Regions Cities Europe

Transcription

1 ISSN Regions Cities & Europe News from the EU s assembly of regional and local representatives of Special Feature A look forward to 2017 Policy analysis Multi-annual Tourism Strategy Nº 98 November-December 2016

2 EUROPEAN UNION Contents Editorial Markku Markkula Now more than ever, Europe needs its regions and cities Special Feature A look forward to 2017, Political groups 2017 priorities Policy Analysis Multi-annual Tourism Strategy Sustained and sustainable economic growth Inclusive economic growth Making ESI Funds simpler Regions and cities for sustainable and inclusive growth justaa/shutterstock.com Committee of the Regions 17 Interview Interview with Taleb Rifai, secretary-general of UNWTO Plenary Session Opinions adopted at the December plenary A look back at Regions & Cities of Europe N 98 European Committee of the Regions Directorate for Communication Rue Belliard/Belliardstraat Bruxelles/Brussel BELGIQUE/BELGIË Director of Publication: Ian Barber European Union, 2016 Printed in Belgium Tel Regions & Cities of Europe is a magazine of the European Committee of the Regions, published by the Directorate for Communication. The content of this magazine does not necessarily reflect the opinions of the European Union institutions. Neither the institutions/bodies of the European Union, nor any person acting on their behalf, can be held responsible for any misuse of the information provided here. Reactions/comments: european.committee.of.the.regions

3 Editorial Now more than ever, Europe needs its regions and cities By Markku Markkula, President of the European Committee of the Regions The past 12 months has been a wake-up call for everyone who believes in the European project. It will be remembered for the tragic terrorist attacks, the challenge of migration, the vote for Brexit and the rise of populist and Euro-sceptic movements throughout the continent. For too many citizens, the EU does not offer the best way to resolve problems. While the EU has and does positively impact citizens lives it is not being felt and it s not being seen. So how should the EU, and its regions and cities, react to such a crisis in confidence? Citizens rightly demand more jobs and long-term sustainable growth which is why we must prioritise building a more competitive and job-rich Europe. But this needs even higher quality investments. Compared to before the economic crisis, investment has fallen by 430 billion euros, holding back progress. Next year we will contribute and shape the debate on the next EU budget. This also means protecting, simplifying and strengthening the EU s cohesion policy. Regions and cities need to share their experiences so we can sharpen this unique investment tool to increase take-up and ensure it benefits every European citizen. We need to attract more private investment and be innovative in our spending investment in traditional infrastructure is important but investment in learning, entrepreneurship, startups, new technologies and the digital economy - is even more important. We should direct investment towards the sustainable, smart development of our regions and cities - driving growth whilst contributing to our shared fight against climate change. This means deepening cooperation among all sectors of society and encouraging more pioneering regions and cities to take the lead. Secondly, we will continue to strengthen the CoR s cooperation with the other EU institutions and work for better quality legislation. The EU has set out a path towards not more but better EU legislation. The Urban Agenda launched this year offered the right model of policy-making which we must build on. With 70% of EU laws delivered by cities and regions, bringing local policy-makers and leaders to the table to co-create effective policy is the only way forward. Next year all of our members must build on this momentum. To do this we also need to change our mind-set and work across all policy areas, breaking the silobased thinking and operations that has slowed delivery. Thirdly, we need to bridge the gap between Brussels and the real life of Europe s 500m citizens. We need to collaborate and co-create a new narrative for Europe. As local and regional leaders, we need to communicate louder what we are doing and why at home. This also means listening, having an honest debate on Europe, constructively challenging populist ideas with facts and being open to change where criticism have solid foundations. We need to relay our constituents feelings, opinions, concerns and fears on Europe. President Tusk fully agrees of the importance of talking locally which is why he has asked the CoR to formally send its position on its Reflections on the EU to the European Council ahead of the EU Summit in Rome next year. Led by our members, we are co-organising a series of local events where the issue of Europe is being discussed. We want to hear what citizens and local and regional governments feel and think about Europe contributing to our report. The CoR is ready to support any of its members who want to hold an event in their region or city to give their community an opportunity to speak. As members of the CoR, whatever our differences in opinion, we need to hold the EU to account. We need to be much bolder in our efforts and not shy away from taking a stand on behalf of the communities we represent. This means pragmatism and constructive debate. To let the institutions know what the real challenges and problems are and propose new ideas to solve them. Next year, on 25 March, Europe celebrates the 60th Anniversary of the Treaty of Rome. This is the time to reinforce the message that the EU is democratic, willing to listen and ready to change. We need to reflect and remember the achievements of the EU over the past 60 years basic values such as peace, prosperity, rights and the freedom of movement. But above all else, it needs all local and regional leaders to pioneer smart measures for sustainable growth, work with the EU institutions, improve the effectives of EU rules, unlock investment and overcome, societal challenges, together. Nº 98 November-December

4 Special Feature Political groups 2017 priorities Political groups 2017 priorities EPP Since its creation, the European People s Party group the largest political group in the European Committee of the Regions has been the driving force of the institution. Migration will continue to play a central role in European policy-making in 2017 and the EPP offers its full support for the revision of the EU s asylum policy, emphasising that the solution to the migrant crisis can only be found by identifying the root causes in the places of origin and by supporting solutions outside the EU in order to protect the Union s and Schengen s external borders. Cohesion policy, the EU s second largest funding tool, will play a key role in Michael Schneider, president of the EPP-CoR group, served as rapporteur for the opinion on the Future of Cohesion Policy for a strong and effective results-oriented policy post-2020 covering all EU Member States. The EPP priority for the welcome extension of the EFSI is to maintain its nature of additionality and its synergies with other financing instruments. The implementation of the Digital Single Market strategy completing recent opinions and addressing the issue of unjustified barriers to the free flow of data within Europe is a special focus area for the EPP, together with improving youth employment. The group stresses tackling obstacles to investment by improving the investment capacity of regional and local authorities, cutting red tape and promoting a friendlier environment for investment and small businesses, while its Members will continue to work towards completing the Economic and Monetary Union (EMU) as well as the mid-term review of the Capital Markets Union. Lastly, environmental and energy policy form an important focus for 2017, with special attention being given to energy efficiency and renewable energy in the Energy Union package, the implementation of the Circular Economy Action Plan and local adaptation strategies alongside the mitigation goals of the Paris COP21 agreement. The simplification and modernisation of the Common Agricultural Policy, sustainable food policy and health will also be important issues in the coming year. 2Regions and Cities of Europe PES The Commission s Work Programme for 2017 cannot be defined as business as usual as the Commission will not only revise the current Multiannual Financial Framework but will also issue a proposal on the framework to be put in place post-2020, which will also deal with own resources. This framework will of course shape the future of cohesion policy, an issue which will be specifically addressed in the 7th Cohesion Report due to be adopted in the autumn. Building on the relevant CoR opinion drafted by myself in 2015, the PES group expects this report to also reflect the debate on GDP and Beyond and develop alternative or complementary indicators for well-being and sustainable development. Regarding the latter, the PES deems it a top priority to incorporate the commitments made within the COP22 process, such as the minimum target of 20% of EU spending on climate-related projects and policies, into concrete EU funding News from the EU s assembly of regional and local representatives tools and in particular the revamped European Fund for Strategic Investment (EFSI 2.0), which should be more clearly directed towards investment in the ecological transition. Obviously, following on from the CoR opinion by Heijo Höfer (DE/PES) adopted in October 2016, the PES group will also engage in the debate on the European pillar of social rights. However, it remains clear for the PES group that in order to enable the future social pillar to bring about a genuine upwards convergence of social standards, it needs to have the institutional and financial means to really deliver on such standards. Furthermore, our group will focus on the White Paper on the Future of Europe, which will set out the measures to be taken to reform an EU of 27 Member States 60 years after the signing of the Treaties of Rome. We expect this process to be bold when it comes to the future of the EMU, i.e. to prepare for the second phase of deepening the EMU, including its social dimension, in a new political and democratic context. Finally, the PES group regrets that the Commission s work programme makes no mention of the need for European rules on the sharing economy (as expressly requested in the relevant CoR opinion by PES member Benedetta Brighenti, due to be adopted at the December plenary), nor does it mention the review of the so-called Almunia package on state aid for services of general interest (as called for in the CoR opinion by 1st vice-president of the PES group, Markus Töns, adopted in October 2016). The group will therefore remain vocal on both issues as the status quo is not an option!

