EPP/CoR Plenary in focus - April 2015

APRIL 2015

PRIORITIES OF THE EPP GROUP IN THE EUROPEAN COMMITTEE OF THE REGIONS Investment Plan and European Fund for Strategic Investments Shortly after starting his 20142019 mandate, Jean-Claude Juncker proposed a new Investment Plan for Europe.

The role of local and regional authorities is explicitly mentioned, not only in identifying, supporting or managing the investment projects, but also in two other strands of the Plan: making finance reach the real economy and improving the investment environment. On 15 April, the

Forming stronger alliances with the EPP Group in the European Parliament The European Committee of the Regions and the European Parliament signed a cooperation agreement on 5 February 2014. This agreement reinforces the political relationship between the two EU institutions and relies on enhanced cooperation between the like-minded political groups. The EPP Group in the CoR will therefore welcome Manfred Weber, Chairman of the EPP Group in the European Parliament, to its Group meeting on 16 April.

Opening new political doors between members of the European Parliament and the Committee of the Regions was also the goal of a meeting between

Markku Markkula and Jerzy Buzek, Chair of the European Parliament Conference of Committee Chairs, which took place on 26 March. During the meeting, President Markkula shared a number of “pilot files” where enhanced cooperation could be of mutual interest.

The two EPP politicians agreed that bilateral contacts should be stepped up – notably between the EP and CoR rapporteurs – and that the CoR members could effectively contribute to European Parliament policy-making by scrutinizing the effects of policies on the ground.

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CoR will assess the Investment Plan from a local perspective alongside Jyrki Katainen, European Commission VicePresident, at a conference organised in cooperation with the European Investment Bank and the OECD. The EPP Group will be well represented thanks to participation from Wim van de Donk, the EPP shadow rapporteur on the investment package, who will emphasise the potential

for cross border projects, heed warning that particular attention needs to be paid to SMEs and call for closer cooperation between local, regional governments and the European Investment Bank.

Raffaele Cattaneo, Chair of the Commission for territorial Cohesion Policy, Cristina Mazas Pérez Oleaga and CoR President, Markku Markkula will also speak at the conference.

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Wilfried Martens Centre for European Studies

The Wilfried Martens Centre for European Studies (previously the Centre for European Studies) was established in 2007 as the political foundation and official think tank of the European People’s Party.

During its Group meeting on 16 April, the EPP will welcome its President, Mikuláš Dzurinda, to share his views on the role that local and regional authorities can play in Europe’s return to growth and the Martens Centre’s support for reform in Ukraine.

As the former prime minister, President Dzurinda introduced far-reaching reforms in Slovakia and helped his country to join the EU and NATO. In

a recent article, he underlined: “The West has things to offer to Ukraine; like moral and political support, and also experience with the transition process and reforms.” It is in this spirit that the Marten’s Centre is bringing the expertise of senior EU decision makers in support of the reform process in Ukraine through its Ukraine Reforms project. The Martens Centre is also keen to put entrepreneurship at the top of the European agenda. At its conference and exhibition on 2-3 July in Brussels, Makerstown will be an opportunity to showcase, share and succeed in European manufacturing. www.makerstown.eu ■

Enlargement Strategy and Main Challenges 2014-2015

Franz Schausberger Representative of the Province of Salzburg, Austria CIVEX-VI-002

CoR opinion on the 2014 Enlargement Package underlines the fundamental role of local and regional representatives in efforts towards decentralisation and regionalisation in Montenegro, the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Serbia, Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, Turkey and Iceland. It calls for good neighbourly relations and notes that democratic institutions and the respect for fundamental rights and the rule of law must remain central elements of enlargement policy. Referring to the proposed five year consolidation period, Franz Schausberger stresses that it must be understood as a phase of intense preparation and adoption of the policies required to meet the criteria for EU membership rather than a standstill in enlargement policy. However, he welcomes the launch of the new Instrument for PreAccession Assistance, which makes EUR 11.7 billion available for the period 2014-2020 to support enlargement countries in their preparations for

accession as well as regional and cross-border cooperation. The opinion includes specific remarks concerning each of the enlargement countries.

