"What future for regional democracy and cooperation between European regions?" This was the theme of the debate organised on 9 December in Brussels by the Assembly of European Regions (AER) to mark its 40th anniversary. Addressing the Assembly, the President of the Congress, Marc Cools, stressed that the challenges ahead for our various local and regional authorities will require both strong decisions and a resolutely innovative approach. ‘They will increasingly require interregional cooperation, including beyond national borders. The choices made at local and regional level will shape the Europe of tomorrow, which will be more sustainable, more participatory and more resilient,’ he said.

‘Democracy, transparency and the rule of law are not just principles, they are the pillars of Europe's unity and identity,’ continued the President, stressing that we should defend our democratic values with great determination.