Newsletter of the European Social ists in the Committee of the Regions May 2012
Dear friends,
When you hold this newsletter in your hands,
we will all just have celebrated May 1st, the
international labour and workers’ day. We will also
have seen, about a month ago, on April 1st, not
just a number of April-fools jokes, but a serious
and important innovation in the EU context,
namely the entry into force of the European
Citizens’ Initiative – a new instrument of direct
democracy to complement the representative
EU structures. What do these two dates have in
common, and what do they mean for us as locally
and regionally elected members of the PES Group
in the Committee of the Regions? Obviously, work
in general, and decent work in particular, allowing
people to gain a living and offering them the
chance to fulfil their potentials and desires, is our
key concern. This is as burning an issue as ever:
while a few EU Member States are doing very well
and see unemployment falling, a large majority
of our countries see scandalously high rates of
people looking for jobs, with skyrocketing youth
unemployment. Moreover, we are also confronted
with a growing problem of ‘working poor’ and
of people who, in the name of flexibility, have
to work in unacceptable conditions and/or for
unacceptable wages. This is felt in our cities and
regions, and many people will put the blame for
this situation on the European Union, because
short-sighted austerity policies are pushed
through at the EU level and under the pretext
of calming down the financial markets. It is true
that the issues of employment, of employability
and of decent work must be tackled at European
level, and if the European Union we have today
cannot provide at least part of the answers to
these challenges, our citizens are right to criticise
it. But at the same time, we have to be aware that
much of what is happening (or not happening)
today is due to the member state governments.
As we know, a large majority of them are led by
conservatives or liberals, for whom it may also
be convenient to put the blame for the difficult
situation onto the European Union. We, as social
democrats and socialists, therefore have a double
challenge before us: we must offer alternative
solutions and we must explain, at all different
levels, who is responsible for what and that the
European Union must be and can be part of the
solution. This is where the European Citizens’
Initiative comes in: this new tool may help to
create a genuine European debate on issues
which go beyond the Member States. Measures at
EU level to stimulate growth, improve education
and qualifications, regulate speculative markets
or show to the politicians that many people do
indeed want a financial transaction tax, are just
some ideas for citizens’ initiatives. These will not
happen over night, and the fact that citizens will
be in charge through this instrument does not
relieve us politicians of our responsibility. On the
contrary, we have to use the momentum, maybe
even the anger which citizens feel and which may
lead them to propose citizens’ initiatives, and try
to channel this into political change – at EU and
national, but also regional or local level. I hope
by the time you read this, we will also be only
days away from seeing the first signs of political
change happening in France!
With social democratic greetings,
Karl-Heinz LAMBERTZ
President of the PES Group in the CoR
w w w. p es . co r. euro p a . eu
Published by | PES Group Secretariat
Rue Belliard 101 | 1040 Brussels
+32.2.282.22.23 | [email protected]
NEWS OF THE PES GROUP IN THE COMMITTEE OF THE REGIONS 02
OTHER VOICES:INTERVIEW WITH HANNES SWOBODA, PRESIDENT OF THE S&D GROUP IN THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT 03
PLENARY SESSION OF THE COMMITTEE OF THE REGIONS (3 – 4 MAY 2012) 04
COR COMMISSIONS: WHAT'S NEW? 08
AND NOW OVER TO PES MEMBERS 12
NEWS OF THE PARTY OF EUROPEAN SOCIALISTS 14
A LOOK AT SOME RECENT LOCAL AND REGIONAL ELECTIONS 16
02
NEWS OF THE PES GROUP IN THE COMMITTEE OF THE REGIONS
On 3 February, the PES Group Secretariat
hosted an information session for the
assistants of Members of the European
Parliament of the Group of the Progressive Alliance
of Socialists and Democrats (S&D Group), its
sister political Group in the European Parliament.
Opening the session, PES Group President Karl-
Heinz LAMBERTZ underlined the added value
of a close cooperation between the two groups,
which ultimately reinforces the voice of European
Socialists, Social Democrats and Progressives
in the European decision-making process and
successfully takes forward a European agenda
based on solidarity (see also Interview with the
President of the S&D Group, Hannes SWOBODA,
p. 03).
At its meeting of 15 February, ahead of the
CoR plenary session, the PES Group had an
exchange views with Ferenc VICSEK, chief
editor of the Hungarian independent radio station
Klubrádió, on the situation of media freedom and
democracy in general in Hungary.
Claudette BALDACCHINO, Deputy Mayor of
Qrendi (Malta) and PES Group Vice-President
in charge of Media and Communication,
commented on the meeting:
“Being both a politician and a journalist, I firmly
believe that the presence of an open media
landscape is a necessity for the sustainable
existence of a democratic environment”. She
expressed her serious concerns about the recent
developments in Hungary with respect to the
new media laws, through which the Hungarian
government attempts to silence internal
opposition. “The situation that the Hungarian
citizens are currently experiencing reminds me
that democracy is not something we should take
for granted, but what we must constantly nurture
and protect. On joining the European Union, we
all become members of a much larger family, with
its rights and obligations. It is evident that the new
Hungarian Constitution itself runs counter to the
spirit of European Union Law. Now we need to
put pressures on the European institutions and
our national leaders to take decisive action”, she
concluded.
On 1 March, the PES Group launched
its photo competition “Life 2.0 –
Ready for a new start”, inspired by
the theme of the 2012 European Year for Active
Ageing and Solidarity between Generations.
European amateur photographers aged 18 -108
are asked to send in a photo that illustrates
how senior citizens lead independent lives by
staying fit and healthy, take an active part in
society and continue to develop their potential.
The competition runs until 30 June 2012.
The first prize of the competition consists of two
trips for two persons to two European cities and a
tablet computer.
The PES Group, in cooperation with the
Foundation for European Progressive
Studies (FEPS), held its fourth seminar
in the lunchtime cycle on Sustainable Europe,
focusing on the Future of Europe’s agricultural
policy. Key speakers were PES Group member
René SOUCHON, President of the Auvergne
Regional Council (France) and CoR rapporteur on
the Reform of the Common Agricultural Policy
(CAP) and rural development post-2013, and Nella
MIKKOLA, Policy Advisor at the Committee of
Professional Agricultural Organisations and General
Confederation of Agricultural Cooperatives in the
European Union (COPA-COGECA).The debate was
moderated by Mark ROGERSON, Director of
Consilia Ltd.
On 15 May, the PES Group will present,
alongside the meeting of the S&D
Group in the European Parliament, its
publication on a European agenda for social
Housing. The publication concludes the PES
Group’s campaign on social housing and includes
best practices on the ground provided by PES
Group members, general information on social
housing systems in different Member States,
compiled with the help of CECODHAS Housing
Europe, as well as the key interventions at the
workshop organised by the Group on this issue
within the framework of the PES Convention
(November 2011). The publication is complete with
photographic material by Belgian photographer
Loïc DELVAULX, who put into pictures housing
realities in five European cities: Brussels, Budapest,
Dunkirk, Lisbon and Malmö. To realise this project
in each of the five cities, Loïc was assisted by PES
Group members Alain HUTCHINSON, Gabor
BIHARY, Michel DELEBARRE, Antonia COSTA
and Ilmar REEPALU. His work, which is part of a
broader project called Europa Habitabilis, will be
exhibited at the European Parliament.
The PES Group’s extraordinary group
meeting will take place on 31 August in
Rijeka (Croatia), at the invitation of Vojko
OBERSNEL, Mayor of Rijeka and member of the
Croatian Social Democratic Party (SDP). It will
focus on real economy, re-industrialisation and
structural funds. Since the February CoR plenary
session, the PES Croatian delegation has been
associated to the works of the PES Group in their
quality of observers.
