Brussels, 11/06/2007 (Agence Europe) - At the Forum Communicating Europe: Going Local, in Brussels on 5 June, President of the Committee of the Regions (CoR) Michel Delebarre and European Commission Vice-President Margot Walström signed an addendum to the protocol on cooperation agreements between the two European bodies (see EUROPE 9074 and 9239).
The addendum emphasises the importance of decentralised communication and recognises the key role played by local and regional authorities in explaining Community policies to the public. It underlines the role of the CoR in this, thanks to its close relationship with local and regional media, and also highlights the plans by the Commission and the CoR to organise, in collaboration with local and regional authorities, a series of topical events on issues which affect people's lives, such as jobs mobility, energy, freedom, security and justice, immigration policy and protection of the environment.
At the same meeting, Chairman of the European parliament constitutional affairs committee Jo Leinen said he was keen for the EP and the CoR to formalise their cooperation by signing a similar agreement. (gb)