Brussels, 16/02/2000 (Agence Europe) - Jos Chabert, Belgian, member of the European People's Party (EPP), has been elected President of the Committee of the Regions for the period ranging from 16 February 2000 to 25 January 2002. He succeeds Manfred Dammeyer, who becomes Vice-President.
Taking up is job, Mr. Chabert spoke of his determination to strengthen the political role of the Committee of the Regions, which, through its opinions and resolutions, must "influence decisions in issues that are of a capital interest for the EU's territorial authorities". He considers that the Committee should devote more time to political issues and possibly less to technical issues, and strengthen its ties with the Commission, European Parliament and Council. He concluded: "The Committee of the Regions has become an adult consultative body. It is now an integral part on the EU institutions. By their legitimacy as local and regional representatives, its members perfectly illustrate subsidiarity and proximity, ie., a Europe close to the citizens."