For more information on our activities, please visit
the website of the PES Group in the CoR at: www.
pes.cor.europa.eu
03
Could you tell us briefly about the priorities of your presidency, especially those relating to the regional and local level?
What are your expectations of the PES Group in the CoR with regard to preparing the European Parliament elections in 2014?
As President of the S&D group I have
emphasised the need for further
cooperation between parliamentary
groups and the other bodies within our political
family. It is vital that the Parliament and its
members are in touch with their representatives
in the regions. Prior to my election, I said that
under my presidency the S&D group would
begin a comprehensive dialogue and network
on a European basis. To that end, I am currently
undertaking a “European tour” to meet various
stakeholders who range from leading politicians
to regional and municipal bodies, think-
tanks such as the FEPS, trade unions, youth
organisations and others.
My priorities as president have centred on
offering the people and governments of
Europe an alternative economic plan as a
counterbalance to the harsh austerity measures
pushed through by the Commission, the Council
and the majority of national governments. I have
advocated the creation of a comprehensive
programme for economics and employment
which should form the basis of our early work
and which will include the involvement of
external experts. Our economic revival must
be based on growth and sustainability and
offer specific measures to the general public.
Austerity will inevitably be a burden on regions,
cities and municipalities and it is vital that we
as Socialists and democrats stand together and
show people all around Europe that there is an
alternative to austerity.
For us as a European parliamentary group,
it is vital to maintain a structural dialogue
with the regional level. Close cooperation
between us and the PES group in the
Committee of Regions is therefore important.
As the S&D group has limited resources and
cannot be active all over Europe, it is essential
that our members are supported by their local
and regional parties. Although the elections
are on a pan-European level, they are held and
won locally. Close cooperation between MEPs
and locally elected officials is therefore crucial to
the success of our campaign. Without effective
coordination and dialogue between the
regions and the Parliament, we, as Socialists and
Democrats, will not be heard by the European
citizen. Being close to citizens and their needs
is one of my declared aims; this is why close
cooperation with the CoR is at the centre of my
activity.
OTHER VOICES Interview with Hannes Swoboda, President of the S&D Group in the European Parliament
04
Plenary session of the Committee of the Regions (3 – 4 May 2012)
The May plenary session will examine 18 draft
opinions, 8 of which by PES rapporteurs.
The President of the European Council Herman VAN ROMPUY
will take the floor in relation to economic governance
and the preparation of the June European Council.
OPINIONS IN BRIEF
General regulation on the Structural Funds
Catiuscia MARINI (PES/Italy)
The draft opinion of the President of the
Umbria Region was adopted unanimously
by the COTER commission and will be presented
in plenary under the simplified procedure (Read
more under COTER commission, p. 09, and
Interviews, p. 13).
European Social Fund
Konstantinos SIMITSIS (PES/Greece)
The draft opinion of the mayor of Kavala
responds to a European Commission
communication on the future European Social
Fund (ESF) covering the period 2014-2020, as
part of an overall legislative package for the EU’s
future cohesion policy. In his draft opinion, the
rapporteur is sceptical whether the proposed
timid increase of the ESF budget will be
commensurate with the fund’s ambitious goals.
He also criticises that the ESF is too much oriented
towards serving the Europe 2020 strategy,
while neglecting its original objective of social
solidarity with the most disadvantaged regions.
According to the rapporteur, support provided
through the ESF should be tailored to the needs
and particularities of individual regions and the
principles of subsidiarity and proportionality
should be effectively applied when it comes, for
example, to the setting of thematic concentration
of the fund or investment priorities. He also
stresses the need to develop more reliable
evaluation procedures. Finally, he welcomes
the simplification measures put forward by the
European Commission, while underlining that
further improvement can be made through the
use of a series of innovative measures, already
discussed by the CoR (such as revolving funds for
microcredit operations, “social bonds” and “citizen
bonds”). In the COTER commission, some ALDE
amendments opposing the setting of a minimum
ceiling of 20% of ESF resources to the benefit of
the promotion of social inclusion and the fight
against poverty were defeated and the opinion
was adopted by a large majority.
(Read more under interviews, p. 13).
Revision of the TEN-T legislative framework
Bernard SOULAGE (PES/France)
The draft opinion of the Vice-President of the
Rhône-Alpes Regional Council was adopted
unanimously by the COTER commission and will
be presented in plenary under the simplified
procedure (Read more under COTER commission,
p. 09, and Interviews, p. 14).
EU Programme for Social Change and Innovation
Enrico ROSSI (PES/Italy)
The draft opinion of the President of the
Tuscany Region responds to a European
Commission proposal that incorporates three
existing instruments, that is, the Programme for
Employment and Social Solidarity (Progresss),
the European Employment Services (EURES) and
the European Progress Microfinance Facility for
employment and social inclusion. The overall aim
of the programme is to boost the Europe 2020
Strategy for Jobs and Growth and it covers the
period 2014-2020.
In his draft opinion, the rapporteur underlines
the need to focus the action under the
programme mainly on vulnerable groups and
in particular young unemployed people, who
have been hit particularly hard by the crisis.
In order to shape labour market reforms, he
highlights the importance of carrying out
social experimentation projects that address
the political priorities of society, sharing more
effectively experiences and disseminating good
practices. Another important aspect is to ensure
overall consistency in European action and
between the various funding programmes. The
05
microfinance facility, for example, should provide
more concrete support to innovative and social
small enterprises and must, at the same time,
be better coordinated with the European Social
Fund. Regarding EURES, the rapporteur calls for
improved evaluation procedures that focus on
the quality of the service provided. Last but not
least, Enrico Rossi calls for more targeted action
to tackle the obstacles to the free movement
of workers. The opinion was adopted by
overwhelming majority by the ECOS commission.
(Read more under interviews, p. 13).
Erasmus for All
Yoomi RENSTRÖM (PES/Sweden)
Erasmus for All brings together all the
current EU and international schemes for
education, training, youth and sport, replacing
seven existing programmes with one: Lifelong
Learning Programme (Erasmus, Leonardo da
Vinci, Comenius, Grundtvig), Youth in Action,
Erasmus Mundus, Tempus, Alfa, Edulink and
the bilateral cooperation programme with
industrialised countries. The aim of the new
programme is to increase efficiency, make it
easier to apply for grants, and reduce duplication
and fragmentation. The Commission is proposing
a budgetary increase of approximately 70%
compared to the current seven-year budget, that
is, allocate €19 billion for the period 2014-2020.
The new programme will focus on EU added
value and systemic impact, with support for
three types of action: learning opportunities
for individuals, both within the EU and beyond;
institutional cooperation between educational
institutions, youth organisations, businesses, local
and regional authorities and NGOs; and support
for reforms in Member States to modernise
education and training systems and promote
innovation, entrepreneurship and employability.
Two-thirds of the funding would be spent on
mobility grants to enhance knowledge and skills.
The draft opinion of the PES/EDUC coordinator
underlines the role of local and regional
authorities in implementing both the EU’s
education programmes and other relevant
European initiatives, since in many European
countries the main responsibility for general and
vocational training at primary and secondary
level, as well as for adult education, lies with local
and regional authorities. The text is however
critical of the emphasis on mobility and higher
education, which is strongly reflected in the name
of the new programme; it therefore proposes
a new title, that is, Learning Europe. The draft
CoR opinion also stresses the need for the new
programme to ensure that all target groups (such
as youth or lifelong learners) are reached. Since
the allocation of funds for the new programme
will be performance-based, the CoR calls for
clear and transparent qualitative and quantitative
criteria, which should avoid direct competition
amongst different target groups and ensure
that even smaller educational institutions can be
financed. Several amendments were tabled in
commission and the rapporteur accepted most of
them as they ensured a coherent stance vis-à-vis
the new programme. Some further amendments
on the importance of regional partnerships in
education may be expected in plenary.
