February 2013 The activity report of the EPP Group in the Committee of the Regions

Message from the President

EPP Pays tribute to its first President

Members on the field

2

Subsidiarity: Europe closer to you

ARLEM deliberates on vocational training and

sustainable tourism in the Mediterranean and sets

priorities for 2013

3

Plenary Highlights

EPP opinions at Plenary

4-10

Young European Citizens share their views

6

Your Agenda

11

Ongoing Opinions

12

A focus on entrepreneurship and jobs during the Irish A focus on entrepreneurship and jobs during the Irish PresidencyPresidencyTh e Irish Presidency’s overarching focus will be identifying and advancing legislation that can contribute to creating the conditions for sustainable economic growth in Europe and job creation. Indeed, throughout Europe regions and cities are facing a signifi cant fi nancial and economic challenge coupled with worrying levels of youth unemployment. Th e EPP Group in the Committee of the Regions is convinced that a strong entrepreneurial environment is needed in order to boost youth employment and foster innovation. Within this context and following an invitation from EPP Vice-President Constance Hanniff y,

Member of the Off ally County Council, the EPP Group in the Committee of the Regions will hold a meeting dedicated to the creation of a regional entrepreneurial environment in the pursuit of youth employment, growth and innovation on 28 February 2013, in Dublin, Ireland. Keynote speakers Lucinda Creighton, Irish Minister for European Aff airs and honorary guests will deliver their vision.

“Europe is bigger than the economic crisis and is facing a future full of change and potential. We have to embrace that future without hesitation and ensure that we have a clear vision for what that future will

hold. Over the coming months our

task will be to refi ne these important

policies and messages ahead of the

next European elections.”

The European Year of Citizens is here, and youth is at its heartThe European Year of Citizens is here, and youth is at its heart

A year long campaign to raise awareness of EU citizens’ rights is launched, celebrating

the 20th anniversary of EU citizenship. Th is will provide greater occasions for people

throughout Europe to learn about the rights and opportunities open to them thanks

to EU citizenship. It will also seek to stimulate debate about the obstacles that prevent

people from fully using these rights and encourage them to participate in civic fora

on EU policies. Th e EPP which has strongly supported this initiative from the onset

believes that raising awareness on EU citizens’ rights should be a long-term objective beyond 2013. EPP members are

committed to stimulate the active involvement of EU citizens in their territories. According to György Gémesi, current

EPP rapporteur on “Strengthening EU citizenship: promotion of EU citizens’ electoral rights” it is important for the EU

to become a tangible asset for citizens, and a specifi c emphasis should be placed on young people. Indeed, with this focus

the EPP Group regularly holds youth oriented activities and competitions.

Read the full report on page 6.

CoR President VCoR President V Siso in Olso for award cáárcealcá awardááa cc rcel Siso in Olso for awarl a aa á drce iso iááVV rcel Siso in Olso for awardááalc awaalcá e iso i O so fo w dááceremony of theceremony of the bel Peace Prize to the EU NooooN bel Peace Prize to the EUN bel Peace Prize to thebel Peace Prize to the EUooN ace Prize toobe Pe e P i e e“Above all l elelsse, this award places ann even bigger responsibility on the European institutions. “ItIt iis our duty to keep working togetther to defuse confl icts among States and continents, to encourage cross-border cooperation between regions, cities and local communities withinand outside the EU. Today Europeaans can be proud of being part of a political project that represents a point of reference for thoose who are building peace all over the world.”

món Luis Valcárcel SisoRam , President of the Committee off the Regions, attending the award ceremony of the bel Peace Prize 2012 to the EU, held in Oslo, on 10 Decemmber.Nob

e House of History, a new project of the European Parlliament (EP) presented to EPP-CoR members last Th ecember by former EP President Hans-Gert Pöttering, wiill house the Nobel Peace Prize Medal in its future Decmanent exhibition.perm

Lucinda Creighton, Irish Minister for

European Affairs and recently elected Vice-

President of the European People’s Party

2

Members on the fieldMembers on the fieldUgo Cappellacci, President of Sardinia and chair of the ENVE

Commission, represented the CoR in the United Nations

Climate Change negotiations in Doha from 29 November till 3

December 2012. He met Commissioner Hedegaard to off er

support for the EU-wide climate change campaign called “A

world you like. With a climate you like”, which aims to promote

the benefi ts of moving towards a low-carbon society. He also

delivered a speech at various side events including “Teaming up

to meet the targets - models for supporting local authorities in

climate action” co-organised by the Covenant of Mayors.

