Vice-President Mogherini and Commissioner Cañete to debate EU's foreign policy, climate change and energy with local leaders
#CoRplenary, 12-14 October, Brussels
Also on the agenda: the EU's Digital Single Market and agriculture policy with Commissioners Oettinger and Hogan
The European Committee of the Regions' (CoR) 114th plenary takes place in the context of the European Week of Regions and Cities - Open Days 2015. The Open Days will gather more than 6000 EU, national, regional and local leaders in Brussels to discuss how to deliver growth and greater cohesion across the EU. On 12 October CoR members will take part in its opening session focused on "A Smart Cohesion Policy" together with CoR President Markku Markkula, Corina Creţu i, Commissioner for Regional Policy, and Carlos Moedas i, European Commissioner for Research, Science and Innovation.
The CoRs' plenary session will proceed on Tuesday and Wednesday with four key debates:
Regions and cities in the EU's foreign policy: Debate with Vice-President Mogherini, 13 October
Federica Mogherini i , High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Vice-President of the European Commission, will discuss with CoR members the role of regions and cities in the EU's external action. The debate will come a day after a meeting of EU foreign ministers who will focus on the migration crisis, the renovation of the current European Neighbourhood Policy (ENP) and the upcoming local elections in Ukraine, where the CoR is also sending election monitorers.
Challenges to European agriculture: Debate with Commissioner Hogan, 13 October
Phil Hogan i , EU Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development, will discuss with local leaders the main challenges facing European agriculture. Among the principal interest of CoR members are the simplification of the Common Agricultural Policy, the economic development of rural areas of the EU and genetically modified crops. Members will vote on two opinions in the field: the Simplification of the Common Agricultural Policy (rapporteur: Anthony Gerard Buchanan, UK/EA); and the decision-making process on genetically modified food and feed (rapporteur: Mark Weinmeister, DE/EPP).
Digital Single Market: Debate with Commissioner Oettinger, 13 October
The Digital Single Market strategy is currently one of European Commission's top priorities. Günther Oettinger i, Commissioner for Digital Economy and Society, will present the Commission's proposals and discuss the contribution of cities and regions in creating and implementing the Digital Single Market with CoR members. Two opinions will be then adopted: the Digital Single Market (rapporteur: Helma Kuhn Theiss, DE/EPP) and the Review of the Audiovisual Media Services Directive (rapporteur: Jean-François Istasse, BE/PES), which is part of the proposed legislative package.
The role of cities and regions in COP21 and Energy Union: Debate with Commissioner Cañete, 14 October
With less than two months to go before the UN Climate Change Conference (COP21) in Paris, Miguel Arias Cañete i, European Commissioner for Climate Action and Energy, will outline the EU's position on the emerging international climate plan. He will set out how Europe's cities and regions can contribute to the EU's ambitious climate goals and the Energy Union. The CoR is strongly committed to supporting local governments in contributing to sustainable energy and climate policies and calls for a formal recognition of their role in the global strategy on climate change. Just before the debate with the Commissioner, the CoR will look to adopt its position on three closely related issues: Towards a global climate agreement in Paris (rapporteur: Annabelle Jaeger, FR/PES), Developing the potential of Ocean Energy (rapporteur: Rhodri Glyn Thomas, UK/EA and the Energy Union Package (rapporteur: Pascal Mangin, FR/EPP).
Other opinions on the plenary agenda:
"European Citizens' Initiative" - Rapporteur: Luc Van den Brande (BE/EPP);
"An EU agenda on Better Regulation" - Rapporteur: Spyros Spyridon (EL/EPP);
"Strengthening Cross-border Cooperation: the need for a better regulatory framework?" - Rapporteur: Nikola Dobroslavić (HR/EPP);
" The future of European aquaculture " - Rapporteur: Jesús Gamallo Aller (ES/EPP);
"Financial instruments in support of territorial development" - Rapporteur: Adam Struzik (PL/EPP).
"Draft EU Budget 2016" - Rapporteur: Uno Silberg (ET/EA).
"Tax Transparency Package" - Rapporteur: Hicham Imane (BE/PES).
Practical information:
Where: The European Commission's Charlemagne Building, Rue de la Loi, Brussels
When: 12 October, 3-5pm; 13 October, 3-9pm; 14 October, 9am-1pm.
See the plenary's agenda & documents
The plenary will be streamed live on the CoR's website
Follow on Twitter: @EU_CoR , #CoRplenary
Press contacts:
Pierluigi Boda (IT, EN)
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Mobile: +32 473 85 17 43
Andrew Gardner (EN)
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Lauri Ouvinen (FI, ES)
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Julia Rokicka (PL)
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julia.rokicka@ext.cor.europa.eu
Carmen Schmidle (DE)
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Branislav Stanicek (SK, CZ)
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Nathalie Vandelle (FR)
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Wioletta Wojewodzka (PL)
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