December rEPPorter: newsletter of the EPP Group in the Committee of the Regions

June 2014 The activity report of the EPP Group in the Committee of the Regions

A message from Michael Schneider Members on the field

2 EU should be more active in promoting and protecting the tastes of Europe’s regions and cities

3 Innovative solutions for the EU’s industrial policy Launch of the Adriatic and Ionian region: a Croatian approach

4 Continued cooperation with the the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia

An investment plan to get Europe growing The European Commission unveiled an investment plan for Europe on 26 November, with the aim of mobilising private capital, maximising the impact of public resources and boosting investor confidence in the European market. Commenting on the package, Michael Schneider, President of the EPP Group in the Committee of the Regions, congratulated the Juncker Commission for getting a proposal on the table so quickly, but warned: “we need to make sure that quality implementation and continuation of the necessary structural reforms take precedent over speed”. He also underlined that the involvement of local and regional authorities during the implementation phase of this plan will be a precondition for its success. READ MORE ON PAGES 6-7

5 The Juncker Commission 2014-2019

6-7 Opinions at Plenary

8 We must be particularly united and strong; otherwise EU will lose Ukraine forever EPP Congress – Save the date

10 9th EPP/CoR Winter University for local and regional communicators

Passing the baton from Van Rompuy to Tusk Michael Schneider and Michel Lebrun met Herman Van Rompuy as part of a CoR delegation, a few days before the end of his term as President of the European Council to thank him for his willingness to take due account of the voice of the regions and cities in the negotiations of the major European policies. Passing on some advice for his successor, the CoR President used the meeting to make a renewed for national and regional co-funding invested under the EU structural funds to be excluded from the calculation of the deficits of the Covenant of the Stability and Growth. He stressed that, due to the lack of flexibility of financial regulations, a number of cities and regions face difficulties in mobilizing public investments necessary to carry out the projects in the framework of the policy European cohesion.

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Finding solutions to reignite industry in Badajoz Traditional industries must be modernised through local and regional investment and education must be adapted to the needs of the business market: these were the main conclusions of an EPP Group in the Committee of the Regions seminar, which was hosted by the Government of Extremadura in Badajoz on 24 October. The representatives of local and regional government discussed innovative measures to ensure that Europe remains a leader in the increasingly competitive global market economy. They agreed that financial support, through structural funds and the Horizon 2020 EU research and innovation programme, should be mainly directed into ‘smart specialisation’ projects, with a focus on developing existing regional specificities and potentialities for innovation and growth. READ MORE ON PAGE 4

A message from Michael Schneider, President of the EPP Group in the CoR

This is not only the last time this year that we meet for the plenary session of the Committee of the Regions, but also the last time within current mandate that we can exercise our rights to influence the European legislation through our opinions. I would like to use this opportunity to thank all of the Members of our political group for their dedication and hard work over the last 5 years. We have accomplished a lot: contributed to delivery of the Europe 2020

strategy, secured better investments for local and regional authorities within the new Multi-annual Financial Framework, advanced with application of the Multilevel governance, to name just a few.

We also helped the European People’s Party and Jean-Claude Juncker to win this year’s European Elections. We enriched their campaign through the very first Summit of EPP regional and political leaders in Poznań with Jean-Claude Juncker and Donald Tusk, co-organised with the EPP and Platforma Obywatelska. We plan to continue this successful cooperation with the European People’s Party through joint initiatives and events on a regular basis. My recent meeting with Manfred Weber, Chairman of the EPP Group in the European Parliament has also paved way for enhanced cooperation with our allies there.

The new European Commission has presented an ambitious investment plan for Europe, which aims to mobilise private capital, maximise the impact of public resources and boost investor confidence in the European market. We need to actively support quality implementation and the continuation of structural reforms whilst being prepared to voice our positions on the synergies between the proposed European Fund for Strategic Investments and the 350 billion euros for the European Investment and Structural Funds. Last but not least, I would like to wish all of you peaceful time with you families during the upcoming Christmas break. We should use this time well, before we will face the challenges of the next year and the new mandate. Let’s get Europe back to work!

