​​​​​​​​The members of the European Commitee of the Regions met on Wednesday 16th and Thursday 17th in the 129th plenary session.

On the first day, Mr Guenther Oettinger, Commissioner for Budget and Human Resources discussed the next Multi-Annual Financial Framework with CoR members.

The following day, Mr Tibor Navracsics, Commissioner for Education, Youth, Culture and Sport, Mr Luca Jahier, President of the EESC, and Ms Petra Kammerevert, MEP, exchanged views with members on the topic "Regions and cities - Key drivers for reinforcing the European identity through culture".

Eight opinions were on the agenda of the plenary session: 

• Mid-term review of the EU Forest Strategy, rapporteur Mr Ossi Martikainen (FI/ALDE)
• The European Maritime and Fisheries Fund (EMFF) beyond 2020 – Investing in Europe's Coastal Communities, rapporteur Mr Alberto Nuñez Feijoo (ES/EPP)
• Proposal for a Directive of the European Parliament and of the Council on the quality of water intended for human consumption (Recast), rapporteur Mr Mark Weinmeister (DE/EPP)
• Review of the EU Civil Protection Mechanism, rapporteur Mr Adam Banaszak (PL/ECR)
• Strengthening Innovation in Europe's Regions: Strategies for resilient, inclusive and sustainable growth, rapporteur Mr Mikel Irujo Amezaga (ES/EA)
• Proposal for a Directive of the European Parliament and the Council amending Directive 2009/73/EC concerning common rules for the internal market in natural gas, rapporteur Mr Mauro D'Attis (IT/EPP)
• Strengthening European Identity through Education and Culture, rapporteur Ms Tanya Hristova (BG/EPP)
• Cultural Heritage as a strategic resource for more cohesive and sustainable regions in the EU, rapporteur Ms Babette Winter (DE/PES)

A resolution on the implications of the United Kingdom's withdrawal from the European Union for the EU's local and regional authorities was also discussed.

 Associated Press Releases

Associated Press Releases

EU needs to do more to help prevent and respond to disasters

Press release17.05.2018 | Disaster prevention;

The European Union should give local communities and governments a greater role in its emergency response to disasters, the European Committee of the Regions said in recommendations adopted on 16 May that also insisted that attention to the prevention of disasters still needs to be increased.  

Local leaders reject liberalisation and competition in water networks

Press release17.05.2018 | Citizenship;Water policy;

The European Committee of the Regions has given its support to the new legislative proposal for a revised drinking water directive presented by the European Commission on 1 February 2018. Yet, the Committee reports shortfalls in key aspects. Members request a single EU-wide assessment scheme for materials and products that come into contact with drinking water.  

Mexxejja lokali u l-Kummissarju tal-UE Oettinger: jadottaw il-baġit tal-UE qabel l-elezzjonijiet Ewropej biex jiżguraw il-kontinwità tal-investiment

Press release17.05.2018 | Multi-annual financial framework (MFF);Cohesion policy reform;

Matul dibattitu fil-Kumitat Ewropew tar-Reġjuni fi Brussell, il-politiċi lokali u reġjonali u l-Kummissarju għall-Baġit tal-UE, Gunther Oettinger, appellaw għal qbil dwar il-Qafas Finanzjarju Pluriennali l-ġdid (QFP) – li jistabbilixxi limiti annwali ta’ 

Ir-reġjuni m’għandhomx jitħallew waħedhom biex isibu tarf tal-Brexit

Press release17.05.2018

L-awtoritajiet lokali u reġjonali fl-Unjoni Ewropea m’għandhomx “jitħallew jindirizzaw waħidhom” l-isfidi maħluqa permezz tal-irtirar tar-Renju Unit, qal il-Kumitat Ewropew tar-Reġjuni fis-17 ta’ Mejju f’riżoluzzjoni li esprimiet tħassib dwar in-nuqqas t 

Investing in people, culture and education is key for the future of Europe

Press release17.05.2018 | Culture;Education;

​Cities and regions reflect Europe's cultural diversity and are best placed to turn Europe's cultural heritage into a strategic asset, local and regional leaders highlighted in a debate with Tibor Navracsics, Commissioner for Education, Culture, Youth and Sport. The Commissioner, who took the floor at the European Committee of the Regions' plenary session, recalled that strengthening a common European identity and promoting social and economic cohesion are among the objectives of the European Year of Cultural Heritage 2018 and conditions to build the Europe of tomorrow. 

Regions and cities call for a new Smart Specialisation 2.0 built on interregional cooperation

Press release16.05.2018 | Digital agenda;Innovation and research;

As catalysts for innovation policy and growth, Smart Specialisation Strategies will be an important factor in the success of EU's cohesion policy in the next budget period. The European Committee of the Regions (CoR) calls on the European Commission to take this approach one step beyond by initiating a phase 2.0 of smart specialisation, based on developing a "regional discovery process" in which regions pool their strategies involving the interregional triple helices.  

EU "effective" forest strategy must be upgraded

Press release16.05.2018

​The European Union can do more to communicate the social and economic benefits of forest management to the general public, the European Committee of the Regions (CoR) argues in a set of recommendations adopted on 16 May that also emphasise that the sustainable management of forests should be "treated on a par with other measures aimed at reducing CO2 emissions" by the EU.  

L-appoġġ Ewropew għall-Opinjoni tas-Sur Núñez Feijóo dwar il-futur tas-sajd fl-Ewropa

Press release16.05.2018 | Fisheries and maritime affairs;EU annual budget;

L-assemblea tar-rappreżentanti reġjonali u lokali tal-Unjoni Ewropea illum approvat l-Opinjoni tal-President tal-Komunità Awtonoma ta’ Galicia. Alberto Núñez Feijóo jipproponi li jiżdied is-sehem tal-baġit Ewropew għall-politika marittima u tas-sajd wara