THE PORTUGUESE PRESIDENCY OF THE EUROPEAN UNION

THE POLITICAL AGENDA OF THE COMMITTEE OF THE REGIONS Michel Delebarre, Carlos Tuta, Head of the Portuguese delegation President of the Committee of the Regions to the Committee of the Regions

Portugal took over the EU presidency from Germany on 1 July. A highlight The Portuguese presidency of the Council of the European Union is to start of the German presidency was the major celebrations surrounding the on 1 July; this is the third time Portugal has held this office, the second fiftieth anniversary of the signing of the Treaty of Rome. being in 2000. This presidency offers an opportunity to push for new topics to be developed by the various European institutions, including the The Committee of the Regions marked that anniversary by organising its Committee of the Regions. plenary session in the Italian capital. For us, as local and regional elected representatives, celebrating the fiftieth anniversary of the Treaty of Rome With the fiftieth anniversary of the signing of the Treaty of Rome, which was also a celebration of the amazing return of local and regional took place recently, we all acknowledge today the enormous benefits that authorities to centre stage. Over the last fifty years, the progress of European Europe has brought its citizens: peace, prosperity and stability. In Portugal integration has gone hand-in-hand with a stronger role for local and there is absolute consensus on the benefits that Europe has brought and regional authorities in the Community decision-making and policy process. immense pride in being all part of the same, stimulating project.

The heads of state or government of the 27 Member States of the European However, huge efforts are still needed to bring Europe closer to the public, Union stated this unambiguously in the declaration adopted in Berlin on 25 so that they can genuinely identify with it and feel that it something that is March. "We preserve in the European Union the identities and diverse inherently theirs. Recent signs and, in particular, all the work carried out by traditions of its Member States. We are enriched by open borders and a the previous, German presidency, are encouraging: as regards both energy lively variety of languages, cultures and regions. There are many goals which and climate change the European public feels that Europe is moving, we cannot achieve on our own, but only in concert. Tasks are shared seeking solutions and responses to the concerns we all have. It is not just a between the European Union, the Member States and their regions and question of sharing common values but of building a future with common local authorities." responses to our expectations.

If we are to come together to build a generous political project that meets Regional and local authorities are particularly well placed to give the public the economic and social needs of our fellow-citizens, the Committee of the tangible responses, and it is easy to understand why. The challenges that Regions, whose 344 members are all regional and local elected they have to handle on a daily basis require very detailed knowledge of representatives, has a key role to play. We, who represent the front line of various issues which have to be taken into account when attempting to democracy and the areas where solidarity is exercised at local level, are meet the public's expectations and many demands. Moreover, as is well- prepared to make a firm commitment to establish a new covenant between known, at present around seventy percent of European legislation and the EU, its various levels of governance, and its citizens. The next six months, regulations are practically implemented at regional and local level. This is which will be punctuated by the CoR Bureau meeting in Vilamoura in early another reason why regional and local authorities could be an effective, September, will enable us to work together with the 12 members of the two-way channel conveying the public's concerns to Europe and vice versa. Portuguese delegation, chaired by Carlos Tuta, on the main topics of the Throughout Europe, on widely varying issues and in different fields, it is not Portuguese presidency. These include relaunching the institutional reforms uncommon for different solutions, methods and approaches to be adopted based on the timetable set by the June European Council, and also ongoing at regional and local level. This is very healthy. We are sure that only respect legislative dossiers connected to the Lisbon Strategy, energy, maritime for diversity, for different ways of acting, thinking and implementing rules, policy and migration policy. can ensure the success of the European project. And who better than municipalities, cities and regions can implement this respect for diversity?

The Portuguese delegation to the Committee of the Regions, which is made up of 12 full members who are mayors and 12 alternates, sees the Portuguese presidency of the European Union as a good opportunity to launch new ideas, projects and initiatives for all. To make Europe grow.

The Committee of the Regions, as a consultative body of the European Union, will put in place all possible synergies to integrate the thematic priorities of the EU presidency into its programme of forthcoming work.

So let's make sure we exploit this opportunity properly and place all our drive at the service of all. Each and every one, working in a timely manner to make Europe better and better.