Reform of the Common Agriculture Policy
René SOUCHON (PES/France)
The draft opinion of the President of the
Auvergne Regional Council responds to the
European Commission’s legislative proposals
aimed at reforming the Common Agriculture
Policy (CAP) by strengthening the competitiveness
and the sustainability of agriculture, while
guaranteeing quality food production and
preserving the environment. In his draft opinion,
the rapporteur underlines that the major
challenge facing the CAP post-2013 is to ensure
the full integration of the territorial dimension,
which reflects the real social, environmental and
local specificities of agriculture production and
to allow for greening and innovation measures.
He also highlights the need for improved market
stabilisation measures, aimed at ensuring stable
prices which are based on effective public control
of agricultural production. He also emphasises
the importance of supporting areas with natural
handicaps by strengthening measures, such as:
swiftly introducing convergence criteria for direct
payments in the Member States; allowing for a
better redistribution of funds to disadvantaged
areas by lowering capping levels; strengthening
rules on coupling and raising the overall ceiling
for funding for those areas as well as support for
small farmers. Last but not least, the rapporteur
calls for an adequate and stable budget that
ensures the continuation of the CAP’s strategic
dimension over the 2014-2020 period.
Out of the 280 amendments tabled to this draft
opinion in the NAT commission, the rapporteur
succeeded in adopting mostly those that
strengthen the substance and coherence of the
text. (Read more under Interviews, p. 12).
Health for growth programme
Tilman TÖGEL (PES/Germany)
The draft opinion of the Member of the
Landtag of Saxony-Anhalt (PES/Germany)
responds to a European Commission proposal on
the third multi-annual programme of EU action on
healthcare policy, covering the period 2014-2020.
In his draft opinion, the rapporteur welcomes the
general focus of the programme on innovative
and sustainable healthcare systems, better
deployment of resources, sickness prevention
and cross-border networks to prevent and tackle
health threats. However, he is extremely critical of
the programme title, which reduces health to a
mere question of economic utility, and therefore
proposes to replace it by: “Better health for
sustainable growth”. The rapporteur emphasises
the need to involve regional and local authorities
in the preparation, implementation, assessment
and analysis of the programme. He regrets the fact
that, although these authorities are responsible
for and provide healthcare services, they are
not at all mentioned in the communication. In
this context, he also suggests a reference to the
European Grouping for Territorial Cooperation
(EGTC), which can be a useful instrument for
cross-border cooperation on health. Finally, the
rapporteur highlights the need for more funding,
given the economic benefits of avoiding sickness-
related costs and absences from work, and to
better redirect the support to structurally weak
regions. The draft opinion was adopted by an
overwhelming majority in the NAT commission
and no controversial amendments are expected
in plenary (Read more under Interviews, p. 12).
Green paper on family reunification
Sergio SOAVE (PES/Italy)
06
The draft opinion by the Mayor of Savigliano
responds to a European Commission Green
Paper aimed a examining a number of key
aspects on the right to family reunification of
third-country nationals living in the EU. Given that
the implementation of the existing legislation on
family reunification by the Member States has
so far not been very successful, the Green Paper
asks a series of questions, on how to improve
implementation and whether some of the
‘integration measures’ required by Member States
in the context of family reunification really foster
integration or rather, they constitute indirect
barriers to the arrival of immigrants’ family
members.
In his draft opinion, the rapporteur underlines
that immigration policies need first of all to
comply with the fundamental right of people
to live with their family, which is a right that is
independent from access to citizenship and any
wider considerations of immigration policy. As
local and regional authorities have a key role to
play in managing integration of migrants and
promoting social cohesion on the ground, they
should be fully involved in discussions on the
rules for family reunification, because it is a key
element of successful integration. In particular,
the rapporteur proposes to further clarify the
legal guarantees for migrants at European level,
for example by establishing a minimum length
of residence, which would reconcile the need for
stability with respect for the right to a family life.
His draft opinion was adopted by a majority by
the members of the CIVEX commission. It remains
to be seen which conclusions the European
Commission will draw from the responses it has
received to the Green Paper and whether new
legislation will be proposed. In view of these
developments, the CoR opinion may have to be
updated at a later stage.
European Regional Development Fund (ERDF):
Michael SCHNEIDER (EPP/Germany)
The draft opinion by the EPP Group President
and State Secretary and Delegate of the State
of Saxony-Anhalt for the German Federation
(Germany) stresses the need for a more flexible
approach for the allocation of funds under the
ERDF, mainly aimed at boosting competitiveness.
The rapporteur underlines that even in more
developed regions, investment in infrastructure
in the areas of environment, transport and
information and communication technologies
may be necessary. When it comes to funding
research and innovation, the ERDF should –
according to the rapporteur -not only support the
public sector, but also open it to the private one.
The rapporteur strongly rejects the creation of an
urban platform which might double the activities
of existing bodies. Finally, in areas with natural
or demographic constraints, the operational
programmes should take greater account of the
challenges of democratic change.
The draft opinion was adopted by majority by the
members of the COTER commission. Following
the discussions in the COTER commission around
the General Regulation and the ERDF, further
amendments can be expected in plenary on the
thematic concentration aiming at softening the
CoR position, instead of radically rejecting any
concentration.
Cohesion fund:
Romeo STAVARACHE
(ALDE/Romania)
The draft opinion of the Mayor of Bacău
was adopted unanimously by the COTER
commission and will be presented in plenary
under the simplified procedure (Read more under
COTER commission, p. 09).
Reform of the Common Fisheries Policy:
Mieczyslaw STRUK (EPP/Poland)
PiePiePiePiPiePPierrerrerrreer e MMMaMaMaM illiillllillilleeeeee
The draft opinion of the Marshal of the
Pomeranian region responds to a European
Commission legislative package which sets
out proposals for a modern and simpler
Common Fisheries Policy (CFP) making fishing
environmentally, economically and socially
sustainable. The rapporteur generally welcomes
the proposals while making several amendments
to the new legislative framework. They refer
to an effective long-term management of fish
stocks and the management of discards, fishing
concessions and ways to encourage Europe’s
international partners to fish responsibly. He also
calls for increased regionalisation of the CFP and
for the creation of appropriate financial support
towards its priorities.
The draft opinion had already been submitted
to the February plenary session. However, given
the incoherent outcome on the vote, it was
referred back to the NAT commission, where the
66 amendments tabled evidenced the persisting
complexity of the debate (namely, the divergent
national positions with regard to fishing quotas
and undesirable captures, the control of discard
and fishing concessions). Most amendments
tabled by PES shadow rapporteur Pierre MAILLE,
which were aimed at improving the coherence
of the draft opinion, were adopted and the
draft report was adopted by a majority. Further
controversial amendments might be tabled in
plenary, but they are unlikely to obstruct the final
adoption of the opinion.
Review of EU air quality and emissions policy:
Cor LAMERS (EPP/Netherlands)
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The draft opinion of the Mayor of Houten
responds to a request of the European
Commission ahead of the review of the EU air
quality policy in 2013, which will set new long-
term objectives for the period after 2020. The
document focuses on the question of how
to improve air quality in order to guarantee
public health and how to best address the
implementation problems at regional and local
levels. The main challenge is to find the right
balance between the prevention of harmful
emissions at the source and the measures to deal
with the results (i.e. set maximum pollution levels).