5 ALDE Under its president, Bart Somers (BE/ALDE), the ALDE group in the Committee of the Regions wishes to contribute to the reflection on Europe through better dialogue with citizens. It also seeks to continue developing ties with the wider liberal family and to sharpen the debate on innovative agriculture as it takes over as chair of the NAT commission at the mid-term. The future of Europe and belief in Europe is increasingly being called into question. Looking ahead, the ALDE group believes that local and regional authorities can provide the answer to this problem. When we think about job growth, the creation of new jobs, the migration process and successful integration without segregation, we think about the dialogue between European citizens and how the local level can bring people closer together. The CoR can make a difference in this in 2017, helping Europe by helping local authorities. We need a strong two-way dialogue between the local, regional, national and European levels. The CoR can facilitate this dialogue and will also focus on developing working relations and partnerships with the other EU institutions. Cities for instance are the engines of the economy, so economic objectives can only be achieved through such partnerships. We also need the active participation of cities in environmental policies, which is why the Covenant of Mayors is now going global, having proved to be successful at the European level. Regarding migration, too, there can be no success without making integration a top priority and that depends once again on city administrations and integration policies. Through these topics and many others, we will as always continue to develop ties and work together with the wider liberal family to strengthen and restore belief in the European project. Finally, in 2017 our member Ossi Martikainen (FI/ALDE) will become chair of the Commission for Natural Resources, where we will focus on innovative agriculture for the EU. For regular updates on our work, follow us on Twitter (@alde_cor) and Facebook (@aldegroupcor). EA We must work together for the benefit of all our regions and cities, says Stanisław Szwabski, president of the EA group. The European Alliance group welcomes the initiative of the president of the European Council to start a reflection on the future of the European Union which will be discussed at a summit to be held in March. During a meeting with Council president Donald Tusk last October, I reiterated, in my capacity as group president, that the EU institutions need to be more responsive to the needs of our citizens and the European Committee of the Regions has a pivotal role to play in this process. As a group, we will also examine the implications of Brexit on local and regional authorities. It is important that the impact is analysed so that local governments can prepare for the consequences that may lie ahead. On specific policies there is a lot of discussion ongoing on the Urban Agenda for the EU and we will ensure that port cities and small cities and towns are an integral part of any future urban policy. The European Alliance group members will bring forward policies geared towards rural, mountain and island regions. We are also happy to see that the Capital Markets Union, the Digital Agenda, climate change and the integration of migrants are part of the Commission s Work Programme for 2017 and our members will continue their work in these areas. Lastly, the EA group will continue its endeavour to ensure wider recognition of the rich cultural and linguistic diversity in Europe s regions as this is one of the key areas we believe must be further enhanced in EU policies. ECR In the upcoming year, our group will be prioritising European reform. Europe will need to address key challenges ranging from growth to redefining its future as a Union of 27. In order thrive rather than just survive, the EU needs to pursue bold reforms. My group has been championing greater European localism, which is about greater civic empowerment. It means taking decisions at the most practicable level, as close to citizens as possible. It also means formulating policies that have an impact on local communities by taking into account their views and interests. In 2017, we will need to take a hard look at EU policies and see how we could achieve policies tailored around greater civic empowerment. We may find that in some areas, we need greater EU action, for example in completing the digital single market or ensuring that EU money delivers safe infrastructure that is resilient to disasters. In other areas we may find that EU action is not the best way forward and therefore that we need to reconsider the type of EU involvement required. For instance, while recognising that our citizen s hard work must translate into economic benefits for them and while also recognising that there may be times when citizens need support, we have to really ask ourselves if the best way to achieve results is to force a onesize-fits all social policy at the EU level onto a diverse set of 27 economies and societies. We also have to ask ourselves if the best way to invest in our local communities is by centralising fiscal powers at EU level or by decentralising fiscal powers so that local and regional governments have powers to generate locally and regionally-led growth. Localism will be important in helping the EU to focus on results for citizens and achieve better regulation. Results will be achieved by empowering our local communities, not by centralising powers further in Brussels. Nº 98 November-December

