Karl-Heinz Lambertz, President of the European Committee of the Regions (CoR), called on the European Union's Heads of State and Government to grasp the importance of the role of local authorities for the EU's future, on Thursday 14 March, at the opening of the eighth Summit of Regions and Cities organised by the CoR in Bucharest.
Indirectly addressing the leaders of the Member States, Mr Lambertz stressed the fundamental need for the future of the EU to "touch the hearts of European citizens", an objective which, in his view, can only be best achieved by local authorities.
"We [European cities and regions] know that we need the EU, but the EU must also understand that it needs us", he stressed.
Bringing together between 600 and 700 representatives of cities and regions, this event, as a platform for exchanges, aims to result in the drafting of a brief declaration, of about ten points, reflecting the discussions and taking up the main demands of local elected representatives that will have emerged during the debates (see EUROPE 12188/14).
This document will then be sent to the EU Heads of State and Government to send them a clear message, before they meet again on 9 May at the Sibiu Summit, where they are expected to "renew their commitment to a Union that is attentive to issues that really matter to citizens".
Also present at the opening session, Viorica Dăncilă, Prime Minister of Romania, reiterated the importance of the principle of cohesion (see Europe 12189/17), while calling for solidarity and unity within the EU.
The Romanian Presidency of the Council of the EU has chosen cohesion as its motto to emphasise the link between the EU and its citizens, the Prime Minister recalled, stressing the importance of showing the EU's concrete impact on the daily lives of European citizens.
In her view, thanks to local authorities, it is possible to strengthen the confidence of European citizens in the Union.
In general, the representatives of cities and regions stressed the need for the EU to fight climate change, a significant demand among citizens, in particular by making the 17 sustainable development goals (SDOs) - established in 2015 by the UN Member States - a reality.
Like Ms Dăncilă and Mr Lambertz, they also called for a stronger role for local authorities to bring the Union closer to its citizens, in particular by showing them the concrete benefits of the EU on their lives. (Original version in French by Damien Genicot - intern)