​Anne Karjalainen (FI/PES) was elected chair of the European Committee of the Regions' Commission for Social Policy, Education, Employment, Research and Culture (SEDEC) at the Committee´s constitutive meeting on 13 February. Ms Karjalainen, Member of Kerava City Council, will chair the SEDEC commission's work during the first 2,5 years of the new five-year mandate.

The SEDEC commission's main role is to shape EU decision-making on social, education, employment, research and cultural policies by putting forward the views of Europe's cities and regions. Given that a significant number of initiatives on the European Commission's 2020 work programme fall within the SEDEC commission's remit, the commission has an important role to play. These include the social aspects of the European Green Deal, the development of the Youth Guarantee, the promotion of skills, education and inclusion, and initiatives relating to artificial intelligence.

"The SEDEC commission will seek to ensure that the transition to a green economy takes place in a socially just way at local and regional level. In the coming year, we will assess a series of European Commission initiatives aimed at safeguarding social rights and ensuring sustainable economic growth," Karjalainen said.

The European Committee of the Regions has six thematic commissions. Anne Karjalainen has been a member of the CoR since 2010. She previously served as the political coordinator of the PES group in the SEDEC commission. ​

The new first vice-chair for the SEDEC commission is Matteo Bianchi (IT/ECR), Member of Morazzone Municipal Council (Varese), and the second vice-chair Paco Igea (ES/RE), Vice-president of the Government of Castile and León.

Contact:

Lauri Ouvinen

Tel. +32 22822063

lauri.ouvinen@cor.europa.eu