During this interview with the magazine Inforegio, Jos Chabert, President of the Committee of the Regions from 2000 to 2002, sets out the Committee's priorities in view of enlargement of the European Union. Powers and responsibilities in the areas of consultation and information must enable the Committee to work both towards the promotion of social and economic cohesion, in particular with regard to regional policy but also common policies, and towards the strengthening of the partnership principle so that the regional and local bodies might have greater involvement in the development and implementation of programmes financed by the Structural Funds.