6 Local events local events and citizen dialogues Let s talk about Europe in local and regional events! The European Committee of the Regions calls for strong engagement by its members to go local and listen to citizens concerns and proposals on the future of Europe Reflecting [on] Europe cor.europa.eu/europcom #europcom Brussels, 20 and 21 October 2016 During the last CoR plenary debate on Reflection on the EU on 11 October 2016, the President of the European Committee of the Regions (CoR), Markku Markkula, called for stronger engagement by CoR members in going local and listening to citizens concerns and proposals on the future of Europe, with the objective of feeding back from the local level to Brussels and EU institutions, and contributing to the general reflection on the future of the European Union, under the brand Reflecting on Europe. In this context the CoR is running a series of high level town hall debates across Europe. These are local events co-organised by the European Committee of the Regions between 2016 and 2017 upon the initiative of its members, with respect to the Bratislava roadmap set out on 16 September by the 27 EU Heads of State and Government and in anticipation of the 60th anniversary of the Treaty of Rome on 25 March 2017 and the European Parliament elections in May The Reflecting on Europe initiative proposed by the CoR is therefore primarily a listening exercise that focuses on offering a space for citizens to present their ideas, thoughts and opinions on what the European Union should be. The overall objective is to contribute to a positive narrative on Europe, help understanding of citizens needs, and provide opportunities to develop joint solutions. CoR members play a key role in this process, as locally-elected politicians who are known by citizens and speak their language. Local events at a glance Since March 2016, the European Committee of the Region has been supporting its members, regions, cities, and their associations to better communicate with citizens on its political agenda, via local public events. These events actively involve CoR members and partner with other EU institutions in the Member States, such as Europe Direct Information centres (EDICs), Representations of European Commission (REPs) and national offices of the European Parliament (EPIOs). 29 Let s talk about Europe local events have been co-organised by the CoR, in partnership with its members and local and regional partners, in 14 EU countries in 2016 (under the new online procedure localevents), involving 70 CoR members and about 2,000 citizens (60% young). 21 out of 29 are local events in the form of citizens dialogue. All the events have been held in cooperation with the European Commission s Representations and the Europe Direct Information Centres (EDICs) in the Member States, and some Let s talk about Europe! Local events #EUlocal have also involved members of the European Parliament (read our mid-term report and info on our local events page). In this context the CoR today encourages all its members, regions, cities and their associations to get in contact with other EU institutions in the Member States, such as the EDIC network, to cooperate together to build up their local events, mainly citizens debates, as priority The European Committee of the Regions local events offer a space where citizens are listened to and can connect to local, national and European level decision-makers in a direct and meaningful way. Only together can we build a successful future we want to rebuild Europe by connecting people, territories and networks all across the continent! Going local and listening to citizens message to the EU! 4Regions and Cities of Europe News from the EU s assembly of regional and local representatives

7 Citizens dialogue in Gabrovo, 3 October, Bulgaria 400 participants, mainly young people, took part in the first CoR local event in Bulgaria, a citizens debate on the future of Europe held in the city of Gabrovo on October 3rd The event was initiated by the Mayor of Gabrovo and Head of the Bulgarian delegation at the Committee of the Regions, Tanya Hristova, and was supported by the Committee of the Regions, the Representation of the European Commission in Bulgaria and the Bulgarian Presidency of the Republic. Migration, territorial investment, Brexit, the future of cohesion policy and European policies for education, innovation, and combatting brain drain were at the core of the interactive debate, which was moderated by TV journalist Dobrina Cheshmedzhieva with the participation of: Andrey Novakov, Member of the European Parliament; Tomislav Donchev, Deputy Prime Minister of Bulgaria, responsible for EU Funds and Economic Policy; Rossen Plevneliev, President of the Republic of Bulgaria; Markku Markkula, President of the European Committee of the Regions; Eva Paunova, Member of the European Parliament; Ognian Zlatev, Head of the European Commission s Representation in Sofia. Learn More about the Citizens Dialogue in Gabrovo on Pages/gabrovo-citizensdialogue.aspx. Be inspired by the French model of local events - Parlons d Europe en Region! A series of 13 citizens dialogues which are taking place in regions and cities around France throughout These events are hosted by Europe Direct Information Centres, in coordination with the Representation of the European Commission in Paris. The series was supported by the European Committee of the Regions as a partner. The themes of these events have covered a wide and interesting range of current challenges, from tourism development in Montpellier to migration in Puget- Théniers, and many more. Watch the VIDEO of one of these citizens dialogues Parlons d Europe en Région - Rouillon, France, 3 May Find out more about the local events upcoming in 2017 on #EUlocal Contact: eulocal@cor.europa.eu Nº 98 November-December

8 Local Events Interview with Christophe Rouillon, Mayor of Coulaines Let s talk about Europe Yes we can! Why did you launch the Reconnecting Europe with its citizens initiative? The election of over 100 populist and europhobic MEPs at the last European elections came as a shock. Although the majority of the 500 million European citizens still for the most part support the European Union, we have noted a rise in euro-bashing from the extreme right parties, who are attacking from all sides, taking revenge for the Second World War. If we do not take resolute action, we may be hit by another broadside of anti-european votes at the next European Parliament elections in A europhobic majority would inevitably lead to the disintegration of the EU and the return of the nationalism which ravaged our continent twice in the 20th century. What are the key aims? It is easier to find scapegoats than to take a good hard look ourselves and identify solutions that require long-term commitment and effort. That is why, in my Opinion on Reconnecting Europe with its citizens, unanimously adopted at the Committee of the Regions plenary session, I proposed implementing a four-year plan to decentralise EU communication and organise in practice 340 citizens debates, including each of the regions of Europe. 6Regions and Cities of Europe It is time for the EU to listen more closely to its citizens. And for the members of the European Committee of the Regions to make sure News from the EU s assembly of regional and local representatives Christophe Rouillon

