HIGHLIGHTS
PES
Group President Karl-Heinz KLÄR at the SOLIDAR Silver Rose Awards
Brussels, 3 february 2010
The newly elected President of the PES Group attends today the award ceremony of the SOLIDAR Silver Rose prizes, an initiative born in 2000 to honour individuals and organisations who contribute to social justice and solidarity in Europe and throughout the world. 'Thanks to SOLIDAR, the Silver Rose Awards have become a key annual feature of European life, in recognition of social struggles that make the world a better place', said Karl-Heinz Klär
The PES Group elects its new Executive
Brussels, 29 January 2010
Incoming PES Group members of the Committee of the Regions unanimously elected today the Group's new Executive: Karl-Heinz KLÄR, State Secretary of Rhineland-Palatinate Regional Government for Federal and European Affairs (Germany), is the Group’s President and he will be assisted in his tasks by Anna TERRON I CUSI, Secretary for European Affairs of the Presidency of the Catalonia Autonomous Community (Spain), the Group's new 1st Vice-President.
Upcoming constitutive meeting of the PES Group in the CoR
Brussels, 26 January 2009
The incoming PES Group in the Committee of the Regions (CoR), whose members took office on 26 January, is holding its extraordinary constitutive meeting on 29 January 2010. The incoming Group will decide on the candidacy of outgoing PES Group First Vice-President Karl-Heinz KLÄR, State Secretary of Rhineland-Palatinate Regional Government for Federal and European Affairs (Germany), to the Group’s Presidency. It will also decide on the candidacy of outgoing PES Group President Mercedes BRESSO, President of the Piedmont Region (Italy), to the CoR Presidency.
PES
Group Member József Paizs is no longer with us…
Brussels, 26 January 2009
We have been deeply saddened by the death of our Hungarian comrade József Paizs, who unexpectedly passed away on 24 January 2010.
Congress of Party of European Socialists reinforces role
of PES Group in the Commitee of the Regions
Brussels, 8 December 2009
The PES Group in the Committee of the Regions (CoR) has seen its role strengthened following the 8th Congress of the Party of European Socialists (PES), held in Prague (Czech Republic) on 7-8 December. The PES Congress took stock of the European elections results and drew up a vision for social democracy in the 21st century. It elected the New President, adopted political resolutions and amended its Statutes.
PES
Women support the candidature of Mercedes Bresso to the Presidency of
the Committee of the Regions
Prague, Czech Republic, 6 December
At their Annual Conference held in Prague on 5-6 December, PES Women wholeheartedly supported the campaign of Mercedes Bresso, President of the PES Group in the Committee of the Regions (CoR), to become CoR President in the institution’s next term of office starting in February 2010.
Read more on the website of the Party of European Socialists »
Mercedes BRESSO congratulates Zita GURMAI MEP on her re-election as PES Women President
Prague, Czech Republic, 6 December
PES Women held their Annual Conference in Prague, on 5-6 December, ahead of the 8th Congress of the Party of European Socialists. The Conference, which focused on 'Feminism on the 21st century', was preceded by the elections of PES Women President and Vice-Presidents. The PES Group in the CoR was represented by Mercedes BRESSO and Claudette ABELA BALDACCHINO.
CoR Opinion on "The future of the Lisbon Strategy post-2010", by
PES Group rapporteur Christine CHAPMAN (UK), adopted at the December
plenary session
Brussels, 3 December 2009
"The Commission's consultation document on the 'Europe 2020' strategy contains many of our good ideas and underlines the need to turn towards a sustainable way of organising our societies - but it fails to recognise the essential contribution which local and regional authorities have to make in this regard", underlined Christine CHAPMAN, PES-rapporteur on the future of the Lisbon Strategy post 2010, after her opinion was adopted in the CoR plenary.
"New
skills for new jobs", CoR opinion by Socialist rapporteur Marianne
FÜGL (Austria), adopted December plenary session
Brussels, 3 December 2009
"The effects of the economic crisis, as they will become more visible in the coming months, underline the crucial importance of increasing the investment in people, in their skills and in their knowledge, in order to give the new opportunities in constantly changing labour markets", stressed Marianne FÜGL, PES-rapporteur on the CoR opinion on "New Skills for New Jobs".
PRESS RELEASE:The PES Group in the Committee of the Regions unanimously designates its candidates to the presidencies of the Institution and the GroupBrussels, 3 December 2009 |
The
PES Group in the Committee of the Regions (CoR) unanimously
designated today Mercedes BRESSO,
President of the Piedmont Region (Italy) and outgoing President
of the PES Group, as the Group's candidate to the Presidency
of the CoR for the next term of office beginning in February
2010. The PES Group also designated unanimously Karl–Heinz
KLÄR, State Secretary of the Rhineland-Palatinate
Region for Federal and European Affairs (Germany), as their
candidate to the Presidency of the PES Group. Both designations
will be voted by the new Group at their constitutive meeting,
to be held on 29 January 2010.
Let's use the crisis as an opportunity to draw up a better development strategy that puts people first!
Brussels. 2 December 2009
Mercedes BRESSO, President of the PES Group in the CoR, opened today the second meeting of the Focus Group of the Foundation for European Progressive Studies (FEPS) on the “Next Left – last European Elections and their consequences for socialists”. The Group is chaired by Alfred GUSENBAUER, former Chancellor of Austria. The aim of the FEPS Focus Group is to come up with concrete proposals in order to have them fully incorporated in the PES strategic process.
Message
from President BRESSO:
LISBON TREATY FOR NEW EU ENTERS INTO FORCE
Brussels. 1 December 2009
The Treaty of Lisbon, which makes the EU more effective, transparent and democratic, has entered into force at midnight today - at last! This means a better EU for our local and regional authorities and therefore for our citizens.
Eliminating violence against women is a matter of fundamental human rights
Message of President Bresso on the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women
25 November 2009
As the world commemorates today the 10th anniversary of the observance of the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, we Socialists and Social Democrats in the Committee of the Regions reiterate our full commitment to combat a phenomenon that plagues women and girls both in developed and developing countries.