Members on the field Sirpa Pietikäinen, the ENVI committee rapporteur. The two rapporteurs share similar views that EU consumers need reassurance that the organic scheme is reliable and transparent whilst also being flexible for farmers and prodcucers.

Mauro D’Attis takes part in the Italian Presidency event entitled “The double challenge of matching growth and security in the working environment in times of crisis” on 05/12 in Rome, in his capacity as rapporteur on an opinion on health and safety at work. On this occasion, he will look at measures to support growth and competitiveness by promoting health and safety at work.

Maij Hester Maij will present her opinion on organic production at a hearing of the European Parliament’s AGRI Committee on 3 December, following an invitation from

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Dimitrios Kalogeropoulos, EPP coordinator for the natural resouces Commission, was a speaker at the EUROMEETING 2014 conference on 27 November entitled “Sustainable tourism, chal lenges and opportunities in the 2014 – 2020 planning period”, organised by the Tuscany Region. He concluded his intervention by saying “culture and tourism have a mutually beneficial relationship which can strengthen the attractiveness and competitiveness of our cities, regions and countries.”

Csaba Borboly addressed the CoR contact group with the Congress Of Local And Regional Autorities on 18 November to underline the value of the recently developed Charter for Multilevel Governance, which politically commits its signatories to exercising multilevel governance in the management of public policies.

Raffaele Cattaneo was unanimously elected President of the Conference of European Regional Legislative Assemblies (CALRE), during the 18th annual assembly on 4 November in Santiago de Compostela.

Kadri Tillemann, rapporteur on “Multilevel governance in promoting the EU Biodiversity Strategy 2020 and implementing the international Aichi Targets”, represented from 13-16 October the CoR in the EU delegation to the 12th Conference of the Parties (COP 12) to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD).

The Robert Schuman Institute and the Konrad Adenauer Stiftung invited senior experts connected to the EPP parties to discuss “Sustainable energy: What role for the local level” in Cadenabbia, Italy on 3-6 November. The aim of the expert meeting was to identify common areas of interests where regional cooperation might move forward with joint initiatives from the EPP political family. Sirpa Hertell presented the Green Paper on Framing 2030 Climate an Energy Policy at the meeting and underlined the key relevance and role of the local and regional level in developing approaches to climate change.

Conditions for using renewable energy sources vary between Member states and regions, but the EPP Group rapporteur believes that smart investment in cost efficient renewable energy will create local jobs, increase the independence of the EU, lower energy poverty and increase business competitiveness in the medium term. In this picture, local and regional authorities have a key role to play.

EU should be more active in promoting and protecting the tastes of Europe’s regions and cities “The best and most effective promotion still remains the taste and quality of European products. Tradition, artisanal production and efficient production are the main ingredients needed to boost the confidence of consumers.” Michel Lebrun, President of the Committee of the Regions The tastes of Europe’s regions and cities can and should be better promoted and protected with the support of the European Union. This was the conclusion of a seminar of the EPP Group in the Committee of the Regions, which took place under the auspices of the OPEN DAYS: European Week of Regions and Cities. Quality and consumer choice were central themes running through the two panels; the first of which focussed on promotional support and the second on labelling. However, participants also agreed that there needs to be a common definition of central terms such as “traditional”, “local” and “organic”.

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OPENDAYS Workshop

8/10/ 2014 | room JDE 51 | 14.30-17.00

The activity report of the EPP Group in the Committee of the Regions

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Innovative solutions for the EU’s industrial policy “Industry represents the heart of the real economy in the EU and the source of much service sector activity” Michael Schneider, President of the EPP Group in the Committee of the Regions, said at the external Group seminar on 24 October. “The EU should be recognised as the best location to do business, but this will only be possible if we significantly improve industrial competitiveness – especially for SMEs - and make the necessary labour market reforms.” José Antonio Monago Terraza, President the Spanish autonomous community of Extremadura, added: “It is obvious that the less developed regions of Europe have a challenge to develop an industrialization process, which is also able to create quality employment. That’s the case for Extremadura, which is the only

region in Spain maintaining the convergence status in the new programming period. And I can ensure you that we are going to take this chance.”