Kadri Tillemann addressed the

participants at the conference organised

by the Eurisy, a European Non-profi t

Association Bridging Space and Society,

on “Achieving Europe 2020: policy

coordination in support of cities, regions

and SMEs” on 11 December 2012 in

Brussels. On 12 December, the Mayor of Keila delivered a

speech on Greening regions in practice by building capacity

and creating new alliances at the conference of the European

Learning Network for Regions and Biodiversity, which took

place in Oisterwijk in the southern Netherlands.

Ramón Luis Valcárcel Siso met with the President of the

European Investment Bank Werner Hoyer on 5 December

2012 and discussed ways to improve access to EIB resources

for local and regional entities and to promote better use of the

Bank’s funding opportunities. Th e two institutions share the

objective of strengthening relations between the EIB and the

local and regional authorities starting from the shaping of the

operational programmes for the structural funds 2014-2020.

A delegation of 4 EPP members, including Jesús Gamallo

Aller, Lech Jaworski, Martina Krogmann, and Cor Lamers

took part in the high-Level conference on “Empowering local

actors to prevent violent extremism” in Brussels on 29 January

2013. Th e conference is to be seen in the context of the

Radicalisation Awareness Network (RAN), where the CoR

was sought as a key partner by the European Commission.

Message from the President Message from the President Many hopes and expectations are still pinned on the European Council meeting due to take place in

Brussels on 7-8 February. In particular, agreement is sought for the 2014-2020 multiannual fi nancial

framework (MFF). We, in the EPP Group, have urged for a timely decision and adequate resources

– notably for cohesion – in order for Europe to be able to achieve its primary objective of reviving

growth and creating jobs. We need investment to continue in a seamless way in order to avoid the

impact that further delays in reaching an agreement could have on the next generation of Structural

Fund programmes and development in our regions.

At the beginning of this New Year I would also like to stress that our priority will continue to be the

eff ective implementation of the Europe 2020 Strategy which is our roadmap for growth and jobs.

Conscious of the developments that the EU is preparing in order to tackle the crisis and to ensure sustainable growth and jobs, we

also need to look for new horizons and start thinking more profoundly about the Committee of the Regions’s role in the context

of future developments of the European Union.

EPP Pays tribute to its first President EPP Pays tribute to its first President Th e EPP Group pays tribute to Jos Chabert who has stepped down from his functions in the CoR. Jos

Chabert was an eminent member of the Committee of the Regions, having been the fi rst EPP Group

President from 1994 to 1998, followed by the Presidency of the CoR from 2000 to 2002. Amongst

other notable functions, he represented the CoR in the European Convention on the Future of Europe.

He will be remembered for his lasting commitment to the European project, where he sought to give

the valuable perspective and contribution of cities and regions.

3 The activity report of the EPP Group in the Committee of the Regions

Subsidiarity: Europe closer to youSubsidiarity: Europe closer to you“We as EPP strongly defend subsidiarity

not least because it constitutes a more

eff ective and grassroots method of delivering policy, but also as a basic value of our political family”.

Subsidiarity is part of the CoR’s very DNA and is clearly anchored in its mission statement. Th is principle must be upheld so that decisions are taken and applied as close to the citizens as possible and at the most appropriate level. Th e CoR’s recently revamped subsidiarity monitoring strategy reconfi rms the Committee’s intention to become the benchmark for subsidiarity monitoring within the EU. Th e CoR’s 2013 Subsidiarity Work Programme proposed by the Steering Group for decision at the

CoR Bureau on 30 January 2013 will set the priorities for the year. In addition, with the new political governance, the Expert Group, targeted Subsidiarity Monitoring Network consultations, wider REGPEX use and closer cooperation with other EU institutions, the CoR’s subsidiarity monitoring will be strengthened. Th e Subsidiarity Conference, which is scheduled to take place in May/June 2013 in the Bundesrat in Berlin will also be a benchmark in 2013. It will provide a good opportunity to assess, in conjunction with other institutional partners, the role of the subsidiarity principle in the EU policy-making