Looking to future enlargement reports, the rapporteur recommends the Commission to go into greater detail about the situation of regional and local self-government pointing to the need for further regionalising and decentralising reform in the enlargement countries.

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The improvement of the implementation of the Territorial Agenda of the EU 2020

Marek Woźniak President of the Wielkopolska Voivodship, Poland Latvian Presidency referral – COTER-VI-002

rise their own assets at all levels. He therefore calls Four years ago, the EU Territorial Agenda of for a greater emphasis on the territorial impact of the European Union 2020 was defined as “an acEU policy and insists that the spatial aspect be taktion-oriented policy framework, developed to en into account when formulating policies. Here, promote polycentric territorial development of the importance of links between urban and rural the EU”. Whilst broadly welcoming the proposareas and the need to invest in secondary cities als, the rapporteur would like to see more efforts and peripheral regions to enable local and is underlined. Crossregional authorities border, interregional to react to territorial “I am glad that the and supranational inichallenges in Europe. draft opinion emphatiatives are proposed, President Woźniak sises certain aspects to states that a Cohesion as well as further dewhich I also devoted velopment of macPolicy Council should considerable attention ro-regional strategies, be established and in my draft report on to allow the Territorial calls for a white paper ‘Investment for jobs Agenda to be better on territorial cohesion, and growth: promoting Tamás Deutsch implemented.

■ based on an analysis economic, social and MEP of the links with the territorial cohesion in Europe 2020 strategy. the Union’ (Sixth Cohesion Report), such as greater He also stresses that compliance with the provisions of the Treaty on the the most effective EU role of cohesion policy, the indispensable contribution policies are designed of cohesion policy to the attainment of EU2020 oband shaped with the jectives and the necessity to already start discussions local context in mind, on the future of cohesion policy. Smart, sustainable incorporate networked and inclusive growth cannot be achieved without cities and regions and greater convergence among more developed regions empower citizens and and those whose development is lagging behind.” local activities to valo-

Implementation of the 2011 White Paper on Transport

Spyros Spyridon Municipal Councillor of Poros, Greece COTER-VI/004

icy call for a reduced dependence on oil, curbing Given that local and regional authorities are renoise and reducing air pollution. From a regional sponsible for network planning and maintenance, perspective, the CoR opinion notes the uneven parking and accessibility, and for monitoring the development and fragmentation of the transport implementation of environmental standards, this network, particularly opinion is of key imwhen it comes to rail portance to the CoR. and road. It therefore However, the rap“EU transport policy calls for a high-qualiporteur notes that is not only about interty transport network, not enough time has national, cross-border alongside flexible filapsed to carry out an (T-Ten) corridors, but nancial instruments, in-depth evaluation even more about the so in order to boost of the measures takcalled comprehensive competition. Within en, especially as no network which is feedthis context, the rapintermediate targets ing those international Wim van de Camp porteur highlights were set. Despite this, corridors. Local and MEP the need for adequate Councillor Spyridon regional authorities transport networks believes that the have great responsibility for this. And do not forget for sparsely populated changing economthat urban mobility will have a tremendous developor geographically disic and geopolitical ment in the upcoming decade” advantaged areas as a context give value to basic factor in bringing a partial assessment about territorial cohesion. Passenger rights should of progress to date. In his view, the interdepenalso be further developed to ensure better consisdence between transport policies and policies tency.

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Towards an integrated approach to cultural heritage for Europe

Cristina Mazas Pérez-Oleaga Minister for the Economy, Finance and Employment of Cantabria, Spain EDUC-V-046

The rapporteur believes that that the role of cultural heritage is under-valued and that Europe has an opportunity to meet the challenges of the cultural sector with a strategic, global and integrated approach. From the perspective of the CoR, the opinion highlights that local and regional authorities can actively involve those concerned in the protection of and support for cultural heritage in Europe and promote its benefits for the economic recovery. The rapporteur also agrees with the European Commission promotion and protection of cultural heritage will require closer, better coordinated cooperation at all levels of governance and it is for that reason that Minister Mazas Pérez-Oleaga has penned this own initiative opinion. Looking at the recent Commission communication, the CoR opinion notes that natural heritage is an intrinsic part of cultural heritage. She also encourages the setting up and launch of a European data base to share EU-wide data concerning the contribution of cultural heritage to economic growth and social cohesion. The opinion covers links between cultural heritage and identity, cultural heritage as an economic resource – including through tourism, and the new opportunities given through the development of an information society.

