On 15 October 1985, in Strasbourg, following his appointment as President of the Standing Conference of Local and Regional Authorities of Europe, Antonio Siurana i Zaragoza gives an address in which he demonstrates the interest and commitment of local political figures in Spain with regard to European regional policy.

On 15 October 1985, in Strasbourg, at the ceremony held for the signing of the European Charter of Local Self-Government, Félix Pons Irazazábal, Spanish Minister for Territorial Administration, emphasises the importance of this event for European integration and for democracy.

Address given by the Director of the Bank of Scotland, John Shaw, at the Conference on a Europe of the Regions held in Barcelona on 15 November 1990.

On 31 May 1994, in Strasbourg, at the first session of the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of Europe (CLRAE) held from 31 May to 3 June, Pasqual Maragall i Mira, President of the Council of European Municipalities and Regions (CEMR), particularly emphasises the need to create a European citizenship at the level of municipalities and regions.

On 31 May 1994, in Strasbourg, Jordi Pujol, President of the Assembly of European Regions (AER), gives his views to the Assembly of the Council of Europe on the role played by municipalities and regions in forming and developing a European identity for Europe’s citizens.

On 31 May 1994, in Strasbourg, Jordi Pujol, President of the Assembly of European Regions (AER), announces that, following the establishment of the Chamber of Regions and the Chamber of Local Authorities in January, a Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of Europe (CLRAE) is to be created; its first President will be Alexander Tchnernoff.

Jordi Pujol (on the left), President of the Catalan Government, meets Jacques Santer, President of the European Commission, in Brussels on 11 March 1999.

On 6 March 2001, Jordi Pujol (on the right), President of the Catalan Government, meets Viviane Reding, Member of the European Commission responsible for Education and Culture since 16 September 1999.

Handshake between Jordi Pujol (on the left), President of the Catalan Government (1980–2003), and Romano Prodi, President of the European Commission since 1999.

Proceedings from the Third ‘Europa Futura' Forum for Permanent Reflection organised by the Pi i Sunyer Foundation on Regional and Local Studies in October 2003 entitled ‘The attribution of powers and responsibilities among the Union and the Member States, particularly at regional level'. Recognised experts in the field of European institutions and reform give their opinions with the aim of analysing the new distribution of powers and responsibilities in Europe following the Laeken Declaration of 15 December 2001.

On 26 May 2004, Giovanni Di Stasi, President of the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of Europe, awards the Pro Merito Medal to Llibert Cuatrecasas, President of the Congress from 2000 to 2002.

In this interview, Carlos María Bru Purón, Chairman of the Spanish Federal Council of the European Movement from 1986 to 1996 and since 2004, compares Spain's regional policy with other European regions in terms of the principles of autonomy, participation, solidarity and multilevel governance which aim to encourage citizens' participation in European policy.

In this interview, Jordi Pujol, President of Catalonia from 1980 to 2003, discusses the concept of a ‘United States of Europe’ and considers the European social model and the European soft power approach. He also emphasises Catalonia’s ongoing European vocation and its contributions to Spain’s general governability. Finally, he mentions the consequences of the creative tension caused by the centre-periphery relationship in Europe.

In this interview, Jordi Pujol, President of Catalonia from 1980 to 2003 and President of the Assembly of European Regions from 1992 to 1996, explains the role of the Patronat Catalá Pro Europa and of the Catalan nationalist party Convergence and Union, of which Jordi Pujol is one of the founders, in the context of nationalist movements in Europe. He gives his views on the ‘four motors of Europe’, which provide a favourable context for the development of particular contributions of regional identities and initiatives. He also explains the reasons for advocating a structuring of European policy at regional, national and European levels. Finally, he criticises the progressive loss of powers of the Committee of the Regions and, in general, the loss of a ‘European spirit’ among European leaders, a spirit which in the past had been seen, for example, in the consolidation of a Franco-German partnership.

In this interview, José María Gil-Robles, President of the European Parliament from 1997 to 1999, gives his views on the opposing ideas of a ‘Europe of the regions’ and a Europe of nation states. He also explains how the autonomous communities of Spain have helped bring citizens closer to the European Union. Finally, he emphasises the importance of the principle of subsidiarity and the complementary nature of different levels of identity.

The ERDF is one of the European Union’s four Structural Funds, created to reduce discrepancies in terms of prosperity and standard of living and to help European regions facing difficulties. The photo shows the construction of the Pliego dam in Andalusia, Spain.

Since 1994, the Cohesion Fund has contributed to the financing of major projects involving the environment and trans-European transport networks. The photo shows the example of co-funding by the Cohesion Fund of a gauge change for a high-speed AVE train (Alta Velocidad Española), solving the problem of varying rail gauges on the Spanish rail network.

An environmental project co-funded by the Community Cohesion Fund in the Ebro region in Spain with the aim of preventing erosion and developing a plan for reforestation. Since 1994, the Cohesion Fund has contributed to the financing of major projects involving the environment and trans-European transport networks.