National Assembly Member appointed to important European role

20 October 2010

National Assembly Member Christine Chapman AM has been appointed to a new role as one of two Political Co-ordinators for the European Union’s Committee of the Regions’ network of local and regional authorities (LRAs) called the Europe 2020 Monitoring Platform.

Mrs Chapman has been the National Assembly for Wales’s representative on the Committee of the Regions - the political body that provides local and regional authorities with a voice in European Union policy development and legislation - since 2008.

Its Europe 2020 Monitoring Platform has over 140 members and exists to monitor implementation of the EU’s new ten-year economic strategy, Europe 2020. The strategy encourages sharing best practice and highlighting any difficulties LRAs may face in terms of relations with the national governments.

The other chosen Political Co-ordinator is President Vendola of the Puglia region in Italy.

Mrs Chapman said: “I am pleased to be appointed to this new role of Political Co-ordinator of the Europe 2020 Monitoring Platform, together with President Vendola.

“The platform brings together over 140 regional and local authorities across Europe and is an opportunity to exchange best practice on actions that work on the ground, in terms of stimulating economic growth and addressing the challenges posed by climate change and learning to live more sustainably.

“I am keen to ensure that we use this platform to benefit Wales, both as a vehicle for highlighting what we are doing well and to enable us to draw from the positive experiences of other parts of Europe. It is people on the ground that change communities and make things happen, and I will be aiming to ensure that through this network the work at the grassroots is showcased in Brussels.”