EUROPEAN UNION

Committee of the Newsletter October 2012 Regions European Alliance Group Achieving a "better Europe" with Local and CONTENT EA member appointed Rapporteur on Regional Authorities key opinion related to creating greater synergies between EU, national and By Dr. Uno Silberg, President of the European Alliance group subnational budgets responds the needs of our citizens with EA president Dr. Silberg visit to the ECB the instruments which the EU has at its and financial institution disposal. Of course, the future budget of the EU is paramount in defining EA members report on Armenia’s local what we would hope to achieve in the elections future. As the CoR we need to ensure EA members discussed LRAs added 2 that local and regional authorities are value of the Eastern partnership in Chişinău central to delivering future funding, delivering projects and ensuring that Krochmal Opinion On SMEs badly needed jobs are delivered locally. Competitiveness to be voted at CoR Plenary

With this in mind our group is Banaszak appointed rapporteur on the organising with our colleagues in the European Commisison communication EFA group in the on 'Blue growth' Dr. Uno Silberg a seminar during Open Days on Local Members News: Transposing EU 3 Strengthening the Role of Nations and Regions in the Recovery Strategy where directive combating fraud a priority, I welcome the priorities of the Cyprus we will examine many issues central to says EA member Marc Hendrickx Presidency to try and achieve policies the economic recovery process. towards a ‘better Europe’ during their 2012's Primary schools art Presidency, and with the Summit Our group is also launching the annual competition launched by EA Group in November on the Multi-Annual primary schools art competition, this Financial Framework looming it is year our focus is on “My Region. My Upcoming Events now time to reiterate the role local and Environment” where young children 4 regional authorities have in trying to in nominated schools across Europe We look forward to seeing the winning achieve a Europe which reflects and will portray their views on the subject. entries towards the end of the year.

10th European Week of Regions and Cities Brussels 8 - 11 October 2012 EU Open Day’s seminar: the Role of Nations and Regions in the Recovery Strategy The group – Fiscal independence of the Nations Jill Evans, MEP, President of EFA, Prof. in the European Parliament and and Regions Koenraad Debackere, Professor and the European Alliance group in the – Decentralised Cooperation General Manager, KULeuven, Mr Gorka CoR have joined forces to organise – Innovation Espiau Idoiaga, Head of International a seminar focussed on the Role of Programmes at Innovalab and Nations and Regions in the Recovery The seminar will include examples will be moderated by Mr Stewart Strategy. The seminar will address from Scotland, the Basque Country and Maxwell, MSP, Vice President of the issues such as: Flanders and speakers include Minister EA group. More information will – Territorial added-value of policies Keith Brown, Minister for Housing and be posted on the EA group website: focussed in Nations and Regions Transport, Scottish Government, Mrs www.ea.cor.europa.eu

EUROPEAN UNION As the CoR we need to ensure that local and regional authorities are central to delivering future funding, “delivering projects and ensuring that badly needed jobs are delivered locally. Dr. Uno Silberg, EA President Committee of the Regions ” EU local and regional authorities represent no less than one third of EU public expenditure “in 2010 and about two thirds of EU public investments. ” , EA member EA member appointed Rapporteur on key opinion related to creating greater synergies between EU, national and subnational budgets Mr Rhodri Glyn Thomas, Member of the “EU local and regional authorities account National Assembly for , EA Alternate for no less than one third of EU public Member to the Ad-hoc commission on expenditure in 2010 and about two budget was appointed as a CoR Rapporteur thirds of EU public investments.”- said Mr on an own-initiative opinion on ‘Creating Thomas. greater synergies between EU, national It is why this own-initiative opinion and subnational budgets’. In times of could pave the way for the European austerity, it is especially important for the Commission to issue a Green Paper

EU budget to lever as much co-financing as that would explore possible concrete Mr Rhodri Glyn Thomas possible to achieve its objectives. measures in this area in 2013.

EA president Dr. Silberg visit to the ECB and financial institution Since the breakout of the crisis, there is not in a delegation of the ECOS commission a day that goes by without a newspaper visiting the European Central Bank underlining the key role of the EU and its (ECB) and the most influential financial financial institutions in guaranteeing the institutions in Frankfurt. stability of the EU economy and eurozone. The members visited the European Central Eurobond, Fiscal Compact, European bank (ECB), the Frankfurt Institute for Risk Management and Regulation, Stabilisation Mechanism and then the Dr. Uno Silberg primacy of politics over the power of the Frankfurt Stock Exchange and the European Insurance and Occupational the bank are all issues we have become Pensions Authority (EIOPA). The latter familiar with. members gain greater knowledge about was recently established to reform the financial matters and raise the awareness Dr. Uno Silberg, President of the EA structure of supervision of the financial on the bold actions that the EU has taken group, took part on 12-13 September sector in the EU. Such visits have helped and will have to take to counter the crisis. EA members report on Armenia’s local elections

The CoR joined the Congress of local major shortcomings emerged from what and regional authorities of the Council the delegation could see. of Europe to observe local elections in The opposition seemed to engage less in Armenia on 9 and 23 September. the struggle for local governments as they EA member and spokesperson of the CoR claim they would prefer to save resources delegation, Mr Brian Meaney had a chance in view of the upcoming parliamentary to observe the first round while EA Vice elections. They also expressed their President, Mr Jerzy Zajakala and the doubt over the possibility of changing whole delegation of the CoR attended the the outcomes of a vote that could be second round. determined by fraud. Mr Brian Meaney Despite some accidents reported before Clare County Cllr. Mr Brian Meaney, elections and fierce competition between spokesperson of the CoR delegation more important for Armenia as it is one the ruling party Republican Party of underlined the importance for Armenia of the six countries belonging to the Armenia (RPA) and its former coalition to ensure a proper functioning of the Eastern Partnership currently well in partner, Prosperous Armenia (PAP) the electoral process as this reflects the negotiations for the signature of an EU- electoral process ran smoothly and no maturity of a country. This is even Armenia Association Agreement.