Concluding the seminar, Antonio LópezIstúriz, Secretary General of the European People’s Party and Member of the European Parliament underlined: “The priority of

the EPP is to create jobs all across the EU. Companies must be able to operate properly and have the potential for growth.

It is our obligation to create the appropriate environment for them to do so. Cutting red tape, improving the banking union so that SMEs can get access to funding, is essential elements in order to achieve that.”

In a six point declaration on innovative ideas for the EU’s industrial policy, which was adopted at the end of the seminar, the EPP Group in the CoR also highlighted that: • Europe must reach its industrial world leading role, • European industrial products must become increasingly competitive, • Europe needs to consolidate a solid internal market for goods, services and energy, • industrial development and innovation are recognised as drivers to sustain inclusive and sustainable territorial growth in the long term, • Europe must be at the forefront of a new industrial digital revolution

Launch of the Adriatic and Ionian region: a Croatian approach

Croatia strongly supports the EU Strategy for the Adriatic and Ionian Region (EUSAIR) and the participation of all countries in

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the region in the macro regional strategy.

“Blue growth” is of particular importance for Croatia. It refers to the development of aquaculture, fisheries, blue biotechnology, marine and maritime services and the construction of the Adriatic-Ionian motorway which would have a very positive impact on the economic development of Croatia and other participating countries that participate in Adriatic-Ionian Initiative. “Blue growth” can also contribute to growth and job creation in participating countries. As part of the Adriatic Ionian Initiative, importance

should also be given to projects in the field of culture, education, science and academic cooperation which would strengthen the Adriatic and Mediterranean identity of participating countries. Projects of macroregional importance should be included in the program of territorial cooperation and the operational programs of the participants, and must achieve synergy with other forms of regional cooperation.

Bruno Hranić, Mayor of Municipality of Vidovec

Continued cooperation with the the former Yu Yugoslav ug ugoslav R Republic of Macedonia The Joint Consultative Committee (JCC) between the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia and European Union and the CoR met on 2 December. Ivica Konevski, the EPP aligned Mayor of Aerodrom belonging to the Democratic Party for Macedonian National Unity and co-chair of the JCC, shares his views on cooperation with EU local and regional authorities and why the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia should to be integrated into the Adriatic-Ionian macro-region.

Ivica Konevski

What value do you get from the Joint Consultative Committee with the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia?

This forum allows us to add value to our common concerns and commitments in domestic and European official matters.

The first Report of the JCC exhaustively listed our views on which we have achieved compliance. The statements are clear and substantial, incorporated in 41 paragraphs and distributed in seven chapters. However, despite this achievement, and the experience of the past six years working together, we feel that we still need an audience: a broader spectrum of listeners, who can offer feedback on our performance and practical assistance.

issuing building permits electronically, where we are more advanced than in the EU member states. On the other hand, we asked our European colleagues to share their experience on achieving higher fiscal decentralization with us. In this sense, the partnership functions well. However, when we open the discussions on the European Commission recommendation to the European Council for opening accession negotiations, which is inevitable when you consider the progress we have made, there are questions which cannot be answered. This is very frustrating for both parties.

What barriers still remain in this cooperation?

You have called for the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia to be included in the Strategy for the Adriatic-Ionian Macro region. What benefits would you get from such an arrangement?

At every JCC meeting we explore one given thematic topic, derived from common adopted multi annual program. Sometimes we “sell” our knowledge to the EU colleagues, sometimes we “buy” knowledge from them.

For example, we presented our experiences of

The region of South East Europe is covered by three macro-regional strategies, each supported by a separate trans-national cooperation program: Mediterranean, Danube and Adriatic Ionian. Unfortunately, the Republic of Macedonia has been left

out of all three. The Republic of Macedonia naturally belongs to the Adriatic – Ionian Macro-region, with the basins of the Ohrid Lake and the Drin River. Inclusion in this programme would ensure continuity and strengthen the cooperation within the South East Europe region. It would also enable project-oriented cooperation with the Mediterranean and the Danube macroregions, which are also very important development corridors for the Republic of Macedonia.

