Brussels, 16/06/2009 (Agence Europe) - For the first time in its history, the Committee of the Regions (CoR) will adopt a White Paper during its plenary session on 17-18 June in Brussels. This White Paper was jointly prepared by the president of the CoR, Luc Van den Brande (EPP, Belgium) and its first vice president Michel Delebarre (PES, France) and aims to kick-start a reflection on the sharing of competencies between the EU, states and regions in the formulation and implementation of Community policies and subsequently help towards the strengthening of democracy. In a press release, the CoR explained that the White Paper embodies “a political project that will help develop a genuine culture of cooperation, guaranteeing legitimacy, transparency and efficiency in the way the Community functions”. It suggests that the regional and local authorities become, “genuine partners and not just intermediaries”. To find out more about the White Paper and to listen to video explanations from the two authors: (http: //http://www.cor.europa.eu ).
The CoR explains that opinions for adoption on 17-18 June demonstrate how Community policies are taken at local and regional levels.
EU enlargement and decentralised policies: the local and regional dimension of EU external relations and local level cooperation with third countries are considered to be very important by local and regional representatives because: they devote part of their work to the preparation of cooperation events with the European Commission in December. The European Commissioner for development and humanitarian aid, Louis Michel, will address the plenary on 17 June and rapporteur, Jean-Louis Destans (PES, France) will then present his draft opinion on two Commission communications, “A Year after Lisbon: the Africa/EU Partnership in Action” and “The EU, Africa and China: towards a Dialogue and Trilateral Cooperation”. They will be invited to speak about possible EU enlargement in the future and will also examine the progress made by candidate and potential candidate countries by way of two opinions: one by Jasmina Vidmar (ALDE, Slovenia), “Enlargement Strategy and Main Challenges for 2008-09”: candidate countries and the complementary opinion of Gordon Keymer (EPP-ED, United Kingdom); the contribution from local authorities in EU relations with Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Moldavia and Ukraine will be at the centre of the Forum on the Eastern Partnership on Tuesday 16 and Wednesday 17 June in the framework of the CoR plenary session. Arnoldas Abramavicius (EPP, Lithuania) will present his opinion on the role played by local and regional authorities in cross-border cooperation and immigration.
On the road to Copenhagen: the use and protection of natural resources are largely determined by decisions taken by local and regional authorities on a daily basis. This is why the problem of managing natural resources, apparent worldwide, also requires a local response, explains the CoR. Two opinions tackle this issue at the plenary: that of René Souchon (PES, France), “A New Boost for Stemming the Decline in Biodiversity” and “Managing Bio-waste in the EU by Mona Lisa Norrman (PES, Sweden).
Maritime resources and their sustainability: in the EU, the sea is an element that brings together hundreds of local and region committees who share this ecological resource. This is why CoR explains that the Mayor of Dunkirk, Michel Delebarre, will present to the plenary, the point of view of the regions and cities on the maritime and coastal package proposed by the Commission. On 29 June, Commissioner Joe Borg and Luc Van den Brande will hold a structured dialogue on this subject and discuss the matter with European and national groups from the local and regional authorities.
Non-discrimination and equal opportunities: in her opinion on “non-discrimination, equal opportunities and implementation of the principle of equal treatment”, Claudette Abela Badacchino (PES, Malta) calls for implementation of regulation and policies in the fight against homophobia (incitement and hate crimes), the barriers to obtaining housing, direct discrimination in the health services, as well as bullying and harassment in schools, the workplace and professional training.
For a detailed CoR plenary agenda: (http: //http://www.cor.europa.eu ) (G.B./trans/rh)