The role of cities and regions to bring the European Union (EU) closer to its citizens, the need to increase support for businesses and employment in affected sectors as well as regions and local communities because of Brexit as well as sharing of good practices to create a network of contact points for EU matters were the main issues discussed by EPP-CoR members during a meeting of the European Committee of the Regions (CoR) CIVEX Commission held online.
During a debate on Local and regional Authorities (LRAs) supporting citizens' participation in the Conference on the Future of Europe (CoFoE) and beyond, Mark Speich, Secretary of State for Federal, European and International Affairs for the Land of North Rhine-Westphalia and CIVEX Chair said "Regional and local politicians have a pivotal role in the relationship between the EU and its citizens. With the Conference on the Future of Europe, we have the opportunity to convey the concrete ideas of the citizens of a EU of the future towards Brussels."
Sharing his experience with citizen's consultations in Gelderland, King's Commissioner John Berends said “The response of citizens that strikes me the most was, that they felt they had to fight with the government. While they would expect to get help from the government. I think we should become more aware of the purpose that regional governments need to serve”.
During the meeting, Michael Murphy, Councillor of Tipperary County Council and ECON Chair gave an update on the CoR-UK Contact Group and on the Brexit Adjustment Reserve (BAR) which aims to support businesses and employment in affected sectors as well as regions and local communities. Murphy said "Despite €5 billion being a large sum, the cost of Brexit is expected to be far greater. The BAR should be increased to €6 billion and local and regional authorities should be placed at the heart of the establishment of the BAR."
CoR members also discussed the Local and Regional EU Councillors' Initiative and how to create synergies between CoR and European Parliament projects. In his statement Antonio Tajani, Member of European Parliament and Chair of the European Parliament's Committee on Constitutional Affairs (AFCO) said "The Conference on the Future of Europe is an opportunity to strengthen representative democracy in the EU. Therefore we need to ensure that the CoR is involved in this work helping to build trust with citizens. It is clear that CoR will be a key partner in the implementation of the project Building Europe with Local Entities.''
From his end Franz Schausberger, Representative of Salzburg Province spoke about EU municipal councillors, a system that exists in Austria since 2010. He said "EU municipal councillors should be the first point of contact for questions and concerns about the EU at local and regional level. They are important interpreters of EU policies in our municipalities." Schausberger expressed his ambition for every Austrian municipality to have an EU municipal councillor as a contact point for European issues in the future. He underlined that the CoR could also provide important support for building a network of Local and Regional EU Councillors and in Austria best its experience.
President of the Regional Council of Friuli Venezia Giulia, Piero Mauro Zanin, informed members about the coordination which he initiated with the Conference of Italian Legislative Assemblies of Regions and Autonomous Provinces to discuss the main topics on which they will focus during the CoFoE. He commented "It is right to engage citizens more and more in choosing the Europe we want. In doing this, the role of the LRAs becomes clear not only in public debates but also in the work we are delivering within the European institutions ".
During the meeting, members also held an exchange of views on the opinion on 'A Renewed Partnership with the Southern Neighbourhood'. Piero Mauro Zanin, President of the Regional Council of Friuli-Venezia Giulia recalled the recent experience of the Friuli Venezia Giulia Region with the Mayors of Libya, which aimed at strengthening the partnership with other Mediterranean countries. With the financial support of the Italian Ministry of the Interior, the Region Friuli Venezia Giulia has launched a training project involving the Municipalities of the Libyan coast, which is designed to promote cooperative activities amongst young people in the fisheries sector as part of the Nicosia Initiative of the CoR. This project paves the way for many more strategic activities aimed at creating a friendly climate with Mediterranean neighbouring countries. “I hope the new Libyan government will allow for these synergistic activities to continue in order to reach the goals we aim to achieve” said Zanin.