We shares similar challenges to most of the members of the Adriatic-Ionian region, taking into account that 5 of them are derived from ex-Yugoslavia. Existing cooperation and connections are also very visible, for example: Corridor 8 (connecting with Italy, through Albania); Corridor 10 (connecting with Greece and Serbia), which are very important communication corridors for a land-locked country that shares the same interests, concerns, prospects and future with the neighbouring states with direct access to Adriatic-Ionian seas.

The activity report of the EPP Group in the Committee of the Regions

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The Juncker Commission 2014-2019

“

It is time we had a real ‘grand bargain’, a broad coalition of countries and the main political parties who will work together on a three pillar structure: structural reforms, fiscal credibility and investment” – President of the European Commission, Jean-Claude Juncker*, Strasbourg, 22 October 2014

* denotes from EPP

The President was elected by the European Parliament on the basis of his Political Guidelines that were formed drawing on his contacts with the parliamentary committees and the strategic guidelines for the Union presented by the European Council of 27 June 2014: • A New Boost for Jobs, Growth and Investment • A Connected Digital Single Market • A Resilient Energy Union with a ForwardLooking Climate Change Policy • A Deeper and Fairer Internal Market with a Strengthened Industrial Base • A Deeper and Fairer Economic and Monetary Union • A Reasonable and Balanced Free Trade Agreement with the U.S. • An Area of Justice and Fundamental Rights Based on Mutual Trust • A New Policy on Migration • A Stronger Global Actor • A Union of Democratic Change

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Jean-Claude Juncker, President of the European Commission

Who is who in the Juncker Commission?

1st Vice-President: Frans Timmermans, Better Regulation, Interinstitutional Relations, the Rule of Law and the Charter of Fundamental Rights

Federica Mogherini, High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy

Vice-Presidents

Andrus Ansip, Digital Single Market

Valdis Dombrovskis*, Euro & Social Dialogue

Kristalina Georgieva*, Budget & Human Resources

Jyrki Katainen*, Jobs, Growth, Investment and Competitiveness

Maroš Šefčovič, Energy Union

Vytenis Andriukaitis, Health & Food Safety

Miguel Arias Cañete*, Climate Action & Energy

Dimitris Avramopoulos*, Migration, Home Affairs and Citizenship

Elżbieta Bieńkowska*, Internal Market, Industry, Entrepreneurship and SMEs

Violeta Bulc, Transport

Corina Creţu, Regional Policy

Johannes Hahn*, European Neighbourhood Policy & Enlargement Negotiations

Jonathan Hill, Financial Stability, Financial Services and Capital Markets Union

Phil Hogan*, Agriculture & Rural Development

Vĕra Jourová, Justice, Consumers and Gender Equality

Cecilia Malmström, Trade

Neven Mimica, International Cooperation & Development

Carlos Moedas*, Research, Science and Innovation

Pierre Moscovici, Economic and Financial Affairs, Taxation and Customs

Tibor Navracsics*, Education, Culture, Youth and Sport

Günther Oettinger*, Digital Economy & Society

Christos Stylianides*, Humanitarian Aid & Crisis Management

Marianne Thyssen*, Employment, Social Affairs, Skills and Labour Mobility

Karmenu Vella, Environment, Maritime Affairs and Fisheries

Margrethe Vestager, Competition

Commissioners

The activity report of the EPP Group in the Committee of the Regions

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Opinions at Plenary European Neighbourhood Policy Package

Olgierd Geblewicz, Marshal of the West Pomeranian voivodeship (Poland) CIVEX-V-048 Local and regional authorities in the EU Member States play an increasingly valuable role in promoting and shaping democratic processes in the European Neighbourhood Policy (ENP) countries. As strategic partners in good governance, they should be even more actively involved in the EU’s external policy, according to this opinion from Olgierd Geblewicz. He also emphasises the need to evaluate future ENP implementation and the extent to which local and regional authorities are involved in it. Geblewicz sees room for active participation, especially in the ENP planning, implementation,

monitoring and evaluation stages, as well as in fields where they have direct competences and experience. According to the rapporteur, institutional and administrative capacity building is of strategic importance for the majority of Neighbourhood countries. He therefore argues that the Committee of the Regions should play an active role in framing and implementing the Comprehensive Institution-Building programmes. The opinion notes that EU funding should be made available for regional development in partner countries and that both local and regional government, as well as civil

society, should be appropriately represented in bodies monitoring the use of such funding and reviewing its eligibility criteria.