9 that the views of Europeans from all regions genuinely reach Brussels and Strasbourg. What are the practical aims of the initiative? First of all, we want to showcase the EU s tangible achievements in the municipalities and regions of Europe thanks to the territorial cohesion policy funds (ERDF, EAFRD), the Juncker strategic investment plan, the European Social Funds for inclusion and employment, mobility aid (such as Erasmus), etc. We also want these 350 citizens debates to reveal to us Europeans concerns, fears, grievances, hopes and expectations. A collection of grievances and proposals will be sent each year to the Commission, the Council and the European Parliament. In 2016, 10 Let s talk about Europe at local level debates were held in France. What were your experiences and impressions? This first Let s talk about Europe at local level Tour de France is an experiment which should inspire the whole of Europe. We did not go to the capital cities, as is too often the case, where debates bringing together the usual stakeholders are held. These citizens debates took place in municipalities of all sizes, in both towns and rural areas. In Chinon (Centre) we discussed the energy transition, in Paris boosting investment with European Commissioner Pierre Moscovici and CoR vice-president Karl-Heinz Lambert, in Rouillon (Pays de la Loire) European citizenship, in Beaumesnil (Normandy) European engagement in rural areas, in Valence (Rhône, Alpes, Auvergne) the digital economy, in Saint Malo (Brittany) fisheries, in La Grande Motte (Occitanie) tourism, in Cognac (Nouvelle Aquitaine) TTIP, in Poligny (Bourgogne Franche- Comté) agriculture of excellence, in Puget- Théniers (Provence-Alpes-Côte d Azur) immigration and in Bastia (Corsica) local energy production. Were these citizens debates an effective way of increasing citizens interest in European affairs? Yes, they were useful. It is a good start - over 2000 people took part in these first citizens debates. The process was the same each time. It started with a hour visit to present an achievement funded by the EU to the press. Then a 2-hour interactive citizens debate was held. A professional facilitator ensured that the speeches given by the speakers from the Committee of the Regions, the European Parliament, the Commission and civil society were brief and that the citizens present could express their views fully. Each debate was well covered in newspapers and on local radio and television stations. We also had excellent coverage on social media through posts, tweets and videos. Where and when will the next events be held? The next debates will be held in Grande Synthe (Haut de France) on integrating refugees and in Colombey-les-Belles (Champagne Ardenne, Alsace Lorraine) on local projects benefiting the citizens. We are already planning the 2017 Tour de France - to include 13 French regions - with our partners from the Europe Direct France network, the European Commission in Paris and the Association of French Mayors. More generally, how can we best monitor at local level citizens EU-related expectations and concerns? The Eurobarometer surveys are a good tool for identifying major public opinion trends, but nothing can replace direct contact between elected representatives and Europeans on the ground. The members of the European Committee of the Regions must be permanent EU ambassadors in their local areas. As, in their capacity as local elected representatives, they are best placed to convey the concerns of the 500 million Europeans to the institutions. What are the means and resources that could help local and regional elected representatives to communicate about Europe? I proposed in my opinion that 20% of the European Union s communication budget be decentralised. We are nowhere near that target. It is, however, essential to adjust the messages to local situations and communicate in the languages of the 28 EU countries. In 2016, already, 30 local events took place throughout Europe. From 2017 we plan to hold at least twice as many as that, significantly increasing the budget devoted to these events. Moreover, as of now, you can apply on the CoR s website to hold a citizens debate in your region. I also proposed that a public debate be held, as in Innsbruck last May, alongside each CoR external commission meeting. We should also think about a local communication budget for each CoR member. In any case, you can already step up your communication with no increase in cost. I invite you all to publish articles on Europe in your local and regional newspapers and to post your views more actively on social media. The new CoR website will help raise your profile and publicise your activities more widely. Do not hesitate to call on local media (press, radio, television, etc.), who have the trust of our fellow citizens. Reconnecting Europe with its citizens is both possible and vital! Europe is not the problem - it is the solution. We must take action to communicate more effectively about what Europe does and how it works, to fight against the anti-european forces and, above all, to listen to and relay the constructive proposals of our fellow citizens. Nº 98 November-December

10 Policy Analysis Europe needs a multi-annual Tourism Strategy: more investment, less bureaucracy and better promotion will make European tourism thrive The last decade has been marked by unprecedented changes. Several formerly thriving sectors experienced heavy losses: construction grand to a halt, trade slowed down significantly, banking has been discredited amidst the economic turmoil, the tourism sector not only remained robust but has continued to grow at a steady pace, creating 10% of the European Union s GDP and employing over 25 million Europeans. According to the forecasts of Oxford Economics, this number should raise to 30 million over the next decade that is 13% of all jobs in the EU! Even today, 1 in 6 people living in Malta works in the tourism sector. Over 2 million German citizens earn their salary thanks to tourists. In Poland or Slovakia, women are twice as likely to have a career in tourism then in any other industry. In thriving European tourism regions, like the Tirol, every third Euro is earned in tourism. And in Greece, 83% of all new jobs created last year were related to tourism. 8Regions and Cities of Europe And yet, the contribution of tourism to European growth and jobs goes often unnoticed. It is time to recognise that tourism is indeed an engine for growth in regions and cities and the European Commission should give it a deserved place on the Hanspeter Wagner News from the EU s assembly of regional and local representatives EU s agenda, comments Hanspeter Wagner, Mayor of Breitenwang in Tirol (AT/ EPP) and CoR Rapporteur on Tourism as a driving force for regional cooperation across the EU. What tourism needs is a good business environment and investment, not interventionism says Wagner, to make it thrive, we need to ease access to investment, cut red tape and boost our efforts at promoting Europe within and abroad. Therefore we need a multiannual EU strategy on tourism, he concludes. The overwhelming majority of businesses in the tourism sector in Europe are small enterprises. They often lack expertise, time and capital to make use of opportunities created by EU funds and programmes. We know that the money is there, but it is difficult, especially for family-run companies, to find their way through a complex system of calls, grant applications and bureaucratic language explains Wagner. This is why Photo Syda Productions/Shutterstock.com the Committee of the Regions is taking the initiative and is in the process of setting up, together with the European Commission and the European Investment Bank, regional investment platforms for tourism-related SMEs and will hold jointly organised local tourism investment forums. Five regions across the EU will be a sounding board and run special projects up to 2018 to improve access to information and money for their tourism SMEs. These pilot projects should pave the way to setting up a Europe-wide investment platform for SMEs in the field of tourism. Red tape is another obstacle restraining growth potential. Over the years, rules and regulations multiplied exponentially leaving little space for businesses to expand. Labour market, agriculture, transport, home affairs, border controls, consumer rights, environment protection all these policies have a direct impact on tourism operations and combined together they create a very

11 tight leash. This is particularly affecting small operators who need more flexibility in their application. I am talking about family-owned bed&breakfasts or village cafés that are facing the risk of large fines for a non-compliance with a given legislation that should in principle concern only large companies. This is why the CoR is calling upon all government layers be it European, national, regional or local to cut red tape. Another important aspect is marketing Europe may well be the favourite destination globally with over half a billion international visitors a year, but tourism is above all an internal affair. Nearly 90% of tourism nights in the EU are spent by EU residents, meaning that tourists from outside the EU account for only around 10% of the total. While it is a cause for celebration that Europeans are so keen to spend their holidays within the Union, it also shows there is room for improvement when it comes to foreign visitors. Over 30% of them came in 2014 from two single countries: USA and Russia followed by China and Brazil. Arrivals from BRIC countries (Brazil, Russia, India and China) have more than doubled in the last few years, despite visa obligations applicable to some of them. Visa facilitation is a crucial prerequisite for encouraging tourists from further afield to visit Europe underlines Wagner. Security concerns must be carefully assessed, but the Schengen zone should not turn into an impenetrable fortress. The forthcoming EU-China Year of Tourism and the EU Year of Cultural Heritage will be an excellent opportunity to further nurture interest in European art, architecture and history amongst third country visitors. Last but not least, tourism within the Union deserves special attention. It exposes people to their neighbours way of life, allows discovering differences and similarities and thus contributes to forging a sense of European citizenship. To assist Europeans in their travels and provide them with additional information and discounts, the Members of the Committee suggest that the EU launches a European Citizen Travel Card, accompanied by a dedicated smartphone app. In those Member States, regions and cities that want to participate in the travel card scheme the card could give European citizens reduced entry fees to museums, and other public facilities as well as cheaper public transport tickets. The DiscoverYrop travel app would contain useful information for making traveling around Europe easier, safer and more fun. In all my talks, be it with European Commission Vice-President Katainen, Commissioner Bienkowska, EFSI managing director Molterer, many Members of the European Parliament s Task Force for Tourism, the Maltese Presidency of the Council and with representatives of the European Travel Commission or the tourism industry, it was very clear that our proposals have broad support across all EU institutions and are welcomed by the tourism industry itself, underlined Hanspeter Wagner. Creating fair and easy access to funding, removing bureaucratic hurdles and joining forces to promote European cities and regions as holiday destinations for European citizens and others these ingredients will keep European tourism in top notch form and drive the Union s growth forward. No time like present to make it happen, concludes Wagner. Nº 98 November-December

