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European Committee of the Regions plenary: energy crises, food security and youth top agenda  

Ukrainian and EU mayors and regional leaders will meet beforehand to discuss reconstruction. Also on #CoRplenary agenda: debate on the European Year of Youth, with Margaritis Schinas, Vice-President of the European Commission.

At the plenary session of the European Committee of the Regions on 30 November and 1 December, Deputy Prime Minister of the Czech Republic, Marian Jurečka, will address the consequences for European households of the energy crisis caused by Russia's invasion of Ukraine, while Janusz Wojciechowski, European Commissioner for Agriculture, will discuss the war's impact on European food security.

The third focus of the plenary will be on the European Year of Youth, which ends on 31 December, and the Charter for Youth and Democracy developed jointly by the European Youth Forum and the European Committee of the Regions.

In addition, members of the CoR will adopt opinions on ten legislative dossiers – ranging from support for remote and depopulated areas to the circular economy, innovation, and the EU's own resources – and two resolutions, on the European Year of Skills 2023 and the European Commission's Work Programme for 2023.

The plenary will be preceded on Tuesday, 29 November, by a meeting of the European Alliance of Cities and Regions for the Reconstruction of Ukraine together with high-level officials from the Ukrainian government and European Commission. Vitaliy Klitschko, Mayor of Kyiv and President of the Association of Ukrainian Cities, and a delegation of Ukrainian mayors, will provide an assessment of the damage and recovery/reconstruction needs at local level, while Ihor Korkhovyi, Deputy Minister for Communities and Territories Development of Ukraine on European Integration, will outline how the Ukrainian government is implementing its National Recovery Plan in the midst of war. Russia's attacks on Ukraine's municipal electricity, water and gas infrastructure may mean that the Ukrainian delegation will speak by video link.

Follow the plenary on the CoR website

KEY DEBATES

30 November, 4.30 p.m.: Debate on the food crisis , with Janusz Wojciechowski, European Commissioner for Agriculture, and MEP Marlene Mortler (DE/EPP) of the European Parliament's Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development. Commissioner Wojciechowski and MEP Mortler will take stock of measures taken by the EU in response to Russia's invasion of Ukraine and high food prices, coupled with the concerns about the effects of the climate crisis. The CoR has pushed for a strategy and measures to increase the resilience of the European food system at the regional level.

1 December, 9.00 a.m.: Debate on the European Year of Youth and Endorsement of the Charter for Youth and Democracy, with the President of the European Committee of the Regions, Vasco Alves Cordeiro, and the President of the European Youth Forum, Silja Markkula, will be joined by Margaritis Schinas, Vice-President of the European Commission and Commissioner for Promoting our European Way of Life, will be joined by young leaders from across Europe and from all political groups for a debate on the European Year of Youth, which ends on 31 December. The debate, which will consider the role of local and regional authorities in ensuring that the needs and aspirations of the young generation are recognised, will also reflect on lessons taken from the process of drafting an EU Charter on Youth and Democracy, which the CoR initiated together with the European Youth Forum as part of its contribution to European Year of Youth. During the plenary, the CoR will adopt an opinion on "The Future of Youth Policy in the EU" drafted by Tine Radinja (SL/Greens), mayor of Škofja Loka.

1 December, 2.30 p.m.: Debate on the energy crisis and consequences for European households , with Marian Jurečka, Deputy Prime Minister of the Czech Republic, and Lilyana Pavlova, Vice-President of the European Investment Bank. The representatives of Czech Presidency of the Council of the European Union and of the EU's lending arm will join the debate with Vasco Alves Cordeiro (PT/PES), President of the European Committee of the Regions, Rafał Trzaskowski (PL/EPP), Mayor of Warsaw and chairman of the CoR's Commission for the Environment, Climate Change and Energy (ENVE), Cristian-Silviu Bu șoi (RO/EPP), Chair of the Committee on Industry, Research and Energy of the European Parliament, and Mohamed Ridouani, Mayor of Leuven. The CoR is calling for local and regional authorities to be direct beneficiaries of the emergency funds, together with businesses and households. It is calling for regions and cities to be at the heart of energy market structural reforms planned for 2023.

RESOLUTIONS FOR ADOPTION

OPINIONS FOR ADOPTION

  • "The Future of Youth Policy in the EU." Rapporteur: Tine Radinja (SL/Greens), mayor of Škofja Loka.
  • "Extending the list of EU crimes to hate speech and hate crimes." Rapporteur: Aleksandra Dulkiewicz (PL/EPP), mayor of Gdańsk.
  • "Enhancing cohesion policy support for regions with geographic and demographic handicaps." Rapporteur: Marie-Antoinette Maupertuis (FR/EA), member of the Corsican regional authority
  • "Small urban areas as key actors to manage a just transition." Rapporteur: Kieran McCarthy (IE/EA), member of Cork County Council .
  • "The next generation of own resources for the EU budget." Rapporteur: Nathalie Sarrabezolles (FR/PES), member of Finistère Departmental Council.
  • "Legal migration - Attracting skills and talent to the EU". Rapporteur: Giuseppe Varacalli (IT/Renew E.), member of Gerace Municipal Council.
  • "Safeguarding food security and reinforcing the resilience of food system." Rapporteur: Piotr Całbecki (PL/EPP), President of the Kujawsko-Pomorskie Region.
  • "EU Strategy for Sustainable Circular Economy and Textiles." Rapporteur-general: Luca Menesini (IT/PES​), president of the Province of Lucca.
  • "A New Innovation Agenda for Europe." Rapporteur: Markku Markkula (FI/EPP), president of the Helsinki Region.
  • " Review of geographical indications." Rapporteur: Karine Gloanec-Maurin (FR/PES), Deputy mayor of Couëtron au Perche.

PRACTICAL INFORMATION

  • Location : Charlemagne Building – GASP, European Commission, Rue de la Loi 170, Brussels
  • Date : Wednesday, 29 November – Wednesday, 1 December 2022.
  • Background material : The plenary agenda and opinions and amendments .
  • Webstreaming : On the website of the CoR. ​

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