Geblewicz’s opinion suggests the European External Action Service (EEAS) to appoint “contact persons” in each EU representation office in ENP countries with a view to establishing closer links between local and regional authorities there. It also advises the introduction of training programmes for representatives of local and regional administration to upgrade their professional skills and enable effective use of funding.

The European Neighbourhood Policy is challenged by current dynamic developments in several partner countries, both in the South and in the East, which encourages voices calling for its revision. Certainly the problems in the East and the South vary as for their reasons, with Russia’s imperialistic attitude destroying the potential success of the Eastern Partnership. Nevertheless, the ENP as a whole should have focused less on political details and instead attempted to profoundly influence the societies of both sides, drawing from the energy of partner countries’ civil societies. Consequently, I am in favour of well-coordinated bottom-up initiatives and cooperation between local and regional authorities from EU and ENP countries. – Jacek Saryusz-Wolski MEP

Industrial Policy Package

Markku Markkula, Espoo City Councillor (Finland) ECOS-V-056 A strong dynamic industrial base is indispensable for a strong European economy, according to this opinion from Markku Markkula, which seeks to address the challenges to industrial innovation. By involving cities more closely in all stages of the policy-making cycle, the Committee of the Regions argues that the EU will be better able to manage the changes that citizens are facing all across Europe.

The European market for industrial products needs a regulatory framework that facilitates innovation and does not create unnecessary barriers to the timely take-up of new technologies and introduction onto the market of innovations. According to

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Markkula, regions must be able to define their own growth potential and drive innovation. He therefore recommends that local and regional authorities focus on smart specialisation and measures that focus on excellence. On the other hand, he also stresses that the industrial strategy must be closely linked with energy, training, RDI, trade, infrastructure, social responsibility and health and safety policies. Moreover, the traditional product chain concept with its fixed phases and production factors is becoming blurred, because the reality is based on complex interactions in globally networked ecosystems. Not only do traditional EU industries adjust to modernity and adapt to the consequences

of the ICT paradigm shift, there needs to be regional information modelling in urban planning and process management at the municipal and regional level. Turning to financing, the opinion emphasises the importance of the European Structural and Investment Funds and the Horizon 2020 programme for strengthening the industrial competitiveness of the EU. Markkula calls on the EU to deliver financing for regions in helping them to create efficient innovation ecosystems and take joint European initiatives. He also underlines that Member States and industry should make full use of the possibilities offered by new state aid rules when promoting business activity, industrial renewal and job creation in Europe.

Alpine macro-regional strategy for the European Union

Herwig Van Staa, President of the Tirol Regional Assembly (Austria) COTER-V-050 The EU Strategy for the Alpine Region (EUSALP) will only be successful if the leadership continues to be shared with regional and local actors and if the subsidiarity principle enshrined in EU law is respected – according to this opinion from Herwig Van Staa. The document proposes to establish a EUSALP rotating presidency between the Member States, which would enable the cities and regions to contribute to its development in a balanced way and would spread the load of leading it evenly. The opinion endorses

significant strengthening of the role of the regions in the process of drawing up and implementing the EUSALP and the fact that the EUSALP was developed on the basis of a genuine bottom-up process, from the regions concerned, via national level in the Alpine States, up to European level. Van Staa sees the added value of the macro-regional strategy, which will comprise five EU Member States: Austria, France, Germany, Italy and Slovenia and two third countries: Liechtenstein and Switzerland for his region of Tirol – it will help our Alpine region to

tackle common challenges using targeted activities by interested actors. It will also help making the best possible use of appropriate financing instruments such as public-private partnerships. This can only be achieved if the regional level is involved on an equal footing with the national level in developing strategy implementation methods. The opinion supports proposal of Commissioner Johannes Hahn to establish a EUSALP special representative analogous to the European TEN-T coordinators, in addition to general strategic leadership at policy level.

