Valcárcel: "Regions' and cities' contribution is key in rethinking Europe's growth and jobs strategy"
The President of the EU's Committee of the Region has called on local and regional authorities to participate in the consultation on Europe 2020 launched by the European Commission on 5 May. By taking part in the consultation cities and regions will help shape the proposals that will be made by the newly appointed Commission in early 2015 for the mid-term review of Europe's growth strategy.
According to the EU's regions and cities, Europe's current growth strategy - Europe 2020 - can only change or fail. Indeed, the strategy is seriously underperforming on key indicators such as employment, research and development as well as the fight against poverty and without a stronger territorial focus and a widespread adoption of multi-level governance, its objectives will never be fulfilled. In this perspective, the Committee of the Regions welcomes the public consultation on the Europe 2020 strategy for smart, sustainable and inclusive growth, launched by the European Commission on 5 May, as part of the mid-term review of the strategy.
"The Committee of the Regions strongly encourages EU local and regional authorities to contribute to this consultation", said President Valcárcel, adding that: "Bringing the voice of local and regional authorities in the mid-term review of the strategy is a key political priority for us".
The Committee has undertaken an in-depth assessment of the design and implementation of Europe 2020, based on consultations and conferences that have involved more than 1500 local and regional authorities in the last 18 months.
The outcome shows that Europe 2020 is not delivering its promises as it lacks a territorial dimension. Its goals and targets do not sufficiently take into account local and regional specific starting points, assets and challenges. It is more and more urgent that Member States establish territorially differentiated targets, to be defined in partnership with all levels of government.
The key messages of this assessment as well as the CoRs' Athens Declaration, were delivered over the past few months to all EU institutions' leaders. The public consultation offers local and regional authorities a further opportunity to contribute to the review by answering on line a questionnaire focusing on substantial issues related to the strategy's goals and implementation. The consultation will be closed on 31 October 2014.
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