European Alliance

For the former group in the European Parliament, see Union for Europe of the Nations.

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Political party

European Alliance group in the European Committee of the Regions

President| Karl Vanlouwe
Founded| 1996
Ideology| Regionalism (politics) Centrism
European Committee of the Regions|

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Website
http://www.ea.cor.europa.eu

The European Alliance (EA) is a political group in the European Committee of the Regions composed of a mix of regionalist parties and independent members. It was established in 1996, with strong influence of the European Free Alliance, and has since then existed in several incarnations.

Currently, the group gathers 29 local and regional politicians from the following Member States: Belgium, France, Ireland, Lithuania, Netherlands, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, and Spain.

## History

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Since its foundation in 1996 until 2004, the European Alliance group consisted of the European Free Alliance's member parties aligned with a group of independents and the then-governing party of Ireland, Fianna Fáil, thus serving as a relatively loose grouping of regionalist and non-regionalist members of the European Committee of the Regions. The group's main founding principles included:

* Support for an open Europe of regions and nations
* Support for highest possible standards for environmental protection, workers' health, consumer protection, veterinary rules, social welfare and democratic principles

In 2004 the group was reconstituted as Union for Europe of the Nations – European Alliance (UEN–EA), uniting a wide range of political options, from traditionally centrist parties to more national-conservative ones. At the time, the group was partly affiliated with the European Parliament's Union for Europe of the Nations.

In 2009, the group restored its original name and has since returned to its regionalist roots.

## Present

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EA group currently gathers 29 members and alternates from Catalonia, Corsica, Flanders, Friesland, Hungary, Ireland, Lithuania, Navarra, Poland, Romania and Slovakia.

## Political priorities

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Apart from its regionalist affiliations, the group gathers a significant number of independent members active in the development of Europe's disadvantaged regions, particularly rural, mountainous and island areas. In addition, a strong focus is put on the promotion of green economy and the protection of Europe's cultural and linguistic diversity, especially regional identities.

Some of the group's main priorities include:[1]

* Cohesive Union based on common responsibilities and solidarity
* Increased EU support for entrepreneurship, SMEs and social enterprises at a local and regional level
* Balanced development across all of EU's regions, particularly focused on narrowing the gaps between rich and poorer regions and ensuring an urban-rural balance.
* Investment in green growth and technologies aimed at enhancing a low carbon economy, improving energy efficiency and protecting the environment and natural resources
* Universal access to education
* Promotion of Europe's cultural and linguistic diversity, particularly of lesser used and regional languages
* Support for the principle of self-determination, including support for the EU's "internal enlargement", provided that it is achieved through a peaceful and democratic process
* Better European governance through a considerable improvement in the functioning, simplicity and transparency of the EU.

## Presidents

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The current president of the group is Mr Karl Vanlouwe, Member of the Flemish Parliament.

Previous presidents include:

Period  | Name  | Authority  | Country

|
|
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1998 – 2002  | Seán Ó Neachtain | Galway County Council  | Ireland
2002 – 2004  | Annette McNamara  | Cork County Council  | Ireland
2004 – 2006  | Keith Brown | Clackmannanshire Council  | Scotland
2006 – 2007  | Maria Corrigan | Dún Laoghaire–Rathdown County Council and Dublin Regional Authority  | Ireland
2007 – 2010  | Paul O' Donoghue  | Kerry County Council  | Ireland
2010 – 2012  | Jerzy Zająkała  | Mayor of Lubianka  | Poland
2012 – 2015  | Uno Silberg  | Kose Municipality Council  | Estonia
2015 – 2017  | Stanisław Szwabski  | Gdynia City Council  | Poland
2017 – 2020  | Karl Vanlouwe | Member of the Flemish Parliament  | Flanders
2020 – 2022  | Kieran McCarthy  | Cork City Council  | Ireland
2022 –  | Karl Vanlouwe | Member of the Flemish Parliament  | Flanders

## References

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1. ^ "Political priorities". web.cor.europa.eu. European Alliance. Retrieved 31 March 2020.

## External links

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* Official website
* EA Group's political priorities for 2020-2025
* EA Group's mission statement
* European Committee of the Regions
* European Free Alliance