The European Committee of the Regions (CoR) is proposing the creation of a European health emergency mechanism and a regional programme for the construction of health infrastructure, among many suggestions made on Tuesday 21 April ahead of the European summit on the recovery plan, to be held on Thursday 23 April.
The Committee therefore proposes that a European health emergency mechanism be set up to "rationalise" the Union's resources, but also at regional and local level to finance the purchase of medical equipment and materials. The Committee also suggests funding a regional programme specifically dedicated to building sustainable health infrastructure.
The CoR calls for direct support for regional and local authorities to reorganise public services in order to digitise them and "ensure their resilience", but also for the creation of new funds and simplified procedures for local infrastructure and to support SMEs, building on a new strand created for post-pandemic support under the InvestEU Fund.
Generally speaking, the regions call for a rebalancing of competences in the health field between the Union, the Member States and local and regional authorities in accordance with the principle of subsidiarity.
For the next multiannual financial framework, the Committee proposes raising the ceiling on contributions to 1.2% of GNI (the Committee would like a contribution of 1.3% of GNI - see EUROPE 12424/14) and the creation of new own resources.
Maritime regions and the migration issue. The Conference of Peripheral Maritime Regions has sent a letter to the Presidents of the European Council and the European Commission asking for the release of additional funding and resources on the ground for the most vulnerable populations, the rapid adoption of the new European Pact on Immigration and Asylum and the introduction of greater flexibility in funding to deal with new waves of migration.
To consult the full CoR proposals: https://bit.ly/2VMjFGD
To consult the CPMR letter: https://bit.ly/2KmrCgz (Original version in French by Pascal Hansens)