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2

An advisory body of theAn advisory body of the

European Union, European Union,

representingrepresenting

local and regional local and regional

authoritiesauthorities

THE COMMITTEE THE COMMITTEE OF THE REGIONSOF THE REGIONS

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The CoR in datesThe CoR in dates

1993: Maastricht Treaty – CoR created

1994: 1st Plenary Session held in Brussels

2000: Nice Summit – CoR Members required to be elected and to be politically accountable

2004: 95 representatives from new Member States join the CoR

2007: 27 representatives from Bulgaria and Romania join the CoR

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To improve EU legislation using the expertise of regional and local representatives

To bring the voice of regional and local authorities to Brussels

To bring Europe closer to its citizens

Why a Committee of the Why a Committee of the Regions?Regions?

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The CoR in numbersThe CoR in numbers

344 Members, representatives of local and regional bodies + 344 alternate members

4 Political Groups

6 Thematic Commissions

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344 members and 344 alternate members344 members and 344 alternate members

Germany, France, Italy, UKGermany, France, Italy, UK………….................................24………….................................24

Poland, Spain Poland, Spain ..…………………………………………………….21…………………………………………………….21

Romania ……...Romania ……...…………………………………………………….15…………………………………………………….15

Belgium, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Greece, Belgium, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Greece, Hungary, Netherlands, Sweden, Austria, Hungary, Netherlands, Sweden, Austria, Portugal ...………………...12Portugal ...………………...12

Denmark, Ireland, Finland, Lithuania, Slovakia, Denmark, Ireland, Finland, Lithuania, Slovakia, ….….……….9……….9

Estonia, Latvia, Slovenia Estonia, Latvia, Slovenia …………………………….…………………………….…………..7…………..7

Cyprus, LuxembourgCyprus, Luxembourg…………………………………..…………………………………..………….6………….6

MaltaMalta………………………………………………………..…………………………………………………………………..…………55

CoR MEMBERS BY CoR MEMBERS BY COUNTRYCOUNTRY

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About the About the MembersMembers

Regional and local representatives, proposed by the Member States

Formally appointed by the Council

4-year term of office

Represented in political groups

Participation in thematic commissions

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The Political GroupsThe Political GroupsPES- Party of European PES- Party of European SocialistsSocialists

EPP - European People’s EPP - European People’s PartyParty

ALDE – Alliance of LiberalALDE – Alliance of Liberaland Democrats for Europeand Democrats for Europe

UEN-EA - Union of UEN-EA - Union of the Europe of Nations - the Europe of Nations - European AllianceEuropean Alliance

NA4,1%

UEN-EA5,4%

ALDE15,9%

EPP37,5%

PES37,2%

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Why political groups?Why political groups?

To enable transnational thinking To enable transnational thinking and actingand acting

To link up the political families in To link up the political families in the different EU institutions and in the different EU institutions and in the member statesthe member states

To implement the CoR’s mandate To implement the CoR’s mandate as a political and democratically as a political and democratically legitimated Institutionlegitimated Institution

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The European Socialists (PES The European Socialists (PES Group) Group) in the Committee of the Regionsin the Committee of the Regions

117 Members / 107 Alternate members117 Members / 107 Alternate members

President: Mercedes BRESSO (IT), President: Mercedes BRESSO (IT), President of the Region of PiedmontPresident of the Region of Piedmont

PES Group Secretariat: 7 members of staffPES Group Secretariat: 7 members of staff

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Political Priorities of Political Priorities of the PES Groupthe PES Group

MORE involvement of the CoR in the ongoing debate on the future of European integration

MORE account to be taken of local issues in the pre-legislative phase

ENFORCING the European model of society, particularly by promoting services of general interest

A MORE integrated approach to sustainable development

MORE collaboration with local authorities in the EU's partner countries under the "new neighbouring policy";

MORE consideration of local authorities in issues of external policy, such as migration or decentralised cooperation

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COR CommissionsCOR Commissions

COTERCOTER Commission for Territorial Cohesion Commission for Territorial Cohesion

ECOSECOS Commission for Economic & Social Policy Commission for Economic & Social Policy

