Federalist demand better representation of regions
By Lisbeth Kirk
The Vice-President of the Government of the Balearic Islands Pere Sampol I Mas called for better recognition and protection of minority languages in the EU. Speaking in Palma de Mallorca at a European colloquium on "European regions and the federal future of Europe" he demanded "the presence of constitutional regions in the Council of the EU and COREPER."
About 100 European participants attended the colloquium which was organised by the Union of European Federalists (U.E.F.), in co-operation with the Government of the Balearic Islands and the Council of the Island of Mallorca.
Join EUobserver today
Get the EU news that really matters
Instant access to all articles — and 20 years of archives. 14-day free trial.
Choose your plan
... or subscribe as a group
Already a member?
José María Muñoa, Basque Country's President's Delegate for Foreign Affairs, warned against neglecting the regions' presence and demands in the EU and to see their diversity is respected: "Uniformity does not mean union. On the contrary, it can lead to separation".
Spanish Socialist MEP and Deputy Member of the Convention Carlos Carnero said a draft Constitution should increase the role of the regions in European institutions. "The draft European Constitution should be ratified by a single European referendum", he stated.