EUROPEAN UNION Committee of the Regions The European Committee of the Regions and the Slovak Presidency of the Council of the European Union Picture cover: © BRATISLAVSKÝ REGIÓN QG-04-16-383-EN-N ISBN 978-92-895-0879-7 doi:10.2863/63469 © European Union, 2016 Reproduction is authorised provided the source is acknowledged Printed in Belgium Table of contents © Jozef Klein 1. Markku Markkula, President of the European Committee of the Regions . 2 2. Peter Pellegrini, Slovak deputy prime minister . 3 3. What is the European Committee of the Regions? . 4 4. Ivan Korčok, Minister with responsibility for Slovak EU Presidency . 6 5. Milan Belica, head of the Slovak delegation at the European Committee of the Regions. 7 6. The Slovak delegation at the CoR. 8 7. Local and regional authorities - Division of powers SLOVAK REPUBLIC. 11 8. Interview with Bratislava Mayor Ivo Nesrovnal . 12 9. Interview with Pavol Frešo, President of Bratislava region . 13 10. Simplifying Cohesion Policy . 14 11. EU-funded projects . 16 12. Košice is changing into a city of creativity thanks to ECoC. 25 13. Local and regional authorities have their place in the Energy Union. 27 14. European Grouping of Territorial Cooperation . 30 15. Bratislava chairs the Council of Danube Cities and Regions. 34 16. Events Schedule . 35 17. Contacts . 36 1. Markku Markkula, President of the European Committee of the Regions Bureaux d’architecture: Atelier Paul Noël sprl - Art & Build s.a. It is no secret that the past years have not been the best for the EU. Finding solutions to the migration or euro crises; bringing down high unemployment; and combatting radicalism and the rise of extreme political movements are serious questions that are still unanswered. The severity and force of these challenges has urged bringing real-life solutions from Markku Markkula, the bottom-up and local authorities are now at the core of EU decision-making. There President of the European is one key answer to all of these questions: sustainable and inclusive growth - providing Committee of the Regions, Brussels jobs, well-being, stability and ultimately, light at the end of the tunnel. How do we achieve this? I believe the answer is three-fold. First we must look at our fi nances – not only bringing in forward-looking and result- oriented investments but combining them with existing private and public funding and better management. We need to see investments on a broader scope, the whole lifecycle, and look into infrastructure, entrepreneurship and human capital. Through the experience and know-how of the grass roots level we can close the disparities between urban and rural areas. These are on the agenda of the 7th European Summit of Regions and Cities in Bratislava. Secondly, we must boost the greatest potential source for growth and jobs. At a time of high unemployment, the potential of the digital economy remains untapped when we could create 1.5 million jobs and add EUR 520bn to the European GDP. Slovakia has embarked on this route and I am convinced that it can be an inspiration to others. My third point is that nothing will happen without the support and engagement of our citizens. Surveys show that Europeans trust most the decision-makers closest to them. It is time for Europe's cities and regions to show their commitment and innovativeness in building our future. We can and we should share the best knowledge and good practices we have through more European partnerships. 2 The European Committee of the Regions and the Slovak Presidency of the Council of the European Union 2. Foreword by Peter Pellegrini, deputy prime minister of Slovak republic © Marek Velcek Ladies and gentlemen, On 1 July 2016, the Slovak Republic will be taking on its fi rst, historic, presidency of the Council of the European Union. Over the next six months we shall be at the helm of the European ship, which we shall steer ahead prudently, honestly and safely. Being at the head of the Council of Peter Pellegrini, the European Union is a great challenge for us and a great responsibility. We are ready to run Slovak deputy prime minister Europe's aff airs eff ectively and to act in the name of the EU's half a billion citizens. We are also fi rmly resolved to be a good negotiator and mediator who will achieve consensus and bring together the various interests of the twenty-eight Member States. With a view to maintaining continuity, we shall try to build on the outcomes achieved by the preceding Dutch EU Council Presidency. In this spirit, we shall work to meet the goals that we set out along with the Netherlands and Malta in June 2014 in the fi ve priority areas of the Strategic Agenda for the Union in Times of Change. In the course of the Slovak presidency we shall be focusing primarily on the economic and fi nancial agenda, the single market – especially the digital single market –, on strengthening energy effi ciency and security and tackling