Newsletter January 2011 European Alliance Group Challenging times need focussed CONTENT policies and programmes EA Rapporteur welcomes the crea- By EA Group President tion of the Intergroup on Health in the CoR As we begin the - Daiva Matonienė appointed CoR tions are now the past for regions will continue. Our rapporteur on the EU LIFE+ mid New Year reflec- group will strongly oppose any form of term review renationalisation of the Structural and coming to frui Cohesion funds. This is a clear message EA coordinator for EDUC Commis- tion on aCommon number that we will take to the Cohesion forum- sion welcomes 2011 as the Euro- Agriculture Policy of policy issues in- at the end of January. - pean year of Volunteering particular the future of the Focussed policies must also have tan- as well as the Struc gible benefits for regions and local au 2 CoR Plenary to adopt Brian Meaney’s tural Funds. We have argued on many thorities across the EU and then dis - opinion on biomass sustainability occasions for the need for a strong CAP cussing these in a European context, which will guarantee fully traceable, this is why I’m delighted that our col Francesco Musotto to take part in high quality food supply and security- leagues inSustainable the Scottish Tourism National Policy Party for the citizens of the EU as well as a have invited our group to Scotland to ARLEM Plenary Session in Agadir ‘fair’ income for farmers. We will con Asdiscuss we begin the European Year of Vol- tinue to reiterate our points to ensure unteeringon the 21st March 2011. Marc Hendrickx becomes chairman that this will be the final outcome for of the external policy committee of the CAP. I would call on all of us to the Benelux Parliament asIt isthe also Structural important and that Cohesion in the current Funds make that special effort and volunteer: 3 economic crisis those instruments such to your local sports club, services to EA members focus on youth in young and old, other community based 2011 are focused on the needs of Regions. activities, of which there are many. Let’s It is imperative that this budget line is show that during 2011: together we can 4 not constrained and that the success of make a difference! Jerzy Zająkała, President of the EA group with (from left to right), Flo Clucas (UK), President of the ALDE group, Michael Schneider (DE), President of the EPP group, Mercedes Bresso (IT), President of the CoR, Ramón Luis Valcárcel Siso, 1st Vice-President of the CoR and Karl-Heinz Klär, President of the PES group EUROPEAN UNION “Let’s show that during 2011: together we can make a difference!” Committee of the Regions President of the EA group “I think it will be also a good occasion to give recognition to the volunteers”. Roger Knox, EA coordinator in EDUC Commission EA Rapporteur welcomes the creation of the Intergroup on Health in the CoR Mr Banaszak Rapporteur for the CoR opinion on the “The role of local and regional authorities in the implementation of the Health Strategy 2008-2013” welcomes the decision of the CoR Bureau to setup an inter- regional group on health as of 1 January 2011. The aim of setting up the group is to enable the CoR members to debate openly and to share point of views on EU health issues, as well as to discuss other public health matters in depth, without impinging upon the remits of the NAT Commission. The activities of the group would focus on the topics related to public health, such as healthy living, health inequalities, health work force, nutrition, cross-border healthcare and use of structural funds Adam Banaszak, Rapporteur for CoR opinion on Health Strategy 2008-2013, meeting John Dalli, Commissioner on Health and Consumer policy for health purposes. Daiva Matonienė appointed CoR rapporteur on the EU LIFE+ mid term review Mrs Daiva - MatonienėEA member and deputy mayor of wards. Mrs Matonienė opinion would a political position at an early stage on Šiauliai city, Lithuania, enable the CoR to anticipate the Euro an issue which is of major relevance for was appointed by the ENVE pean Commission proposal and provide local and regional authorities. commission rapporteur on the EU EA coordinator for EDUC Commission welcomes LIFE+ mid term review. LIFE+ is the EU financial instrument for- 2011 as the European year of Volunteering environment whose financial envelope amounts to € 2.17 billion. The Euro Mr Roger Knox - - pean Commission will adopt at the end- of 2011 a proposal for a new regulation , Member of East Lothi- who do not know much about volun- which would be applied from 2014 on an Council, EA Group coordinator for teering the possibility to find out more EDUC Commission welcomes the de about it, and maybe become volun cision that 2011 be designated as the teers one day themselves. And finally, I “European Year of Volunteering”. He think it will be also a good occasion to- said that “2011 should- give recognition to the help volunteers and volunteers. Most vol volunteering organisa unteers are looking for tions from everywhere an exciting experience, in Europe to meet and discovering something to learn what is done new, taking a break best in other countries. from job or studies, etc. The public authorities- However, value-based- like LRAs will be able to- commitment is still an learn more about volun integral part of volun- teers and making vol teering and should be unteering easier. It will given proper acknowl also offer to the citizens edgement” – he added. 