​The members of the European Commitee of the Regions met in the 131st plenary session.

On 8 October the members participated in the opening session of the 16th European Week of Regions and Cities (EWRC) on the theme The future of Europe is cohesion.

The following day Karl-Heinz Lambertz, President of the European Committee of the Regions, gave the speech State of the Union: the view of regions and cities (SOTREG). Antonio Tajani, President of the European Parliament, have also addressed the assembly.

19 opinions were on the agenda of the plenary session:

• Reflecting on Europe: the voice of local and regional authorities to rebuild trust in the European Union, rapporteurs Karl-Heinz Lambertz (BE/PES) and Marku Markkula (FI/EPP)
• The Multi-annual Financial Framework package for the years 2021-2027, rapporteur Nikola Dobroslavic (HR/EPP)
• Connecting Europe Facility (CEF), rapporteur Isabelle Boudineau (FR/ PES)
• Clean ports, clean seas - port reception facilities for the delivery of waste from ships, rapporteur Spyros Spyridon (EL/EPP)
• Programme for the environment and climate action (LIFE), rapporteur Marco Dus (IT/PES)
• The contribution of EU cities and regions to the CBD COP14 and the post-2020 EU Biodiversity Strategy, rapporteur Roby Biwer (LU/PES)
• European strategy for plastics in a circular economy, rapporteur André van de Nadort (NL/PES)
• Proposal for a single-use plastics directive, rapporteur Sirpa Hertell (FI/EPP)
• Mainstreaming sport into the EU agenda post-2020, rapporteur Roberto Pella (IT/EPP)
• A European Labour Authority, rapporteur Doris Kampus (AT/PES)
• Fair Taxation Package, rapporteur Paul Lindquist (SE/EPP)
• Horizon Europe, rapporteur Christophe Clergeau (FR/PES)
• Digital Education Action Plan, rapporteur Domenico Gambacorta (IT/EPP)
• Building a stronger Europe: the role of youth, education and culture policies, rapporteur Gillian Ford (UK/EA)
• Risk assessment in the food chain, rapporteur Miloslav Repaský (SK/EA)
• A new deal for consumers, rapporteur Samuel Azzopardi (MT/EPP)
• The European maritime and fisheries fund, rapporteur Nathalie Sarrabezolles (FR/PES)
• Asylum and migration fund proposal, rapporteur Peter Bossmann (SL/PES)
• Rights and values programme, rapporteur François Decoster (FR/ALDE)

 Associated Press Releases

Associated Press Releases

Digital education and mobility opportunities must be at everyone's reach

Press release15.10.2018 | Mobility;Education;Digital agenda;

According to the European Committee of the Regions, education policy strategies in Member States and regions should prioritise cooperation at all levels of governance to align high quality, innovative, digital and learner-centred education with new needs of the labour market. The assembly of EU's cities and regions welcomes the European Commission's proposal for a Digital Education Action Plan but calls for more efforts to reduce the digital divide, to support teachers and educators and to develop young people's media literacy. 

Nouveau programme européen "Droits et valeurs": les villes et les régions, des relais indispensables pour mobiliser les citoyens sur l'Europe

Press release12.10.2018 | Citizenship;European Structural and Investment Funds;Cohesion policy reform;

Dans le cadre du prochain budget à long terme de l'UE pour la période 2021-2027, la Commission européenne a proposé un nouveau programme destiné à renforcer et à défendre les droits et les valeurs de l'UE. Par la voix de son rapporteur François Decoster (FR/ADLE), Vice-président des Hauts-de-France, le Comité européen des régions (CdR) salue l'initiative mais insiste sur la nécessité d'inclure des actions spécifiques à destination des élus locaux et régionaux. Les collectivités territoriales restent le niveau de pouvoir le plus proche des citoyens et représentent un relais direct et efficace entre l'UE et les citoyens pour promouvoir l'engagement des citoyens sur les questions européennes. 

