News Release : 28 October 2004

Joint release from South East England Regional Assembly,
South East England Development Agency (SEEDA) and South East England House

SOUTH EAST ENGLAND DELIVERS EUROPE’S ECONOMIC SUCCESS

South East England has an important part to play in Europe’s global competitiveness. In its ‘Lisbon Agenda’ the European Union (EU) has set out to be the most thriving economy in the world. This challenge is central to the European Commission’s new proposals for regional policy from 2007 in the recently enlarged Union.

The Commission’s Third Cohesion Report: Competitiveness, Convergence and Co-operation, aims to address regional economic and social inequalities more effectively. But the South East has been pressing upon the Commission the importance of supporting competitive regional economies if Europe is to be successful in the world.

The South East’s views were put to the Commission and MEPs in recent meetings in Brussels involving the Regional Assembly, SEEDA and local authority partnerships across the region. South East England has found common cause with other leading European regions, including Friuli-Venezia Giulia, Haute-Normandie, South Sweden and Öresund Region, Stuttgart Region and the Veneto. They have made the case for EU policies to support Europe’s successful regional economies more strongly, and not simply focus on those regions that are lagging behind. Only in this way will Europe be able to compete with super economies such as the United States and Japan, and emerging world economies such as China and India.

Leading the call, Councillor Cec Tallack, South East England Regional Assembly’s member said: “South East England has a significant role to play and wants to help deliver Europe’s objective in becoming the most thriving knowledge-based economy in the world. Together with other member states we are ready to take on this challenge and encourage the Commission to support co-operation between regions so Europe can be more economically successful.”

Deputy Chair of SEEDA, Robert Douglas, commented: “The South East makes the largest net contribution to the National Exchequer - £17.7billion - of any UK region. As the principal international gateway to the UK, with transport infrastructure of national and international importance, for example Heathrow and Gatwick airports, the Channel Tunnel and major South Coast ports including Dover, Southampton and Portsmouth, the region has many strengths through which it can truly help deliver the Lisbon and Gothenberg Agendas.”

Contact

Lesley van Dijk, PR Executive - 01483 555223

Alistair Moses, PR Executive - 01483 555221

Notes to editors:

1. Please visit the website for more information on Structural Funds http://www.europa.eu.int/scadplus/leg/en/lvb/g24000.htm
2. Lisbon and Gothenberg agenda
   http://europa.eu.int/comm/lisbon_strategy/index_en.html

South East England Regional Assembly

1. The Regional Assembly is the “voluntary regional chamber” for the South East. It was established in January 1999 to give a representative voice to the South East region which covers Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, East and West Sussex, Hampshire, Isle of Wight, Kent, Oxfordshire, and Surrey.
2. The Assembly is made up of 111 members including elected councillors nominated by the region’s local authorities and 37 representatives from other sectors of the community (including business, trades unions, education, housing, health, sports, culture, tourism, faith groups, environmental, community and voluntary organisations).
   
   
3. The Assembly has three areas of core business:
1. It is the representative voice of the South East, engaging and representing its member organisations and, through them, the wider public.
2. The Assembly has a specific role under the Regional Development Agencies' Act 1998 to ensure the accountability of the South East England Development Agency (SEEDA) to the region.
3. The Assembly has been the Regional Planning Body for the South East since April 2001. It has responsibility for proposing strategic planning and transport policies to Government.

SEEDA

SEEDA is the Government funded agency responsible for the economic and social development of the South East of England - the driving force of the UK's economy. Our aim is to create a prosperous, dynamic and inspirational region by helping businesses compete more effectively, training a highly skilled workforce, supporting and enabling our communities while safeguarding our natural resources and cherishing our rich cultural heritage. Please visit www.seeda.co.uk

South East England House

Providing the South East of England with a powerful voice in Europe is one of the Assembly's key objectives. By establishing a permanent presence in Brussels at South East England House the Assembly is able to have direct contact with the European Commission, the Parliament and other Pan-European institutions. It also facilitates networking with organisations from all over the European Union.
Our European office is located at: South East England House, 35, Square de Meeus, 1000 Brussels, Belgium (Tel: 00 32 2504 0720/ Fax: 00 32 2504 0722).

Last updated: 21 August 2007