12 Policy Analysis Interview with Taleb Rifai, UNWTO Secretary-General of the United Nations World Tourism Organization 2017 has been declared the year of sustainable tourism. What can European cities and regions do to contribute to its three pillars (economic, social and environmental), while raising awareness about the role that tourism plays in bringing people together? European cities and regions can do a lot to foster sustainable tourism. Europe is the most visited region in the world and can also be a leader in promoting sustainable tourism. Firstly, they can contribute by informing their citizens about this unique celebration that will take place throughout 2017 and beyond, and about the role of tourism in promoting economic growth, cultural and natural preservation and mutual understanding. Yet, most importantly, they can raise awareness among their citizens of the role they can play as travellers in building a more sustainable future. Taleb Rifai Secondly, they can support tourism actors, such as destination management organisations and the private sector, in applying sustainability principles and can also create platforms to facilitate common action and encourage key stakeholders to join the International Year activities. At government level, the International Regions and Cities of Europe 10 News from the EU s assembly of regional and local representatives

13 Year can be also the perfect occasion to issue specific national policies aimed at promoting sustainable tourism. What can we do to keep European destinations competitive and attractive to international visitors in the long run, without overstretching our capacities? Competitiveness is a wide concept which encompasses many variables such as connectivity, quality in services and products, infrastructure, visitor experience and many other factors. Europe is made up of a wide variety of destinations with diverse levels of tourism development but, overall, tourism is very well developed and the region is very competitive, demonstrated by the fact that it hosts half of the 1.2 billion international tourists who travel every year. To improve that competitive edge, I would highlight three main areas: first, safeguarding Schengen and continuing to work to improve visa facilitation from markets such as China; second, stimulating innovation and the use of technologies among companies, particularly SMEs and, third, placing sustainability at the heart of European tourism policies. This includes advancing issues such as the adequate management of tourism flows through the creation and promotion of new destinations and fighting seasonality, as well as issues of energy and natural resources. In this regard, UNWTO is very pleased to have been working for many years with the European Commission and other partners such as NEC- STouR on projects such as Hotel Energy Solutions and Nearly Zero Energy Hotels. At the CoR, we believe that smart specialisation and thematic tourism offer great opportunities, and that targeted investment can foster growth in our tourism sector. Do you agree with this vision? I truly agree with that vision. Diversification of the touristic offer brings to destinations not only travellers but also investors, job opportunities and therefore economic growth. It also enhances the perception of that destination abroad and contributes to building its image. The case of thematic routes has the added value of promoting cooperation between various regions and countries. At UNWTO, we have been working in this area for a long time through our Silk Road Programme, which has an important western component in Europe and which we will be promoting this year with the support of DG Growth. At the same time, we are working to support new initiatives in this area such as the Phoenicians Route led by the Ministry of Tourism of Lebanon where we work with the Council of Europe and countries along this emblematic route. Accessible and welcoming versus safe and well-protected: how to nurture tourism in the EU in times of geo-political instability? Safety and security and seamless travel are not at odds. On the contrary, they can be mutually reinforcing. For that we need to mainstream tourism in national, regional and global safety and security agendas. Effective coordination, information-sharing and communication mechanisms between tourism and security will lead to safer and more seamless travel, as well as better crisis management. At all times, we must be vigilant to ensure that cooperation prevails over isolation and that safe and seamless travel can go hand in hand. Just to take the example of visas in 2016, 41 % of the world population could travel for tourism without obtaining a traditional visa prior to departure, compared with only 23% in We need to keep raising this level. We cannot backpedal. Seasonality remains a challenge for many tourist destinations in the EU. What are UN- WTO s recommendations to attract visitors beyond the high season? Innovation, developing new products and segments among all players as well as researching markets will remain core areas when we speak about the promotion and management of destinations. We need to work on those areas if we want to know more about the expectations and orientations of travellers so that tourism organisations (both private and public) can develop actions, strategies and activities that add value to the traditional tourist spots of their destinations. In that regard, snow-based destinations, for example, will be able to expand by adding rural, health or sport tourism-related activities in the summer months. Others such as city tourism can also be enhanced by adding historical adjacent routes that increase the motivation and the interest of travellers. As with other areas of innovation in tourism, the possibilities are immense. Europe is ageing. How can this demographic change be turned into an opportunity? Life expectancy in Western Europe rose from 67 years in 1950 to 80.9 years in This, together with the dramatic decrease in mortality rates and the down-turn in population growth results in a clearly aged Europe. In 2030, there will be 110 million people over the age of 65 in the EU25, a percentage of 35% in 2025 and 45 to 50% in However, the European continent will continue to be the most visited destination in those coming years with continuous growth in regional tourism. In that sense, we should keep in mind that there will be plenty of business opportunities on the continent to respond to that demand, as well as to accommodate travellers with specific needs, from within Europe as well as from other regions that are already experiencing the same process. What more specific role does UNWTO play with regard to cities and regions? UNWTO has a strong focus on city tourism as we live in an urban time and tourism is no exception. In this respect, we have three main initiatives. The City Tourism Network, our series of City Tourism Summits the 5th edition will be held in Luxor, Egypt, at the end of November and the 2017 one in Kuala Lumpur in Malaysia and a new project, the Mayors for Tourism Initiative which will be launched in Luxor. In addition, UNWTO is collaborating with the World Tourism Cities Federation to identify the systems measuring city tourism performance worldwide. We also work at regional level to ensure that the benefits of tourism are spread into all territories. We believe that regions have specificities that need to be considered and that can also represent added value for the development of the tourism sector. Creating transnational tourist routes and fostering regional visa procedures are some of the areas that have demonstrated a positive impact on tourism development. UN- WTO advocates those initiatives and facilitates guidance and capacity-building for the stakeholders involved in the sector. Tourism is not only an economic factor. The CoR thinks that it can contribute to better relations between peoples and in Europe it can help to raise awareness for European citizenship. Based on your experience, what do you think of this? Absolutely true. Tourism greatly contributes to facilitating the interaction among different cultures, it links travellers and the hosting community and creates a better understanding among people of diverse backgrounds. Therefore, at UNWTO, we work with governments, tourism administrations and other key stakeholders to promote the potential of tourism to foster peace and development. At the EU level, tourism has greatly contributed to building a sense of identity, the feeling of being part of one common Europe and also the integration process. The identification of tourism as a major economic activity in the European Union, the most visited region in the world, lies under that potential which is even more important at this moment given that there are some trends towards building new borders. Nº 98 November-December

