“Long-term and intergenerational fairness – ensuring that decisions made today are fair to both current and future generations –  must become determinants of everyday local and regional democratic processes and decisions,” stressed Congress Secretary General Mathieu Mori today at the Summer Academy 2026 of the Assembly of European Regions (AER) in Coma-ruga, Spain, on 17 September 2026.

He underlined the importance of giving young people a meaningful voice in democratic decision-making in increasingly ageing societies, while highlighting the need for locally driven and place-based approaches to address the challenges facing rural and declining territories. Referring to the Congress’s forthcoming work on “Regional Exodus in Europe: addressing the causes and creating new opportunities for rural communities”, he pointed out that successful regional development was not necessarily measured by population growth, but by the quality of life and opportunities available to people, which regularly included healthier environment or a stronger sense of community in rural areas.

Secretary General Mori also emphasised the role of participation, consultation and deliberative processes in enabling communities to contribute more directly to difficult decisions and ensuring that different needs are considered transparently and fairly.

In his closing message, he invited regional representatives to “give every territory the chance to remain a place of opportunity and quality of life.”

The AER Summer Academy 2026, held from 16 to 19 September, focuses on “No Generation Left Behind” and brings together regional representatives, officials and young people to exchange on intergenerational fairness and the future of Europe’s regions.