The European Committee of the Regions is holding the second plenary session of its new term of office on 2 and 3 April, with debates focusing on economic growth, EU enlargement and the priorities of the Polish Presidency of the Council of the European Union.
Raffaele Fitto, the European Commission’s Executive Vice-President for Cohesion and Reforms, will discuss reprogramming and reforms of regional development funds, while former Italian Prime Minister Enrico Letta will debate his proposals for making the EU more competitive. Members of the European Committee of the Regions (CoR) will offer a local and regional perspective on growth in a number of critical sectors, through a resolution on the automotive sector and opinions on the EU’s emerging Oceans Pact and on agricultural competitiveness. CoR members have also asked to take the floor to discuss the possible impact of the new US tariff policy on European agri-food products.
Marta Kos, European Commissioner for Enlargement, will discuss EU enlargement with CoR members against a background of major political unrest in Turkey and the Western Balkans and in the context of efforts to create the conditions for a just, comprehensive and lasting peace in Ukraine. CoR members will adopt a resolution on the arrest of Turkish mayors and the assault on local democracy in Turkey and will set out their perspective on the EU-related reform efforts of the Western Balkan countries and of Ukraine, Moldova, Georgia and Turkey.
Key debates
2 April, 15:05: Debate on the priorities of the Polish Presidency, with the participation of Jan Szyszko, Secretary of State for Development Funds and Regional Policy. The Presidency’s agenda focuses on strengthening European security in all its dimensions: external, internal, information, economic, energy, food and health.
2 April, 16.45: Local EU affairs, with statements by CoR members on the imposition of tariffs on European agricultural products by the United States and on improving connectivity with the EU’s islands.
2 April, 5.30 p.m.: Debate on local and regional perspectives of enlargement, with the participation of Marta Kos, European Commissioner for Enlargement. The debate will also be an opportunity to reflect on how enlargement affects local life, with contributions from the first joint cross-border European Capital of Culture: Samo Turel, Mayor of Nova Gorica (Slovenia), and Rodolfo Ziberna, Mayor of Gorizia (Italy).
3 April, 9.30 a.m.: Speech by Raffaele Fitto, Executive Vice-President for Cohesion and Reforms of the European Commission. National ministers adopted initial conclusions on cohesion and cohesion policy after 2027 on 28 March.
3 April, 11.45 a.m.: Debate on a local approach to competitiveness, with Enrico Letta, former Italian prime minister and author of “Much more than a market”, a report commissioned by the EU on the future of the single market. Following the debate, CoR members will adopt a resolution on a “Competitiveness Compass for the EU”.
More information: European Committee of the Regions
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