14 Rapporteurs have their say EU asylum system in urgent need of reform local and regional authorities call for human and fair EU legal framework Vincenzo BIANCO: Mayor of Catania, (IT/PES) While migrants keep arriving on southern European shores, and far too many are losing their lives in the attempt, the European Commission is proposing a long-awaited overhaul of the EU s fragmented asylum system in the face of very divergent views among Member States. In its opinion on the first set of proposals (proposed in May), the CoR welcomes those steps which will help to ensure uniform rules for migrants seeking protection and applying for asylum in the EU. A vast majority of CoR members also support the Commission proposal for a correction to the strict first-country-of-arrival system, the so-called Dublin system, which puts a disproportionate burden on Member States at the Union s external borders and has proved dysfunctional for many years. The Commission now suggests a new correction mechanism (based on relative wealth and population) relating to the allocation of responsibility for asylum requests between Member States in order to help countries and regions that have been disproportionately affected. The CoR supports this and also points out the need to make sure that the expertise of local and regional authorities is fed into the work of the new European Asylum Agency. CoR PES rapporteur Enzo Bianco, mayor of Catania, Sicily, which receives thousands of migrants rescued from the Mediterranean Sea every week, stresses that the EU s asylum policy must be made fairer both to the migrants themselves and to different Member States, regions and cities across the EU. The preferences and existing family ties of migrants to communities already living in EU Member States should be taken into account when deciding which Member State should be responsible for an asylum claim as this can have an important positive influence on their integration. We also need a mechanism which takes account of the specific contribution which some regions have already made for years in hosting and integrating refugees, adds Bianco. Another issue which requires particular attention is the need to properly identify and address the needs of vulnerable groups of migrants, especially unaccompanied minors. We have recently seen a dramatic increase in the share of children and youngsters who arrive unaccompanied and they need special care, protection and support both throughout the legal procedure and later on and of course we have to avoid abuse of this group and its special rights, underlines the rapporteur. Enzo Bianco is also preparing the CoR opinion on a second set of Commission proposals published in July this year. The opinion focuses on the standards for the reception of migrants and on the procedures for determining their asylum status and will be adopted during the February 2017 CoR plenary. Legal migration Olgierd Geblewicz: Marshall of the West Pomeranian Voivodeship, (PL/EPP) Regions and Cities of Europe The opinion on legal migration concerns the proposed directive on the conditions of entry and residence of third-country nationals for the purposes of highly skilled employment. The current Commission proposal reorganises the existing rules and aims to improve the EU s ability to attract and retain highly skilled thirdcountry nationals. It establishes a single programme to replace the parallel national systems that exist for employing highly skilled workers. The aim is to ensure greater transparency for applicants and employers. Labour shortages are a fact across the EU and play a significant role nationally, especially at regional and local level. The Commission s proposed solutions represent at least a partial response to earlier claims that the Blue Card lacks effectiveness: the new solutions include lower pay thresholds, shorter contracts and quicker, more streamlined procedures while supporting mobility within the EU. Standardising the procedure at European level requires discussion in the CoR as well as a joint opinion, providing an opportunity to take account of the interests and points of view of individual regions. It also provides an opportunity to draw on experience to date, especially the best practices for recruiting and retaining highly skilled workers. In order to ensure the EU s status as a competitive actor on the world stage, a comprehensive strategy is needed for obtaining foreign capital, including human capital. The latter element is important for every economic system wishing to scale up its innovativeness, level of technology and competitiveness. It is, however, particularly important in the context of the demographic crisis being experienced by some Member States and of the problems facing the EU s labour markets. Measures for the recruitment of workers from third countries cannot and should not replace large-scale, long-term investments in education 12 News from the EU s assembly of regional and local representatives

15 and vocational training for EU citizens. The opinion draws special attention to the role played by local and regional authorities in providing public services to immigrants, both in terms of their access to the labour market and other aspects of integration, and underlines the crucial importance of regional institutions in identifying labour market needs and setting the conditions for introducing safeguard procedures (labour market test). A key issue is which tools are needed to guarantee a relatively balanced distribution of Blue Card beneficiaries. The aim here is to ensure that all regions, regardless of how developed they are, have the same opportunities to draw on the potential of highly skilled workers from third countries. Any migration process is complex and involves many levels. Steps should therefore be taken to ensure enhanced dialogue and closer cooperation between EU bodies and those of migrants countries of origin and transit countries, including at regional and local level, as well as representatives of the private sector. This cooperation should make use of existing bodies and platforms, such as AR- LEM, CORLEAP, joint consultative committees and working groups; use should be made of the experience of the European Training Foundation in supporting circular migration mechanisms. Integration, a two-way process of rights and obligations Karl Vanlouwe: Member of the Flemish Parliament, (BE/EA) At its meeting in Oviedo, Spain, in September 2016, the Commission for Citizenship, Governance, Institutional and External Affairs (CIVEX) adopted an opinion drawn up by Karl Vanlouwe on the integration of third-country nationals. The document sets out the position of local and regional authorities on the European Commission s Action Plan on Integration. This opinion, along with others covering the various aspects of the European migration package, is scheduled to be adopted at the Committee of the Regions December 2016 plenary session. Rapporteur Mr Vanlouwe (a member of the Flemish Parliament and CIVEX coordinator for the European Alliance group) was pleased with the CIVEX commission s endorsement: In Flanders, we have now had more than ten years experience of a compulsory integration and civic integration policy for newcomers. Language-learning and civic integration are the two cornerstones of a successful integration policy. In this opinion, we highlight the good practices in these areas that exist in the EU and recommend that the EU underpin all of its integration policies with a madeto-measure approach. European society is becoming increasingly diverse, not least due to the current asylum and migration crisis. Therefore, it is necessary to ensure that legal newcomers fully integrate into our society. Integration must be a two-way process of rights and obligations, for both the newcomer and the host society, said Mr Vanlouwe. Language knowledge The opinion proposes making it possible for newcomers to interact as soon as possible with their new neighbours, classmates, school teachers, work colleagues, etc. This can be done by providing language classes that are tailored to the specific needs of the newcomer. Civic integration Language knowledge is not enough, however. In order to safeguard and strengthen social cohesion, we must fully engage in community-building. For this reason, Mr Vanlouwe has introduced the term civic integration into his opinion a term which is not yet very well known on the European stage. It refers, among other things, to practices such as those in Flanders that help newcomers settle in, including through civic integration courses aimed at familiarising newcomers with our European norms and values in an interactive way. Tailor-made approach Integration policy cannot operate on the basis of one size fits all. The opinion therefore calls for account to be taken, among other things, of language skills, cultural background, level of education, expected duration of stay, reasons for migration, skills, work-experience and possible traumas experienced. A good integration policy is therefore based on tailor-made solutions. Local and regional authorities While welcoming the attention the European Commission is giving to integration, the rapporteur places particular emphasis on the role of local and regional authorities, since they are on the front line in facing the challenges and opportunities of integration. A multi-level governance approach is therefore essential, with due regard for the fact that integration is a competence of the Member States as laid down in the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union. Keeping it simple shouldn t be difficult How REFIT wants to keep EU laws simple and less costly François DECOSTER: Vice-President of the Regional Council of Hauts-de-France, (FR/ALDE) EU laws should be simple and reduce the costs of regulation so that citizens, businesses and authorities can reap its intended benefits in the easiest and most straightforward way. To achieve this, the European Commission launched the Regulatory Fitness and Performance (RE- FIT) programme in 2012 and set up the RE- FIT platform made up of relevant stakeholders, which collects suggestions and makes recommendations on how to simplify laws. François Decoster (FR/ALDE), chair of the Nº 98 November-December

