November-December 2015
The activity report of the EPP Group in the Committee of the Regions
Editorial
Together at the EPP Madrid Congress The EPP Statutory Congress, which took place in Madrid on 21-22 October, re-elected Joseph Daul as its President and Antonio LópezIstúriz as Secretary General. It also adopted an in-depth document titled “Protecting the Union and Promoting Our Values,” which focuses on foreign policy, security and defence, as well as resolutions on Georgia, refugees, the territorial integrity of States,
reforms for the future, TTIP, food security and climate change, digital Europe, the common monetary union and the circular economy. Both Michael Schneider, President of the EPP Group, and Markku Markkula, President of the CoR, addressed the plenary session. The EPP Group in the CoR also actively contributed with a conference on investing in Europe’s reREAD MORE ON PAGE 2 gions and cities.
A new global agreement on climate change? As we approach the end of 2015, I look back at the year so far with mixed feelings. On one hand, the European Union has made good progress on the Greek crisis, rescuing at the same time the unity of the Eurozone and the single currency. On the other, Europe’s security has been threatened not least by the recent events in Paris, but also through an open military conflict in Eastern Ukraine and a dramatic increase of migrants arriving at our borders. I am looking forward to a fruitful exchange of views on the support mechanisms for local and regional authorities with President of the European Council, Donald Tusk, and Commissioner Dimitris Avramopoulos at the December CoR Plenary Session. This is also the occasion to take a closer look at the European Commission Work Programme for 2016. We need to make sure there is support for good initiatives aimed at boosting jobs and growth in Europe, strengthening its single market, ensuring tax fairness and high social standards while promoting economic, social and environmental sustainability. We will also have our attention on the COP21 Conference in Paris, hoping for universal agreement on climate for the world. Lastly, we will continue our work on the Investment Plan, following on from our Group’s successful meeting in Madrid at the EPP Congress in October. In the end, cities and regions are the engines for growth and jobs. Hence, I wish that 2016 brings us a fresh and innovative start for the European economy. Michael Schneider, President of the EPP Group in the CoR
IN THIS ISSUE
France will chair and host the 21st Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change
(COP21/CMP11), from 30 November to 11 December 2015. The conference is crucial because the expected outcome is a new international agreement on climate change, applicable to all, to keep global warming below 2°C. The CoR is taking part as Observer in the official EU Delegation so that local and regional governments are also represented. Fully supporting the goals of the EU Delegation, Markku Markkula, CoR President, will con-
tribute to various side events and share successful actions against climate change with other stakeholders from around the world. Michel Lebrun will also speak at a side event co-organised with FEDARENE. He intends to call for the full recognition of local and regional authorities as governmental stakeholders in the final binding READ MORE ON PAGE 3 UNFCCC text.
An annual Enlargement Day for CoR The first Enlargement Day, held on Monday 16 November, brought regional and local politicians from seven countries that are seeking membership of the EU to Brussels: Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Kosovo, Montenegro, Serbia and Turkey. The idea behind this annual event is to bring together relevant local representatives from the enlargement countries to take stock and share ideas. This first edition centred on the involvement of the sub-national authorities in the EU enlargement process, balanced regional development and coordination mechanisms in EU affairs between different governance levels. It was also an occasion for CoR rapporteur, Anna
■ MEMBERS ON THE FIELD
Magyar, to share her thoughts on the European Commission’s annual report on enlargement. From 2016 the event will be set over two days where participants can exchange together, experi-
■ CLIMATE CHANGE
ences and good practices on how best to involve local government from the respective countries in the enlargement READ MORE ON PAGE 4 process.
■ ENLARGEMENT DAY