Alongside the EPP Congress in Rome the EPP Group in the CoR held a seminar today, 30 March, on “Regions & Europe: a better future for citizens”.   Through this initiative, the EPP-representatives of European regions will directly contribute to the EPP Congress and make the voice of European regions heard in the larger EPP family. The EPP in the CoR formulated its positions on the current period of reflection on the future of Europe, one of the topics of the EPP-congress. The main message of the CoR members is that regions and cities must be regarded as privileged partners in bridging the gap between European Institutions and European citizens.   Isidoro Gottardo, President of the EPP/CoR reaffirmed this commitment of cities and regions towards building a better and more participative European Union. “Regions and cities are the most suitable platforms to promote the idea of Europe among citizens. We, the European People's Party, defend a Europe that is closer to its citizens, a Europe of proximity, a Europe with a bottom-up approach”. He also welcomed the Italian reform towards further decentralisation presented by Mr. Valducci, Vice Minister for Productive Activities. In addition, Luc Van den Brande (B), 1st vice president of the CoR, stressed the importance of the monitoring of the subsidiarity-principle, offering regional parliaments to have their voice heard in the European decision making process. He went on to say that “the European project needs support from the Member States, the regions, the cities and the communes. The Union will only be strong if they stand together respecting their own competences and responsibilities”.   The Secretary general of the EPP Party, Mr Lopez Isturiz, stressed that “The European People’s Party, based on its common agreed principles, is the party that is particularly respectful of the role of regional and local authorities in building Europe. Local and regional politicians are the closest to the beating heart of Europe: all our citizens”. The MEPs Antonio Tajani and Armando Dionisi put emphasis on the efforts of the EPP Group in the CoR to promote a citizen-targeted Union. “We have to continue our close cooperation. The know-how of CoR-members is very important to our work”.   The regional presidents who led the debate, namely, Herwig Van Staa, Minister-President of Tirol (A), Yves Leterme, Minister-President of region of Flanders (B), Emilia Müller, Minister of State for European Affairs of Bavaria (D), and Roman Linek, Vice-Governor of Pardubicky region (CZ) placed the emphasis on how regions shape European legislation and thereby contribute to a better future for citizens. “We have many means at our disposal in order to influence the shaping of Europe, but we want a more transparent and democratic EU, which provides citizens real opportunities to develop citizens’ personal and professional interests. We want to make sure that the EU is more understandable, open, and responsive to their needs”.   These calls have been presented in a draft resolution of the EPP in the CoR, to be discussed during the EPP Congress this afternoon and tomorrow. Rome Declaration