Future EU budget must be increased to relaunch Europe from the ground up

Press release11.10.2018 | Multi-annual financial framework (MFF);Migration, asylum and integration of migrants;Fisheries and maritime affairs;Environment policy;Climate change policy;Citizenship;Cohesion policy reform;

Local and regional leaders warn that Europe will never reach its goals over the years 2021-27 without increasing resources to 1.3% of EU27's gross national income (GNI), a position shared by the European Parliament. They oppose cuts to the EU’s cohesion policy and agriculture, and urge Member States and EU institutions to make new means available for cities and regions to invest in jobs, climate action and integration.  

Towards fairer labour mobility in Europe: The European Labour Authority must have the power to make a difference in practice

Press release10.10.2018 | Employment;

The establishment of a European Labour Authority is a positive step towards fairer cross-border labour mobility in Europe, the European Committee of the Regions (CoR) estimates in an opinion drafted by Doris Kampus (AT/PES), Styria's regional minister for social affairs, work and integration. However, the assembly of EU's cities and regions points out the need for a better coordination of national penalties and fines to prevent infringements of EU legislation in the area of free movement of employees, the posting of workers and the coordination of the social security systems.  

New fisheries challenges call for new measures – say local and regional elected politicians

Press release10.10.2018 | Fisheries and maritime affairs;

Today, in Brussels, the European Committee of the Regions voted by a large majority to adopt the proposals on the post-2020 future of the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund (EMFF)  

Risk assessment in the food chain: the CoR calls for transparency and sustainability in the EU's approach to food safety

Press release10.10.2018 | Food production;

With an opinion drawn up by Miloslav Repaský (SK/EA), member of the regional parliament of the Prešov Self-Governing Region, the European Committee of the Regions supports the Commission's initiative that aims to increase the transparency and sustainability of EU risk assessment in the food chain.  

A New Deal for Consumers: Operators of online platforms should also be liable

Press release10.10.2018 | Consumer policy;

With an opinion drawn up by Samuel Azzopardi (MT/EPP), councillor, Rabat Citta Victoria, Local Council, Gozo, the European Committee of the Regions welcomes the publication of the EC's proposal to lay down a minimum EU-wide framework for collective redress scheme mechanisms across the Member States, which could bring a real opportunity for consumers to obtain redress in cases of mass damage. The revision and update of existing consumer rules in response to current challenges ensures that such rules remain relevant and fit for purpose. This should, however, only be considered as a first step in the right direction. 

EU skal afsætte langt flere penge til integration af immigranter

Press release10.10.2018 | Migration, asylum and integration of migrants;

Regionale og lokale ledere har anmodet Den Europæiske Union om at øge sin Asyl- og Migrationsfond med næsten 6 mia. EUR i 2021-27. I en advarsel til EU's beslutningstagere mod at lægge "uforholdsmæssig stor vægt på grænsekontrol" opfordrede de endvidere til, at rundt regnet en tredjedel af fonden anvendes til at håndtere lovlig migration og integration, samt at en del af udgifterne til integration bliver obligatorisk. 

EU's indsats for renere have er en god forretning

Press release10.10.2018 | Sustainable development;Environment policy;

De europæiske regioner og byer støtter planerne om at nedbringe mængden af plastik og brændstof, der dumpes i havet, og understreger, at tydelige regler, konsekvent håndhævelse og moderate afgifter vil gøre det nemmere for havnene og skibene at holde havene rene. Det Europæiske Regionsudvalg bakker også af økonomiske årsager op om EU’s planer, fordi ændringerne vil gavne turismen og udviklingen af den cirkulære økonomi. 

We need less and better plastics

Press release10.10.2018 | Environment policy;Waste policy;

The European Committee of the Regions (CoR) has adopted respective opinions on the European Strategy for Plastics in a Circular Economy and the related single-use plastics directive. With alarming concerns over plastics impact on the environment, cities and regions prioritise eco-design and extended producer responsibility to combat plastic pollution. Less than 30% of plastic waste is collected for recycling in Europe. Today, the European Parliament is also voting on the proposed measures for a single-use plastics directive which the CoR asks to extend to any disposable non-degradable plastic item.  