DEVEDEVE Commission for Sustainable Development Commission for Sustainable Development

EDUCEDUC Commission for Culture, Education & Commission for Culture, Education & ResearchResearch

CONSTCONST Commission for Constitutional Affairs, Commission for Constitutional Affairs, European European Governance and the Area of Freedom, Governance and the Area of Freedom, Security & Security & JusticeJustice

RELEXRELEX Commission for External Relations & Commission for External Relations & Decentralised Decentralised CooperationCooperation

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The COR and The COR and EU decision-makingEU decision-making

EuropeanEuropeanCommissionCommission

CORCOR

PROPOSALPROPOSAL

ESCESC

EuropeanEuropeanParliamentParliament

Council Council of the EUof the EU

CO

NS

ULTA

TIO

NC

ON

SU

LTA

TIO

N

CO

DEC

ISIO

NC

OD

EC

ISIO

N

CONSULTATIONCONSULTATION

CONSULTATIONCONSULTATIONDECISIONDECISION

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Plenary SessionsPlenary Sessions

Full meeting of the CoRFull meeting of the CoR

5 times per year5 times per year

Adoption of opinionsAdoption of opinions

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ConsultationConsultation

Economic and social Economic and social cohesioncohesion

Education and youthEducation and youth

CultureCulture

Public HealthPublic Health

Trans-European Trans-European NetworksNetworks

TransportTransport

EmploymentEmployment

Social AffairsSocial Affairs

EnvironmentEnvironment

European Social European Social FundFund

Vocational TrainingVocational Training

MANDATORY consultation in the following policy areas:MANDATORY consultation in the following policy areas:

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Council, Commission or Parliament may Council, Commission or Parliament may request an opinion when they “consider it request an opinion when they “consider it appropriate”appropriate”

CoR may choose to prepare an opinion when CoR may choose to prepare an opinion when the Economic and Social Committee has been the Economic and Social Committee has been consulted and “specific regional interests are consulted and “specific regional interests are involved”involved”

CoR may choose to prepare an opinion on its CoR may choose to prepare an opinion on its own initiative where it “considers it own initiative where it “considers it appropriate”appropriate”

Other policy areas:Other policy areas:

ConsultationConsultation

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OpinionsOpinions

ResolutionsResolutionsDeclarations adopted in accordance with an accelerated procedure.

OutlookOutlook reportsreportsPreliminary reports before the European Commission’s proposals have been made public

Impact reportsImpact reportsServe to evaluate the impact of policy at regional or local level

StudiesStudiesOn various aspects of the regional and local dimensions of the EU

ConsultationConsultation

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Preparing further Preparing further enlargementsenlargements

Establishment of Joint Consultative Establishment of Joint Consultative CommitteesCommittees

Participation of observers at CoR plenary Participation of observers at CoR plenary sessionssessions

Conferences in acceding and candidate Conferences in acceding and candidate countriescountries

Support to devolutionSupport to devolution

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The strengths of the The strengths of the CoRCoR

« United in diversity »« United in diversity »

The engagement of the members The engagement of the members (an extra-professional activity) (an extra-professional activity) and the human factorand the human factor

a lobby with the brand of an a lobby with the brand of an institutioninstitution

a transnational networka transnational network

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Visit us onlineVisit us online

http://www.cor.europa.eu/peswebhttp://www.cor.europa.eu/pesweb

NEW WEBSITE 2006

+ More dynamic

+ More info on the PES Group Members

+ More info on the PES Group Activities

+ More news

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PES GROUP SECRETARIATPES GROUP SECRETARIAT

Committee of the RegionsCommittee of the Regions Rue Belliard, 101Rue Belliard, 101Office: JDE 7039Office: JDE 7039B-1040 BRUSSELSB-1040 BRUSSELS

+32 (2) 282.22.23+32 (2) 282.22.23

+32 (2) 282.20.69+32 (2) 282.20.69

PES-secretariat@cor.eu.intPES-secretariat@cor.eu.int

www.cor.europa.eu/peswebwww.cor.europa.eu/pesweb