​​​The members of the European Committee of the Regions met in the 135th plenary session on 26 and 27 June 2019.

Several debates took place during the plenary session:

• a debate on the localisation of the sustainable development goals with the participation of Jyrki Katainen, Commissioner for Jobs, Growth, Investment and Competitiveness
• a debate on the role of EU regions in multilevel governance of climate change and energy transition with Miguel Arial Canete, Commissioner for Climate action and Energy

The European Entrepreneurial Region (EER) award ceremony took place on the afternoon of Wednesday 26 June.

On Thursday 27 June, a debate marked the 25 years anniversary of the European Committee of the Regions and the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe.

Eleven opinions were on the agenda of the plenary:

• Opinion on "Towards a more efficient and democratic decision making in EU tax policy" by Rapporteur Christophe Rouillon (FR/PES)
• Opinion on "A place-based approach to the EU industrial policy strategy" by Rapporteur Jeannette Baljeu (NL/ALDE)
• Opinion on "Cross-border dimension in disaster risk reduction (DRR)" by Rapporteur Roberto Ciambetti (IT/ECR)
• Opinion on "A new European agenda to speed up the development of maritime industries" by Rapporteur Christophe Clergeau (FR/PES)
• Opinion on "Towards a comprehensive EU framework on endocrine disruptors" by Rapporteur Uno Silberg (EE/EA)
• Opinion on "A sustainable Bioeconomy for Europe: Strengthening the connection between economy, society and the environment" by rapporteur Jácint Horváth (HU/PES)
• Opinion on "Strengthening STE(A)M education in the EU" by Rapporteur Csaba Borboly (RO/EPP)
• Opinion on "Macro-regional strategies, such as the Danube: a framework for promoting transnational clusters" by Rapporteur Dainis Turlais (LV/ALDE)
• Opinion on "Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs): a basis for a long-term EU strategy for a sustainable Europe by 2030" by Rapporteur Arnoldas Abramavičius (LT/EPP)
• Opinion on "A Clean Planet for all A European strategic long-term vision for a prosperous, modern, competitive and climate neutral economy" by Rapporteur Michele Emiliano (IT/PES)
• Opinion on "Multilevel governance and cross-sectoral cooperation to fight energy poverty" by Rapporteur Kata Tüttő (HU/PES)

 Associated press releases

Associated press releases

European Committee of the Regions and Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe celebrate their 25th anniversary

| Subsidiarity and proportionality;

The European Committee of the Regions (CoR) and the Council of Europe's Congress of Local and Regional Authorities both celebrate their 25th anniversary this year. To mark the occasion, a ceremony was held in the the CoR's June plenary session. It was followed by a joint conference on “The Added Value of Local and Regional Authorities in the Unification of Europe”. The aim was to highlight the synergies between the two institutions in their joint work toward the strengthening of local self-government and local/regional democracy. 

Европа няма да постигне неутралност по отношение на климата до 2050 г. без нейните градове и региони

Press release | Climate change policy;

Преди първото заседание на новия Европейски парламент общественото мнение все повече оформя дебата относно климата. Както ежеседмичните протести напомнят, целите в областта на климата понастоящем не са достатъчно амбициозни за постигане на обрат в глобалното затопляне. По подобен начин градовете и регионите в ЕС призовават за по-високи цели и ресурси за ускоряване на прехода на Европа към устойчива енергетика. Във връзка с националните планове в областта на енергетиката и климата на държавите членки КР осъжда липсата на постоянен многостепенен диалог с местните и регионалните органи на управление, както се посочва в предложенията за управлението на Енергийния съюз. 

Cross border territorial cooperation is key to manage disasters and deserves more funds

Press release | Cross-border and territorial cooperation;Disaster prevention;

Local and regional elected representatives call on the Commission to provide more incentives at local and regional level to promote cross-border cooperation on risk reduction. The opinion of the European Committee of the Regions (CoR), adopted today in Brussels, comes in the context of the increasingly serious and frequent natural disasters that many European regions have experienced in recent years. Local authorities have expressed support for a greater culture of prevention to increase citizens' resilience and reduce risks related to natural hazards. 

Maritime industries: European Committee of the Regions calls for the next European Commission to make the maritime sector one of its priorities

Press release | Employment;Environment policy;

Cities and regions are calling for an awareness of both the development opportunities for, and the threats to, European maritime industries. The European Committee of the Regions (CoR) urges support for the maritime industries to ensure the success of their environmental and energy transition, together with their digital transformation and industrial revolution, and for the sector's careers to be made attractive again. At its plenary session of 27 June 2019, the CoR adopted an opinion on A new European agenda to speed up the development of maritime industries, drawn up by Christophe Clergeau (FR/PES), member of the Pays-de-la-Loire Regional Council. 

Време за изкореняване на енергийната бедност в Европа

Press release | Energy efficiency, market and technology;

Енергийната бедност е основно предизвикателство пред обществото, което оказва пряко въздействие върху здравето и засяга 54 милиона европейци ( ЕК ). Високите цени на енергията, ниските доходи и влажните нездравословни жилища с лоша изолация водят до по-високи равнища на енергийна бедност. През последното десетилетие цените на електроенергията в повечето държави се увеличиха значително, което в съчетание с неотдавнашната икономическа и финансова криза и лошите енергийни характеристики на сградния фонд в Европа засили опасенията, свързани с енергийната бедност в Европа. 

EU local leaders want enhanced macro-regions to boost economic growth and welfare of citizens

Press release | Climate change policy;European Structural and Investment Funds;Territorial cohesion;

Regional and local leaders deliver their proposals to tap the potential of macro-regional strategies (MRS) over the programming phase 2021-2027. Innovation of small and medium enterprises, digital and low carbon economy are the most promising cooperation fields identified in the opinion drawn up by Dainis Turlais, (LV/ Renew Europe), and approved during the 26 June plenary session of the European Committee of the Regions (CoR).  