Given the importance of air quality management
for many municipalities and regions in the EU, the
issue provoked a lively debate and divergent views
in the ENVE commission, and the 93 amendments
tabled to this opinion showed the complexity but
also the political pertinence of the issue.
Both the PES shadow rapporteur André VAN DE
NADORT, Mayor of Ten Boer (Netherlands), and
PES/ENVE coordinator Hermann KUHN, member
of the Parliament of Bremen (Germany) supported
the emphasis on air quality as a key factor of
quality of life and stressed the need for local and
regional authorities to be assisted in their efforts
to improve air quality by clear political guidelines
for emission control, as well as by source-based
measures. The opinion was adopted by majority
and a number of further amendments may be
tabled to further clarify the political message of
this opinion.
Trans-European Telecommunications Networks:
Alin-Adrian NICA (ALDE/Romania)
The Proposal for a regulation on guidelines
for trans-European telecommunications
networks is part of the European Commission’s
“Connecting Europe Facility”, a €50 billion plan
to fund investment with a view to improving
Europe’s transport, energy and digital networks.
The draft opinion of the EDUC focuses on the
importance of trans-European availability of fast
Internet access and digital services for economic
growth and the Single Market. The European
Commission initiative is anchored in the Europe
2020 Strategy, which puts digital infrastructures
at the forefront through the flagship initiative
07
“Digital Agenda for Europe”. It underlines the
need to ensure by 2020 the roll-out and take-up
of broadband for all, at increasing speeds, through
both fixed and wireless technologies, and to
facilitate investment in the new very fast open
and competitive internet networks that will be the
arteries of a future economy.
The rapporteur agrees on the need to remove
bottlenecks which hinder the completion of the
Digital Single Market by ensuring connectivity
to the network and access, including across
borders, to an infrastructure of public digital
services. He also recalls the key role of local and
regional authorities in helping to ensure equal
and affordable broadband access in areas where
the market fails, in leading pilot projects aimed at
bridging the e-Accessibility gap, and in developing
new approaches towards people-centred public
e-services. Adoption in plenary is expected to be
uncontroversial.
Enlargement strategy and main challenges 2011-12:
Stanisław SZWABSKI (EA/Poland)
Responding to a European Commission
communication on the enlargement strategy
and main challenges in 2011-2012, and, not least,
in view of the accession of Croatia to the EU in July
2013, the draft opinion by the Chairman of the
municipality of Gdynia underlines the progress
that candidate countries and potential candidate
countries have made as well as the main challenges
ahead for the ongoing reforms. The rapporteur
recognises the important role of local and regional
authorities, of other associations as well as of cross-
border cooperation in supporting every stage of
the EU enlargement process, encouraging citizens’
participation and helping to implement the
subsidiarity principle in these countries.
Several PES Group members contributed to the
lively discussion in the CIVEX commission and
had tabled a number of amendments. Debates
focused (once more) on some issues related to
Turkey’s membership application. The overall
result is a rather balanced text, which was adopted
by majority
Energy efficiency in cities and rural districts:
Brian MEANEY (EA/Ireland)
In response to a request by the Danish EU
Presidency, the Member of the Clare County
Council and Mid-West Regional Authority will
present his draft opinion as a rapporteur general.
Given the need to meet the deadline of ministerial
debates on the issue in May, CoR President
Mercedes BRESSO decided to ask for this opinion
to go straight to the plenary. The key challenge
raised by this opinion is the need to support in
particular rural areas, where improvements in
energy efficiency in many cases are more difficult
to achieve than in cities, due to the nature of the
building stock (older buildings), the problem of
more dispersed buildings (no economic viability
of technologies such as district heating), and
generally less dense population. At the same time,
urban areas and rural areas depend on each other
and a key challenge is to improve the efficiency of
transport links between them.
The ENVE commission has therefore only held
a general debate on 17 April, and a number of
amendments on the document are likely to be
tabled for the plenary.
Consumer programme 2014-2020:
Istvan SERTO-RADICS
(ALDE/Hungary)
In his draft opinion, the Mayor of Uszka generally
welcomes the main elements of the European
Commission proposal for a regulation, which
aims at: strengthening the market monitoring
mechanism on product safety of the Community
system for the rapid exchange of information on
dangers arising from the use of consumer products
(RAPEX); improving information to consumers and
awareness of their rights; strengthening effective
redress, especially through alternative dispute
resolutions; and strengthening enforcement
of cross-border rights. The rapporteur also
emphasises that local and regional authorities
should have a key role in protecting consumers,
including through support to networks and
university centres that are active in this field and
through the promotion of mutual exchange of
experiences. The NAT commission adopted the
amendments tabled by PES shadow-rapporteur
Heinz-Joachim HÖFER, which aimed at clarifying
and reinforcing the text. The draft opinion was
adopted by majority and no major controversies
are expected in plenary.
European Globalisation
Adjustment Fund (EGF):
Gerry BREEN (EPP/Ireland)
The draft opinion of the Member of
Dublin City Council and Dublin Regional
Authority responds to a European Commission
communication on the future EGF covering
the period 2014-2020. The fund is aimed at
addressing unemployment and at intervening
in cases of significant redundancies. According
to the rapporteur, key challenges include the
establishment of a more efficient intervention
mechanism, the simplification of procedures, the
definition of higher rates for co-financing, greater
flexibility in the application of the fund and the
extension of the EGF to groups such as owner-
managers of SMEs and self-employed workers.
Last but not least, he highlights that the potential
of local and regional authorities should be better
exploited when coordinating and implementing
measures for workers. The most controversial
point remains whether the European Commission
proposal of extending the EGF to farmers affected
by trade agreements is useful. The opinion was
adopted by majority in the ECOS commission
and its adoption in plenary should be rather
uncontroversial.
Innovation – Smart Health – Better Lives: Sustainable
welfare, the welfare technology of the future, ageing populations
and active ageing:
Arnoldas ABRAMAVICIUS
(EPP/Lithuania)
This draft outlook opinion has been elaborated
at the request of the Danish Presidency and
due to time constraints, the ECOS Chair and Mayor
of Zarasai District Municipality was appointed
as rapporteur-general. The issue of an ageing
European population has a strong impact on local
and regional authorities in urban and rural areas
alike. The draft opinion seeks to better understand
how social innovation can help tackling the
challenge of social exclusion and dependency as
well as ensuring a healthier late life. It also looks
into the positive economic and social impact
that an ageing population can have on society,
including the expansion of economic activities
related to services to older people.
08
CIVEX (Brussels, 9 February 2012)
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The CIVEX commission adopted by majority
the draft opinion on Family reunification, by
Sergio SOAVE, Mayor of Savigliano (PES/Italy)
(Read more under plenary, p. 05).
CIVEX members also adopted by majority the
draft opinion on the Enlargement strategy
and main challenges 2011-2012, by Stanisław
Szwabski, Chairman of the municipality of
Gdynia (EA/Poland) (Read more under plenary,
p. 07). p
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Furthermore, PES member Nichi VENDOLA,
President of the Puglia Region (Italy), had an
exchange of views with CIVEX members on his
working document on the Global approach
to migration. The document focuses on the
involvement of regions and local authorities
in the implementation of the global approach,
which must centre on migrants and on respect
for human rights in source, transit and destination
countries alike. It also explores the link between
migration and climate change, and the delicate
balance between the idea to allow for ‘selective
immigration’ to address skills shortages in the
EU on the one hand, and the urgent need to
reduce brain drain in the countries of origin, on
the other. The rapporteur stresses that the right
to leave any country, including one’s own, is a
fundamental human right. A further discussion
and adoption of the draft opinion is foreseen for
27 April.p
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CIVEX members also had an exchange of views
on the working document on Intra-EU solidarity
in Asylum Policy, by PES member Theodoros
GKOTSOPOULOS, Municipal Counsellor of
the Municipality of Pallini, Attica (Greece).