Gender parity has to be applied at all levels of political
representation, from local and regional, to national and European
Stockholm, Sweden, 14 November 2009
Representing the PES Group in the CoR at the Statutory Meeting of PES Women, Claudette ABELA BALDACCHINO strongly criticised the unacceptably low representation of women in top EU positions while pointing out that women's participation in political life cannot be treated in a vacuum. She stressed that it is linked, to a considerable extent, with their participation in the economy, underlining that local and regional authorities can contribute significantly towards improving the political gender balance at all levels of governance.
Mercedes Bresso and Poul Nyrup Rasmussen warn against the renationalisation of the future EU cohesion policy
Malmö,
Sweden
, 23 October 2009
Meeting in Malmö at the occasion of the conference of the PES Group in the Committee of the Regions (CoR) on Smart Green Growth, Mercedes Bresso, President of the PES Group in the CoR, and Poul Nyrup Rasmussen, President of the Party of European Socialists, co-signed today a letter addressed to European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso concerning the future of cohesion policy.
PRESS RELEASE
Local and regional action
vital
for the successful implementation of a Smart Green Growth strategy,
argues the
PES Group in the Committee of the Regions
Malmö,
Sweden
, 23 October 2009
En français | auf Deutsch | in italiano | Svenska
Smart Green Growth as the only viable way out of the current deep economic, social and environmental crises facing the EU and the world, was at the heart of the debates at the extraordinary meeting of the PES Group in the Committee of the Regions, held in Malmö, Sweden, at the invitation of PES Group member and Mayor of Malmö Ilmar REEPALU. The city of Malmö made a highly successful economic and social transition from heavy industry to a green model of growth, based on knowledge and sustainability.
Participants agreed that intelligent, green, low-carbon economic growth can provide an answer to escalating social inequalities sparked by the financial and economic crisis. Within this context, the concept of Smart Green Growth, a top priority of the PES Group in the CoR and of the Party of European Socialists, should be based upon investments and research in climate-friendly energy solutions, as well as on skills development in green technologies.
Socialists
in the Committee of the Regions discuss smart green growth
and jobs
Brussels, 13 October 2009
Poul Nyrup RASMUSSEN, President of the Party of European Socialists, Jo LEINEN, President of the European Parliament's Committee for Environment, Public Health and Food Safety, and Ritt BJERREGAARD, Lord Mayor of Copenhagen are key speakers at the extraordinary meeting of the PES Group in the Committee of the Regions, discussing the contribution of local and regional authorities to the promotion of smart green growth and the creation of green jobs. This is a priority that is very high on the political agenda of the PES Group in the CoR as well as of the Party of European Socialists, of which the Group is a full member organisation.
Adopted
at the CoR October plenary session:White paper on adaptation
to climate change: Henning JENSEN (PES)
Brussels, 7 October 2009
'Climate change is a global challenge with local consequences and therefore, it is local and regional authorities that are asked to address them', underlines Henning JENSEN,Mayor of Næstved Municipality (Denmark), whose opinion is of high political relevance as it is adopted less than two months before the much awaited UN Climate Change Conference (7-18 December).
Adopted
at the October plenary session of the CoR: Stockholm Programme
Package: Anna TERRÓN I CUSÍ (PES/ES)
Brussels, 7 October 2009
The regional dimension of the Area of Freedom, Security and Justice should be a priority in the Stockholm programme because local and regional authorities play an important role on issues such as civil justice, security and the integration of immigrants', pointed out Anna TERRÓN I CUSÍ, Secretary for European Union Affairs, Government of Catalonia (Spain).
Adopted at the October plenary session of the CoR:Green
Paper for a policy review of the Trans-European Transport Network
(TEN-T): Jean-Michel DACLIN (PES)
Brussels, 7 October 2009
'Establishing permanent consultation structures for local and regional authorities from the definition phase of TEN-T projects onwards is essential in order to avoid delays in their realisation' points out Jean-Michel DACLIN, Deputy Mayor of Lyon (France).
Adopted
at the October plenary session of the CoR: An updated strategic framework
for European cooperation in education and training: Jean-Vincent
PLACÉ (PES)
Brussels, 7 October 2009
"We are convinced that the strategic framework for European cooperation in education and training is an essential element of all our efforts in improving the situation for everybody in the current crisis and for the future", said PES member Jean-Vincent PLACÉ, Regional Councillor of Ile-de-France (France) in opening the debate about his opinion responding to the European Commission's communication.
Growth
that favours social well-being, a priority for the PES Group
in the Committee of the Regions
Brussels, 7 October 2009
Food production and its contribution to socially and environmentally sustainable growth was the focus of the workshop 'Growth at all costs? Bringing the local back into the economy', organised by the PES Group in the CoR on 6 October in Brussels, within the framework of Open Days 2009. Mercedes BRESSO, President of the PES Group in the CoR, René SOUCHON, CoR rapporteur on Biodiversity, and Olivier DE SCHUTTER, special UN rapporteur on the right to food and Professor of the University of Louvain, discussed the role of agriculture in overcoming the current economic crisis within the EU and in addressing poverty globally.
Europe in my everyday life: PES
Group members meet the winners of this year's photo competition
Brussels, 7 October 2009
The winners of the photo competition Europe in my everyday life, which is part of the PES Group's communication strategy for 2009, were the special guests at the Group meeting chaired by President Mercedes BRESSO.
Karl-Heinz KLÄR, 1st Vice-President of the PES Group and President of the jury of the competition, awarded the prizes to the winners.
Cohesion policy with strong emphasis on people, a top priority
for the PEs Group in the Committee of the Regions
Brussels, 24 September 2009
At an extraordinary meeting held yesterday in Brussels, members of the PES Group had a lively exchange of views on the Group's priorities for the next term of office of the Committee of the Regions, beginning in February 2010. Strong cohesion policy placing people at the heart of its concerns and focus on the quality of economic growth that benefits the poor were key aspects .
The
PES Group defines its priorities for the next term of office of the
Committee of the Regions (2010-2014)
Brussels, 16 September 2009
The PES Group in the CoR will hold an extraordinary meeting on 23 September (CoR Headquarters, Brussels) to exchange views on the priorities of regionally and locally elected PES members for the coming years, taking account of the changing landscape of the European institutions.