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“I appreciate the initiative to promote integrated approach towards European cultural heritage. I support the CoR opinion, which recognises Michaela Šojdrová culture as a share MEP resource and a common good and its full potential to support economic development. Cultural policies are primarily national responsibilities but cultural heritage is nonetheless addressed in a number of EU policies, such as regional development, research or digital market. The EPP Group is putting emphasis on the importance of the programmes that support development of European cultural heritage (e.g.

Creative Europe, European Heritage Label, Lux Prize, Europa Nostra Awards) and their financing. The EPP also stresses a sharing of best practices in fiscal policies related to culture and calls on the Commission to submit a regular report on the state of play of cultural heritage in the EU.”

Resource efficiency opportunities in the building sector

Csaba Borboly President of Harghita County Council, Romania ENVE-V-049

Local and regional authorities should be key partners for promoting greater resource efficiency in the building sector due to their competences in terms of public procurement, the implementation of EU and national legislation on buildings, supporting local business and providing information to both investors and the public at large.

Within this context, the rapporteur supports the European Commission’s efforts to develop common European standards

for resource efficiency in the building sector and expresses the CoR’s intent to be fully involved.

In his opinion, President Borboly underlines a number of fundamental problems including the disposal of potentially recyclable construction and demolition waste as well as a lack of incentives for clients, contractors and developers in the construction sector. He also points out that the materials and energy used to generate electrical units and energy must be taken into account

when calculating a building’s sustainability. To conclude, the rapporteur proposes that special attention is given to the specific problems of rural regions and small and medium-sized towns and that the Smart Cities research priority area in Horizon 2020 should be renamed Smart Cities and Regions and complemented by a new priority area entitled Smart Rural Regions and Towns.

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The voice of local and regional authorities at the Eastern Partnership Summit

Jacek Protas The bi-annual Eastern Partnership Summit of heads of state will take place in Riga on 22 May and the Conference of Regional and Local authorities for the Eastern Partnership

(CORLEAP) has been invited to provide a territorial dimension. During the CORLEAP meeting on 24 April, the coChair, Markku Markkula, will lead discussions on the the possibility to reform the existing Eastern Partnership and assure a more tailored policy for each of the countries and their different objectives vis-à-vis future EU membership. The CoR and CORLEAP will push for an active role for regional and local authorities in the direct management of certain budget lines,

specifically for territorial development and capacity building.

It will also propose a macroregional approach to the whole area going from the Baltic Sea to the Black Sea. This will imply an open cross-border and cultural dialogue with Russia, despite condemning the illegal occupation of Crimea, the territorial threats for Moldova and Georgia and the political and economic challenges faced by EU members and their neighbouring areas.

During a CIVEX seminar in Elbląg, Poland, on 10 April,

Jacek Protas, Marshal of the polish Warmińsko-Mazurskie region shared the success of local border traffic agreements between the polish borders and the Kaliningrad Oblast. “This is not only the way of crossing the border; it helps to build broader relations between regions in Poland, EU and Russia” he underlined. Unfortunately, this border mechanism only applies to the area closest to the border.

He would therefore like to see it expanded to the whole Polish region.

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The European Committee of the Regions: An online introduction The Committee of the Regions has produced an online introduction for its members with the aim of presenting the European Union and its role within the institutions in simple terms.

It is divided into three modules, each of which has four sections.

These sections provide an overview on the Committee and on its role in the EU institutional setting: Module 1: An insight into the CoR and the European Union

Module 2: How the CoR works Module 3: Members: your role, your rights including information on the political groups The introduction was launched in April 2015 in 6 languages (English, French, German, Italian, Polish and Spanish).

To sign up, go to http://cor.europa.eu/en/welcome Contact: welcome@cor.europa.eu ■

Secretary General: Heinz-Peter Knapp | Editor in chief: Kathryn Owens, kathryn.owens@cor.europa.eu, +32 2 282 2400 | Press Officer: Dominik Krakowiak www.epp.cor.europa.eu