The rapporteur underlines that an improved
EU legislative framework is needed in the
asylum area, not least because of the increased
migration from North Africa and the Middle East,
triggered by the ongoing political upheavals.
He also calls for a clearer recognition of the role
of regional and local authorities and for a more
comprehensive definition of the principles of
solidarity and of fair sharing of responsibility. y g p y
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The CIVEX commission also appointed Lotta
HAKANSSON HARJU, Member of Järfälla
Municipal Council (PES/Sweden), as rapporteur
for the opinion on the Commission proposals for
funding EU External action for the period 2014-
2020 under the umbrella communication ‘Global
Europe’.p
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They also had a discussion on activities of the
CoR’s Joint Consultative Committees (JCC) and
Working Groups (WG). Both configurations are set
up by the CoR Bureau and their work ties in with
the CoR’s external relations strategy. Their aim is
to establish contacts between the CoR and local
and regional representatives of the candidate
countries for EU accession. PES members Per
Bodker ANDERSEN, Chair of the JCC for the
Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, and
Bernard SOULAGE, Chair of the WG on Turkey,
contributed to this debate with experiences from
the face-to-face exchanges with partners from
these countries.
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Finally, in view of the entry into force of the
regulation on the European Citizens’ Initiative
(ECI) on 1 April 2012, CIVEX members also took
part in a round table on this topic. The debate
focused in particular on which role the CoR
should play concretely (via the dissemination
of information etc.) in promoting the ECI as a
new tool of democratic participation, and what
contribution it could make to the follow-up
CoR Commissions: What's new?
09
of those citizens’ initiatives which receive one
million support signatures.
COTER (Lisbon, 5-6 March 2012)
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The COTER commission adopted
unanimously the draft opinion on the
General regulation on the Structural Funds by
Catiuscia MARINI, 1st Vice-President of the PES
Group and President of the Umbria Region (Italy).
The European Commission document lays down
common provisions on the European Regional
Development Fund (ERDF), the European Social
Fund (ESF), the Cohesion Fund, the European
Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD)
and the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund
(EMFF). In her draft opinion, the rapporteur
supports the creation of a new category of
transition regions, including all regions with a
GDP per capita between 75% and 90% of the
EU-27 average; confirming thereby the approach
already taken by the CoR in its opinion on the
new Multiannual Financial Framework, adopted
in December 2011, and the opinion on the 5th
Cohesion Report (rapporteur: COTER President
Michel DELEBARRE, PES), adopted in April
2011. The President of the Umbria Region also
stresses the introduction of a flexibility reserve
for thematic concentration on key Europe
2020 goals and reiterates her firm refusal of
any macroeconomic conditionality penalising
regional authorities as a result of Member States’
failure to comply with their obligations. Last but
not least, the rapporteur suggests the setting
up of partnership contracts that guarantee
a stronger involvement of regional and local
authorities, who should be responsible for
choosing investment priorities and distributing
the structural funds between the ERDF and the
ESF on the basis of concrete territorial analysis.
The COTER commission also adopted by majority
the draft opinion on the European Social Fund
by Konstantinos SIMITSIS, Mayor of Kavala
(PES/Greece) (Read more under plenary, p. 04
and interviews, p. 13).
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COTER members also endorsed unanimously
the draft opinion on the Legislative Framework
on Trans-European Transport Networks (TEN-T)
by Bernard SOULAGE, Vice-president of the
Rhône-Alpes Regional Council (PES/France). In
his draft opinion, the rapporteur welcomes the
European Commission approach based on a so
called ‘dual-layer’ transport network. This involves
putting in place a comprehensive network by
2050 and a core network, including the most
strategic routes that offer the highest European
added value by 2030. The rapporteur suggests
that TEN-T infrastructure projects should be
based on existing networks and efforts should
focus on improving and interconnecting them,
promoting the most resource-efficient use and
enhancing cross-border transport operations.
He stresses the need to fully involve regional and
local authorities in preparing and implementing
the proposed actions (i.e. corridors) adopted as
part of the TEN-T programming. Finally, given the
strategic importance of the TEN-T networks for
territorial cohesion across the EU, he underlines
the need for sufficient funding to be made
available for the selected investments, also
through the mobilisation of innovative financial
tools and project bonds. p j
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Furthermore, COTER members adopted by
majority the draft opinion on the European
Regional Development Fund by EPP Group
President Michael SCHNEIDER, State Secretary
and Delegate of the State of Saxony-Anhalt for
the German Federation (Germany).
The draft opinion on the Cohesion Fund by
Romeo STAVARACHE, Mayor of Bacău (ALDE/
Romania), was adopted unanimously. The
rapporteur stresses that local and regional
authorities should be fully involved in decisions
at national and European level on investment
priorities funded by the Cohesion Fund. He calls
for better strategic planning of investments
and for a result-oriented approach. Finally, he is
concerned about the fact that there is no clear
formula for determining the budget share for the
Connecting Europe Facility and, in this context,
he stresses that this should not have a negative
impact on the budget related to cohesion policy
funds.
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The PES Group obtained the rapporteurship
on Cities of tomorrow: sustainable cities on
environmental and social levels, a dossier which
was referred to the CoR on a request by the
Danish Presidency. The draft opinion will be
elaborated by Hella DUNGER-LÖPER, State
Secretary of the Land of Berlin to the Federal
Government and for European Affairs (Germany).
ECOS (Brussels, 8 February 2012)
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The ECOS commission adopted by majority
the draft opinion on the EU Programme for
Social Change and Innovation by Enrico ROSSI,
(PES/Italy) (Read more under plenary, p. 04
and Interviews, p. 13).
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The PES Group also obtained the rapporteurship
for a key political dossier on The award of
concession contracts, to be drafted by PES/
ECOS coordinator Henk KOOL. The European
Commission proposal aims at reducing legal
uncertainty on the award of concessions
contracts, which is currently governed by
case law. As local and regional authorities are
responsible for the majority of public spending
in Europe, they should benefit from transparent
and outcome-oriented European-wide
procedures.
ECOS members also adopted by majority the
draft opinion on the European Globalisation
Adjustment Fund for the period 2014-2020 by
Gerry BREEN (EPP/Ireland) (Read more under
plenary, p. 07).
Furthermore, ECOS members had an exchange
of views on the working document on the
Responsible business package by Satu TIETARI,
Member of Säkylä Municipal Council (ALDE/
Finland). The document stresses the need to
make better use of the potential, strengths
and opportunities presented by regions when
it comes to setting and developing social
enterprises and local businesses as well as
creating valuable networks.
Moreover, members had an exploratory debate
on a referral of the Danish EU Presidency on
Innovation - Smart Health - Better Lives (Read
more under Plenary, p. 07).
Finally, they had a roundtable debate on gender
equality. PES Vice-President Claudette Abela
BALDACCHINO, Deputy Mayor of Qrendi (Malta)
and former rapporteur on Non-discrimination,
equal opportunities and the implementation
of the principle of equal treatment between
persons, was among the key speakers.