2 January 2011 Newsletter CoR Plenary to adopt Brian Meaney’s opinion on biomass sustainability - The CoR Plenary Session will adopt recognized standards and reduce un- on 28 JanuaryBrian theMeaney. opinion on biomass certainty. Biomass producers should- sustainability drafted by the “green” EA be adequately supported by adminis member trative and fiscal policies since innova Whereas the European Commission tion on biomass use require long lead in considers that times are not mature time, he underlines in his opinion. to set binding harmonized scheme The opinion which received positive for biomass, Clare County Councillor feedback from the CoR members was Mr. Meaney pleads for a harmonization adopted unanimously by the ENVE of criteria, where voluntary schemes- commission in December last. already exist at national and regional level. He points out that “same or simi lar sustainability criteria must apply for both EU produced and imported biomass” so as to set internationally Francesco Musotto to take part in ARLEM Plenary Session in Agadir Mr. Francesco Musotto - - On 28-29 January, , vinced that the EU must work with deter EA member and deputy of the Sicily Region mination for the development of the Med Assembly, will participate in the ARLEM iterranean which would be beneficial for Plenary session taking place in Agadir, both the EU and our neighbourhood since Morocco. - it would trigger growth, investments and He will bring the views of the European ensure political stability. Alliance group on the future of the Medi During the meeting members will adopt terranean region and will participate in the work programme of the two thematic the discussion on the two to- be adopted- ARLEM commission and set the objectives opinions on water local management and for the year 2011. urban development. Mr Musotto, is con Marc Hendrickx becomes chairman of the external policy committee of the Benelux Parliament Marc Hendrickx - Late last December Luxembourg. From 2011 to 2012, it will (42), a member of the Flemish parlia meet in The Hague. ment (for the New Flemish Alliance [N- Flemish nationalist and CoR member- VA]) and of the CoR’s EA political group,- Marc Hendrickx said: “The new Benelux was appointed chairman of the external treaty in any case offers scope for Flan policy committee of the Benelux Parlia ders to play a more prominent role in ment. Benelux, freed from the constraints of The Benelux Parliament is an inter- Belgium. It should come as no surprise parliamentary assembly comprising 50- that this is also one of my own goals, members from the Benelux countries together with closer contacts with the (21 from the Netherlands, 21 from Bel Baltic states and the German Land of gium and 8 from Luxembourg), with North Rhine-Westphalia. In the past, Belgian representatives drawn from Benelux served as a kind of laboratory both the federal parliament and various for cooperation – a paradigm for what regional parliaments. The seat of the has now become the EU. I have no doubt Benelux Parliament rotates every two it will continue to serve this function in years between The Hague, Brussels and the future.” Newsletter January 2011 3 Winners of the EA/CoR Secondary Schools competition 2010” with the President of the CoR EA members focus on youth in 2011 the Secondary schools competition The main project of the EA group last year was , organised- in eight EU members states, having the aim to encourage young people to learn and un- derstand more about the European Union, the Committee of the Regions, and other EU insti tutions as well as each other’s regions. Best practices represent examples which- worth to be considering. The feedbacks from participants of the past years’ EA/CoR Second ary Schools Competition allowed members to EA President welcomes winners of the EA/CoR Secondary Schools competition 2010 conclude the success of the EA group’s project. In this reason EA members have decided to- continue addressing to the youth during the- year 2011 and continue focusing on the young opinionsSecondary as regardsschools Europeancompetition matters. - trate on students aged between 14 and 18 er generation, bringing them closer to the con In this reason the first project of the EA group years.