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Van den Brande tells Barroso: work with us for stronger better Europe
24.11.2009, 14:52
23.11.2009 - Luc Van den Brande, the President of the EU
Committee of the Regions, has told José Manuel Barroso that he will
expect to see a more inclusive approach to lawmaking, based on the
CoR's proposed system of multi-level governance, over the five years of
the next European Commission. At a meeting on Monday, Van den Brande
presented the EC President with the CoR's White Paper on multi-level
governance, which sets out the CoR's expectations for closer
collaboration between each level of government in a wide variety of
policy areas.
"President Barroso has already underlined the benefits of multi-level governance in the presentation of his work programme, highlighting in particular areas such as the Lisbon Strategy for growth and jobs and the EU's social agenda. That is why we agreed to analyse together how to give a political follow up to the recommendations made with our White Paper on the multi-level governance, in order to give guidance to the future European Commission. The goal is to develop a more effective means of assessing the territorial impact of new legislation, or suggest a more inclusive approach to the development of the future Lisbon Strategy," said President Van den Brande after the meeting.
One key area where the Committee can bring real added value to the EU's policies is climate change, and Van den Brande also urged Barroso to enlarge the role of the Committee in the Covenant of Mayors, the pact made by more than 950 local and regional leaders to go beyond the EU's 20/20/20 climate goals. "A new Eurobarometer survey to be published later this month will show quite clearly that European citizens expect their local and regional authorities to play a significant role in tackling greenhouse gas emissions, and the CoR is well placed to assume that role at the European level. We stand ready to assume the political back-up of the Covenant of Mayors, to develop it further through agreements with other groups such as the US Conference of Mayors, and to ensure that the initiative is widely communicated to European citizens," Van den Brande said.
The position of cohesion policy within the future EU budget was also raised during the meeting, and Van den Brande stressed its fundamental role in ensuring the balanced development of Europe.
Source: www.cor.eu