16 Rapporteurs have their say CIVEX commission, is the representative of the European Committee of the Regions on this platform. As mayor of the French city of Saint-Omer and vice-president of the Hautsde-France region, he has the ideal knowledge and experience to lead the CoR s work in this area and will present his report at the December plenary. It is important that REFIT yields concrete benefits with more open and transparent decision-making based on evidence and understanding of the impact on small businesses, citizens and public administration, without using REFIT as a pretext for lowering the level of ambition in fields such as the environment, food safety or health and consumer rights, said Mr Decoster. His work is an example of the ALDE-CoR group s tradition of and commitment to simplification, as exemplified by several events and reports this year alone: the joint seminar with ALDE MEPs in Klaipėda, Lithuania, on Simplifying EU Cohesion Policy, bringing together liberal politicians from all levels and calling for the immediate simplification of the implementation of the current programming period in the European Structural Investment Funds. A driving force behind this was Michiel Rijsberman (NL/ALDE), who now continues his quest to simplify complex rules and laws as rapporteur on the upcoming opinion on The financial rules applicable to the general budget of the Union. Another example is the opinion by Dainis Turlais (LV/ ALDE) calling for simpler VAT rules approved at the CoR s October plenary session. With his call for an EU-wide standard definition of goldplating defined as an excess of norms, guidelines and procedures accumulated at national, regional and local levels, interfering with the expected policy goals of a European regulation François Decoster also builds on the work of a previous ALDE group president, Lord Graham Tope (UK/ALDE). Lord Tope already raised this issue in 2012 for the purpose of improving legal certainty in the implementation and application of EU law. CoR to be the first EU body to adopt a position on the revision of the Posting of Workers Directive Yoomi RENSTRÖM: Member of Ovanåker Municipal Council, (SE/PES) At its December plenary session, the CoR will discuss the opinion drafted by Yoomi Renström (SE/PES), chair of the CoR s Commission for Social Policy, Education, Employment, Research and Culture (SEDEC), responding to the European Commission s proposal to revise the rules applicable to posted workers in the EU. The CoR will therefore be the first EU body to adopt a position on the Commission proposal. The proposed revision of the current legislative framework, which was put in place in 1996 and no longer responds to the new realities of labour mobility in the single market, would introduce changes in three main areas: remuneration of posted workers, rules on temporary agency workers and long-term posting. In the future, posted workers would generally benefit from the same rules governing pay and working conditions as local workers. In 2014, there were some 1.9 million posted workers in the EU and their number has increased by 44.4% since 2010, with posting being used as a means to exploit the growing wage differences amongst Member States and leading to social dumping, stresses the rapporteur, underlining that labour mobility is a cornerstone of European integration, but we urgently need a reasonable balance between the free movement of services and protection for posted workers. To elaborate her proposal, the rapporteur has had exchanges with her European Parliament counterparts Elisabeth Morin-Chartier (FR/EPP) and Agnes Jongerius (NL/PES), as well as Marianne Thyssen (BE/ EPP), Commissioner in charge of Employment and Social Affairs, who is due to make a speech during the plenary session. The draft CoR opinion agrees that a common definition of rules applicable to posting can be better achieved at EU level and calls for a reasonable balance between the free movement of services and the protection of posted workers. It endorses the principle that the same work at the same place should be remunerated in the same manner and shares the Commission s view that there should be a time limit beyond which the law of the host country must apply in full to a posted worker. However, the draft CoR opinion suggests that the time limit could be reduced from 24 to 12 months and should apply to a single posted worker, given the implementation difficulties of adding together periods when several posted workers replace each other to carry out the same tasks in the same place. Last but not least, the draft opinion calls for the establishment of a European support fund for the safe return to their countries of origin of posted workers abandoned as a result of the dilution of the responsibility of the employer within the framework of cascade subcontracting and for the creation of a European directory of occupations and vocational skills to avoid posted workers skills being deliberately underestimated. Regions and Cities of Europe 14 News from the EU s assembly of regional and local representatives

