About: Committee of the Regions Archives

Every European region needs to explore and exploit its competitive strengths in order to survive economically and push Europe back towards growth, EU policymakers say.

The Committee of the Regions is gaining support for its idea of forging "territorial pacts" to facilitate the implementation of the 'Europe 2020' strategy at regional and local level.

A week after the European Parliament's liberal ALDE group suggested scrapping advisory bodies to save taxpayers' money, the president of the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC), Staffan Nilsson, has come out to defend the role of civil society in EU policymaking.

The European Commission and member states have made "no contact" with the Committee of the Regions (CoR) during key debates on the EU's future regional policy and the 2020 growth strategy for the coming decade – a big mistake, CoR member Michael Schneider told EURACTIV in an interview.

European Commission President José Manuel Barroso yesterday (4 October) told regional and local leaders that they need to get more involved in the debate on the future of EU regional policy.

The Committee of the Regions last week dived into the debate on the future of EU regional policy, calling on the European Commission to broadly maintain the status quo while paying increased attention to so-called "transition regions".

Italian socialist politician Mercedes Bresso, recently elected the first female president of the Committee of the Regions, will have to quit less than two months into the job after losing a regional election in Italy yesterday (29 March).

Mercedes Bresso, the Committee of the Regions' new president, says current plans to divert EU regional funds towards realising the 'Europe 2020' strategy for growth and jobs are misguided. Instead, the EU must find new money for the strategy, she explained in an interview with EURACTIV France.

The EU's new strategy for growth and jobs will not succeed unless it maintains structural funds and gives regions real responsibility, outgoing Committee of the Regions (CoR) President Luc Van den Brande told EURACTIV in an interview.

Italian socialist politician Mercedes Bresso, who was yesterday (10 February) elected new president of the Committee of the Regions (CoR), could have a short-lived reign if she loses a political contest for leadership of the Piedmont region on 28-29 March.

Despite having been largely ignored by commentators, regions believe the new Lisbon Treaty will empower them to become stronger players in EU decision-making, a EURACTIV round-up has found.

Regions and local government have asked for the "right signals" from world leaders in Copenhagen so that they can kick-start the policies and investments needed to make the switch to a low-carbon economy.

The entry into force of the Lisbon Treaty last week (1 December) created a new role for regions and local authorities, which are now able not only to be consulted earlier in the legislative process but also refer matters to the European Court of Justice if they think the EU lacks the competence to propose new laws.

A consultation of European local authorities and cities has revealed strong criticism of the way the Lisbon Strategy for growth and jobs has been implemented across the 27 member states of the European Union.

A new survey published last week (27 February) indicates that EU citizens trust their local and regional authorities above all other bodies, believing that they have a role to play in increasing understanding and trust in the Union.

Regional parliaments will not stand still ahead of the EU elections, said Herwig van Staa, president of the conference of presidents of the regional legislative assemblies of Europe (CALRE). He spoke to EURACTIV about the initiatives planned by regional parliaments to engage with citizens in the run-up to the European poll.

Commissioners Margot Wallström and Danuta Hübner joined some 500 guests at the inauguration of the House of Cities, Municipalities and Regions last week.

In their first plenary session in 2003, MEPs will consider a report calling for more involvement of regional and local authorities in EU decision-making.

The European Parliament's constitutional affairs committee reaffirmed its democratic role during its debate on the Commission's White Paper on European Governance. Although MEPs see a role for organised civil society in the Union's consultation process, they underline that the decision-making system of the EU needs to be 'parliamentarised'.

The Committee of the Regions has requested that it be allowed to participate in the Convention on the future of the EU as a full member. The request came in the form of a resolution passed during its plenary session on 19-20 September. This convention will be held in 2002 in order to prepare the next reform of the European treaties and institutions.