PES Group Workshop, 6 October, OPEN DAYS
2009
Brussels, 9 September 2009
Mercedes BRESSO, President of the PES Group in the Committee of the Regions and President of the Piedmont Region (Italy), Olivier DE SCHUTTER, UN Special Rapporteur on the right to food, and René SOUCHON, CoR rapporteur on Biodiversity and President of Auvergne Regional Council (France), will discuss how sustainable food production can boost local economies and restore growth in a socially and environmentally friendly manner. The workshop will take place in the seat of the CoR (Jacques Delors Building, Rue Belliard 101, Room 51 1040 Brussels) on 6 October, between 14h30 and 16h00.
There are major challenges to be addressed in order to ensure that growth is accompanied by territorial cohesion. The trend towards uniform products, concentration of production and the practice of monoculture expose farmers and fishermen to global market fluctuations and threaten territorial diversity.
First
Vice-President Karl-Heinz KLÄR points at irregulated Capitalism
as the main cause of the financial crisis
Brussels, 7 September 2009
" In order for globalisation to work effectively and in the best interest of mankind, it must be protected from the excesses of freewheeling capitalism and its financial industry in its current ugly form" argues Karl-Heinz Klär, First Vice-President of the PES Group, in his article on "the Ethics of capitalism", just published in the Social Europe Journal (SEJ). SEJ is the first quarterly electronic journal addressing issues of critical interest to progressives across Europe and beyond.
In his article, Karl-Heinz Klär explains how the crisis has affected local and regional authorities throughout the EU and points at the defects of the current capitalist system, urging for changes in global governance - corporate as well as public.
Read the article in full on the Social Europe Journal's website »
The
PES Group Secretariat meets the assistants of the European Parliament's
S&D Group
Brussels, 3 September 2009
The PES Group Secretariat hosted today an information session for the assistants of Members of the European Parliament from the Group of the Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats (S&D Group), its sister political Group in the newly formed European Parliament.
Christos
PALEOLOGOS is no longer with us...
Brussels, 3 September 2009
We are deeply saddened by the sudden and premature loss of our dear comrade Christos Paleologos, who passed away on Sunday 30 August. A member of the Committee of the Regions since the creation of the institution in 1994, Christos was a convinced European, who will be remembered for his ideological integrity, high motivation, unequivocal commitment and quality of work. He was an invaluable member of the PES Group and he will be greatly missed.
Mercedes BRESSO congratulates the 5 newly elected
S&D Vice-Presidents and the one S&D Quaestor of the European
Parliament
Brussels, 15 July 2009
Yesterday, 14 July 2009, the new European Parliament held its constitutive session, electing its President, 14 Vice-Presidents and 5 Quaestors for the first half of the 2009-2014 mandate.
Adopted
at the CoR June plenary session: The management of bio-waste
in the EU: Mona-Lisa
NORRMAN (PES)
Brussels, 18 June 2009
'We need to develop a market for bio-waste at local level', stresses Mona-Lisa
NORRMAN, Member of Jämtland County Council
(Sweden), whose opinion responds to the 2008
EC Green Paper on the management of bio-waste in the EU.
Adopted
at the CoR June plenary session:Non-discrimination, equal opportunities
and the implementation of the principle of equal treatment between persons: Claudette
ABELA BALDACCHINO
Brussels, 18 June 2009
'Discrimination stems from ignorance and prejudice and the best way to fight this will always be education. Therefore, local authorities should promote activities and events that celebrate diversity's stresses Claudette Abela Baldacchino, Deputy Mayor of Qrendi (Malta), whose opinion responds to the European Commission's new proposals for improved anti-discrimination.
Adopted
at the CoR June plenary session: One
year after Lisbon: Halting biodiversity loss: René
SOUCHON (PES/FR)
Brussels, 15 June 2009
The CoR opinion by René SOUCHON, President of Auvergne Regional Council (France), underlines the fast rate at which loss of biodiversity is occurring and calls for policy makers and scientists to cooperate in order to tackle this issue jointly. The rapporteur suggests cross-cutting policies (spatial planning, agriculture and fisheries etc.) and coordinated action from all levels of governance.
Adopted
at the CoR June plenary session: One
year after Lisbon: the Africa-EU partnership at work & The EU-Africa-China
trilateral dialogue and cooperation: Jean-Louis DESTANS
Brussels, 18 June 2009
The opinion by Jean-Louis DESTANS, President of the General Council of the Eure (France), which was adopted unanimously both by the RELEX commission and the plenary, allows the CoR to take for the very first time a position on the EU, Africa and China trilateral partnership and to formulate a position on the role of local and regional authorities.
Adopted at the CoR June plenary session: Maritime
and coastal package: Michel
DELEBARRE
Brussels, 17 June 2009
'We need to make a qualitative leap when it comes to our perception of the Sea and adopt a more strategic, global and integrated approach amongst sectors, regions, political and economic stakeholders and to invent a new governance', stressed the author of the CoR opinion Michel DELEBARRE, CoR 1st Vice-President and Mayor of Dunkirk, which is the 3rd largest French harbour.
Adopted
at the CoR June plenary session: CoR White Paper on multilevel governance
by Michel
DELEBARRE, CoR First Vice-President, and Luc
VAN DEN BRANDE, CoR President
Brussels, 17 June 2009
Multi-level governance is the flesh and muscle of European integration, enabling to choose the best method for devising good policy which is as inclusive as possible, and therefore operating at several levels', stated Michel Delebarre, rapporteur of the CoR White Paper on multi-level governance. The white paper, which is an own-initiative opinion, contains a series of concrete policy recommendations on how to make multilevel governance a reality in the EU.
PES Group photo competition: and the winners are…
Brussels, 17 June 2009
The jury of the second edition of the photo competition organised by the PES Group in the Committee of the Regions met this Monday to select the 6 winning photos. The choice was really difficult as more than 400 photos were submitted and the theme offered the possibility of various interpretations to the participants.
Voting
as one European polity: an unattainable goal?
PES Group meeting, Brussels, 17 June 2009
Ten days after the European elections, Ernst STETTER, Secretary General of the Foundation for European Progressive Studies (FEPS), exchanged views with the PES Group in the Committee of the Regions on the outcome of the elections. Failure to shift the debate on European elections from the national to a truly European level was widely acknowledged.
Message from PES Group President, Mercedes BRESSO:
European elections: an eloquent abstention rate across the EU...
