Speaking in Malmö, Sweden, at a seminar on the role of local and regional authorities in creating a 'green economy', Mercedes Bresso urged Europe to continue to take the lead on sustainable development and secure renewed political commitment for sustainable development".

considers that, in order to reach a consensus among all stakeholders on the proper approach, an open and systematic dialogue is to be held with the national associations of local and regional authorities; praises the efforts that have recently been made to unite the local and regional authorities of Moldova in one single apolitical national association which would represent local and regional communities vis-à-vis the central authorities; urges the authorities of the Republic of Moldova to consider granting local and regional authorities the right of legislative initiative; recommends that efforts to reform the central public administ ...[+++]ration be harnessed to efforts to reform local and regional authorities; this would be an appropriate time to decide which competences should remain in the hands of the central government and which, flanked by the necessary funding, can be delegated or, insofar as administrative capacities permit, transferred to the local and regional authorities;

supporting economic and trade cooperation and strengthening investment relations between the Community and partner countries and regions, including by actions to promote and ensure that private actors, including local and European businesses, contribute to socially responsible and sustainable economic development, including respect for the core labour standards of the International Labour Organization (ILO) and by actions to promote local capacity building;

However, with adequate energy policies in place, locally available renewables could be competitive, in particular for decentralised electricity production, and be in a position to make a significant contribution to the developing countries' current energy needs, in particular taking into account current trends, which indicate that the economics of renewable energy will improve for developing countries, as a result of cost reductions through increased use in developed countries.

It is the first step towards the introduction of high speed Internet access and other broad band services over both types of network in the local loop.

Commission adopts Cable directive a major step towards competition in the local loop