ARLEM deliberates on vocational training and ARLEM deliberates on vocational training and sustainable tourism in the Mediterranean and sets sustainable tourism in the Mediterranean and sets priorities for 2013priorities for 2013Th e Euro-Mediterranean Regional

and Local Assembly (ARLEM) has

focused its 2012 activities on technical

and vocational training and sustainable

tourism in the Mediterranean. Th e

two draft reports, together with the

annual report on the state of the

territorial dimension of the Union for

the Mediterranean (UfM) are to be

adopted during the ARLEM plenary

session in Brussels on 18 February 2013.

Under the Co-Presidency of Ramón Luis Valcárcel Siso and Youssef Ali

Abd El-Rahman, the plenary will

also adopt the work programme for

2013 which looks set to feature urban

transport, equal opportunities, and the

development of a cohesion-type policy in

the Mediterranean amongst its priorities.

Seeking synergies and effi ciency, these

themes converge with those foreseen by

the institutions and organisations active

in Euro-Mediterranean cooperation.

Looking at Cohesion for example,

the Commission’s Roadmap towards

Southern Mediterranean partners

proposes to launch pilot programmes

in the area of Regional Policy inspired

by the EU cohesion policy to promote

economic, social and territorial cohesion.

ARLEM will bring its valuable

contribution, anchored on the experience

of its members in implementing such

policies, and will continue to work to give

local and regional authorities more of a

say in how the UfM’s sectoral priorities

are implemented.

Michael Schneider, Coordinator of the Subsidiarity

Monitoring Network

2012 ARLEM Plenary in Bari, Italy

4

Plenary Highlights Plenary Highlights Lucinda Creighton, Irish Minister for European Aff airs and recently elected Vice-President of the European People’s Party

will address the CoR Plenary on the Irish Presidency Priorities on 31 January. In an interview with the rEPPorter ahead of the

Presidency she commented: “the pressing issue when we consider European development is engaging our citizens. Next year will

be European Year of Citizens. Th is will provide an enormous opportunity for us to actively engage in a Europe-wide discussion

about the future of the European Union. Local and regional authorities will have an important role to play as they are often closest

to citizens.”

EPP Member of European Parliament Marietta Giannakou will also address the plenary session on the same day, linked to

the ongoing revision of the Regulation on the statutes and funding of European political parties and

foundations. Truly transnational European political parties and foundations can be key in articulating

the voices of citizens at European level, and generating Europe-wide public debates. Indeed European

Commission President José Manuel Barroso highlighted this initiative in his State of the Union

speech last fall, recalling that European political parties have an important role to play in bridging the

gap between national and European politics.

Th e following day, a CoR resolution on a sustainable future for the European Economic and Monetary

Union will be adopted, based on the report “Towards a Genuine Economic and Monetary Union”

presented by President Herman Van Rompuy in close collaboration with the Presidents of the

European Commission, Eurogroup and European Central Bank in December 2012. In view of the

particularly diffi cult employment situation of young people in various parts of Europe, the political

Groups will submit a second draft resolution on Youth Employment to the Plenary.