Brussels, 10 June 2009
The outcome of the European elections calls for careful reflection. It puts in place a new European Parliament that is more conservative and more euro-sceptic than the outgoing one.
Michel DELEBARRE addresses SOLIDAR
Brussels, 26 May
The CoR 1st Vice-President opened the Annual General Assembly of SOLIDAR, the European network of NGOs working for social justice in Europe and worldwide.
'On Europe Day, we call for a more social Europe'
Message of PES Group President Mercedes Bresso
Brussels, 8 May 2009
Only few weeks separate this year's 9th of May, Europe Day, from the European elections. While the European Union has plenty to celebrate in terms of achievements over fifty years since its inception, Europeans are left to cope with the effects of the deepest and most widespread recession that the EU economy has experienced in the post-war era. With the prospect of 27 million unemployed by 2010, it is clear that Europe needs a new direction and that citizens need a more social Europe.
'Europe
needs the political courage to halt biodiveristy loss'
Meeting of the CoR commission for Sustainable Development, Brussels, 7 May 2009
The DEVE commission has adopted today by an overwhelming majority the draft opinion on "halting biodiversity loss" and "EU strategy on invasive species" by Socialist rapporteur René Souchon, President of Auvergne Regional Council (France).
The President of the PES Group, Mercedes BRESSO Group warmly welcomes the appointment of Patxi LOPEZ as President of the Basque Region
Brussels, 7 May 2009
She expresses the conviction that, after the regional elections held on 1st March 2009, this will bring a wind of change in the Basque Country through a political leadership aiming at uniting the country, in full respect of diversity.
Message of Mercedes Bresso, President
of the PES Group in the CoRon 1st May,
International Workers' Day
Brussels, 30 April 2009
Dear Friends,
This year's International Workers' Day finds us amidst an unprecedented - and worsening - global economic crisis that is likely to have claimed 27 million jobs in the EU alone by next year. Its social, economic and political repercussions are felt across the board: from individuals, families and local communities, to regions, states, the EU and the world as a whole.
Opinion
adopted at the 79th CoR plenary session: Opportunities,
access and solidarity in 21st century Europe by PES Group
rapporteur Veikko
KUMPUMÄKI (Finland)
Brussels, 22 April 2009
In his opinion, which was adopted unanimously at the EDUC commission and the CoR plenary, Veikko KUMPUMÄKI gives a comprehensive overview of the necessary components of the renewed social agenda, as proposed by the European Commission, insisting that social justice must be one of the goals of all economic development.
Opinion
adopted at the 79th CoR plenary session: Local
authorities: actors for development by PES Group rapporteur
Christophe ROUILLON (France)
Brussels, 22 April 2009
In his opinion, adopted unanimously by the RELEX commission and the CoR plenary, Christophe ROUILLON, expresses the CoR's satisfaction of the recognition by the European Commission of the role of local and regional authorities in development and more particularly, of its acceptance of two concrete CoR proposals: to establish a structured dialogue and to create a "stock exchange" on decentralised cooperation. 'The CoR, as the institutional spokesperson for local authorities involved in providing aid to poor countries, is in the best position to combine the various forces and to mobilise the 100 000 European local authorities', stressed the rapporteur.
Opinion
adopted at the 79th CoR plenary session: The
role of local and regional authorities within the new
Baltic Sea Strategy by PES Group rapporteur Uno ALDEGREN (Sweden)
Brussels, 22 April 2009
The own initiative opinion of Uno Aldegren contributes to the preparation of the European Commission's Baltic Sea Strategy (BSS), due for adoption in spring 2009. 'The Baltic Sea Region faces many different challenges, such as low population density, environmental sustainability and accessibility, which are best addressed on a regional basis', stressed the rapporteur.
Opinion
adopted at the 79th CoR plenary session:Audiovisual
cooperation programme MEDIA Mundus by PES Group rapporteur
Ioannis SGOUROS (Greece)
Brussels, 21 April 2009
The opinion of Ioannis SGOUROS, Prefect of Athens, responds to the European Commission's proposal for a Decision on the establishment of the MEDIA Mundus programme. This is a new audiovisual cooperation instrument seeking to remedy structural weaknesses which impact upon the circulation of European audiovisual works on third country markets, thus making the European audiovisual industry less competitive. 'MEDIA Mundus gives European local and regional authorities the possibility not only to promote cooperation on cultural matters among themselves, but also with third countries, thus broadening considerably their network of cooperation, particularly regarding the dissemination of cultural heritage', stressed the rapporteur.
Opinion
adopted at the 79th CoR plenary session: Patient
Safety, by PES Group rapporteur Piero MARRAZZO (Italy)
Brussels, 21 April 2009
The opinion of Jean-Louis JOSEPH, Mayor of Bastidonne, refers to the European Commission energy package, which aims to encourage energy solidarity among Member States and to make energy savings in key areas, for instance, by reinforcing energy efficiency legislation on buildings. 'Establishing a binding legislative instrument that covers energy efficiency will be an opportunity for local and regional authorities, which are involved in promoting energy efficiency on a daily basis, to see their efforts being recognised, which is not the case in the existing legislation', stressed the rapporteur.
Opinion
adopted at the 79th CoR plenary session: Energy performance
of buildings and Second Strategic Energy Review by Socialist
rapporteur Jean-Louis JOSEPH (FR)
Brussels, 21 April 2009
The opinion of Jean-Louis JOSEPH, Mayor of Bastidonne, refers to the European Commission energy package, which aims to encourage energy solidarity among Member States and to make energy savings in key areas, for instance, by reinforcing energy efficiency legislation on buildings. 'Establishing a binding legislative instrument that covers energy efficiency will be an opportunity for local and regional authorities, which are involved in promoting energy efficiency on a daily basis, to see their efforts being recognised, which is not the case in the existing legislation', stressed the rapporteur.
Opinion
adopted at the CoR plenary session: Action Plan on Urban
Mobility by Socialist rapporteur Albert
BORE (UK)
Brussels, 21 April 2009
Following the European Commission's refusal to propose an Action Plan on Urban Mobility (initially foreseen for January 2009) on the basis of an earlier Green Paper, the European Parliament decided to issue a report which disapproves this lack of follow-up and makes concrete proposals on what the Action Plan could have contained. Albert Bore's opinion is the position taken by the CoR on this issue, following a request by the European Parliament.
