Elected leaders from the European Parliament and
European Committee of the Regions are natural political
allies to shape a more democratic Europe
Local and regional authorities ask the President of the
European Parliament David Sassoli to fully take part in
the implementation and governance of national recovery
plans
Just a few days ahead of the launch of the
Conference on the Future of Europe, the President
of the European Parliament David Sassoli addressed
today the plenary session of the European Committee
of the Regions (CoR) and shared with local and
regional leaders the need to deliver the Conference
on the ground, beyond the EU's institutions and
beyond the capitals.
Make European values part of every region, city and
rural village; strengthen European democracy; and fully
involve local and regional authorities in the
implementation of national post-pandemic recovery
plans. These were the topics at the heart of the
plenary debate between members of the CoR and the
President of the European Parliament David Sassoli. The
discussion showed the shared will to scale up the
cooperation between the two EU institutions, especially
ahead of the official launch of the Conference on the
Future of Europe, on 9 May.
"
As stressed by President Sassoli, the European
Parliament and the CoR are comprised of elected
officials, and therefore are natural political
allies, both in Brussels and on the ground. We are
determined to translate these words into concrete
actions. We, regional presidents and local mayors,
make Europe live on the ground. We make democracy
deliver results. The citizens' voice, expressed via
the CoR members and the one million local elected
politicians they represent, must be heard in the
Conference on the future of Europe, beyond the EU's
institutions and capitals,
" said
Apostolos Tzitzikostas
, President of the CoR.
The President of the European Parliament
David Sassoli
stated: "
It is especially in times of crisis that the
European Union must demonstrate its importance by
protecting people, supporting businesses, investing
in equality, social progress and economic
well-being. Meeting the needs of European citizens
such as assistance, work, dignity, security and
prosperity for their future is at the heart of the
recovery. Regions, cities and villages will play an
important role on the path to recovery, economic
growth and job creation. They must, and they can,
show their added value in paving the way for a
fair, digital, green recovery and not least in
rebuilding people’s trust
."
The CoR First Vice-President
Vasco Cordeiro
said: "
There is no one in the Committee of the Regions
that refuses to be instrumental to make the
Conference on the Future of Europe a success, but
it is unfair to local and regional authorities
across Europe to not recognise their role and their
importance not only as instrument but also as
active members who can have a role and say what
they think the future of Europe should be. There is
a wide margin of progress and improvement in the
way local and regional authorities can be part of
this process of rethinking Europe and how it works.
Trust is at stake in this process. Regions and
cities will not forget it and I hope all other EU
institutions too."
Background:
On Tuesday 4 May, the European Parliament's
Vice-President for Information policy, Press and
Citizens Relations,
Othmar Karas
, and Vice-President for Relations with the CoR,
Klára Dobrev
, joined the members of the
Bureau of the Committee
to discuss how to better communicate the EU's actions
and achievements to people in regions, cities and
villages across Europe. They also discussed how to
contribute to the Conference on the Future of Europe
and scale up the cooperation between the only two EU
institutions consisting of elected officials.
On 9 May, the CoR will hold a local debate in
Strasbourg to mark the territorial dimension of the
Conference. The event, co-organised with the main
French regional and local associations, will allow
regional and local leaders to discuss with citizens how
to bring the Conference to regions, cities and villages
across Europe. The local event will be attended, among
others, by Dubravka Šuica, European Commissioner for
Democracy and Demography, Guy Verhofstadt, Co-Chair of
the Executive Committee of the Conference on the Future
of Europe, and Ana Paula Zacarias, Portuguese Secretary
of State for European Affairs.
More details
here
.
President's Spokesperson:
Michele Cercone
Tel. +32 (0)498 98 23 49
Michele.Cercone@cor.europa.eu