Brussels, 04/12/2006 (Agence Europe) - The president of the Commission José Manuel Barroso will be speaking at the plenary of the Committee of the Regions (CoR) on 7 December to present the Commission's work programme for 2007. CoR will also adopt a resolution on its work programme and political priorities for 2007. A CoR press release announced that this resolution will call for a relaunch of the Constitutional Treaty, an increased commitment to the partnership principle in European governance and greater involvement of local and regional bodies in the Lisbon strategy for growth and employment.
Environment Commissioner Stavros Dimas will also address the plenary assembly on 6 December, before CoR votes on an opinion on the Commission's proposal on biodiversity and the co-existence of genetically modified crops and traditional and organic farming.
Other opinions submitted to the CoR plenary for adoption include: implementation of The Hague Programme (assessment of European Union policies on freedom, security and justice); strategy for growth, employment and reform of the European cohesion policy; a “sustainable” wine sector; implementation of the Community's Lisbon programme and services of general economic interest in the EU; a road map on gender equality (2006-10); the role of rural districts in developing European areas.
During the session, the President of CoR, Michel Delebarre will also announce prize winners for the CoR competition 2006 on the economic social and environmental dimensions of the Lisbon strategy. Mr Delebarre will also take part on 7 December, together with Commission Günter Verheugen and the Finnish minister for trade and industry Mauri Pekkarinen, in the ceremony awarding the European prize for the spirit of enterprise at the premises of the CoR. Finalists are from Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Estonia, Finland, Germany, Italy, Norway, Portugal, Slovakia, Sweden and the United Kingdom. (hb)