"Raising the citizens’ awareness about the role of the local bodies in the European integration process", "explaining the challenges to be taken up in the decision-making process of the Union": Michel Delabarre, mayor of Dunkerque (France), president of the Committee of the Regions (an advisory body of the EU), explains the purpose of the initiative of the CoR, that will celebrate, in Rome on 22nd and 23rd March, the fiftieth anniversary of the Treaties with a special plenary session during which the floor will be taken by the president of the Republic of Italy, Giorgio Napolitano. "The ceremony explains Delabarre will be attended by six hundred delegates from national, regional and local governments and delegates of the European Youth Summit", held in Rome on the same days. Other "very important persons" will include the president of the European Parliament, Hans-Gert Poettering, the head of the Executive José Manuel Barroso, the former president of the EU Commission, Jacques Delors, the mayors of Rome, Warsaw, Brussels, Istanbul, Stockholm, Maastricht and Lyons. A Declaration of the CoR for Europe, "asking for an ambitious response to the citizens’ expectations, will be adopted confirms Delabarre during the session. The Declaration asks for the completion of the domestic market, more cohesion to face the challenges of globalisation, and a better acknowledgement of the advantages of decentralisation".
