Brussels, 13/03/2007 (Agence Europe) - European construction may be experiencing some difficulty in moving to the next political and institutional stage, but the closeness of local and regional elected representatives to their fellow citizens confers on them fresh responsibility for relaying their hopes and wishes. But how can the dynamism and experience of our cities and regions be put to better use in the construction of the Europe of tomorrow? How can local authorities contribute to making Europe a major international player, taking forward its message of sustainable development, peace and tolerance? To answers these questions, the Committee of the Regions (CoR) will meet in plenary session in Rome on 22-23 March on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the signing of the Treaty of Rome, under the chairmanship of Michel Delebarre.
The session will begin at 2.00pm on Thursday 22 March with meetings of the various political groups (EPP, ALDE, PES and UEN/EA) in the CoR, the conference of the presidents and the Bureau. This will be followed by a gala dinner.
The normal plenary session will be held on Friday 23 March, from 8.00-9.45am, with Regional Policy Commissioner Danuta Hübner and Italian Minister for Youth and Sport Giovanna Melandri attending. Local and regional representatives will debate, with a view to their adoption, opinions on: (1) youth participation and information - follow-up to White Paper “A New Impetus for European Youth” (Rapporteur: Mr Pella (Member of the Council of the Province of Biella, Italy/EPP); (2) the future of the single market and stocktaking of European society (Rapporteur of this own-initiative report: David Parsons, Leader of Leicestershire County Council, UK/EPP); (3) the leverage effect of European Cohesion Policy under the Structural Funds (Rapporteur: Manuel Chaves González, President of the Region of Andalusia, Spain/PES). The committee will also adopt its provisional budget for 2008.
Thereafter, the official formal session will be held, from 10.00am-2.15pm. The opening of the session will be attended by the presidents of the Italian Republic, Giorgio Napolitano, the Lazio Region, Pietro Marrazo, and the Committee of the Regions, Michel Delebarre, and the Mayor of Rome, Mr Veltroni.
There will then be formal statements, followed by a discussion with national, regional and local political decision-makers and representatives of the Youth Forum on “The European institutional re-launch and the regional authorities”. Taking part will be European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso, former European Commission President Jacques Delors, and the foreign, ministers of Spain, Mr Moratinos, Italy, Mr D'Alema, Luxembourg, Mr Asselborn and Germany, Mr Gloser. The session will continue with a round table discussion on the “Europe of tomorrow and the contribution of local and regional authorities”, again with a number of national, regional and local political decision-makers and
representatives of the Youth Forum.
At 2.00pm, CoR President Michel Delebarre will read the Committee of the Regions' Declaration for Europe. The leaders of the CoR's four political groups will make statements at this point. The session will close with a press conference at 2.15pm. (gb)