Brussels, 13/02/2012 (Agence Europe) - The Committee of the Regions (CoR) is to be attended by a well-known figure during its next plenary session in Brussels on 15-16 February. The president of the European Commission, José Manuel Barroso, will be there to close the work of the representatives of the regions of Europe. The latter may then put their comments to Barroso directly on the provisions of the new treaty on budgetary discipline, and on measures recently recommended by the European Council on growth and employment.
The members of the CoR will be insisting that local authorities are actively involved in the new strategy aimed at increasing youth participation on the labour market, especially when it comes to setting up “action teams” in member states experiencing the highest rates of jobless youngsters. The CoR will also tell President Barroso of its concern about the impact that such measures may have on progress funded by the structural funds, and of its determination to support the Council and Commission in their work. The debate and the adoption of a specific CoR resolution will provide the opportunity to clarify these questions with a view to the upcoming Spring European Council.
Yet another Commission representative will take part in the plenary session - Maria Damanaki, European Commissioner for Fisheries and Maritime Affairs. She will develop Commission proposals regarding the major reform of the EU common fisheries policy.
Furthermore, on the second day of the CoR 2012 plenary, the Council spokesman, Nicolai Wammen, Danish Minister for European Affairs, will present the priorities of the Danish Presidency with regard to regions and cities.
Finally, for the first time, following the signature of the accession treaty and the successful referendum on accession to the EU, the nine newly appointed representatives for Croatian regions and cities will take part in the plenary session as official observers.
The various subjects to be put to the attention of the CoR members will include adoption of the opinion on the financial transactions tax by Ralf Christoffers (PES, Germany), and on multi-level governance by Luc Van Den Brande (EPP, Belgium), and a discussion on an opinion concerning European Groupings of Territorial Cooperation (EGTC) by Michel Delebarre (PES, France). (MD/transl.jl)