2 PORTUGUESE PRIME MINISTER, JOSÉ SÓCRATES

The Portuguese presidency – For a stronger Europe

In the second half of 2007, Portugal will hold the presidency The Portuguese presidency has a crucial role to play on this of the Council of the European Union for the third time, issue since, in close cooperation with the European having already done so in 1992 and 2000. The 2007 term of Commission and the forthcoming Slovenian presidency, it will office will, however, be quite different to the previous terms have to carry out preparatory work on the new phase of this and this is the approach that Portugal will endeavour to strategy, in a process culminating in the 2008 Spring European apply to its presidency. Council. The aim is not to overhaul the revised Lisbon Strategy but to ensure that it is fully implemented. This is a prerequisite The Future of the Union for sustainable growth, competitiveness and job creation. Within the EU, it is acknowledged that the main political issue facing the Union is how to break the deadlock An integrated maritime policy affecting the reform of the Treaties. Our approach to this In the field of maritime policy, the Portuguese presidency issue also has a bearing on our ambition for developing the will strive to boost those aspects related to governance and European project in the future. coordination among maritime stakeholders, in particular at the regional level, by supporting the seminar held by the Portugal will bring continuity to the work being carried out Conference of Peripheral Maritime Regions. Because the to find an institutional solution for the EU, on the basis of start of the presidency will coincide with the end of the decisions that the June 2007 European Council will take public consultation for the Green Paper entitled "Towards a after analysing the German presidency's report. Everything future Maritime Policy for the Union", Portugal will hold a will be done to help Member States to reach consensus in ministerial conference to present and discuss the results of order to resolve this issue. this consultation, and to identify priority lines of action. The Lisbon Strategy – growth and employment The themes set out above, in a by no means exhaustive list, are The programme of the Portuguese presidency will also unlikely to come to fruition unless all the stakeholders focus on growth and employment, on the basis of the concerned take real ownership of them. The EU is increasingly Lisbon Strategy. The Lisbon Agenda - a key component of becoming a multi-level system of governance, in which, Europe's response to the challenges set by globalisation - without action at the sub-national – the regional and local – provides the European Union with the tools it needs to level, outcomes will always fall short of people's expectations. secure improved growth and more and better jobs and is Both regional and local bodies and the Committee of the also a major factor in meeting the public's expectations for Regions have, over the years, found increasingly diverse and the European project. Seven years after its launch, it is worth proactive ways of responding to European initiatives. This highlighting the Agenda's achievements, in particular for valuable contribution is essential in order to build a stronger job creation, but what is needed above all is to ensure that Europe - both internally and externally - an aim which the it is fully implemented at all levels. Portuguese presidency hopes to further.

3 LIST OF PORTUGUESE MEMBERS OF THE COMMITTEE OF THE REGIONS

Full Members

CARNEIRO, José Luís (PES) PAIVA Antonio (EPP) Mayor of Baião Mayor of Tomar CÉSAR, Carlos (PES) PINTO DE SÁ, Carlos (NI) President of the Regional Government of Azores Mayor of Montemor-o-Novo CORREIA, José Macário (EPP) RAPOSO, Joaquim (PES) Mayor of Tavira Mayor of Amadora JARDIM, Alberto João ( EPP) RIO, Rui (EPP) President of the Regional Government of Madeira Mayor of Oporto MARTINS, Manuel (EPP) RUAS, Fernando (EPP) Mayor of Vila Real Mayor of Viseu MESQUITA MACHADO, Francisco (PES) TUTA, Carlos (PES) Mayor of Braga Mayor of Monchique

4 Alternate Members

BORGES, António (PES) PEREIRA, Américo (NI) Mayor of Resende Mayor of Vinhais CORDEIRO, Vasco (PES) PINTO, Carlos (EPP) Member of the Regional Government of Azores Mayor of Covilhã COSTA, Aníbal (PES) PROENÇA, Vítor (NI) Mayor of Ferreira do Alentejo Mayor of Santiago do Cacém CUNHA E SILVA, João (EPP) SOARES, Jaime (EPP) Vice-President of the Regional Government of Madeira Mayor of Vila Nova De Poiares FREXES, Manuel (EPP) TEIXEIRA, Paulo (EPP) Mayor of Fundão Mayor of Castelo de Paiva LANCHA, Pedro (PPE) VALENTE, Joaquim (PES) Mayor of Fronteira Mayor of Guarda

5 The administrative and political organisation of Portuguese parliament (Assembleia da República). The Portugal power of legislative initiative to amend the political and administrative statutes of the autonomous regions is the exclusive responsibility of the regional legislative assemblies; assembly members and the regional The Portuguese state is a democratic, unitary republic governments may table proposals for amendments in which has two kinds of sub-state territorial authorities: the debates at the Portuguese parliament. autonomous regions (covering the Azores and Madeira archipelagos) and local authorities (administrative regions, Regions and Districts districts, councils and parishes). A proposal to create Portugal today is divided into 5 regions and 18 districts, but administrative regions was rejected in a referendum in these have neither executive bodies, nor the status of local November 1998. authority. A plan to create 8 genuine regions with elected executives was rejected in the 1998 referendum. The autonomous regions of the Azores and Madeira have a special status. Other than the two archipelagos, there is no Administrative Regions intermediate decentralised level of government between the central state and the municipalities. There are five administrative regions in Portugal. The Portuguese people decided in a referendum not to allocate The two autonomous island regions more powers to this level of decentralized administration with directly elected representatives. The Azores and Madeira (Autonomous Regions) have had legislative powers and their own governments since 1976; Districts these two autonomous regions were set up at the same time and in the same way. The remit of these regional These are administrative districts which serve to define the executives reflects the various aspects of local life, public boundaries of the local administrative activities of the state. participation and economic and social development and is They are provisional structures which will be replaced by also designed to uphold regional values. administrative regions.

