03/09/2012 (Agence Europe) - New CoR president, Valcárcel Siso, sets out his priorities. On 13 August, the Committee of the Regions (CoR), took on a new president, Ramon Luis Valcárcel Siso, who replaced Mercedes Bresso, mid-way through the term of office, as rotating president. He said he would put the European Union's current Multiannual Financial Framework (budget) talks at the top of his agenda, along with reform of the Structural Funds. During his two and a half years in office, Valcárcel Siso said the CoR will work together with the Council, the Parliament and the Commission “in making the EU's plan for economic growth, EUROPE 2020, a real added value by bridging the gap between the different levels of government; the main goal remains increasing the capacity of local and regional authorities to drive growth, and create jobs contributing to the deepening of the economic union.” Valcárcel Siso is the president of the Spanish region of Murcia, which announced earlier this year that it was planning to apply for a €300 million bailout from Madrid. (MD/transl.fl)

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