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EDUC (Brussels, 27 February)
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EDUC members adopted by majority the draft
opinion of Yoomi RENSTRÖM, Member
of Ovanåker Municipal Council (PES, Sweden),
on Erasmus for All (Read more under Plenary,
p. 05, and Interviews, p. 12).
They also adopted by majority the draft opinion
of Alin-Adrian NICA, Mayor of Dudeştii Noi
(ALDE/Romania) on the European Commission’s
proposal for a regulation on guidelines for
trans-European telecommunications networks
(Read more under Plenary, p. 06).
The EDUC commission also discussed the
working document of Gábor BIHARY, Member
of Budapest General Assembly (PES, Hungary),
responding to the European Commission’s
proposal for a regulation establishing the
Creative Europe Programme. The new
programme will replace the current Culture and
MEDIA programmes which have supported the
cultural and audiovisual sectors for more than
20 years. The proposed €1.8 billion budget for
Creative Europe represents a 37% increase on
current spending levels. The aim of the new
programme is to help Europe’s cultural and
creative sectors (representing around 4.5%
of European GDP and accounting for 3.8% of
the EU workforce, that is, 8.5 million people) to
overcome market fragmentation and difficulties
in accessing financing.
The working document raises a series of
questions related to the role of local and regional
authorities in enhancing the implementation
of capacity-building measures in the cultural
sector, facilitating the transition to digital
services and evaluating the leverage effect of
the current Culture, MEDIA and MEDIA MUNDUS
programmes. Moreover, it calls for a debate
on the main obstacles to the promotion of
European cultural activity in third countries and
of international cultural exchanges.
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Finally, the EDUC commission discussed the
working document of Markku MARKKULA,
Member of Espoo City Council (EPP/Finland),
on the European Commission’s new Framework
Programme for Research and Innovation ‘Horizon
2020’, which brings together all EU research and
innovation funding under a single programme,
covering the period 2014-2020. It focuses on
turning scientific breakthroughs into innovative
products and services while drastically cutting
red tape through the simplification of rules and
procedures.
In his working document, the rapporteur
announces that the CoR opinion on Horizon
2020 will have two main pillars: on the one hand,
it will address fundamental policy questions
related to excellence, capacity-building, smart
specialisation, regional research and innovation
eco-systems; on the other hand, it will make
concrete recommendations on issues affecting
local and regional actors. These issues include,
but are not limited to: public procurement;
researcher mobility; access to complementary
finance; research infrastructure; and strategies
for R&D and regional development (in particular
with respect to smart specialisation). One of the
key questions asked is how to ensure that new
effective instruments with a strong regional
dimension will be developed and taken up. It
remains to be seen to what extent the draft
opinion will incorporate the key messages of the
CoR response, elaborated by Claude GEWERC
(PES, France), to the European Commission’s
Green Paper in preparation of Horizon 2020.
11
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It is worth noting that the PES Group obtained
the rapporteurship of the European Commission
legislative package on Open data and the reuse
of public sector information, to be drafted by
Anne KARJALAINEN, Member of Kerava City
Council (Finland).
ENVE (Brussels, 7 February 2012)
The ENVE commission adopted by majority
the draft opinion on the Review of EU air
quality and emissions policy by Cor LAMERS,
Mayor of Houten (EPP/Netherlands) (Read more
under plenary, p. 06).
ENVE members also had an exchange of views
on the working document on Trans-European
energy infrastructure by Heinz LEHMANN,
Member of the Saxony Landtag (EPP/Germany),
responding to a European Commission proposal
for a regulation, aimed at laying down guidelines
for the timely development and interoperability
of priority corridors and areas of trans-European
energy infrastructure.gy
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The ENVE commission appointed PES member
Neil SWANNICK, Member of Manchester City
Council (UK), as rapporteur on a Mechanism
for monitoring and reporting greenhouse
gas emissions, which proposes legislation to
enhance EU rules in this field with a view to
meeting the EU’s climate and energy targets for
the period 2013-2020. p
Ilmmar REEREEPALPALUU
Finally, ENVE members participated in a
roundtable debate on the outcome of the Durban
climate negotiations and, more particularly, the
global agreement that countries will sign to curb
greenhouse gas emissions in 2015. ENVE Chair
Ilmar REEPALU, Mayor of Malmö (PES/Sweden),
who had represented the CoR in the official EU
delegation to the COP17 meeting of the UN
Framework Convention on Climate Change,
held in Durban (South Africa) in December 2011,
was among the key speakers. Jo LEINEN MEP
(S&D/Germany), former Chair of the European
Parliament’s ENVI Committee, took also part
in the debates. The discussion focused mainly
on the implications of the international climate
agenda for EU climate policy in general and for
local and regional action in particular.
NAT (Brussels, 26 March 2012)
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The NAT commission adopted by majority the
draft opinion on the Reform of the Common
Agriculture Policy by René SOUCHON, President
of the Auvergne Regional Council (PES/
France) (Read more under Plenary, p. 05. and
Interviews, p. 12)
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NAT members also adopted by majority the draft
opinion on the Health for growth programme
by Tilman TÖGEL, Member of the Landtag of
Saxony-Anhalt (PES/Germany) (Read more under
Plenary, p. 05. and Interviews, p. 12).
Moreover, they adopted by majority the draft
opinion on the Reform of the Common Fisheries
Policy by Mieczyslaw STRUK, Marshal of the
Pomeranian region (EPP/Poland) (Read more
under Plenary, p. 06).
Finally, the NAT commission adopted by majority
the draft opinion on the Consumer programme
for 2014-2020 by Istvan SERTO-RADICS, Mayor
of Uszka (ALDE/Hungary) (Read more under
Plenary, p. 07).
12
AND NOW OVER TO PES MEMBERS
“How can local and regional authorities contribute
towards ensuring that the new programme
reaches all relevant target groups, including parts
of the population that are unfamiliar with study or
financially disadvantaged groups?”
Yoomi RENSTRÖM, Member of Ovanåker
Municipal Council (PES, Sweden):
Local and regional authorities must play a key role
if the EU’s education programmes are to have an
impact, since in many countries responsibility for
the education of children and young people lies
with these levels of government.
The new programme calls more strongly
for schools and institutions to take overall
responsibility for projects. The intention is to
provide support for individuals and groups
seeking cross-border exchanges of experience.
Since the programme can be adapted to local
situations, the advantages of its integrated
character can be more effectively harnessed
through cooperation at local and regional level,
especially in the case of groups that are more in
need of support.
Being able to compare different approaches
can improve quality, and mobility in education
and work placements can give young people
experiences that support their development.
We can also contribute at local level by looking
for international experience, highlighting good
practice, contributing local resources and
developing support structures.
The correlation between weak school results and
socio-economic deprivation is a recognised fact,
and if the EU wants to meet the education and
employment goals of the Europe 2020 strategy,
efforts with these vulnerable groups must be
given more weight in the budget allocation
for the new education programme. Local and
regional authorities must also remember to
prioritise these groups in their planning.
In your draft opinion, you stress the fact that the
greatest challenge for the CAP post-2013 will be to
ensure that territorial aspects are fully integrated
into the policy. What does this approach comprise
and what will be its added value at European level?
René Souchon, President of the Auvergne Regional
Council (France):
The CAP has undergone several changes over
the last 50 years. However the question of its
governance has never been clearly raised. Now
it is time to do so. European agriculture is highly
diversified: there is no one type of agriculture,
but there is a multitude of different types.
Consequently, the CAP should take this diversity
into account. To this end, I feel it is absolutely
vital to rely more on local and regional levels of
governance.
