The President of the European Committee of the Regions (CoR), Karl-Heinz Lambertz, will deliver the first-ever "State of the European Union: the View of Regions and Cities" address during the CoRs' plenary session on 10 October in Brussels. The address will be followed by a debate with the European Council's President Donald Tusk and EU local leaders on the future of Europe. EU Commissioner for climate action and energy, Miguel Arias Cañete, will then set out the EU's priorities for the UN climate talks in Bonn as EU cities and regions revitalise a climate coalition with their US and Canadian counterparts.
#SOTREG "State of the Union: the View of Regions and Cities", #CoRplenary , 10 October, 3:00pm
As the debate on the future of Europe continues, the CoR President's Address will contribute to setting the EU's agenda by giving cities and regions perspective on the state of the Union. It will look at the challenges for local and regional governments in the coming years in areas such as migration, jobs and growth, climate change and social and territorial cohesion.
The event will be broadcasted live on EbS, the CoR website and on Facebook.
#EURegionsWeek, 9-12 October
The opening session of the plenary will also kick off the 15th European Week of Regions and Cities, where more than 5,000 local authorities, EU regional policy experts and practitioners will descend in Brussels from 9 to 12 October. The 130 workshops will provide a unique opportunity to exchange views and experiences on three principal themes: Building resilient regions and cities – #LocalResilience; Regions and cities as change agents – #TakeAction; Sharing knowledge to deliver results – #SharingKnowledge. Journalists are offered a dedicated media programme. The opening session will be streamed live on the CoR's website.
#CohesionAlliance launch, 9 October, 2:30pm
The opening session of the #EURegionsWeek sees the official launch of the #CohesionAlliance: a coalition of those who believe that the EU's cohesion policy must remain a pillar of the EU's future. Created by the leading European associations of cities and regions and the European Committee of the Regions, it calls for the EU budget after 2020 to make cohesion policy stronger, more effective, visible and available for every EU region. From national, regional and local governments to SMEs, NGOs, schools, universities, cultural organisations, anyone who believes in EU cohesion policy is welcome to join. The website www.cohesionalliance.eu will be online from 9 October.
Cities and regions for climate. #COP23 is getting closer
One month ahead of UN climate talks to take place in Bonn, Commissioner Arias Cañete will set out the EU's priorities during the CoRs' plenary with the aim to accelerate the implementation of the Paris Agreement. The CoR wants to see the full involvement of regions and cities in the new global climate governance and renewal of a transatlantic climate coalition between EU, US and Canadian cities. A central challenge - how to facilitate cities' and regions' access to climate finance – is the subject of an opinion drafted by Marco Dus (IT/PES), entitled Climate finance: an essential tool for the implementation of the Paris Agreement.
Launch of the European Broadband platform , 12 October, 9:00am
On 12 October, President Lambertz and EU Commissioner for Digital Economy and Society, Mariya Gabriel, will chair the inaugural meeting of the Broadband platform set up jointly by the European Commission and the CoR. The platform will establish a regular dialogue between experts and local and regional representatives, aiming to contribute to the deployment of faster, better and sustainable high-speed broadband in all EU regions.
Managing natural disasters in EU Regions , #IDDR2017, 12 October, 2:30pm
Reducing the impact of extreme weather – a problem exacerbated by climate change – and other catastrophes is the subject of a conference co-organised by the CoR and United Nations. President Lambertz, EU Commissioner for Regional Funds, Corina Cretu, and the United Nations Special Representative for Disaster Risk Reduction, Robert Glasser, will open the conference on the eve of the International Day for Disaster Reduction. On a similar theme, on 11 October the CoR will adopt an own-initiative opinion on "A European policy on the seismic requalification of buildings and infrastructure ", drafted by Vito Santarsiero (IT/PES).
Other opinions to be adopted:
PAC - Environmental Implementation Review, rapporteur Andrew Varah Cooper (UK/EA)
Future of CEF Transport rapporteur Ximo Puig i Ferrer (ES/PES)
A European strategy on Cooperative Intelligent Transport Systems, rapporteur Bouke Arends (NL/PES)
Reform of EU own resources within the next MFF post-2020, rapporteur Isabelle Boudineau (FR/PES)
A Strategic Approach to Resilience in the EU's external action, rapporteur Marcin Ociepa (PL/ECR)
PAC - Space Strategy for Europe, rapporteur Andres Jaadla (EE/ALDE)
The protection of children in migration, rapporteur Yoomi Renström (SV/PES)
The European Pillar of Social Rights and Reflection paper on the social dimension of Europe, rapporteur Mauro D'Attis (IT/EPP)
Building a European Data Economy, rapporteur Kieran McCarthy (IE/EA)
The services package: A services economy that works for Europeans, rapporteur Jean-Luc Vanraes (BE/ALDE)
Strengthening territorial resilience: empowering regions and cities to face globalisation, rapporteur Micaela Fanelli (IT/PES)
Practical information :
Opening session (#CoRplenary & #EURegionsWeek):
Where: European Parliament Hemicycle, 60 rue Wiertz
When: Monday 9 October; 2.30pm-4.30pm;
#CoRplenary Session:
Where: Charlemagne Building (European Commission), Rue de la Loi, Brussels
When: Tuesday 10 October, 3pm-9pm; Wednesday 11 October, 9am-1pm.