Brussels, 09/12/2011 (Agence Europe) - The Committee of the Regions (CoR) will bring the curtain down on this year with a two-day plenary session on 14-15 December which will focus on the EU budget, against a background of the euro crisis, and environmental issues. The final meeting for this year of Europe's local elected representatives will also see the title of Europe's Green Capital pass from Hamburg (Germany) to Vitoria-Gasteiz (capital of the Basque region in Spain).
Budget and work programme. The CoR will try to influence as much as possible the EU budget for after 2013 and will closely examine the European Commission's work programme for 2012. On Wednesday, before adopting the opinion of Flo Clucas (ALDE, UK) on the new Multiannual Financial Framework post-2013, councillors will address key issues within the ongoing debate on the crisis, such as macroeconomic conditionality, eurobonds and the financial transaction tax.
They will also take a closer look at what action the Commission intends to take in the short term, next year, to get the economy back on track. European Inter-institutional Relations Commissioner Maros Sefcovic will address the meeting of regional presidents and mayors from across the EU on Thursday 15 December to set out the Commission's plans for “Delivering European renewal” in 2012. Councillors will, thereafter, issue their recommendations in the form of a resolution.
Green issues. A second commissioner will address the plenary session later that day. Environment Commissioner Janez Potocnik will discuss the sustainable development conference, Rio+20, scheduled for next year. Before this, the CoR will adopt its opinion on the conference (rapporteur - Ilmar Reepalu PES, Sweden). This opinion will highlight the importance of sub-national involvement in any global deal on sustainable development. The issue of energy efficiency will have been broached the previous day with the adoption of the opinion by Jean-Louis Joseph (PES, France).
To drive home the CoR's commitment to green policies, it will present its latest acquisition: an electric car for the use of CoR staff. The Nissan Leaf will be present outside the European Parliament on 15 December in the presence of CoR President Mercedes Bresso.
Green capital. Potocnik will then join Bresso in presenting the title of European Green Capital 2012 to the Spanish city of Vitoria-Gasteiz. Vitoria-Gasteiz follows on from Stockholm, Sweden, and Hamburg, Green Capitals in 2010 and 2011 respectively.
Other business. In the afternoon of 14 December, the first day of the plenary session, other issues relating to EU policy will be discussed. Reports will be debated and adopted on the Roma, promotion of agricultural products, the neighbourhood policy, space and cutting red tape for citizens. The adoption of an opinion on the common consolidated corporate tax base (CCCTB), drafted by Gusty Graas (ALDE, Luxembourg), could prove a controversial point. The CoR is highly critical of the draft directive brought forward by the European Commission. (MD/transl.rt)