2 OCTOBER 2012 Newsletter EA members discussed LRAs added value of the Eastern partnership in Chişinău After the success of the first meeting members of CORLEAP, about its role in Poznan, Poland, last year, the and the way it could contribute to Conference of local and regional make sure the partner countries are authorities of the Eastern Partnership adequately involved in cooperation (CORLEAP), that from now on would projects and regional development meet every year, had on 17 September programmes. Mr Jan Bronś its annual meeting in Chişinău. Particularly, it has been underlined that clearly show the added value of the The annual conference of the local CORLEAP could play a key role when it authorities in the Eastern partnership, comes to promoting decentralisation cooperation amongst local and regional a platform for regular dialogue between and sharing experience aimed at the authorities. It is through setting up local and regional authorities, aims at improvement of local democracy and tangible cooperation projects in areas promoting the integration of the six governance. Eastern neighbour countries to the EU. of common concern that we can cement Mr Jan Bronś, mayor of Oleśnica, and In the debates EA members Mr Bronś member of the CORLEAP Bureau a stronger relationship of trust to our and Mr Zagunis discussed with other believes that such regular meetings mutual benefit Krochmal Opinion On SMEs Competitiveness to be voted at CoR Plenary SMEs not only are the backbone of the At the same time the high administrative European economy, they play a crucial burden which represents an impediment role in reaching the EU 2020 objectives on to SMEs development needs to be urgently growth and jobs addressed. Mr Witold Krochmal Although, EU action cannot be a substitute These are some of the key messages of the for initiatives at national and local level, it is opinion of the EA member, Mr Krochmal unemployment but he pointed out that which is due to be adopted at the 9-10 important that EU establish an ambitious the current action of some member States October Plenary Session of the Committee programme for the competitiveness of the of raising contribution on labour costs to of the Regions. enterprise and SMEs in the EU, enabling face the budgetary constraints, could be SMEs to compete in the global market, Mr Krochmal, Member of the Municipal a self defeating one as this tremendously facilitating their access to financing and to Council of Wołów, highlighted in his speech impact on the growth potential of our research and innovation knowledge. that SMEs are an effective tool to reduce small businesses.

Banaszak appointed rapporteur on the European Commisison communication on 'Blue growth' During NAT commission meeting members nominated Mr Banaszak, European Allinace Group coordinator, as Rapporteur on the communication Blue Growth: sustainable growth from oceans, seas and coasts

Mr Adam Banaszak

Newsletter OCTOBER 2012 3 2012's Primary schools art competition launched by EA Group At the last EA group meeting members support their creativity and innovative have decided to launch the second ideas expressed through art. project of the EA group designed for Primary schools participating in children with ages between 6 and 12 the competition will be nominated years. by members of the EA group. The The theme of the drawing competition competition will be organized during is “My region, my environment”. The the month of October, and an exhibition aim of the drawing competition is to of the best drawings will follow in engage children in a creat ive exercise to the Committee of the Regions during identif y the role of environment in their the November plenary session of the regions through their imagination and Assembly.

Local Members News: Transposing EU directive combating fraud a priority says EA member Marc Hendrickx EU Directive 2010/24/EC gives and following parliamentary questions this case between the Government of governments the right across the by Marc Hendrickx (N-VA) the Flemish Flanders and the Local authorities, European Union to recover debts, Minister for Finance says that Flanders added Mr Hendrickx. which have up to now stayed within will play an active role after the national borders. But, of course, transposition of the Directive. In order people and capital are mobile. It is of to progress clearly in the effective common knowledge that fraudsters implementation of this directive in make good use of the territorial Flanders there is a clear necessity for limits to which the powers of the the local government also to cooperate, authorities are limited, ensuring that making it more effective as they would in some cases they become insolvent in have more experience in implementing countries where they have tax debts. such measures. Often what is necessary, in The EU directive has been transposed implementing EU directives, is the by the different governments in clear cooperation of different levels Mr Marc Hendrickx Belgium. In order to progress this issue of governance as is the example in Upcoming Events:

October November December Meeting of the NAT Seminar of the NAT Ponzano, Meeting of the CIVEX 1/10 6/11 4/12 Commission Commission, Italy Commission Meeting of the CAFA Meeting of the NAT OPEN DAYS 12/11 Brussels 5/12 8-11/10 Commisssion Commission, Brussels Brussels Meeting of ARLEM Piaran, Meeting of the ENVE Meeting of the CoR 19/11 6/12 ECOTER Commission Slovenia Commission, Brussels 8/10 Bureau, Meeting of the EDUC Meeting of the COTER Meeting of the EA Bureau, 22/11 7/12 Commission Commission, Brussels Brussels Coorganized workshop Meeting of the CoR Meeting of ARLEM Bethlem, 17/12 of the EA group in the Bureau ECOTER Commission Israel 28/11 Committee of the Regions Meeting of the EA Brussels 9/10 and EFA group in the Bureau European Parliament 29/11 Meeting of the EA group

Meeting of the EA group 29-30 Plenary session of the /11 CoR 8-10/10 Plenary session of the CoR Seminar of the COTER Valencia, 24/10 Commission Spain

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