EPP opinions at PlenaryEPP opinions at Plenary

Two decades since the concept of EU

citizenship has been introduced

by the Maastricht Treaty, once again

it gains attention as one of the main

themes of the current European Year

of Citizens, willing to stimulate higher

voter turnout in diff erent level elections

as one of its priorities. As “facilitating

and encouraging citizens’ participation

in the democratic life of the Union

is crucial for bringing the citizens

closer to the European project”, the

rapporteur emphasises that it is local

and regional authorities that play a

key role in constantly promoting and

raising awareness of EU citizenship

and the rights associated with it. While

Mayor Gémesi encourages EU citizens

to participate in local and political life

and to exercise their electoral rights,

including the right to vote in local and

European elections in their country of

residence, he acknowledges the existence

of obstacles for some citizens to fully

take advantage of such rights. Following

that, he suggests European Commission

to encourage Member States to ensure

that these fundamental democratic

rights are guaranteed for all EU citizens

and administrative procedures are

further simplifi ed. In this regard Mayor

Gémesi welcomes the Commission’s

intention to establish an informal forum

with the Committee of the Regions

enabling direct dialogue on the exercise

of electoral rights. While being in favour

of the potential of European projects and

EU fi nancial instruments supporting

EU citizens’ awareness of their legal

status and the rights associated with

EU citizenship, he suggests that they

could be targeted at diff erent age groups

in order to foster a sense of belonging

into the community, and to explain the

resulting benefi ts better. Finally, in order

to increase turnout he recommends

Member States to consider synchronising

the local and regional elections with

European elections by introducing the

possibility of fi ve-year terms of offi ce.

Strengthening EU citizenship: promotion of EU citizens’ electoral rightsCDR 1652-2012 - CIVEX-V-036

György Gémesi, Mayor of Gödöllö (Hungary/EPP)G

p

Marietta Giannakou,

EPP Member of European

Parliament

5 The activity report of the EPP Group in the Committee of the Regions

The single market is a key driver of

European economic growth. For

two decades, the free movement of goods,

services, capital and workers has been the

driving force behind European prosperity

and Europe’s economy. Yet, the latest

Commission’s communication indicates

problems with transposition and lengthy

process of implementation of single

market legislation. Furthermore, rules

do not necessarily work well in practice,

even if they have been transposed at

national level. While the rapporteur

considers Commission’s concern for

the development of the single market as

justifi ed, he remarks that it is not enough

to put forward only the general measures,

as it is only in specifi c areas or in certain

Member States that implementation of

rules can prove particularly problematic.

Markku Markkula additionally stresses

that at current economic climate,

considering the fi nancial services as

one of the areas with the most growth

potential is problematic. He suggests

that identifying such key areas must

give priority to those which are well

placed to innovate and create quality

jobs. In his belief the performance of

the digital single market and of services

as a whole are key and urgent priorities,

suggesting example of carrying out public

procurement electronically as possible

signifi cant contribution. Critically, the

rapporteur fi nds poor quality of some

regulation as eroding the EU’s actual

legitimacy in the eyes of the public and

businesses. As it is mostly when rules

are put into practice that their more

problematic aspects become apparent,

Markkula suggests that the role of

local government and regions in the

development of EU legislation should be

strengthened further.

Better Governance for the Single MarketCDR 1529-2012- ECOS-V-036

Markku Markkula, Member of the Espoo City Council (Finland/EPP)

Th e Single Market has brought about more choice and freedom for consumers and a big market for business. Completing the Single Market is a way to get out of the economic crisis. To do this, Member States must be ready to deliver the full implementation of EU rules anywhere in Europe. Th is requires a better system for enforcing Single Market laws and monitoring their implementation to the benefi t of citizens and enterprises in the European Union

. e r s

Andreas Schwab, Member of the European Parliament

The rapporteur welcomes the

Commission’s guidelines on the

current Renewable Energy framework

and outlining possible policy directions

after 2020, with a view that future

renewable energy milestones must

become part of the wider common

European energy market. Th e share

of renewable energy in EU energy

consumption in the middle of 2012 has

reached 12.4%, which represents a rise

of 1.9% on 2008 levels. In this context

Marshal Stępień considers the main

problems of Renewable Energy Strategy

(RES) development to be caused by

lack of long-term vision and poor

coordination between the countries,

regions and parties involved. He calls

on the future subsidy mechanisms to be

improved and notices that infrastructure

development is critical to achieve goals.

Research and development (R&D)

funding, especially investment in

distribution (smart) grids and upgrades

to transmission infrastructure needs to

play an important role in this process.

Th e rapporteur additionally calls for a

proper structure and realistic objectives

for the EU Emissions Trading Scheme

(ETS) and increase of competitiveness

of RES in energy markets as well as

revision of RES targets and adjustments

to the number of green certifi cates

issued. Additionally, Marshal Stępień

is convinced that the regions could

identify the best mix of renewable

energy technologies in order to balance

local electricity needs with production,

thereby signifi cantly increasing their

energy security and reducing dependence

on long-distance energy imports. Th ey

have also important role to play in

the development of renewable micro-

installations and in encouraging the

emergence of “prosumers”, consumers of

energy who also produce energy for their

own use or that of their neighbours.