“The initiative to create an Alpine macro-region is a step in the right direction towards a Europe of regions in a successful future. The lessons learned from the previous three macro-regions can strengthen the Alpine region and help form the backbone of Europe as well as helping it to meet the challenges of the 21st century. The Alpine region faces major challenges and the macro-regional strategy will help to ensure that the course is set at the European level and that the best possible use of our scarce resources is found in the pursuit of economic, social and environmentally sustainable development of the Alpine region.” – Claudia Schmidt MEP

mHealth

Martin Andreasson, Member of the Regional Assembly of Vastra Gotaland (Sweden) NAT-V-040 Moreover, In particular, he notes that public interest in high-quality, secure health care must be at the heart of the developments brought about by mHealth. In many EU Member States, local and regional authorities bear some of the responsibility for planning, designing, implementing and funding health and welfare policy. It is therefore evident that local and regional authorities must be closely involved in any reforms that impact healthcare and welfare. The EU also has an important role to play in the development of common “mHealth offers a lot of opportunities for patients, for example in rural areas standards and specifications and for rare diseases. If properly implemented we can empower patients and that can be shared across improve prevention. But at the same time we have serious problems for example borders and systems. if the quality of the devices and the application is not properly checked and overall if data protection is not safeguarded. That’s why I think we need a strong regulation also on European level because these are obviously cross-border issues.” – Peter Liese MEP

Mobile health (mHealth) is a part of an increasing trend in healthcare to include and benefit from digital and technological developments. Its application includes the use of mobile devices to collect data, provide information and monitor patient’s in realtime. In this opinion, Martin Andreasson argues that the development of mHealth highlights a number of the most pressing issues for European healthcare systems, such as making more efficient use of existing

resources, improving health, empowering residents, improving working conditions for healthcare workers, improving the uptake of innovations, and improving the quality of health care. However he also points out that mHealth must be seen as complementary to and an integral part of “traditional health care” and that its success will depend on how developments can be coordinated with challenges such as interoperability, privacy and quality control of data are handled.

The activity report of the EPP Group in the Committee of the Regions

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We must be particularly united and strong; otherwise EU will lose Ukraine forever should start the decentralisation of power by strengthening the local self-government. I believe this ambitious goal could be achieved through joint work of the EU members and Ukrainian authorities. Projects currently run

by Warmia and Mazury (e.g. study visits of health specialists from my region and Rivne Oblast) are good examples of the importance of interregional cooperation. The ratification

of the Association Agreement with the European Union and the victory of ProEuropean politicians in the recent elections have shown that Ukraine is ready for changes.

However, in view of the current situation in Eastern Europe, Ukraine cannot be left alone in the battle for the better future.

Jacek Protas, Marshal of WarmińskoMazurskie Voivodeship

The year 2014 is coming to an end. In the past months we celebrated the 10th anniversary of the 2004 EU enlargement and took part in the European Parliament election. For Poland this year was even more momentous, as we commemorated changes of 1989, which had contributed to the democratization of public life not only in our homeland, but also in other countries in Central and Eastern Europe. Polish experience of implementing structural reforms has proven among others that local and regional authorities are influential actors who face key challenges.

This knowledge can be of great value for Ukraine, which has started its arduous road towards united Europe. Since the involvement of regions and cities is crucial for developing democratic processes, Ukraine

EPP Congress – Save the date At the European People’s Party’s Political Assembly, hosted by the EPP Group in the Committtee of the Regions, participants decided to hold the next EPP Congress in Madrid, Spain on 30 September and 1 October 2015. The Congress, which is the

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highest decision-making body of the EPP, will be hosted by Spanish member party Partido Popular and will gather delegates and representatives from all branches of the EPP political family. The PA voted as well to hold a major meeting in Malta in 2017. The

EPP Group in the Committee of the Regions is committed to supporting the Congress and hopes to organise an EPP Group meeting alongside it.