The European Commission is proposing to
ensure the consistency of European structural
funds in a common strategic framework. This is a
development which allows greater responsibility
for the management of European funds to
be transferred to local and regional levels. In
concrete terms, this means that the measures
coming under the second pillar of the CAP,
relating to rural development, could be co-
managed by the regions, along the lines of other
structural policies.
Likewise, I would like the regions to be able
to be involved in implementing all or part of
the funds coming under the first pillar. The
Commission does offer this possibility, such as
in the arrangements for providing support for
less-favoured areas. I believe, however, that it is
particularly in relation to «greening» the CAP that
the involvement of local and regional levels is
necessary. It is wrong to think that this «greening»
process will be uniform across the whole of
the European Union. To take into account the
diversity of the different farming and ecosystems
in the EU, greening measures have to be geared
to local contexts. This is what I am proposing in
my draft opinion with «territorial pacts».
Surprisingly, the proposal for a regulation on the
EU’s Health for Growth programme makes no
mention of regions and municipalities. So why does
their contribution matter – especially when it comes
to taking a more strategic approach to health?
Tilman Tögel, Member of the Saxony-Anhalt
Landtag (Germany):
“The proposal for a regulation does fail to
mention regions and municipalities, even though
practically everywhere they’re responsible for
securing and organising healthcare services.
Issues surrounding education and prevention,
and protection against cross-border health
risks are also dealt with locally. So if we want
to facilitate transfer of know-how or even
coordinate measures during a health crisis, for
example, it’s not enough to work at Member
State level alone. I also think it’s strategically
important to take advantage of the benefits
and opportunities offered by EGTCs (European
groupings of territorial cooperation), which may
be useful here in the case of border regions, in
particular.
12
ca p o e qua ty, a d ob ty educat o
13
Regional and local authorities are currently
facing heavy budget cuts owing to the economic
and financial crisis. In this context, cohesion
policy can play a key role in bringing about their
economic recovery. What are your main policy
recommendations regarding the Structural Funds for
the post-2013 period?
Catiuscia Marini, President of the Umbria region
(Italy):
The public finance situation is extremely critical:
on the one hand, heavy cuts in resources
(Fiscal Compact) are pushing authorities to use
emergency reserves; on the other, there is the
need to prevent Community resources merely
replacing national resources that are now lacking
(additionality). As “other” funding is dwindling,
Community funding is coming into play more
and more, which means its use needs to be
increasingly targeted, result-focused and geared
to regional economic development needs, with
an approach which is as integrated as possible
with regard to the various funds. First and
foremost, the European Union needs a budget
that is sufficient to implement the Europe 2020
strategy and achieve the specific cohesion policy
objectives properly. We must call for greater
integration of the European funds (ERDF, Cohesion
Fund, ESF, EAFRD, EGF), simplifying management
and monitoring rules and strongly encouraging
multi-fund operational programmes. I believe
that, in line with the subsidiarity principle, it is
essential for local and regional authorities to
be fully involved in drawing up, negotiating,
implementing and revising the various strategic
documents: by its very nature, cohesion policy
follows a bottom-up (rather than top-down)
approach based on a regional assessment
which identifies the strengths and weaknesses
of regions needing support from the Structural
Funds for their development. Moreover, restoring
effectiveness and a result-focused approach
are also essential, and can best be achieved by
enhancing the role of evaluations and making
them public and transparent, such that local
communities take greater ownership of cohesion
policy and its results, and strive for the enhanced
reputation that comes when effectiveness can
be demonstrated. Lastly, I believe that genuinely
simplifying the fund implementation provisions
of applications for this. Finally, we have offered
young graduates interest-free loans for advanced
study and specialisation both in Italy and abroad.
In short, we have come up with a batch of
opportunities at European level funded with
regional, national and Community resources that
can also be backed up by other funds from local
authorities and public and private entities.
This is an example of across-the-board
collaboration to achieve a common goal: giving
young people their future back. They should not
be seen as targets for assistance, but as a resource
in which to invest.
In your draft opinion, you criticise the European
Social Fund (ESF) for being too much oriented
towards serving the Europe 2020 strategy, while
neglecting its original objective of social solidarity
with the most disadvantaged regions. What are your
concrete proposals in this regard?
Konstantinos Simitsis, Mayor of Kavala (Greece):
We agree as a rule with the basic principle that
tasks and measures under the ESF be linked with
the Europe 2020 strategy for smart, sustainable
and inclusive growth.
We do have concerns, however, regarding “full
alignment” of the ESF with the objectives of the
Europe 2020 strategy, as this could restrict the
fund’s mission within the context of cohesion
policy, as set out in the Treaty, and divert it from
its role as the basic driver of cohesion policy to
become a tool in the exclusive service of the
Europe 2020 strategy.
Furthermore, we disapprove of the fact that there
is no reference whatsoever to the definition of
the ESF’s role, in the context of its full alignment
with the objectives of the Europe 2020 strategy,
or to reducing the backwardness of the least
favoured regions (rural areas, areas affected by
industrial transition, the northernmost regions
with particularly sparse population density, and
island, border and mountain regions).
The amendments to Articles 4 and 10 of the draft
regulation are our attempt to address the above
dangers.
There are large differences in healthcare
provision even within Member States. In sparsely
populated or remote regions it’s sometimes
much poorer, and in any case more expensive
than in densely populated or urban regions.
Eliminating or reducing these inequalities is a key
objective of the programme. But in doing so, the
focus has to be very much on people and their
health. Economic benefits are all to the good,
but they can’t be the main motivation. That’s
why I’m also in favour of changing the title of
the programme to Better Health for Sustainable
Growth, as advocated by quite a few people at
the hearings.”
There is a lot of discussion at EU level on how best to
combat the high youth unemployment rates caused
by the economic and financial crisis. How can the
European Union Programme for Social Change and
Innovation help in this? Could you give an actual
example of how your region has reacted to this
challenge on the ground?
Enrico Rossi, President of the Tuscany Region
(Italy):
We in Tuscany are convinced that young people
are not a problem, but actually the solution for
returning to growth and leaving the crisis behind
us. We have to focus on the young, give them
what they need to take control of their own
future, and support them as they begin to gain
independence in terms of money, housing and
work. This is not just to improve the quality of life
of younger generations, who are unfortunately
among the main victims of unemployment and
job instability, but also to get us all out of the crisis
that we are in. With this goal in mind, we came up
with and implemented a project called “Giovani
sì” (Young People – Yes!), which combines a
number of initiatives to enable young people
to become self-reliant. We shall be spending
more than EUR 334 million on the project up to
the end of 2013. The results after the first few
months are encouraging: we have launched
more than 1 200 paid traineeships; around
2 000 young people have contacted our offices
to get a rent subsidy and the same number
have begun civilian service. Then we had an
initiative to nurture a new generation of young
entrepreneurs and we have received hundreds
14
yyGábor r BihBiharyaryy
On 9 February, the PES Presidency met for
the fist time under the new interim President
Sergei STANISHEV. The meeting aimed at setting
the pace of PES work up until the PES Congress,
due to take place in Bucharest (Romania), on
28-29 September 2012. Advancements in the
procedure for the selection of a PES candidate for
the presidency of the European Commission post
2014, as well as the timeline for the elaboration of
the PES Fundamental Programme were the main
issues discussed.
The Fundamental Programme is part of the
PES renewal process, launched at the 2009 PES
Congress in Prague, and it follows on from the
PES Declaration of Principles, adopted by the PES
Council last November. The programme’s broad
goal is to develop a common programmatic
basis for all PES member parties, while outlining
the PES vision for a progressive Europe. The PES
Fundamental Programme will be adopted by the
PES Council in spring 2013. Based on bottom-up
consultations, the programme will cover the four
overarching themes of the PES Convention: Fair
Economy, Equal Societies, a Just World and Active
Democracy. Gender Equality will be the fifth
consultation theme.