A regional legislative assembly is elected in each Their structure is made up of three bodies: district assembly, autonomous region by direct universal suffrage, using a consultative council and civil governor. system of proportional representation. It has legislative powers in those matters directly affecting the region which The district assembly is a decision-making body comprising do not come under the responsibility of the national the mayors of municipal councils, town councillors and sovereign bodies. It can submit legislative proposals to the members of each municipal assembly; it meets twice a year.

6 Councils and parishes Portugal has 308 councils (municipalities). Their role is defined by the law which sets down shared powers with the parishes (local development, public networks, public hygiene and cleanliness, basic sanitation, health, education, child-care, leisure, sport, culture, environmental protection, quality of life, development, social welfare, police, and rural and urban facilities.

They have an assembly, a decision-making body and an executive body (comprising a chairman and councillors) responsible to the assembly.

There are 4252 parishes which are comprised of an assembly and a parish board. In addition to the powers which they share with the municipalities, they have their own powers regarding the management of their property, the electoral census and local public highway maintenance.

Associations of Councils Municipalities may come together to form associations and federations aimed at managing joint interests. This type of association has two bodies: the inter-municipal assembly, comprising the chairmen and a certain number of councillors from each council, and the board of administration, the executive body elected by the inter- municipal assembly from amongst its members.

Metropolitan areas The constitution of the Portuguese Republic also allows for the establishment of other forms of organisation to manage specific issues. Consequently there are the two metropolitan areas of Lisbon and Oporto, which each have three bodies: the metropolitan assembly, comprising members elected from the municipal assemblies; the metropolitan board, comprising the chairmen and vice- chairmen of the municipal assemblies; and the metropolitan council, a consultative body made up of the chairman of the Regional Coordination Commission, members of the metropolitan council and representatives of public services and bodies whose spheres of action cover the metropolitan areas. It is the responsibility of the metropolitan council in particular to coordinate municipal services across the municipalities, to issue opinions on investments by central government and the European Union and to manage its own services.

7 Agenda of the Committee of the Regions

JULY 3 Brussels Commission for Constitutional Affairs, European Governance (CONST)

JULY 6 Baiona-Vigo Comission for Territorial Cohesion (COTER)

SEPTEMBER 7 Vilamoura Extraordinary Bureau with the participation of Francisco Nunes Correia, minister for Environment, Spatial planning and Regional development of the Portuguese Government

SEPTEMBER 14 Brussels Commission for Territorial Cohesion (COTER)

SEPTEMBER 19 Brussels Commission for External Relations and Decentralised Cooperation (RELEX)

SEPTEMBER 20 Brussels Conference organised by the Commission for External Relations and Decentralised Cooperation (RELEX)

SEPTEMBER 21 Brussels Commission for Culture, Education and Research (EDUC)

SEPTEMBER 26 Brussels Working Group on relations with Turkey

SEPTEMBER 28 Brussels Commission for Economic and Social Policy (ECOS)

OCTOBER 2 Brussels Commission for Sustainable Development (DEV)

OCTOBER 08-11 Brussels OPEN DAYS - European Week of Regions and Cities

OCTOBER 10-11 Brussels Plenary Session with the particpation of Dalia Grybauskaité, European Commissioner for Financial programming and Budget

OCTOBER 22 Łodź Seminar organised by the Commission for Sustainable Development (DEV)

OCTOBER 17 Brussels Commission for Constitutional Affairs, European Governance (CONST)

OCTOBER 30 Tenerife Conference on "The role of the regions in moving migration flows", organised by the Commission for Constitutional Affairs, European Governance (CONST)

8 NOVEMBER 7 Debrecen Commission for External Relations and Decentralised Cooperation (RELEX)

NOVEMBER 8 Debrecen Seminar on "Challenges for local and regional authorities within the New ENP Black Sea synergy initiative", organised by the Commission for External Relations and Decentralised Cooperation (RELEX)

NOVEMBER 9 Brussels Commission for Territorial Cohesion (COTER)

NOVEMBER 16 Brussels Commission for Economic and Social Policy (ECOS)

NOVEMBER 23 Brussels Commission for Culture, Education and Research (EDUC)

NOVEMBER 28-29 Brussels Plenary Session with the participation of José Manuel Barroso, President of the European Commission and Joe Borg, European Commissioner for Fisheries and Maritime Affairs

DECEMBER 4 Brussels Commission for Sustainable Development (DEV)

DECEMBER 6-7 Oporto European Entreprise Awards * organised by DG Entreprise and Industry in association with the Committee of the Regions with the participation of the Vice-President of the European Commission, Günter Verheugen, and CoR President, Michel Delebarre.