Renewable Energy: A major player in the European energy marketCDR 1529-2012- ECOS-V-036

Witold Stępień, Marshal of the Łódź voivodship (Poland/EPP)

6

Young European citizens share their views:Young European citizens share their views:EPP Master Students Programme and Youth CompetitionEPP Master Students Programme and Youth Competition

With youth at heart, the EPP organises

annual competitions and study visits

giving young Europeans the opportunity

to share their visions on Europe. Th e

recently held Study Visit for Masters

Students of European Studies (28-

30 November 2012, Brussels) gave 30

students from the four corners of Europe

the occasion to meet with Commission

President José Manuel Barroso and

other high EU representatives and CoR

rapporteurs, enhancing their knowledge

and allowing debate on topical European

issues.

7 The activity report of the EPP Group in the Committee of the Regions

To mark the European Year of Citizens

and the role that local and regional

authorities can play in promoting

citizens’ rights, the EPP Group in the

Committee of the Regions is also about

to launch an illustration competition for

young people. Th e best graphic designs,

drawings, paintings, diagrams, cartoons

and photographs will be used to illustrate

the EPP Group book on “A vision of EU

Citizenship for the year 2020”, to be

edited for the Open Days – European

Week of Cities and Regions, in October

2013. Visit our website to take part.

8

The rapporteur welcomes the

Commission’s pursuance to work

in partnership with the outermost

regions (ORs), while fully applying the

objectives of the Europe 2020 strategy

for smart, sustainable and inclusive

growth. He also emphasises the need to

fi nd a balance between measures to off set

the specifi c and permanent constraints

of the ORs on one hand and those

that aim to promote their advantages

and opportunities on the other. In this

respect the rapporteur supports the

Commission policy to fi nd a common

denominator for the implementation

of the EU 2020 Strategy to the ORs

as a whole, while also distinguishing

opportunities and challenges that each

OR faces individually. Mayor Mifsud

calls the Commission to ensure that its

various Departments are involved in the

implementation of this strategy and to

work closely together with the Conference

of Presidents of the Outermost Regions,

groups of experts and the dedicated

interservice group. In connection with

the above he suggests that priority should

be given to education, training and

employment, since local human resources

and expertise are the greatest potential

drivers of growth in these regions. In

his view especially employment should

be considered as high priority target and

parameter of all future key-interventions

for the successful implementation of the

EU 2020 Strategy, while he additionally

recognizes the need for improvements in

the health system, modernisation of the

fi sheries fl eets, maritime infrastructures

and transports. Finally, Mayor Mifsud

underlines the need to sustain in the

future action plans of the renewed

strategy for the ORs both approaches:

improving their accessibility to the single

market on one side, and to facilitating

the ORs integrated regional market on

the other.

The EU’s outermost regions

Th e EU has eight regions that are geographically very distant from the European continent but that still form an integral part

of the EU member countries they belong to. Th ese outermost regions are: the French overseas departments and communities

– Martinique, Guadeloupe, French Guiana and Réunion, Saint-Martin; the Portuguese autonomous regions – Madeira and

the Azores; and the Spanish autonomous community of the Canary Islands. Th ese “outermost regions”, are covered by EU

law along with the other rights and duties associated with EU membership – in contrast to overseas territories, which have a

diff erent legal status

The outermost regions of the EU in the light of the Europe 2020 strategyCDR 1685-2012 - COTER-V-030

Malcolm Mifsud, Mayor of Pietá (Malta/EPP)

A renewed strategy for the EU Outermost Regions must allow for a differentiated and holistic treatment, enabling these

Regions to benefit from the maximum level of support, irrespective of their level of development, so that their specific fea-

tures are sufficiently considered and protected. In order to achieve the EU2020 objectives, Outermost Regions must be

given the necessary financial means within the MFF 2014-2020. As such, there should be a uniform co-financing rate of

85% and the amounts in these Regions’ specific allocation should be at least the same as

in the current period. Furthermore, the main strategic priorities in the new partnership

for smart, sustainable and inclusive growth should improve accessibility, employment and

competitiveness and promote the integration of Outermost Regions both in the internal

market and in their neighbouring areas. For a better integration in their geographical

environments it is urgent to remove the 150km criterion for maritime borders in cross-

border cooperation between Outermost Regions and neighbouring countries in the next

programming period, since many of these Regions are islands and consequently are not

eligible for most of the regional cooperation programs.