European Committee of the Regions calls to radically reform the way the EU works

Press release | Digital agenda;Cohesion policy reform;Sustainable development;Migration, asylum and integration of migrants;

Following the European elections and ahead of the new term of the European Commission, the European Committee of the Regions (CoR) has put forward its expectations and proposals for the EU's new legislative mandate for 2019-2024. In a resolution adopted on 26 June 2019, the CoR argues that for the EU to regain citizens' trust and address major current challenges, EU decisions and policies must be anchored locally and local and regional authorities involved at all stages of EU decision-making. 

EU and Member States must tackle the gender gap and boost investment in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) education

Press release | Innovation and research;Education;Cohesion policy reform;

The European Committee of the Regions is calling for measures to promote science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) education in Europe, especially among girls and women. With an opinion prepared by Csaba Borboly (RO/EPP), President of Harghita County Council, the EU's assembly of local and regional representatives calls on the European Commission and the Member States to support STEM-related initiatives at local and regional level, to ensure necessary investment and to tackle shortages in this field in the planning of cohesion policy. 

Ендокринните нарушители: Европейските региони призовават за надеждна информация и стратегия за защита на гражданите и околната среда

Press release | Environment policy;Public health;

Два месеца след приемането на резолюцията на Европейския парламент относно вредното въздействие на редица химикали, използвани в производството на храни и козметика в ЕС, представителите на местните и регионалните власти призоваха Европейската комисия да осигури по-високо равнище на защита от опасни химикали. Според проучвания ендокринните нарушители или веществата, нарушаващи функциите на ендокринната система, оказват вредно въздействие върху функционирането на хормоните на организма, което води до безплодие, затлъстяване и ракови заболявания. При децата те все по-често са свързват с аутизъм и други заболявания. 

Supporting Europe's industry to face the future

Press release | Industrial policy;Cross-border and territorial cooperation;Research and innovation;

Regional and local leaders call for a coordinated European approach to ensure that European industry remains innovative and competitive in the future. In an opinion drawn up by Jeannette Baljeu (NL/Renew Europe), the European Committee of the Regions (CoR) stresses the key role of regional and local authorities in establishing large-scale industrial cooperation that goes beyond ad-hoc initiatives and contributes to strengthening European value chains. Overall, a more holistic, multi-sectoral approach should be adopted that seeks to identify and harness local strengths and capabilities. 

Гданск/Поморско воеводство (Полша), Гьотеборг, (Швеция) и регион Навара (Испания) спечелиха наградата „Предприемчив европейски регион“ за 2020 г.

Press release | Entrepreneurship;

Знакът „Предприемчив европейски регион“ (ПЕР), връчван от Европейския комитет на регионите (КР), отличава регионите с най-убедителна и авангардна предприемаческа визия. Тази година град Гданск, в сътрудничество с Поморското воеводство, икономическият регион Гьотеборг и регион Навара бяха избрани за победители за изключителните си стратегии и ангажимент за насърчаване на предприемачеството на териториите си. 

EU and Member States must tackle the gender gap and boost investment in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) education

Press release | Education;

The European Committee of the Regions is calling for measures to promote science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) education in Europe, especially among girls and women. With an opinion prepared by Csaba Borboly (RO/EPP), President of Harghita County Council, the EU's assembly of local and regional representatives calls on the European Commission and the Member States to support STEM-related initiatives at local and regional level, to ensure necessary investment and to tackle shortages in this field in the planning of cohesion policy. 

Устойчивостта трябва да бъде водещ принцип за Европа

Press release | Sustainable development;

Превръщането на ЦУР в основа на дългосрочна стратегия на ЕС за устойчива Европа до 2030 г. беше водеща тема на дискусията със заместник-председателя на Европейската комисия Юрки Катайнен по време на юнската пленарна сесия на Европейския комитет на регионите (КР). Членовете на КР приеха и становището на Арнолдас Абрамавичиус (Литва, ЕНП) относно ролята на регионите и градовете за прилагането на ЦУР по места. 

Градовете и регионите подкрепят гласуването с квалифицирано мнозинство по въпроси от областта на данъчното облагане

Press release | Taxation;Digital policy and connectivity;

На пленарната си сесия на 26 юни в Брюксел Европейският комитет на регионите — асамблеята на ЕС на местните и регионалните власти — прие становище, в което подкрепя промяната на правилата за вземане на решения в областта на данъчното облагане в ЕС от гласуване с единодушие на гласуване с квалифицирано мнозинство. В становището, изготвено от френския кмет Кристоф Руйон, се изтъква необходимостта от съвместни усилия в областта на данъчното облагане за справяне с предизвикателствата, свързани с данъчните измами и трансграничната търговия, както и с изменението на климата, предвид факта, че тяхното въздействие се усеща на местно равнище. 

Anchoring EU policies locally: European Committee of the Regions to share its vision to renew Europe

Press release | Future of Europe;Migration, asylum and integration of migrants;Climate change policy;Sustainable development;

A few days before the first plenary sitting of the newly-elected European Parliament and in view of the new EU institutional mandate, the European Committee of the Regions (CoR) will unveil the proposals of cities and regions to radically change the way the EU works and reconnect the Union to its citizens.  

Sustainable bioeconomy for Europe through regional strategies and partnerships

Press release | Sustainable development;

Regions and cities need to work together across administrative borders to unleash the potential of bioeconomy in terms of growth and jobs and its contribution to the UN's Sustainable Development Goals, the European Committee of the Regions underlines in an opinion drafted by Jácint Horváth (HU/PES), Member of Nagykanizsa Municipal Council.