long-term and youth unemployment. We shall seek to foster a comprehensive approach to tackling the migration crisis, including bringing together its internal and external dimensions. On the foreign policy front, we shall encourage the development of a joint foreign and security policy geared to strengthening the EU's position in the world. The EU's main investment policy, which has a considerable impact on towns and regions, is Cohesion Policy, which is implemented via EU structural and investment funds. The Slovak presidency will concentrate on demonstrating the policy's effi cacy and on a kick-off discussion on what it should look like after 2020, not least in the light of the mid-term review of the Multiannual Financial Framework 2014 − 2020. We shall also press on with simplifying the implementation mechanism to make it even more accessible and less bureaucratic for recipients of EU funds in the next period. During its presidency of the Council of the EU, Slovakia is also the country presiding over the EU Strategy for the Danube Region. On Danube macro-regional cooperation our priority will building up the knowledge society and supporting innovation, the competitiveness of the Danube region and the rational use of water resources as the basis for its sustainable development. The role of the country holding the EU Council presidency is to defend the interests of the Member States and to attend to the well-being of all of the population. Since it is towns, cities and regions that best know the people and their problems, local and regional authority representatives will be among those we shall work with during our presidency to get to grips with the issues of the moment that can really improve people's lives. I am confi dent that we shall manage to make a success of this historic challenge and that we shall master all current and planned events during our presidency so that we shall be able, at the end of the year, to hand over the presidency baton to Malta to the satisfaction – and with the respect – of all the Member States. 3 What is the European Committee of the Regions (CoR)? We are an institutional body of the European Union. Our Members are elected Presidents of Regions, regional Councillors, Mayors and Local Councillors, democratically accountable to the citizens. 3main principles Multilevel Governance Proximity Subsidiarity Commissions 6 Commissions (groups of Members) public health prepare draft opinions and resolutions to be submitted to the Plenary Assembly. economic, social transport, and territorial trans-European cohesion networks Territorial Cohesion Environment, Policy and EU Budget Climate Change (COTER) and Energy (ENVE) Areas of responsibility Citizenship, Governance, Economic Policy employment environment, Institutional and (ECON) and social energy and € External Affairs (CIVEX) affairs climate change education, youth, culture and sport Social Policy, Education, Natural Resources Employment, Research (NAT) and Culture (SEDEC) Membership 350 from 28 members member states 5political groups 4 Plenary CoR Members gather in Plenary 5 to 6 times/year for 2-3 days in Brussels to vote and adopt opinions. The President The First Vice-President Markku MARKKULA Karl-Heinz LAMBERTZ (from Espoo/FI) (from Eupen/BE) Term of office: 2 and 1/2 years Term of office: 2 and 1/2 years ࠮SLHKZ[OL*V9Z^VYR ࠮SLHKZ[OL*V9Z^VYRPU ࠮JOHPYZP[ZWSLUHY`ZLZZPVUZ tandem with the President ࠮HJ[ZHZ*V9Z official representative Output over 70% of EU legislation has a direct impact at local or regional level 70% Platforms and networks to improve participatory In 2014, the CoR democracy, such as the passed: consultation process 46 own-initiative In 2014 during the pre-legislative opinions the CoR 96 phase. opinions held events of which of 36 Administrative level The Secretary-General Structure Term of office: 5 years 5 Directorates Role: heads the CoR administration 2 joint services 5 4. Ivan Korčok, Minister with responsibility for Slovak EU Presidency © Jozef Česla The Slovak Presidency of the Council of the European Union comes at a moment when the European Union is facing many challenges not only on European, but also on national, regional and local levels. In these demanding times, the Slovak Presidency is committed to search for solutions that would make Europe more resilient today and better equipped for the future. Ivan Korčok, To this end, the Presidency intends to focus on positive agenda and sustainable Ministre délégué for the Slovak solutions that will help regain the trust of the citizens. Slovakia has defined the Presidency of the Council of the EU Presidency priorities on the basis of three mutually reinforcing principles: to bring tangible results in areas where action is most needed, to help Europe overcome fragmentation by focusing on solutions that unite and to put citizens in the forefront of our effort by finding answers to the challenges of everyday life.