CoR Plenary: CoR to debate cohesion policy with EU Commissioner Crețu at next plenary
Also on #CoRplenary agenda: Juncker's plan, EU migration policy and reconnecting citizens to Europe, 3-4 December, Brussels
During its last plenary session of the year, the Committee of the Regions' (CoR) will welcome Corina Crețu i, Commissioner for Regional Policy, who will present her mandate's priorities. Delays in cohesion policy implementation and the impact on regions and cities of the European Commission's €315bn investment plan will be among the hot topics for discussion. CoR members will also debate how to create an EU migration policy that better guarantees solidarity and ensures a fair sharing of responsibility. The vote on the related CoR opinion will be preceded by a debate with the Italian State Secretary for the Interior, Domenico Manzione.
Re-launching public investment and implementing 2014-2020 Cohesion policy
A political resolution will be discussed and adopted following the debate on Juncker's plan, linked to discussions on an opinion on promoting quality in public investment by CoR First Vice-President Catiuscia Marini i (IT/PES), President of the Umbria Region. How to ensure the impact of regional investment will also be the focus of an opinion on the European Commission's Sixth Cohesion Report by Nicola Zingaretti i (IT/PES), President of the Lazio Region. Overcoming current delays in launching 2014-2020 operational programmes will be among the key challenge up for discussion.
Promoting "genuine solidarity" in EU Migration policy
The Italian Presidency of the EU has placed immigration and the development of a Common European Migration Policy at the top of its agenda. It has called on the CoR to share regions' and cities' view in an opinion led by François Decoster (FR/ALDE), Mayor of Saint-Omer. He argues the reception of migrants is unevenly spread both within and between Member States, with some regions taking a greater share of responsibility in processing migrants. Mechanisms should be put in place, he argues, to better support local authorities in addressing this challenge whilst ensuring "genuine solidarity" with migrants, third countries of origin, as well as between the various levels of governance.
Also on the agenda:
Reconnecting Europe with its citizens: A call for a 2015-2019 EU Communication Plan
It is the CoRs' view that the crisis of confidence towards the EU requires the European institutions to align their policies and communication tools to reconnect citizens with the European project. Led by Christophe Rouillon (FR/PSE), Mayor of Coulaines, CoR members will debate proposals for a communication plan which sets measurable targets for all the institutions by the next European elections in 2019. The proposed plan places regions, cities and local and national media at the heart of a firmly decentralised communications strategy.
Exploiting the potential of Europe's organic sector and oceans
The EU's organic market is a growth sector worth €19.7bn in 2011 and forecast to rise. Reacting to European Commission plans to support the market, in her opinion Willemien Hester Maij (NL/EPP), Member of the Council of Overijssel province, will call for more investment to support the transition and laments that the proposal ignores the local and regional perspective.
Adam Banaszak (PL/ECR), Member of the Kujawsko-Pomorskie Regional Assembly, will present his opinion on innovation in the Blue Economy . Banaszak recognises the benefits that Blue Growth offers for local economies but it must be balanced with environmental protection. He calls for information to be made available at a regional level so it can benefit both the public and private sectors.
Improving Healthcare in the EU
Improving health care services in the EU will also be the focus of debate. Martin Andreasson (SV/EPP), Councillor of Västra Götaland, will present his opinion on mHealth - using technology to allow citizens to manage their health - which he argues must include measures to protect citizens' privacy. How to improve the "effectiveness, accessibility and resilience" of Member States' healthcare systems is also the centre of Karsten Uno Petersen's (DK/PES) opinion . Local and regional authorities face similar challenges in delivering quality health care at a time when costs are rising and workforce is ageing. The Member of South Denmark Regional Council will stress the importance of addressing the issue nationally, regionally and locally.
The plenary will be held in the European Parliament, Paul Henri Spaak building (hemicycle), in Brussels.
Debates will be streamed live on www.cor.europa.eu
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