Nuno Teixeira, Member of the European Parliament, rapporteur on the Own-initiative report on “the role of Cohesion Policy in

the outermost regions of the European Union in the context of EU 2020”

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9 The activity report of the EPP Group in the Committee of the Regions

As it was stated in my speech at the beginning of the Informal Ministerial Meeting in Nicosia last November, there are many important political coincidences in the strategic approach of the CoR and that of the European Parliament. Both the Parliament as well as the CoR share the same common objective of a more eff ective and effi cient post 2013 cohesion policy, a policy which is easier to apply and monitor and based on real multilevel governance.

As stated by M Wozniak’s draft report, we all share the view that the CP, as the main EU investment policy, demands both eff ective spending and a vigorous budget. I have recently reiterated that the challenging objectives of CP are inconsistent with the cuts proposed by the Council, or at least, by certain MS.

We are very satisfi ed that the proposed CoR resolution echoes Parliament’s defence of the demands of regional and local authori-ties. Th e respect of multilevel governance is key for a truly eff ective of CP.

Moreover, we are in favour of the CoR’s views on the diff erent sorts of conditionality, which also coincide with the Committee’s views. Th ese include the approach on ex ante conditionality, which should be closely related to the eff ective implementation of the Funds, or the rejection of macroeconomic conditionality and the performance reserve.

In addition, we can only agree with the CoR’s support for the integrated approach to territorial devel-opment. In particular, long-term strategies for local development designed by local authorities with the participation of civil society organization are cornerstones for social cohesion within the European Union.

Th is common ground was reiterated in the recent meeting I had with President Valcarcel, a meeting during which he once more expressed his support for parliament during the ongoing inter-institutional negotiations and during the negotiations which should lead to an agreement on the 2014-2020 MFF.

Danuta Hübner, Member of the European Parliament, Chair of REGI committee and head of the EP’s negotiation team on the cohesion

legislative package

The adoption of this Resolution

was foreseen in order to highlight

the CoR positions that were not taken

into consideration during the last year’s

inter-institutional negotiations on the

Cohesion Policy legislative package,

including the developments on the

Multi-Annual Financial Framework

and the 2013 political priorities adopted

by CoR. In his resolution, which was

prepared in close collaboration with all

CoR former rapporteurs on the cohesion

legislative package adopted in May

2012, Marshal Woźniak underlines that

Cohesion Policy is an investment policy

that needs both eff ective spending and

a vigorous budget. Resources cannot be

cut down, if it is to stimulate growth and

jobs, increase competitiveness and fi ght

against territorial disparities. In this

regard, the rapporteur advocates that

spending on Cohesion Policy should not

be cut below the initial Commission’s

proposal. On the positive side, the he

welcomes more fl exible approach on

thematic concentration in the Europe

2020 strategy, as adopted by the

European Parliament and the Council

compromises. Furthermore, he expresses

full support for the Parliament’s REGI

Committee’s negotiating team in the

trialogue process recalling some key

positions shared with the EP that should

be kept in the fi nal package like: eff ective

involvement of local and regional

authorities in the design of partnership

contracts and operational programmes,

new category of “transition regions”,

, strong rejection of macroeconomic

conditionality, etc. Marshal Woźniak

also recalls that local and regional

authorities are fully aware of the need

to improve the outcome of Cohesion

Policy, through better programming

and spending of Structural Funds.

In this context the Resolution makes

contributions to improvements to the

allocation method of the Structural

Funds as well as refl ects on the capping

rate, safety net, urban premium and

support for the territorial cooperation

budget. Finally, the rapporteur welcomes

and supports the proposal of Cyprus as

former Presidency of the EU to create

a formal “Council for Cohesion Policy”

to “be composed of the Ministers with

responsibility for Cohesion policy”,

stating that the CoR has advocated for

such a formal meeting for a long time.