Winter University

Winter University: Re-thinking European Media and Communications Policies

www.epp.cor.europa.eu

“

Communicating what we do and why we do it is essential if we are to restore the EU to strength and to restore the faith of our citizens in the EU and all it stands for. It is not an easy task but getting it right is essential.

Today we are all faced with so much information from so many different sources that it can be overwhelming and indeed intimidating. Yet knowledge is power and we owe it to our citizens to empower them with knowledge about the EU - its institutions and its policies. Despite our complex world, we all live in communities within our Member States and it is at this level that communications works best. The EPP Group in the Committee of the Regions has a longstanding tradition of debating communication at the local and regional level through its annual events for local journalists and communicators on the ground. This is an important initiative. The economic crisis has evolved into a social and political crisis. There is a real need for the EU to deliver for citizens in terms of jobs and growth, but also to remind ourselves about the values of the four fundamental freedoms of the EU - freedom of movement, of goods and services and capital.

These are freedoms which benefit our citizens. The role of the Committee of the Regions is crucial for the future of our communications strategy. Regions are the core of the EU. I fully support the work of the Committee of the Regions in its call for a 2015-2019 Communication Plan to reconnect Europe with its citizens. It is an important part of the much needed dialogue between the EU institutions and I commend the Committee for leading the debate.”

Mairead McGuinness, Vice-President of the European Parliament for Information and Communications.

Brussels 10-11 December 2014

9th EPP/CoR Winter University for local and regional communicators

We believe in people, places and cities In spite of the efforts of the EU Institutions and despite the fact that the EU is active in many areas related to citizens’ immediate concerns, many Europeans do not feel that the EU is responding sufficiently to their dayto-day problems. That is why communication between the European Union and its citizens should be urgently improved. Regions and local governments have a key role to play, as they have the striking advantage of being directly in touch with their citizens. This challenge of reconnecting Europe with the citizens is crucial for the future of Europe and that is why I also support the EPP/ CoR’s Winter University initiative.

Jesús Gamallo Aller, Director-General for International and EU Affairs, Regional Government of Galicia, Spain and EPP CIVEX coordinator

The activity report of the EPP Group in the Committee of the Regions

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Ongoing Opinions Comission

Opinion

Rapporteur

Expected Adoption

CIVEX

Multilevel protection of the rule of law and EU fundamental rights

Luc Van den Brande, Flemish-European Liaison Agency Chairman (Belgium)

February 2015

CIVEX

Goals for the post-2015 Development Agenda

J.F.M. (Hans) Janssen, Mayor of Oisterwijk (Netherlands)

April 2015

CIVEX

Enlargement strategy and main challenges 2014-2015

Franz Schausberger, CoR Delegate of the region of Salzburg (Austria)

April 2015

ECOS

EU strategic framework for health and safety at work 2014-2020

Mauro D'Attis, Municipal Councillor of Brindisi (Italy)

February 2015

ECOS

EU Geographical indication protection for non-agricultural products

Marialuisa Coppola, Councillor of the Veneto Region (Italy)

February 2015

ENVE

Resource efficiency opportunities in the building sector

Csaba Borboly, President of Harghita County Council (Romania)

February 2015

EDUC

Towards an integrated approach to cultural heritage for Europe

György Gémesi, Mayor of Gödöllő (Hungary)

February 2015

Upcoming Meetings 2 December

JCC FYR Macedonia

Brussels

10-11 December

EPP winter university

Brussels

14-15 December

ARLEM plenary session

Antalya (Turkey)

11 December

ENVE

Brussels

16 December

COTER

Brussels

17 December

ECOS

Brussels

20 January

CAFA

Brussels

Secretary General: Heinz-Peter Knapp Editor in chief: Kathryn Owens, kathryn.owens@cor.europa.eu, +32 2 282 2400 | Press Officer: Dominik Krakowiak This issue is also available at www.epp.cor.europa.eu | Join us on

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