Brussels, 19/07/2012 (Agence Europe) - During a plenary vote on Thursday 18 July, it was confirmed Ramon Luis Valcarel Siso (EPP, Spain) as the president-elect of the Committee of the Regions (CoR). CoR members have unanimously confirmed that the vice-president will take up the torch of the incumbent president, Mercedes Bresso (PES, Italy), for the second part of the five-year presidential mandate. The changeover in leader, which is this time also a gender change, will be effective as of 13 August, as the different groups had planned at the beginning of the presidency. Mercedes Bresso has been elected as First Vice-President. At the top of the elected president's priorities, which stick staunchly to the EU 2020 agenda, there is a determination to close the gap between the different levels of power, strengthening the capacity of local authorities for promoting growth, and contributing to strengthening economic union. This is based on the principle that “only by working together can we emerge stronger from the crisis”. In anticipation of the changeover, Bresso told Agence Europe shortly before the vote that the change in policy direction will not be felt too much, as, she points out: “We have more things in common than things that divide us”. She went on to add that her successor is also counting on her. As a result, Bresso plans to throw herself fully into the role of vice-president saying ironically that this will not be “just in the wings but on the stage!” (MD/transl.jl)