The PES Group debates about the right to food global
food crisis
Brussels, 21 April 2009
Olivier De Schutter, UN Special Rapporteur on the right to food, was the guest speaker at the meeting of the PES Group, held ahead of the CoR plenary session.
While dispelling myths that the current global food crisis is caused by the overall lack of foodstuff, Mr De Schutter emphasised that nowadays, the major reason for hunger is the great divergence in the rates of income increases, penalising the poorest segments of society.
Michel Delebarre and Claudette Baldacchino address
the Communication Forum of the Committee of the Regions
Brussels, 21 April 2009
'Voting for Europe: What can the EU do for the citizens' was the theme of the political debate during the 'Facing the Press' session of the Communication Forum, involving leading figures of the four CoR political groups and one EP elections candidate per Group.
Mercedes Bresso addresses the Global Progressive Forum
Brussels, 3 April 2009
he Global Progressive Forum (GPF), a common initiative of
the Party of European Socialists, the PES Group in the European
Parliament and the Socialists International, met in Brussels
to discuss alternatives to the negative effects of globalisation
on under-developed, third-world and developing countries.
The conference, focusing on 'The new globalisation
for progressive change', was structured around
two plenary sessions and eleven workshops. It brought together
key international stakeholders, who sought to elaborate a
new progressive vision of a globalised world to the benefit
of all. The event was opened by former US President Bill
Clinton.
Intervening in the workshop on 'Making poverty history', alongside Vandana
Shiva, Director of the Research Foundation for science, technology and
ecology (India), the President of the PES Group in the CoR Mercedes Bresso,
President of the Piedmont Region (Italy), explained why decentralised governance
is key to combating poverty and social inequality and to attaining the Millennium
Development Goals.
Only a stronger and bolder EU economic recovery plan can salvage the solvency of local and regional governments, insists Mercedes Bresso
PES Leaders' meting, Brussels, 19 March 2009
PES party Leaders gathered in Brussels ahead of the Spring European Council at a PES Leades' Economic Crisis Summit, reiterating the commitment of the Party of European Socialists to strong European action in the face of the deepening global economic crisis.
Representing the PES Group in the CoR, PES Group President Mercedes BRESSO pointed out that local and regional levels of governance are doubly affected by the crisis. 'As borrowers, we suffer the repercussions of credit becoming more limited and more expensive', she said, adding that as credit providers, local and regional authorities take part in large bailout plans to rescue national and regional financial institutions from bankruptcy. 'This situation jeopardises the very solvency of local and regional governments', she underlined.
PES members of the Committee of the
Regions want a Europe that shows leadership to empower
women all around the world
Brussels, 6 March 2009
To mark International Women’s Day (8 March), PES Group President Mercedes BRESSO addressed from Prague, where she is currently attending the European Summit of Regions and Cities (5-6 March), a message to the members of the PES Group, urging them to 'join forces so that women do not suffer violence, get the same sexual and reproductive health rights as men do, live free from discrimination, have the same opportunities in the labour market as men, are able to reconcile professional and private life and are equally represented in decision-making positions'. Ms Bresso, who deeply regretted being the only female CoR member addressing the Prague Summit, insisted that, despite some progress made in gender equality, a lot remains to be done.
Mercedes Bresso meets Yannakis Omirou, President
of the Cypriot Socialist Party EDEK
Nicosia, Cyprus, 23 February 2009
In the margins of the official visit to Nicosia of the CoR Conference of Presidents, PES Group President Mercedes Bresso had the opportunity to meet Yannakis OMIROU, President of the Greek Cypriot Movement of Social Democrats EDEK. Mr Savvas Eliofotou, Mayor of Strovolos and Member of the PES Group in the CoR, also attended the meeting. Mr. Omirou briefed Ms Bresso on the state-of-play of the settlement talks, while PES Group President underlined the role of local authorities as facilitators in such a politically sensitive exercise.
Cypriot
local authorities key for the implementation of vital confidence
building measures, stresses CoR President Mercedes Bresso
Nicosia, Cyprus, 20 February 2009
The CoR Conference of Presidents went on an official visit to Nicosia at the invitation of the Mayor of Nicosia Ms Eleni Mavrou, following the naming of the CoR atrium as "Open Ledra Street' last October. The high level CoR political delegation had an in situ experience of life in the last divided capital on European soil. They had the opportunity to visit the famous Ledra Street, re-opened last year after 44 years, and the cease fire line dividing the city. They then met the Nicosia Municipal Council and representatives of the Council's political groups, who presented their common political vision for a re-unified Nicosia and concrete efforts to build bridges of cooperation across the division.
PES
Group opinions adopted at the meeting of the commission for
Sustainable development
Brussels, 17-18 February 2009
The DEVE commission has overwhelmingly supported and further adopted the draft opinion by Jean-Louis Joseph (PES/FR) on the Second energy review and the directive on energy efficiency of buildings.
The DEVE commission has also adopted by majority the draft opinion by Pietro MARRAZZO (PES, Italy) President of Lazio Region, on patient's safety.
"Local
authorities: actors for development", the opinion of PES
Group member Christophe ROUILLON (FR), adopted unynamously
!
Brussels, 16 February 2009
The RELEX commission has unanimously adopted the draft opinion on the "Local authorities: actors for development" by the French socialist CoR member Christophe ROUILLON, Mayor of Coulaines.
PES
Group opinions adopted at the CoR 78th plenary session
Brussels, 12 February 2009
Twelve opinions were on the agenda of the 78th plenary session of the Committee of the regions, three of which by PES rapporteurs.
Territorial cohesion: Jean-Yves LE DRIAN (PES/France)
This is a key opinion for the PES Group, and the CoR as an institution.
The President of the Brittany Regional Council regrets
the lack of ambition in the European Commission's Green Paper,
which did not seek to define territorial cohesion.
Patients' rights in cross-border healthcare: Karsten
Uno PETERSEN (PES/Denmark)
This opinion deals with a highly controversial topic. As part
of the Renewed Social Agenda, with this Directive, the European
Commission proposes to contribute to Member States' efforts to
improve health systems in the EU and open the door to better
healthcare for patients across Europe. People in general prefer
to receive healthcare close to where they live. Currently, only
1% of healthcare budgets are spent on cross-border healthcare.
