On 3 March 2021, we launched a new generation of Regional Hubs. They will
monitor the implementation of EU policies on the ground and make sure the
voice of hundreds of regional and local stakeholders is taken into account
when these policies are evaluated.
Apostolos Tzitzikostas
, President of the European Committee of the Regions, said:
"I warmly welcome the new generation of Regional Hubs. RegHub's contact
points have proven to be uniquely efficient in bridging the
consultation gap between Brussels and our regions. They get feedback
directly from those who experience every day the impact of EU policies
on people's lives and they can offer to the European Commission
invaluable information and input on how to increase their
effectiveness. For example, thanks to our contact points, the
Commission will be able to enrich its evaluation of the cross-border
healthcare Directives by learning about the experience of regional
hospitals' staff from Eastern Slovenia to Alentejo."
European Commission’s Vice-President for Interinstitutional Relations and
Foresight, Maroš Šefčovič, who opened the launch event
said:
"I am delighted to welcome RegHub 2.0 into the new Fit for Future
Platform, designed to simplify and modernise EU laws, while cutting red
tape. Regional and local authorities will play a key role, given their
unique perspective of those most directly affected. Their input on
issues relating to the planning and permitting of 21st
century infrastructure will be of particular importance. As we seek to
kick-start Europe’s economy by investing into green, digital but also
medical infrastructure, this can have a real impact on the ground."
Michael Murphy
(IE/EPP), Member of Tipperary County Council and Chair of the CoR
commission for Economic Policy (ECON), said:
"Since its creation two years ago, RegHub has been managed by the ECON
commission, which I am chairing. I am more than pleased to see the
launch of RegHub 2.0 and what the network has achieved so far. Today's
discussions confirm that better regulation and evidence-based
policymaking should not just be buzz words from the Brussels bubble.
They should be at the heart of Europe's rules and take into account our
cities' and regions' experience. I am glad to be able to contribute to
this effort and I look forward to the work ahead in the coming months
to help in achieving this goal."
Mark Speich (DE/EPP), Secretary of State for Federal,
European and International Affairs for the Land of North Rhine-Westphalia –
one of the participating regions in the RegHub 2.0 network - and chair of
the CoR commission on Citizenship, Governance, Institutional and External
Affairs (CIVEX) stated:
"The consultations of the RegHub Network provide citizens and
companies, especially SMEs and public services, with the opportunity to
bring in their experiences to the implementation of EU legislation.
This also means that the network gives a stronger voice to citizens and
economic actors at EU level. Now, the RegHub network is given formal
recognition as part of the Fit for Future Platform of the European
Commission. As a consequence, not only the RegHub network but all
citizens and economic actors will have more direct influence and impact
on European legislation. At the same time, the RegHub consultations
will strengthen and enlarge the evidence base of the Platform's
opinions.”
The new hubs include 46 members, 10 observers and 1 associated body. RegHub
is also an established sub-group of the
European Commission's Fit for Future Platform
.
The recorded YouTube event is available here: Political Launch of RegHub 2.0 - YouTube