DECEMBER 7 Brussels Commission for Constitutional Affairs, European Governance (CONST)

DECEMBER 12 Lahti Seminar on "Promoting the Information Society in Regions and Cities"organised by the Commission for Culture, Education and Research (EDUC)

* The European Entreprise Awards recognise and reward excellent initiatives that promote and support entrepreneurship at regional level. They showcase best entreprenseurship examples from all over Europe and encourage the cut of red tape as well as the exchange of best practises.

9 Special Events

Forum

orum

forum forum The Blue Planet Forum Brussels, 28-29 November

On 27-29 November the Committee of the Regions will OPEN DAYS smashes record welcome The Blue Planet Forum in conjunction with its For fifth successive year as 212 regions and cities sign plenary session. The event is set against the background of, up as official partners and is an extension of, the consultation process, launched in connection with the European Commission's Green For the fifth successive year, a record number of regions and Paper Towards a future Maritime Policy for the Union: A cities have signed up as official partners for the OPEN DAYS European vision for the oceans and seas. European Week of Regions and Cities, organised by the Committee of the Regions (CoR) and European Commission The Committee of the Regions and the European Directorate-General for Regional Policy (DG REGIO). A total of Commission's Directorate-General for Fisheries and 212 offices of regions and cities – up from 135 last year – will Maritime Affairs, co-organisers of the Forum, intend to use participate in the biggest event on the regional policy calendar, the occasion to highlight the economic, social and which takes place in Brussels from 8-11 October 2007. environmental challenges facing maritime areas and to place them within the framework of a European policy. The overall theme is 'Making it happen: Regions deliver growth and jobs' and the partner regions and cities are split The Forum is designed to raise general awareness, generate into 24 conglomerates, focused on shared challenges in areas a desire for political and public action and to establish the such as sustainable energy, science and innovation, inter- means for common action to apply the principle of regional cooperation, local governance and maritime policy. sustainable development to the seas and the oceans.

Some 33 countries are represented by the regions and cities Regional and local elected representatives, maritime taking part. Non-EU countries represented include Croatia, professionals, heads of educational and information Turkey, Russia, Switzerland, Norway, plus Bosnia and organisations and youth representatives will be the Herzegovina. principal players at this three-day communication platform to be hosted by the Committee of the Regions and the For the first time, the event will include a series a seminars Directorate-General for Fisheries and Maritime Affairs in on the international dimension of regional policy, to which Brussels on 27-29 November 2007. experts from third countries and international organisations will contribute.

Workshops will address five main sub-themes: ENTREPRISE AWARDS - • Attracting investors: Regions and cities show how it works; • Proximity matters: Clusters and regional development; Porto, 6-7 DECEMBER 2007 • Spending it wisely: Public-private partnerships and financial engineering; The Committee of the Regions will be associated for the • Crossing borders: Cooperation and exchange of best second time with DG Enterprise and Industry of the practice supporting growth and jobs; European Commission to organise the Enterprise Awards • Efficient delivery: How the new programmes are held in Porto on 6-7 December 2007. implemented. The Award Ceremony will be combined with a conference with the participation of the Vice-President of the European Following its successful launch in 2006, the Committee of the Commission, Günter Verheugen, and CoR President, Michel Regions will again host the Investor's Café, an exhibition and Delebarre, and an exhibition with stands and workshops, meeting point where local and regional authorities, private where the shortlisted candidates will present their projects. companies and institutions will be able to link up with a Furthermore, for the 20th anniversary of the Euro Info specific thematic 'village' under categories including Centre network (launched in Porto, in 1987) there will be a transport, education, research and development, sustainable special anniversary celebration. development, health and financial engineering. The Investor's On the 7th of December, a conference on Small and Café will also be the base for a TV studio, which is entirely at Medium sized Enterprises (SME's) and Entrepreneurship is the disposal of regional channels, and a press centre. co-organised with the Portuguese presidency.

10 Contact Points

Dr. Carlos Tuta Mayor of Monchique Head of the Portuguese Delegation to the Committee of the Regions

Câmara Municipal de Monchique Travessa da Portela 8550 Monchique

Tel. +351 282 910 200 [email protected] www.cm-monchique.pt

Monika Weymann Registration and support services for Committee members

Building Jacques Delors Rue Belliard 101 99-101 B-1040 Brussels

Tel: +32/2/282/2509

E-mail: [email protected] www.cor.europa.eu

11 Jacques Delors Building Rue Belliard 99-101 1040 Brussels http://www.cor.europa.eu