saarland Wappen des Saarlands.svg Flag of Saarland.svg Landtag of Saarland Minister President of Saarland
Saxony Coat of arms of Saxony.svg Flag of Saxony.svg Landtag of Saxony Minister President of Saxony
Saxony-Anhalt Wappen Sachsen-Anhalt.svg Flag of Saxony-Anhalt (state).svg Landtag of Saxony-Anhalt Minister President of Saxony-Anhalt
Schleswig-Holstein DEU Schleswig-Holstein COA.svg Flag of Schleswig-Holstein.svg Landtag of Schleswig-Holstein Minister President of Schleswig-Holstein
Thuringia Coat of arms of Thuringia.svg Flag of Thuringia.svg Landtag of Thuringia Minister President of Thuringia
Abruzzo Regione-Abruzzo-Stemma.svg Flag of Abruzzo.svg Regional Council of Abruzzo President of Abruzzo Flag of Italy.svg Regions of Italy
Aosta Valley Valle d'Aosta-Stemma.svg Flag of Valle d'Aosta.svg Regional Council of Aosta Valley President of Aosta Valley
Apulia Coat of Arms of Apulia.svg Flag of Apulia.svg Regional Council of Apulia President of Apulia
Basilicata Regione-Basilicata-Stemma.svg Flag of Basilicata.svg Regional Council of Basilicata President of Basilicata
Calabria Coat of arms of Calabria.svg Flag of Calabria.svg Regional Council of Calabria President of Calabria
Campania Regione-Campania-Stemma.svg Flag of Campania.svg Regional Council of Campania President of Campania
Emilia-Romagna Regione-Emilia-Romagna-Stemma.svg Flag of Emilia-Romagna (de facto).svg Legislative Assembly of Emilia-Romagna President of Emilia-Romagna
Friuli-Venezia Giulia CoA of Friuli-Venezia Giulia.svg Flag of Friuli-Venezia Giulia.svg Regional Council of Friuli-Venezia Giulia President of Friuli-Venezia Giulia
Lazio Lazio Coat of Arms.svg Flag of Lazio.svg Regional Council of Lazio President of Lazio
Liguria Coat of arms of Liguria.svg Flag of Liguria.svg Regional Council of Liguria President of Liguria
Lombardy Flag of Lombardy square.svg Flag of Lombardy.svg Regional Council of Lombardy President of Lombardy
Marche Coat of arms of Marche.svg Flag of Marche.svg Legislative Assembly of Marche President of Marche
Molise Regione-Molise-Stemma.svg Flag of Molise.svg Regional Council of Molise President of Molise
Piedmont Regione-Piemonte-Stemma.svg Flag of Piedmont.svg Regional Council of Piedmont President of Piedmont
Sardinia Sardegna-Stemma.svg Flag of Sardinia.svg Regional Council of Sardinia President of Sardinia
Sicily Coat of arms of Sicily.svg Flag of Sicily (revised).svg Sicilian Regional Assembly President of Sicily
Trentino-Alto Adige/Südtirol Coat of arms of Trentino-South Tyrol.svg Flag of Trentino-South Tyrol.svg Regional Council of Trentino-Alto Adige/Südtirol President of Trentino-Alto Adige/Südtirol
Tuscany Coat of arms of Tuscany.svg Flag of Tuscany.svg Regional Council of Tuscany President of Tuscany
Umbria Regione-Umbria-Stemma.svg Flag of Umbria.svg Legislative Assembly of Umbria President of Umbria
Umbria Coat of Arms of Veneto.png Flag of Veneto.svg Regional Council of Veneto President of Veneto
Azores Insigne incognitum.svg Flag of the Azores.svg Legislative Assembly of the Azores President of the Azores Flag of Portugal.svg Autonomous Regions of Portugal
Madeira Insigne Insularum Materiae.svg Flag of Madeira.svg Legislative Assembly of Madeira President of the Regional Government of Madeira
Andalusia Escudo heraldico de Andalucia.svg Flag of Andalucia.svg Parliament of Andalusia President of the Regional Government of Andalusia Flag of Spain.svg Autonomous communities of Spain
Aragon Shield of Aragon.svg Flag of Aragon.svg Cortes of Aragon President of the Government of Aragon
Asturias Arms of Asturias.svg Flag of Asturias.svg General Junta of the Principality of Asturias President of the Principality of Asturias
Balearic Islands Balearic Islands Arms.svg Flag of the Balearic Islands.svg Parliament of the Balearic Islands President of the Government of the Balearic Islands
Basque Country Arms of the Basque Country.svg Flag of the Basque Country.svg Basque Parliament Lehendakari
Canary Islands Arms of the Canary Islands.svg Flag of the Canary Islands.svg Parliament of the Canary Islands President of the Canary Islands
Cantabria Arms of Cantabria.svg Flag of Cantabria.svg Parliament of Cantabria President of Cantabria
Castile and León Arms of Castile and Leon.svg Flag of Castile and Leon.svg Cortes of Castile and León President of the Junta of Castile and León
Castilla–La Mancha Insigne incognitum.svg Bandera Castilla-La Mancha.svg Cortes of Castilla–La Mancha President of the Junta of Communities of Castilla–La Mancha
Catalonia Arms of the Former Crown of Aragon-Coat of Arms of Spain Template.svg Flag of Catalonia.svg Parliament of Catalonia President of the Government of Catalonia
Extremadura Arms of Extremadura.svg Flag of Extremadura with COA.svg Assembly of Extremadura President of the Regional Government of Extremadura
Galicia Arms of Galicia (Spain).svg Flag of Galicia.svg Parliament of Galicia President of the Regional Government of Galicia
La Rioja Arms of La Rioja (Spain).svg Flag of La Rioja (with coat of arms).svg Parliament of La Rioja President of La Rioja
Madrid Arms of the Community of Madrid.svg Flag of the Community of Madrid.svg Assembly of Madrid President of the Community of Madrid
Murcia Arms of the Spanish Region of Murcia.svg Flag of the Region of Murcia.svg Regional Assembly of Murcia President of the Region of Murcia
Navarre Arms of Navarre-Coat of Arms of Spain Template.svg Bandera de Navarra.svg Parliament of Navarre President of the Government of Navarre
Valencia Arms of the Pyrenees-Orientales.svg Flag of the Valencian Community (2x3).svg Corts Valencianes President of the Valencian Government

See also

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References

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