Mecklenburg-Vorpommern in Brussels
In its Basic Constitutional Law the Federal Republic of Germany commits itself to the creation of a united Europe. The inhabitants of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern experience the impact of this coalescence every day: Our state profits in various ways from Germany’s EU membership. Within the European Union Mecklenburg-Vorpommern is considered to be a target 1 region and is therefore ranked particularly worthy of support. The Land has enjoyed comprehensive financial support during recent years. Numerous projects have been started with the financial support from EU structure funds; substantial improvements of the infrastructure in the fields of economy, social affairs and culture have thus been achieved.
The German Federal states dispose of extensive rights of information, participation and co-operation in the development of the European Union. Above all, the states execute these rights through the Federal Council in Berlin and through their co-operation in the Ausschuss der Regionen (AdR – Committee of the Regions) of the European Union.
In the Federal Council Mecklenburg-Vorpommern has the possibility to position itself in matters of legislative projects in the Federal Council in the EU. In particularly urgent or confidential matters the European Chamber takes decisions instead of the Federal Council. The Prime Minister of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Erwin Sellering, is a member of this chamber.
The Ausschuss der Regionen (AdR) represents the interests of regional and local authorities within the European Union. The Ausschuss der Regionen holds a plenary meeting five times a year. The work is carried out, over and above, in six special committees. The AdR was established in 1994 after the Maastricht Treaty had become effective. The committee consists of 317 members among which are 24 representatives of German cities, administrative districts and federal states.
In 1991 Mecklenburg-Vorpommern established an information office in Brussels in order to inform the state government and public authorities in good time about current legislative projects and developments on the EU level. This office also provides advice to companies, associations and organisations about EU support programmes and about new EU projects. Furthermore, the office promotes the region of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern in Europe with various events. The information office reports to the State Chancellery of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern.
Contact:
Information Office of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern at the European Union
(Informationsbüro Mecklenburg-Vorpommern bei der Europäischen Union)
Boulevard Saint-Michel 80
1040 Brüssel
Belgium
phone: 0032-2-741-6000
fax: 0032-2-741-6009
e-mail:post@mv-office.eu
Internet: www.mv-office.eu