Resolution on the Cohesion Policy legislative packageCDR 2233-2012 - COTER-V-033

Marek Woźniak, Marshal of the Wielkopolska region (Poland/EPP)

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To complement and support the implementation of the EU legislation

on human traffi cking (Directive 2011/36/

EU), the European Commission proposed

an EU strategy towards eradication of such

practices for years 2012-2016. Additionally

EU anti-traffi cking coordinator has been appointed to oversee its execution. Whilst generally welcoming the Commission’s approach and action plans in this fi eld, CoR’s rapporteur Jelena Drenjanin calls for local and regional authorities to have more prominent place in the communication, taking into account the signifi cant role they already play and the additional contributions they could make to preventing and combating traffi cking in human beings and in supporting and protecting its victims. Moreover, she proposes better ways of incorporating those authorities into the strategy implementation, underlining their advantageous positioning in relation to the referral responsibilities and identifying the victims of human traffi cking. Th e

rapporteur encourages Member States to allow local and regional authorities staff to participate in the national multidisciplinary law-enforcement units and provide training as well as access to databases to local police offi cers. In this context the rapporteur additionally calls for CoR’s active role in development of guidelines on victim identifi cation and child protection systems and its participation as representative of local and regional authorities in the civil society platform and private sector and employers’ platform, which are envisaged by the strategy. Finally, Jelena Drenjanin makes broader recommendations to make better distinction between diff erent forms of traffi cking and apply gender dimension to the terms of demand for it.

In the context of the fi nancial crisis and increasing need for addressing socio-

economic, demographic and climate challenges in the EU, comes the call for a renewed impetus to the European Research Area initiative that is to allow scientifi c knowledge and technology to

circulate freely throughout the European Union, strengthening the competitiveness and Europe’s capacity to achieve economic recovery and collectively face global issues as Innovative Union. Th e rapporteur calls on the European Commission to overcome fragmentation of research in Europe through application of synergies between Structural Funds and Horizon 2020 fi nancial pillars and promoting inter-regional cooperation within their framework. Councillor Zafi ropoulos additionally stresses that regions themselves need to increase their preparedness to benefi t from research. Developed competences and good practices need to be available to the European-wide use. He also highlights that EU should encourage better coordination and synergy between the regions allowing them to become innovative

pioneers in their chosen fi elds, progressing in smart specialisations and thus increasing the possibilities for complementarities and regional cooperation. To conclude, the rapporteur calls for removal of legal and other barriers to the application of open, transparent and merit-based recruitment of researchers and recommends the European Commission set up an online portal for the exchange of best practice examples at local and regional level on integrating young people into the labour market, including in the research and innovation sectors.

The EU Strategy towards the Eradication of Trafficking in Human BeingsCDR 1564-2012 - CIVEX-V-035

Jelena Drenjanin, Member of the Municipal Assembly of Huddinge (Sweden/EPP)

European research areaCDR 1672-2012 - EDUC-V-025

Grigorios Zafi ropoulos, Councillor of the Region of Attica (Greece/EPP)

Traffi cking in human beings is one of the most terrible crimes of our lives. With no exaggeration it is defi nitely a modern-day slavery that goes with “high-profi t and low-risk” and fl ourishes all over the world. Europe is not an exception either with its estimated 800 thousand victims. In spite of the growing attention to this is-sue, the number of prosecution still remains very low (cca 1600 prosecution per year). Th ere is no doubt that the key element of an eff ective anti-traffi cking policy is the identifi cation of victims. In this relation we need more and better training of all those who might get into contact with the possible victims, in particular law-enforcement authorities. I highly appreciate the key message of Mrs Drenjanin s opinion asking for tracking down demand which is a driving force of traffi cking. Combating traffi cking is a complex and hard task but not impossible. It is hidden but not invisible. Edit Bauer, Member of the European Parliament

y s -t d -g t

In times of economic diffi culties we have to join our eff orts effi ciently and create the conditions for boosting the European economy through a more innovative and competitive industry. Completing the European Research Area (ERA) will be a major step in this direction.