Universal service in electronic communications,
and
future networks and the internet: Robert
BRIGHT (PES/UK)
The draft opinion of the Member of Newport City Council
emphasises the importance of universal and affordable
access to reliable and high-speed internet connection
as a pre-condition for using the opportunities of modern
communication technology.
PES GROUP PHOTO COMPETITION OFFICIAL LAUNCH
TODAY
Brussels, 12 February 2009
PES members of the Committee of the Regions invite young Europeans to express their vision of the EU through their cameras
For the second year in a row, the PES Group in the Committee of the Regions is organising a photo competition for young Europeans, aged 18-30. This year the competition, organised under the theme "Europe in my everyday life", intends to raise awereness among young people on the positive impact of European integration on their everyday lives.
The
report of Karsten uno PETERSEN on patients' rights in
croos-border healthcare, adopted at the last DEVE commission
Brussels, 17 December 2008
The DEVE commission of 16 December 2008 has adopted by large majority the draft opinion of Karsten Uno PETERSEN (PES/Denmark), Member of South Denmark Regional Council, on the directive on patients' rights in cross-border healthcare. The rapporteur endorses the main thrust of the draft directive which is to clarify patients' rights in line with the various European Court of Justice rulings, while reiterating that responsibility for healthcare policy lies primarily with the Member States. The opinion will be on agenda of the February 2009 plenary session.
Michel Delebarre receives the 'Sail
of Papenburg' Cross-Border Award
Bruxelles 3 Decembre 2008
Michel Delebarre, First Vice-President of the Committee of the Regions, was awarded the 'Sail of Papenburg', in recognition of his outstanding achievements in cross-border cooperation. He is only the second individual, since the inception of the award in 2002, to receive this prize, after Elmar BROCK MEP in 2006.
Michel DELEBARRE is this year's winner because of his unequivocal commitment to European integration. As President of the CoR (2006-2008), he fully supported the creation of an invaluable EU legal instrument for cross-border cooperation, the European Grouping of Territorial Cooperation (EGCT). In 2004, in his capacity as Mayor of Dunkirk, Michel Delebarre co-initiated the West Flanders/Flanders/Dunkirk cross-border cooperation platform (France-Belgium), focusing on cross-border healthcare. This cooperation will lead to the development of an EGTC in 2009. Michel Delebarre also strongly supports Franco-British cooperation, lately materialised through the "Two Seas" INTERREG project (launched in April), and covering the English, French, Belgian and Dutch North Sea and Channel coastal regions. CoR First Vice-President is also involved in the new European network of cross-border local authorities, Euromot.
Michel DELEBARRE et Felipe
GONZALEZ à la conférence du Groupe PSE du Parlement
européen sur la politique de cohésion de l'UE
Bruxelles 3 Decembre 2008
A l'invitation de Poul Nyrup Rasmussen, président du Parti Socialiste Européen (PSE), et du groupe du PSE au Parlement Européen, Michel DELEBARRE, 1ier Vice Président du Comité des Régions et Maire de Dunkerque, est intervenu hier à Bruxelles aux côtés de Felipe Gonzalez, Premier Ministre socialiste espagnol de 1982 à 1996, pour présenter ses réflexions sur l'avenir de la politique de cohésion en Europe (programme de la réunion).
PES Council, Madrid, 1st December 2008
The PES Group in the Committee of the Regions (CoR) joined today the PES political family, gathered in Madrid to adopt the PES Manifesto, that is, the political programme of the Party of European Socialists for the 2009 European elections. The launch of the Manifesto took place within the context of the 2008 PES Council, a major political event, taking place every year without a PES Congress and aiming to shape PES policies. The PES Group in the CoR has been closely involved throughout the elaboration of the PES Manifesto, and the final text duly acknowledges the role of the local and regional tiers of government in the European construction. Cohesion, the EU budget and the future of the Common Agricultural Policy post 2013 were amongst the key points raised by the PES Group in the context of the Manifesto. Thanks to a genuine bottom-up consultation process, the PES Manifesto, puts People First and proposes a credible new direction for Europe.
PES
Group opinions adopted at the 76th plenary session
of the Committee of the Regions
Brussels, 27 November 2008
4 opinions drafted by PES Group members were adopted at the November plenary session of the Committee of the Regions.
- Fifth progress report on economic and
social cohesion: Marta
VINCENZI (Italy)
- The Added value of participation by local
and regional authorities in the enlargement
process: Helene LUND (Denmark)
- Mobility of young volunteers across Europe: Rinda
DEN BESTEN (Netherlands)
- Addressing the challenge of energy efficiency through Information and Communication Technologies: Risto KOIVISTO (Finland)
PES Group members welcome the 6 winners of
the photo competition at their meeting
PES Group meeting Brussels, 26 November 2008
Monika Adamczak (Poland), Alexandre Buisse (France), Ilaria Covolan (Italy), Yi Huang (UK), Janis Jurkovskis (Latvia) and Celia Zorzo Vicente-Arche (Spain) were the six young Europeans who won the photo competition of the PES Group in the CoR, focusing on inter-culturalism. They received today their prizes (complete expert digital camera kit) from Karl-Heinz KLÄR, 1st Vice-President of the PES Group, at the Group's meeting, held ahead of the CoR plenary session.
2009: A Crucial Year for the European Dimension of Public Services, argues Christophe ROUILLON in the "Social Europe Journal"
18 November 2008
Based on his address at the Seminar on 16 October 2008 organised by the Socialist Group in the European Parliament on Public Services and on his experience as Mayor of Coulaines in the implementation of EU requirements regarding services of general economic interest, Christophe ROUILLON, member of the PES Group in the CoR, explains why 2009 is going to be a crucial year for Public Services in the autumn issue of "Social Europe journal".
Karl-Heinz KLÄR joins the call of Socialist and Social Democrat Leaders for an urgent Action Plan for Growth and Jobs to counteract the recession
PES Leaders' Emergency Summit on Financial Crisis, Brussels, 5 November 2008
Against the backdrop of a worsening global financial crisis and its devastating impact on citizens, PES Leaders gathered today at an emergency summit to discuss a concrete and radical action plan to tackle the crisis.
