Less than a week after the release of the State of the Energy Union report, on 7 February a high level conference organised by the European Commission and the European Committee of the Regions (CoR) will consider how to build smart cities and regions across the EU. The event will be opened by the European Commission's Vice-President, Maroš Šefčovič, the CoR President, Markku Markkula, and President of the Foundation for Economic Trends, Jeremy Rifkin. Local and regional politicians will showcase their own smart strategies and projects that are taking place across Europe. The issue will be further addressed on 8 February during the CoR's plenary session. The future of Europe and the contribution of cities and regions in restoring citizens' trust in the EU will also be debated during plenary on 9 February ahead of the 60 th anniversary of the Rome Treaty.
During the plenary on 8 February, the priorities of the Maltese Presidency of the Council of the EU and the cooperation between the Council and the CoR over the upcoming months will also be debated by members with
Ian Borg, Parliamentary Secretary for EU Funds. The CoR will present its proposals on how to bridge the current investment gap by discussing and adopting an
opinion drafted by President
Markku Markkula. The Vice-President of the European Investment Bank,
Vazil Hudak, will join local leaders in the debate.
EU asylum policy
The CoR will adopt two sets of recommendations on migration, one on reform of the EU's asylum system and the other on the EU's new migration partnerships with non-EU states . The opinion on asylum reform has been drafted by Vincenzo Bianco, Mayor of the Sicilian port city of Catania, and focuses on the standards for reception and resettlement of refugees and migrants, paying particular attention to unaccompanied minors.
It complements an earlier CoR report focused on the EU's asylum resettlement mechanism. The opinion on migration partnerships has been prepared by
Peter Bossman (SI/PES), the Mayor of Piran.
Young farmers and the future of the CAP
Commissioner Hogan will invite regions to participate in the
public consultation on #FutureofCAP during his intervention in the plenary session. Supporting young farmers is a prerequisite for preserving agriculture across the EU and for keeping rural areas alive. In its opinion on
Supporting young European farmers Arnold Hatch (UK/ECR), Member of Craigavon Borough Council, considers that support should be provided first and foremost to family farms on the grounds that they create added value and jobs, and help make it possible for new generations of farmers to enter the sector as it is easier to pass on farms that are viable and reasonably sized.
60th Anniversary of the Rome Treaty: 200 young people join the CoR plenary
At a time where the EU is confronted with the most serious crisis of confidence in its history, this year's celebrations of the 25
th Anniversary for the Maastricht Treaty, creating the CoR, and the 60th anniversary of the EU's founding Rome Treaty must be seen as an opportunity to reflect on Europe and promote greater citizens' involvement in shaping a new path for the Union. The CoR will debate the issue together with a delegation of young Europeans citizens who will actively take part to the discussions. CoR members are due to adopt a
resolution setting out their contribution to the wider political reflection on the future of the EU, which includes the launch of an extensive citizens' consultation process on "Reflecting on Europe" throughout the EU.
Other opinions and papers to be adopted:
Practical information: Where: The European Parliament Hemicycle – Paul Henri Spaak building - 60 rue Wiertz, Brussels
When: 8 February, 3:00-9:00pm; 9 February, 9am-1pm.