Maria Da Graca Carvalho, Member of the European Parliament

e h

11 The activity report of the EPP Group in the Committee of the Regions

As the employment situation is still fragile in the European Union, we need tangible reform initiatives both at European and national level. However, the involvement of local and reginal authorities cannot result in more administrative burdens. Th e strengthening of cohesion policy in the new multiannual fi nancial framework is inevitable if we really want to promote growth and boost job creation. And we need to support even more small and medium sized enterprises.

Csaba Őry, Member of the European Parliament

t e ke

t

The rapporteur welcomes the

Commission communication

“Towards a job-rich recovery” and

considers is as a political act which

should be followed by tangible legislative

initiatives by the Member States and

local and regional authorities. Councillor

Coppola reminds the European

Commission that local and regional

authorities often are largely responsible

for implementing policies relating to

employment, education and training and

regrets lack of reference to them in the

document, as territorial dimension of

these policies is thus of vital importance.

Concentrating on the policy aspects,

she calls on the European Commission

and the Member States to implement

the necessary measures to combat and

eradicate the damaging practice of social

dumping and illegal work, which also

goes hand in hand with certain forms

of exploitation of illegal immigration.

Furthermore, the rapporteur recalls

the importance of concentrating eff orts

not only on creating new jobs and

promoting structural change but also on

preserving existing ones. While taking

on the subject of promoting the quality

of European products, she stresses that

business could also benefi t from an

additional EU origin label alongside

labelling denoting national origin or

quality. Councillor Coppola encourages

forming agreements between local or

regional education authorities, the social

partners, business representatives and

the universities in order bridge the gaps

between the world of training and that

of industry. She stresses that the future

European Skills Passport must not

constitute “downward” standardisation,

but should enable the practical skills

(manufacturing, crafts, etc.) in which

diff erent regions excel to be valued.

Finally, she calls on the Commission to

avoid duplication by mapping the existing

studies that match demand and supply

in national labour markets. In her view

exchange and coordination of these data

could be key to eff ective internal mobility

within the EU.

The role of local and regional authorities in promoting growth and boosting job creationCDR 1186-2012 - ECOS-V-033

Maria Luisa Coppola, Councillor of the Veneto Region (Italy/EPP)

Your Agenda Your Agenda 11 February CIVEX Brussels

18 February ARLEM Plenary Brussels

19 February ENVE Brussels

20 February ECOS Brussels

25 February EDUC Brussels

26 February COTER Brussels

28 February EPP Group meeting Dublin

1 March CoR Bureau Dublin

4 March JCC Iceland Reykjavik

6 March Ad Hoc Budget Committee Brussels

21 March NAT Seminar Flevoland

22 March CAFA Brussels

Secretary General: Heinz-Peter Knapp

Press Offi cer: Dominik Krakowiak, dominik.krakowiak@cor.europa.eu, +32 2 282 2539

Th is issue is also available at www.epp.cor.europa.eu Join us on facebook.com/EPPGroupCoR

Ongoing Opinions Ongoing Opinions

Comission Opinion Rapporteur Expected Adoption

CIVEX Devolution in the EUFranz Schausberger

(Salzburg, Austria)April 2013

CIVEXEnlargement Strategy 2012-

2013Luc Van den Brande

(Flanders, Belgium)April/May 2013

COTERTerritorial Impact

AssessmentMichael Schneider

(Saxony-Anhalt, Germany)July 2013

COTER 4th Rail PackagePascal Mangin

(Alsace, France)July 2013

ECOS CARS 2020: Action Plan for

automotive industry Christian Buchmann

(Styria, Austria)October 2013

EDUC

Enhancing And Focusing International Cooperation In

Research And Innovation

Paolo Valentini Puccitelli

(Lombardi, Italy)April 2013

EDUCPromoting cultural and

creative sectorsAnton Rombouts

(s' Hertogenbosch, Th e Netherlands)May 2013

EDUC Closing the innovation divideMarkku Markkula

(Espoo, Finland)April 2013

ENVEIndustrial policy for the space

industryGianfranco Vitagliano

(Molise, Italy)tbc

ENVE EIA DirectiveMarek Sowa

(Malopolskie, Poland)May 2013

ENVE7th Environment Action

ProgrammeJose Macário Correia

(Faro, Portugal)May 2013