Representing the PES Group in the CoR, its 1st Vice-President Karl-Heinz KLÄR, who has been following closely the work of the Party of European Socialists on the financial markets, stressed that the current crisis, which has already touched the real economy and is likely to worsen, severely jeopardises the very solvency of local and regional governments, thus putting at great risk the provision of essential public services.
'Communiquer l’Europe, ce n’est pas seulement
en parler en temps de crise, et donc véhiculer
une image négative', souligne Michel Delebarre
Dunkerque, France, 29 octobre 2008
Dans le cadre des débats décentralisés organisés sous les auspices de la 6ème édition des Open Days, Michel DELEBARRE, 1er Vice-président du CdR et Député-Maire de Dunkerque, a organisé à Dunkerque un séminaire de réflexion portant sur la question de la relation entre l’Europe et les médias de proximité.
Ouvrant le séminaire 'Entre l’Europe et les citoyens : quel média?', Michel Delebarre a souligné la nécessité d'expliquer aux citoyens de façon très concrète comment l’Europe peut avoir un impact bénéfique sur leur vie. 'C’est à nous de donner envie aux citoyens de s’approprier un morceau d’Europe, de lui donner un visage familier', a-t-il dit. C'est d'ailleurs sous son impulsion, lorsqu’il était président du Comité des Régions de 2006 à 2008, que les Open Days se sont décentralisées pour apporter de l’information, susciter des débats et du dialogue autour du concept 'L’Europe dans ma région'.
Third Conference on Subsidiarity
French Senate, Paris, 24 October
On 24th October, the PES Group participated in the Third Conference on Subsidiarity (after Berlin in 2004 and London in 2005), organised in Paris by the CoR in cooperation with the French Senate. The aim of the one-day conference was to discuss the importance of developing a culture of subsidiarity in the European Union, and to bring together CoR members with representatives of national and regional parliaments to discuss this important principle of European integration.
Socialists win regional elections in the Czech Republic and the Azores (Portugal)
Brussels, 20 October 2008
The Czech
Social Democratic Party (CSSD), the main opposition
party in the current Czech government, was the incontestable
winner in all 13 Czech regions, at the regional elections
held in the country on 17-18 October.
As for the regional elections held in the Azores (Portugal) on 19 October, the Portuguese Socialist Party (PS) won the absolute majority in all 9 islands.
Market forces alone cannot guarantee adequate public services, argue Karl-Heinz Lambertz and Christophe Rouillon
Seminar
of the Socialist Group in the European Parliament, 15-16
October 2008
While it has become clear that the 2009 European elections will be under the headline of the clear political breach over "social Europe" between Socialists on one hand and Conservatives and Liberals on the other, the Socialist Group in the European Parliament dedicated on 15 & 16 October 2008 an internal brainstorming seminar in Brussels to one of the most important issues at stake for more "social Europe": Public Services.
Building on the most fruitful cooperation on this issue between
the Socialist sister groups in the EP and in the Committee
of the Regions, Karl-Heinz LAMBERTZ, Vice-President
of the PES Group in the Committee of the Regions addressed
the audience at the working dinner on How to
promote Social Europe in the Internal Market in the perspective
of the European election campaign 2009, held
on 15 October. PES/CoR Group member Christophe ROUILLON intervened
on the second day of the seminar, focusing on innovative
solutions for high quality public services.
There is a growing need to give cohesion policy a territorial
dimension, in addition to an economic and social one, argues Marta
VINCENZI
Meeting of the COTER commission, Brussels, 17 October
At its meeting of 17 October, the COTER commission adopted by majority the draft opinion by PES Group member Marta VINCENZI, Mayor of Genoa (Italy), on the European Commission's Fifth progress report on economic and social cohesion.
Claudette Baldacchino welcomes the addition of a gender equality chapter in the PES Manifesto
Statutory meeting of PES Women
PS Headquarters, Paris, 10 October 2008
'It was the PES Group in the Committee of the Regions that
launched a separate consultation on the gender dimension
of the PES Manifesto', pointed out Claudette BALDACCHINO,
PES Group member and coordinator of this additional theme
introduced by our Group. Representing the PES Group in the
CoR within PES Women, the women's organisation of
the Party of European Socialists, Claudette Baldacchino welcomed
the addition of a separate chapter on gender equality and
equal opportunities in the latest version of the PES Manifesto,
which was at the heart of the discussions of PES Women representatives,
meeting in Paris at the invitation of the French Socialist
Party (PS).
The EU must provide a legal framework
to restore citizens' confidence in the financial sector, stresses
Karl-Heinz Klär in debate with Commissioner Verheugen
Plenary session of the Committee of the Regions, Brussels, 9 October 2008
In a lively exchange, CoR members discussed the current financial crisis and its impact on cities and regions, and also in small and medium sized enterpreises with Commissioner Günter Verheugen.
Hannes SWOBODA, Vice-President of the
PES Group in the European Parliament, addresses the PES
Group in the Committee of the Regions
Brussels, 8 October 2008
Members of the PES Group in the CoR had the opportunity to exchange views on a number of issues with PES/EP Group Vice-President Hannes SWOBODA at their ordinary meeting held ahead of the CoR plenary session.
Thanks
to all young Europeans who entered the photo competition
for contributing to an intercultural Europe
Brussels, 1 October 2008
The PES Group photo competition organised under the theme of Intercultural Dialogue is now closed. We would like to thank all young Europeans who entered the competition for sharing their vision of inter-culturalism through the 'eye' of their camera. Numerous photos have been posted on the PES Group website from all over the EU. Some are humourous, others moving, but they all convey a message of openess and fraternity and tolerance . Thank you all for creatively illustrating how Europe can be truly intercultural rather than just multicultural.
Two PES Group opinions adopted at the 25th meeting of the EDUC (Education, Culture and Research) commission
Brussels, 26 September 2008
The EDUC Commission adopted, in its meeting on 25th September,
the draft opinon on the Proposal for
a Council Recommendation on mobility of young volunteers
across Europe (COM(2008)
424 final), prepared by Socialist Rapporteur Rinda
den Besten,
Deputy-Mayor of Utrecht (NL), which stresses the important
contribution of voluntary work to cohesion, and the importance
of mobility of young volunteers to European integration.
The opinion, to which eight amendments had been tabled, was
adopted by majority and will be submitted to the CoR plenary
session in November 2008.