MEPs and local leaders join forces to strengthen cohesion policy 2021-27

Press release09.10.2018 | Cohesion policy reform;

During the 16th European Week of Regions and Cities, European Parliament's Committee for Regional Development (REGI) jointly met with the European Committee of the Regions' Commission for Territorial Cohesion Policy and EU Budget (COTER) on 9 October to discuss how to safeguard and further improve Europe's biggest investment tool after 2020.  

Byerne og regionerne har brug for EU. EU har brug for byerne og regionerne.

Press release09.10.2018 | Subsidiarity and proportionality;European Structural and Investment Funds;Citizenship;Multi-level governance and devolution;REFIT and better law-making;EU communication policy;Migration, asylum and integration of migrants;

Karl-Heinz Lambertz, formand for Det Europæiske Regionsudvalg (RU), holdt i dag for anden gang en tale om "Den Europæiske Unions tilstand: byernes og regionernes perspektiv" under en debat med Europa - Parlamentets formand Antonio Tajani. I sin tale, der blev holdt i dag i Bruxelles under RU's plenarforsamling, fremhævede han, at EU har brug for "mere end blot tidsomstilling. Der er brug for en omstilling i såvel retning som metode", så regioner og byer får mere at skulle have sagt i tilrettelæggelsen af deres fremtid. 

Horizon Europe: The new framework programme for research and innovation must be closely connected to a strong cohesion policy

Press release09.10.2018 | Innovation and research;

The rapporteur, Christophe Clergau, calls for the level of scientific excellence to be improved in Europe as a whole and not in just a few large regions and cities. 

#EURegionsWeek: Samhørighed er nøglen til Europas fremtid

Press release08.10.2018 | Cohesion policy reform;Citizenship;

Under mottoet "De unge, regionerne og byerne er Europas fremtid – Enhed og samhørighed er Europas fremtid" samledes hundredvis af lokale og regionale ledere og højtstående EU-politikere i Bruxelles den 8. oktober for at skyde Den europæiske uge for regioner og byer i gang. Den årlige konference, som afholdes i fællesskab af Det Europæiske Regionsudvalg (RU) og Kommissionen, er det største arrangement om regionaludvikling i verden. 

EU-formænd Jean-Claude Juncker og Antonio Tajani drøfter EU's fremtid med lokale ledere

Press release05.10.2018 | Citizenship;Cohesion policy reform;

Den 8. oktober i Bruxelles indledes Den europæiske uge for regioner og byer med en debat under overskriften " Europas fremtid er samhørighed " under ledelse af Det Europæiske Regionsudvalgs (RU) formand Karl-Heinz Lambertz, Kommissionens formand Jean-Claude Juncker, EU-kommissær Corinna Creţu og Europa-Parlamentets næstformand Pavel Telicka. Den følgende dag vil RU's formand Karl-Heinz Lambertz med deltagelse af EU Parlamentets formand redegøre for sin vision for EU's fremtid under sin årlige tale om " Den Europæiske Unions tilstand: regionernes og byernes perspektiv " . Under plenarforsamlingen vil RU desuden vedtage sin holdning om EU's budget og emner såsom migration, forskning, klimaforanstaltninger og engangsplast. 

RU's formand Karl-Heinz Lambertz holder sin tale om "Den Europæiske Unions tilstand: byernes og regionernes perspektiv" den 9. oktober kl. 15.00 i Bruxelles, #SOTREG

Press release02.10.2018 | Citizenship;

Karl-Heinz Lambertz, formand for Det Europæiske Regionsudvalg (RU), holder for anden gang en tale om " Den Europæiske Unions tilstand: byernes og regionernes perspektiv ", den 9. oktober kl. 15.00 i Bruxelles . Talen vil blive holdt i forbindelse med RU's plenarforsamling under en særlig debat om " Europas fremtid ", med deltagelse af Europa-Parlamentets formand, Antonio Tajani. Debatten vil blive efterfulgt af vedtagelsen af RU's rapport om " Europas fremtid ", der er resultatet af en dialog med borgere og høring af de lokale og regionale myndigheder, som RU har gennemført over en toårig periode på anmodning af formanden for Det Europæiske Råd, Donald Tusk.