The PES Presidency also agreed on the 2012
PES campaign, which will focus on youth
unemployment. ‘My future is your Future’ calls for
a European Youth Guarantee, which would ensure
that every young person (under 25) is offered a
job, further education or work-focused training at
the latest four months after leaving education or
becoming unemployed. The official launch of the
campaign is due in late April.
The PES Group was represented at the PES
Presidency by Gabor BIHARY (Hungary), who
reiterated the Group’s full commitment to the
elaboration of the PES Fundamental Programme
and unreserved support to the PES youth
unemployment campaign. It is worth noting that,
within the framework of the Open Days 2012,
the PES Group will be organising a workshop on
‘Youth (un)employment: Exploring solutions that
work’, due to take place in Brussels, on 10 October,
News of the Party of European Socialists
for management, supervisory and audit
authorities will make access to financing easier
for beneficiaries.
In your draft opinion on the Trans-European
Transport Network (TEN-T), you stress the need to
do more to include local and regional authorities in
the governance system. Could you give a practical
example of how regions and cities can contribute to
developing the EU’s transport infrastructure?
Bernard Soulage, Vice-President of the Rhône-
Alpes Regional Council (France):
All too often people forget that local and regional
authorities finance a significant share of the
trans-European networks and their access routes.
Without this critical financial input, many projects
would never come into being. The fact is that
the EU contribution only amounts to between
20 and 40% of projects’ real cost and Member
States no longer have the resources to make up
the difference. Regions and cities therefore have
a crucial role to play in financing these projects.
By virtue of their proximity to the public, regions
and cities also have a fundamental part to play in
winning public support for large-scale transport
infrastructure projects. There is no shortage of
good projects. However, the public need to be
persuaded that the changes entailed are not
necessarily a bad thing and that small sacrifices
are sometimes necessary to make major
advances in terms of mobility, sustainability, the
environment or solidarity.
Regions and cities support major European
transport infrastructure projects because they
bolster territorial cohesion and the attractiveness
of their areas within the single market. It is a
shame that Member States are penalising the
trans-European transport networks so as not
to have to justify their shortcomings to the
European Union.
15
KarKarKarKarKaKarKarKara l-Hl-Hl-Hl-Hl-H-H-HHeineineineineineineeei z Lz Lz Lz Lz Lz Lzz AAAAAMBA ERTZ
It is worth noting that PES Group President Karl-
Heinz LAMBERTZ has taken the initiative to
bring to the attention of PES Group members the
existence of over 150 PES City Groups, created
by PES Activists. The President underlined the
added value of synergies with the PES City
Groups and encouraged PES Group members to
explore the full potential of such exchanges.
borders, and finally, women at risk of multiple
discriminations.
Another item on the agenda was the state of
play concerning the introduction of quotas
for women in company boards. An extensive
exchange of views took place on the renewal
process launched within PES Women, especially
with regard to the structure and responsibilities
of their Executive and in view of the forthcoming
elections within the framework of the PES
Congress. Last but not least, PES Women adopted
a declaration welcoming the Danish Presidency’s
gender equality priorities to combat youth
unemployment The PES Group was represented
by its Vice-President Yoomi RENSTRÖM, who
underlined the significance of the local and
regional perspective in the fight for gender
equality.
On 29-30 March, the PES organised a conference
in Tunis (Tunisia), in cooperation with the Global
Progressive Forum, the European Parliament’s
S&D Group and the FEPS. The Arab Spring
Conference, which was entitled “A Progressive
Agenda for a new Arab World”, aimed at
supporting PES partners in the region as well as
informing the European institutions about the
latest developments. The conference focused on
how to strengthen the democratisation process
in areas such as the media, police or justice and
how to empower progressive political parties and
movements. Participants shared experiences of
the ongoing transition processes and discussed
perspectives for future trade agreements and
regional integration.g g
BerBernarnarn d Sd Sd SOULOULOULAGEE
The PES Group in the CoR was represented by
Bernard SOULAGE, who underlined the key
role of local and regional authorities in the
democratisation process in the region.
which will be enriched through contributions by
PES Group members.
The PES Financial and Economic Network met
on 7 March to discuss the latest developments in
EU economic and financial policies. The agenda
included a legislative update on the credit rating
agencies and the state-of-play with regard to
the new Treaties, i.e. the European Stability
Mechanism (ESM) and the Treaty on Stability,
Coordination and Governance (TSCG).
The members of the network also exchanged
views on the draft PES investment strategy for
jobs and growth in Europe. The PES proposes
concrete measures that will translate into the
creation of 12 million new jobs in Europe by 2020.
The strategy would be financed through the
reform of tax policy to create room to manoeuvre
for investment, the use of current instruments
to their full capacity and the use of new tools to
redirect capital towards long term investments in
the EU.
The key axes of proposed action revolve around
nine priorities: redefining competitiveness;
improving the quality of education and formation;
strengthening active labour market policies;
strengthening innovation in Europe; reducing
the use of energy and resources; decarbonising
and modernising energy production; investing
in strong health care and long-term care
systems; modernising transport infrastructure in
Europe; providing high-quality internet access
and communication infrastructure for jobs and
growth in Europe.
Finally, members discussed the elaboration of the
PES Fundamental Programme. It is worth noting
that the PES Group in the CoR has contributed to
the consultation on the theme Equal Societies,
and in particular the challenges facing a
progressive social model and welfare states. p g
Yoooooooooo mi mi RENRENNSTRSTRSTST ÖMÖM
PES Women held their statutory meeting in
Copenhagen, on 23 March. They discussed
their involvement in the 2012 PES campaign
through a particular focus on young women’s
unemployment, and in the elaboration of the
PES Fundamental Programme. Their input
will be articulated around six key policy areas:
equal representation of women and men,
women’s economic independence, sexual and
reproductive health and rights, violence against
women, gender equality for women beyond EU
16
POLITICAL GROUPS MEMBERS (FULL)
■ PES .................................................................. 105
■ EPP .................................................................. 129
■ ALDE .................................................................. 42
■ EA ...................................................................... 18
■ NA ...................................................................... 25
■ Pending appointments ......................................... 25
TOTAL CoR 344
POLITICAL BALANCE IN THE CoR
30.5%
37.5%12.2%
5.2%
7.3%7.3%
A look at some recent local and regional elections
Malta (10 March 2012)
This year’s local elections in Malta involved just over half of the country’s local
councils (68 in total). Malta’s Labour Party (LP) won almost 56 % of the votes
cast, increasing its share by 6% and taking control of 19 out of 35 councils. The
ruling conservative party (PN) suffered an electoral meltdown just 12 months
before the general election and obtained less than 42 % of votes. PES Group
members Ian BORG and Joe CORDINA were re-elected in their position as
mayors of Dingli and Xaghra respectively.
Saarland, Germany (25 March 2012)
At the regional elections held in Saarland, the Social Democratic Party (SPD)
came second with 30.6 % (after the Conservatives, who obtained only 35.2%),
increasing their share of votes over 6% compared to the 2009 elections.
The left wing party Linke came third with 16.1%, followed by the Pirate
Party (7.4%) and the Greens (5%). The Liberals, currently in coalition with the
Conservatives in Angela Merkel’s government, were punished by voters and
obtained only 1.2%.
w w w.pes .cor.europa.eu