The EDUC also adopted the draft opinion
on Addressing the challenge of energy
efficiency through Information and Communication Technology (COM(2008)
241 final), by PES Group Rapporteur: Risto
Koivisto, Mayor
of Pirkkala (FI). This opinion underlines the enormous potential
for saving energy through the effective use of ICT, and the
key role local and regional authorities are playing in promoting
these savings. The opinion was adopted unanimously and will
be submitted to the plenary also in November.
You can download the full text of these draft opinions from the agenda of the EDUC meeting of 25 September »
Le Bureau du Comité des Régions se réunit
à Dunkerque, à l'invitation du 1er Vice-président du
CdR Michel Delebarre
Dunkerque, 16 septembre 2008
A l’occasion de la Présidence française de l’Union européenne, le député-maire de Dunkerque Michel Delebarre a accueilli dans le 3ème port français le Bureau du CdR.
Democracy needs active participation at all levels of governance, argue Socialist members of the Committee of the Regions
Brussels, 11 September 2008
At their extraordinary meeting held today in Brussels, members of the PES Group in the Committee of the Regions (CoR) exchanged views on elections turnout and voting patterns with European and national politicians, representatives of the European Commission and the civil society, as well as academics.
This conference, moderated by Anna TERRON I CUSI, PES Group Coordinator within the CoR Commission for Constitutional Affairs (CONST), focused on three broad factors that have a decisive impact upon democratic participation: gender, age and political rights.
'If democracy needs the participation of all citizens, democratic participation relies on access, understanding and new ideas', stressed Mercedes BRESSO, President of the PES Group in the CoR. She reiterated the commitment of locally and regionally elected Socialists and Social Democrats to convince each and every voter that their opinion counts, be it at local, regional, national or European level.
Socialist
members of the Committee of the Regions mobilise for
elections, the core of democracy
Brussels, 2 September 2008
In the framework of the PES Manifesto consultation for the 2009 European elections, the socialist members of the Committee of the Regions are organising a conference on "Mobilising for Democracy, Election turnout and voting behaviour".
This conference, taking place at the Headquarters of the Committee of the Regions (Room 52, Rue Belliard 101, B-1040 Brussels) on 10 September 2008 (09h30-13h30), will be an opportunity for participants to have an overview of the different electoral systems and voting patterns across the EU. The meeting will also address particularities of specific electorates such as expatriates and ethnic minorities, younger and older voters as well as women.
Claudette Abela Baldacchino represents the PES Group at the
biggest annual political event of ECOSY- Young European Socialists
9th ECOSY Summer Camp
Carpentras, France, 25-31 July
Claudette Abela Baldacchino, Deputy Mayor Qrendi Local Council (Malta), was invited as a speaker at the “Social Europe for everyone” conference, organised on 30 July within the framework of the 9th ECOSY Summer Camp. This major 7-day political event, bringing together young Socialists and Social Democrats from all over Europe, broadly echoed the consultation themes for the elaboration of the PES manifesto for the 2009 European elections.
The outcome of the Irish referendum should not stop the ratification process of the Lisbon Treaty, argues Mercedes BRESSO
Meeting of PES Leaders and Prime Ministers, Brussels, 19 June 2008
PES Group President Mercedes BRESSO participated today in the meting of PES Leaders and Prime Ministers, which is held ahead of European Councils and brings together the leaders of PES member parties and organisations.
Telecoms Reform Package: Marc SCHAEFER (Luxembourg)
Plenary Session, Brussels, 19 June 2008
The PES Group rapporteur underlines the need to involve local and regional authorities in the debates about the telecom sector, given that they have the competence to regulate such services in some Member States and are generally responsible for cultural and linguistic diversity, which directly depends on effective regulation of the telecoms sector.
European Year of Creativity and Innovation
(2009): Gerd HARMS (Germany)
Plenary Session, Brussels, 19 June 2008
Gerd HARMS, President of the EDUC Commission, welcomes the choice of ‘creativity and innovation’ as a topic for the European Year 2009, stressing the important role of creativity in cultural, social and technological development.
European Groupings of Territorial Cooperation (EGTC): Mercedes BRESSO (Italy)
Plenary Session, Brussels, 18 June 2008
The own-initiative opinion by PES Group President Mercedes BRESSO stresses that the EGTC is a valuable tool providing legal certainty for the pursuit of decentralised cooperation. The rapporteur calls for the rapid and consistent application throughout the EU of the regulation governing the EGCT and underlines the need for close cooperation between the European institutions and the different levels of governance in Member States, to ensure the success of the new legal instrument
Labour immigration and relations with third countries: Anna TERRON I CUSI (Spain)
Plenary Session, Brussels, 18 June 2008
The opinion by Anna TERRON I CUSI stresses the urgent need for a common response at EU level to the joint problems of skill shortages within the Union, and the issue of irregular migration. Since it is mostly local or regional authorities that are called upon to manage migration through the reception and integration of migrants, to combat human trafficking and to control local and regional labour markets, their concerns must be respected in the development of a European policy on the issue.
Active inclusion of people furthest from the labour market: Henk KOOL (Netherlands)
Plenary Session, Brussels, 18 June 2008
The opinion of Henk KOOL stresses that, despite recent positive signs of economic growth in the EU, a considerable proportion of Europe’s society experiences poverty, substandard housing, lack of educational opportunities and consequently social exclusion.
European Year for Combating Poverty and Social Exclusion (2010): Linetta Serri (Italy)
Plenary Session, Brussels, 18 June 2008
Linetta SERRI underlines the responsibility of the local and regional level in devising and implementing policies to help combat exclusion and fight poverty, while stressing the need for a holistic approach that brings together all actors involved in fighting poverty.
Read more »
FEPS Secretary General Ernst Stetter addresses the meeting of the PES Group
Brussels, 18 June 2008
The values, objectives and structure of the Foundation for European Progressive Studies (FEPS), the newly founded think tank of the Party of European Socialists were the subject of the presentation of FEPS Secretary General Ernst Stetter.
The amendment in December 2007 of the regulation governing the funding of political parties at European level enabled the creation of European political foundations, who underpin the objectives of European political parties, promote European integration and acts as catalysts for new ideas, analysis and policy options. FEPS action will revolve around 4 axes: debate, reflection, training and communication.
