Highlights from EU's local and regional leaders' assembly
The 116th plenary of the European Committee of the Regions (CoR) took place on 10-11 February. The principal debates were with the President of the European Council Donald Tusk i, the Dutch EU Presidency and the Commissioners Corina Creţu i and Tibor Navracsics i. Also on the agenda: age-friendly tourism, long-term unemployment, the rural economy, cooperation in the youth field, and new development indicators beyond GDP.
President Tusk: "Schengen must be defended and external borders strengthened"
The President of the European Council, Donald Tusk, asked regional and local leaders to support the EU's efforts for a common migration policy. President Tusk highlighted threats to freedom of movement within the EU that have emerged since the start of the migration crisis. He also called for a strengthening of Europe's political community at a point when the renegotiation of the terms of the UK's membership is on the top of the European agenda. The CoR on 11 February passed a resolution calling on Member States to find a solution to the migration crisis that does not involve the re-erection of national borders in the 26 countries that make up the Schengen zone.
Press release: Schengen must be defended, EU's local leaders tell European Council's president
Need for more excellence in education
Tibor Navracsics , Commissioner for Education, Culture, Youth and Sport, and CoR President Markku Markkula stressed the need to consider spending on youth policies as an investment in the future. Resources for youth employment, entrepreneurship and integration policies were some of the topics discussed. The CoR also approved an opinion that calls for a renewed educational policy that empowers social inclusion, innovation and excellence in European regions.
Press release: Europe's regions call for investments - not cuts - in education
Local leaders discuss cohesion policy with Commissioner Creţu
Commissioner for Regional Policy Corinna Creţu and local leaders exchanged views on how to better deliver and accelerate European Structural and Investment Funds (ESIF). The CoR highlighted EU regional policy as an investment tool that needs to be improved through the use of simpler rules and better investment.
Press release: Simpler rules, better investment: local leaders call for improvements to EU regional policy
Long-term unemployment, a fight that must be addressed by EU and regional authorities
Local and regional leaders emphasised the need to take action at the European level in order to re-integrate unemployed people into the labour market. The opinion backed policies to strengthen demand for labour and suggested that European funding could be used to support employment services in countries worst hit by the recession.
Press release: Fighting long-term unemployment requires an European response, suggest local and regional leaders
More indicators apart from GDP are needed in order to better identify priorities
An opinion approved by the European Committee of the Regions argues that EU funds should be allocated using environmental, social and other indicators together with GDP. Local leaders argue that this would enable the EU to better identify priorities and to be more efficient and results oriented when allocating funds. Progress, they say, should be measured by using updated and regionalised criteria.
Press release: EU funds' allocation should consider also environmental and social indicators not just GDP, COTER members say
The CoR supports priorities of Dutch EU Presidency
Ronald Plasterk, Dutch Minister of Interior and Kingdom Relations, addressed the Committee's plenary setting out the new Presidency's priorities and fields of cooperation, which include a new urban agenda, better regulation and boosting investment. The CoR highlighted its efforts to support Europe's cities.
Press release: Committee of the Regions backs Dutch EU Presidency: strengthen investment to unleash cities' potential
Regional leaders urge for more data on fisheries so to better allocate strategic EU funds
Regional leaders called for access to reliable and solid data on the fisheries sector in order to direct funds where they are most needed. The opinion argues that the fishing industry offers significant employment opportunities in some regions of Europe.
Press release: Local authorities call for access to reliable data on the fisheries sector
Senior tourism, a growing reality and an economic potential for European regions
The European Committee of the Regions underscored in an opinion the important economic role that tourism by pensioners can play in promoting and developing out-of-season tourism, noting the growth of this segment of the population in recent decades. The CoR believes that regions play a key role in capitalising on the potential that this demographic reality has created for the tourism industry.
Press release: Regions and cities ready to meet the challenges of the senior tourism sector
The growing urban-rural gap has to be tackled by modernising rural areas, says the CoR
Rural population decline is a serious problem in Europe. Local authorities stressed in an opinion that funding needs to be channelled to rural areas in order to develop programmes that stimulate growth and create employment. The CoR highlighted the need modernise rural areas and to tackle the growing urban-rural development gap.
Press release: Local leaders call the EU to modernise rural areas to tackle urban-rural development gap
Contacts:
Pierluigi Boda (IT, EN)
Tel: +32 2 282 2461
Mobile: +32 473 85 17 43
David Crous (ES)
Tel: +32 2 282 2409
Mobile: +32 476 87 99 29
Andrew Gardner (EN, SK)
Tel: +32 2 282 2429
Mobile: +32 473 843 981
Lauri Ouvinen (FI, ES, FR)
Tel: +32 2 282 2063
Mobile: +32 473 53 68 87 lauri.ouvinen@cor.europa.eu
Branislav Stanicek (SK, CZ)
Tel: +32 2 282 2471
Mobile: +32 473 84 39 83
branislav.stanicek@cor.europa.eu
Carmen Schmidle (DE, EN)
Tel: +32 2 282 2366
Mobile: +32 475 63 22 76
Wioletta Wojewodzka (PL, FR)
Tel: +32 2 282 2289
Mobile: +32 475 84 39 86
wioletta.wojewodzka@cor.europa.eu
Joan Torras (ES)
Tel: +32 2 282 2220 Joan.torras@cor.europa.eu