48 UK politicians appointed to EU local and regional assembly
48 politicians from across the UK have been formally appointed to the European Committee of the Regions (CoR) - the EU's political assembly of local and regional authorities. The delegation - proposed by the UK Government and formally approved by the Council of the EU today - will sit on the Committee representing the interests of the UK's local authorities and regions in the EU.
The UK delegation - made up of 24 full and 24 alternates - will form part of the new 350-strong CoR assembly of local and regional politicians which begins a new five year mandate. Members are nominated by the national government to reflect political and geographical balances in the UK.
They will join national delegations from all EU member states as the CoR begins its new mandate. The CoR has existed since 1994 following the signing of the Maastricht Treaty and was established to allow Europe's local and regional governments to have a voice within the European Union. All CoR members are required to be politically accountable in their home councils and devolved authorities. The local and regional politicians gather in Brussels a few times a year to discuss political priorities and adopt opinions on EU legislation.
Cllr Paul Watson , leader of Sunderland City Council and recently elected Leader of the UK delegation to the CoR, said, "We well understand the need for UK local councils and devolved bodies to engage with EU policy-makers and decision-takers. We want to shape EU initiatives to help regenerate our local economies and strengthen our communities, whilst respecting all sectors of society and protecting our environment. At the same time we continue to scrutinise new laws to ensure that they are fit for purpose and do not impose unnecessary burdens on those who have to implement them".
The UK delegation met for the first time on 23 January 2015, and will meet again on 11 February in Brussels during the first plenary session of the new CoRs' mandate where all members will also elect a President and First Vice-President of the assembly.
FULL MEMBERS
NAME
LOCAL / DEVOLVED AUTHORITY
Cllr Stephen Alambritis (PES)
London Borough of Merton
Mick Antoniw AM (PES)
National Assembly of Wales
Cllr Sir Albert Bore (PES)
Birmingham Council
Cllr Bob Bright (PES)
Newport Council
Cllr Tony Buchanan (EA)
East Renfrewshire Council
Cllr Joe Cooney (ECR)
Pendle Council
Cllr Andrew Cooper (NA)
Kirklees Council
Cllr Trevor Cummings (NA)
Ards Council
Roger Evans AM (ECR)
Greater London Authority
Megan Fearon MLA (NA)
Northern Ireland Assembly
Patricia Ferguson MSP (PES)
Scottish Parliament
Cllr Robert Gordon (ECR)
Hertfordshire Council
Cllr Judith Hughes (PES)
Kirklees Council
Cllr Gordon Keymer (ECR)
Tandridge Council
Cllr Maggie Lishman (ALDE)
Burnley Council
Stewart Maxwell MSP (EA)
Scottish Parliament
Cllr Corrie McChord (PES)
Stirling Council
Cllr Kevin Peel (PES)
Manchester Council
Cllr Dee Sharpe (ECR)
East Riding of Yorkshire Council
Cllr Jill Shortland (ALDE)
Somerset Council
Cllr Harvey Siggs (ECR)
Mendip Council
Cllr Paul Watson (PES)
Sunderland Council
Cllr Emily Westley (PES)
Hastings Council
Cllr Judith Wallace (ECR)
North Tyneside Council
ALTERNATE MEMBERS
NAME
LOCAL/DEVOLVED AUTHORITY
Cllr Sanchia Alasia (PES)
London Borough of Barking and Dagenham
Jennette Arnold AM (PES)
Greater London Authority
Cllr Sherma Batson (PES)
Stevenage Council
Cllr Dr Zahid Chauhan (PES)
Oldham Council
Cllr Paul Findlow (ECR)
Cheshire East Council
Cllr Gillian Ford (EA)
London Borough of Havering
Rhodri Glyn Thomas AM (EA)
National Assembly of Wales
Cllr Barbara Grant (ECR)
East Renfrewshire Council
Cllr Suzanne Grocott (ECR)
London Borough of Merton
Cllr Arnold Hatch (ECR)
Craigavon Borough Council
Cllr Doreen Huddart (ALDE)
Newcastle Council
Cllr Ronnie Hughes (PES)
Conwy County Borough Council
Jim Hume MSP (ALDE)
Scottish Parliament
Cllr Imran Hussain (PES)
Bradford Council
Cllr Geoffrey Knight (EA)
Morecambe Council
Sir Jamie McGrigor MSP (ECR)
Scottish Parliament
Fearghal McKinney MLA (PES)
Northern Ireland Assembly
Cllr Bob Price (PES)
Oxford Council
Cllr Gary Robinson (EA)
Shetland Islands Council
Cllr Linda Robinson (ECR)
Wychavon Council
Cllr Sarah Russell (PES
Derby Council
Cllr David Shakespeare (ECR)
Wycombe Council
Cllr Kay Twitchen (ECR)
Essex Council
Cllr Martin Veal (ECR)
Bath & North East Somerset Council
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*Party of European Socialists (PES), Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe (ALDE), European Alliance (EA), European Conservatives and Reformists Group (ECR), Not aligned with any CoR EU political party (NA)
Further information
The UK Delegation to the Committee of the Regions
Coordinator of the UK delegation to the CoR contact details
110 th #CoRplenary session (11 February 2015): agenda and documents
C ontact:
David French
Tel: +32 (0)2 2 282 2535
Mob: +32 473 854 759