Emil Boc, Mayor of Cluj-Napoca and former Prime Minister of Romania, was elected chair of the European Committee of the Regions' Commission for Territorial Cohesion Policy and EU Budget (COTER). His mandate will last two and a half years.
Emil Boc commented on his election saying: "
As COTER chair, one of my biggest priorities is to make sure that we
will have an efficient, sustainable and qualitative implementation of
the current cohesion programmes, and a strong cohesion policy in the
future. We will dedicate a lot of attention to the upcoming debates. I
will soon meet the EU Commissioner for cohesion policy and reforms,
Elisa Ferreira, to discuss our
Joint Action Plan
: we have to work closely with the Commission to provide the necessary
support for local and regional authorities and speed up the
implementation. I want to ensure that our work in COTER and as an
institution has a real impact in our territories, and that no region is
left behind, no matter the size, demographic or geographic challenges.
We must work together with all EU institutions to ensure that the voice
of cities and regions, and our citizens is heard. Cohesion is not a
technicality but a political principle, it is the glue that keeps
Europe united. The democratic future of Europe depends on the future of
cohesion policy. In these difficult moments in particular, we need
cohesion and solidarity to be able to properly and efficiently respond
to our citizen's needs
."
CoR President Vasco Alves Cordeiro
congratulated Mr Boc for his election saying: "
Emil Boc becomes chair of the Committee of the Regions' Commission for
Territorial Cohesion Policy and EU Budget at a crucial time for regions
and cities and the European Union as a whole. The consequences of
Russia's war against Ukraine, the energy crisis, and the ongoing
recovery from the pandemic give cohesion policy an even stronger role
to keep the EU together. Mr Boc's experience will help the Committee to
be more vocal for a stronger cohesion policy."
The COTER commission closely follows cohesion-policy-related files, the EU
Budget, as well as transport policy, territorial development, cross-border
cooperation and urban matters.