17 Plenary CoR rapporteur on the collaborative economy: The status quo is not an option Benedetta BRIGHENTI: Vice-Mayor of Castelnuovo Rangone, Province of Modena, (IT/PES) In June 2016, the European Commission released guidelines on a European agenda for the collaborative economy to which the CoR is now reacting through the opinion drafted by Benedetta Brighenti, deputy mayor of Castelnuovo Rangone (IT/PES), due for adoption by the CoR at its plenary session on 7-8 December The opinion expressly calls for a European regulatory framework applicable to the sharing economy. Meanwhile, the Commission s Work Programme for 2017 presented on 25 October remains silent on the issue, something deeply regretted by the CoR rapporteur: The status quo is not an option! The sharing economy offers great opportunities for cities and regions and account should be taken of the cost of non-europe in the sharing or collaborative economy. If we want to shape the sector s future at grassroots level to benefit our people, we urgently need coordinated action at EU level to tackle persisting legal uncertainties, she stresses. According to Benedetta Brighenti, if the Commission does not come up with a clear legal framework that ensures that fair competition principles are upheld, the European legislator will only be called on to endorse a certain number of judicial decisions. See in particular cases C-434/15 Asociacion Profesional Élite and C-526/15 Uber Belgium. The position of the CoR rapporteur echoes that of the European Parliament s rapporteur Nicola Danti (IT/PES), who has stressed that compared to other countries, Europe risks falling behind in this innovative sector. There is a huge market for the sharing economy, yet no internal market. Regulating price volatility of agricultural products Jacques Blanc: mayor of La Canourgue, (FR/EPP) The current Common Agricultural Policy has emphasised moving in a market-oriented direction to safeguard high-quality European agriculture for the future. However, the structural changes in food production, climate change, current sanctions against Russia and increased imports from non-eu countries have increased the price volatility of agricultural products to the detriment of farmers. The high price volatility of agricultural products has a negative impact on industry stakeholders as well as rural areas as it leads to recurring crises resulting in the disappearance of farmers and deters young people from farming. It is therefore essential to provide better protection for producers incomes to maintain agriculture across the EU, preserve vibrant rural communities and enable European farmers to contribute to European and global food security. The opinion highlights that the industry s selfregulation mechanisms are not effective and EU-level action is needed to ensure fair buying and selling conditions for European farmers and consumers. The range of risk management tools available to farmers should also be expanded according to the rapporteur: European farmers are the backbone of our economy and the key actors contributing to the development of our rural societies and therefore the local and regional decision-makers should stand up for them in their hour of need. The opinion takes a holistic view on the current situation and suggests many concrete initiatives to rectify the situation. Nº 98 November-December

18 Plenary Technical measures in fisheries Emily Westley: Member of Hastings Council, (UK/PES) The EU s future fisheries policy must provide more support for small-scale coastal fisheries, argues Emily Westley. Technical measures in fisheries govern the different fishing practices that can be used to catch fish, as well as the areas and seasons for fishing. Aimed at limiting unwanted catches and reducing fishing s impact on nature, EU technical measures in fisheries have, over time, developed into a complex set of rules, which are currently being updated in light of the reformed Common Fisheries Policy. As part of this process, in March of this year the European Commission put forward a new framework proposal for technical conservation measures. I believe that the European Commission s proposal is an important step towards simplification and regionalisation of the European Common Fisheries Policy. However, a focus on small-scale fisheries is still lacking. They are indeed the very backbone of the fragile socioeconomic life in coastal communities throughout Europe and a leading example of sustainable fishing culture, which we must preserve. Consequently, in my draft opinion I propose introducing provisions that allow small-scale fisheries to manage quotas and catches directly, on the basis of a set of established conditions and under strict control. In addition, I advocate a trust-based approach, based on partnership between all stakeholders on the ground. Policy-makers should be able to trust fishers to fully implement the reform and fishers should be able to trust policy-makers not to be left behind. Emily Westley is a member of Hastings Council (PES/UK) and CoR rapporteur on Conservation of fishery resources and the protection of marine ecosystems through technical measures. EFSI 2.0! Wim van de Donk: King s Commissioner for the Province of Noord-Brabant, (NL/EPP) The extension of the European Fund for Strategic Investments was proposed by European Commission president Jean- Claude Juncker in his State of the European Union 2016 address. Local and regional authorities have a key role to play in identifying, planning and supporting investment in their regions and as such their close involvement is crucial for the success of the investment plan, especially regarding the smaller local projects. The opinion welcomes the proposed extension both in terms of duration and financial capacity in order to stimulate employment, growth and competitiveness, and particularly welcomes the focus on SMEs and clarity around projects related to climate action, agriculture and fisheries. The aim of the investment plan should be to support investments that could not have been carried out by the EIB without EFSI support and the opinion also wishes priority to be given to cross-border projects. The importance of combining EFSI with other EU funds such as ESIF, Horizon 2020 and CEF is highlighted and strategic coordination is essential for tangible results. Regions and Cities of Europe 16 News from the EU s assembly of regional and local representatives

19 Regions and cities for sustainable and inclusive growth A look back at 2016 European Week of Regions and Cities Brussels October 2016 Thousands of project managers and beneficiaries gathered in Brussels on October for their annual rendez-vous: the European Week of Regions and Cities. Objective: making EU financing fit for the future and discussing on how to increase economic, social and territorial cohesion throughout the Union, at a time of profound uncertainty for Europe. The future of the EU s regional policy post-2020, synergies between the EU structural funds and the Investment Plan for Europe, as well as measures to remove obstacles to investment, were the hot topics of this 14th edition. Jointly organised by the European Committee of the Regions and the European Commission under the headline Regions and cities for sustainable and inclusive growth, this year s event took a look at sustainable and inclusive economic growth, as well as ways to make EU Structural and Investment Funds simpler. During the official opening in the European Parliament, the President of the European Committee of the Regions, Markku Markkula, called on the EU to listen, change and deliver when it came to better implementation of the 537 investment programmes supported by the EU Structural and Investment Funds (ESIF). He was speaking alongside the EU Commissioner for Regional and Urban Policy, Corina Creţu, the European Parliament s Vice-President, Ramon Luis Valcárcel, and the Slovak government Plenipotentiary, Anton Marcinčin. The European Week of Regions and Cities is the opportunity to listen and to turn best practice into shared knowledge and to strengthen cooperation among EU, national and local institutions, as well as universities, associations and business. It s time to deliver on our promises, stressed the CoR President. The debate kicked off the European Week s 130 working sessions and events, including, amongst others: A joint meeting between the European Parliament s Committee for Regional Development (REGI) and the CoR Commission for Territorial Cohesion Policy (COTER). Discussions were intended to support implementation of the ESIF programmes, demonstrate the results of EU investment, showcase examples of good practice and encourage input for possible future improvements. The dialogue between REGI and COTER members also focused on the performance and resultsoriented approach, in the light of an early debate on the future Cohesion Policy. An Investors Café with information stands on advisory services on EU financial instruments, European Union SME-support and support to junior enterprises. Partners of the Investors Café 2016 included the European Investment Bank (Jaspers, Fi-Compass), the European Association of Public Banks, the European Commission s Executive Agency for SMEs (Enterprise Europe Network, Horizon 2020 programmes, LIFE and EMFF) and Eurochambres, as well as entrepreneurs associations such as Entreps, EURADA, JA Europe and JADE, and the European Committee of the Regions EER initiative. A series of Urban seminars with 23 workshops and project visits focusing on sustainable urban development; and a High Level Event on Urban Agenda for Europe which allowed participants to reflect upon the progress made and the next steps to be taken to move the Urban Agenda forward. A University programme, presenting new research on regional and urban development, organised with the support of the Regional Studies Association, the Association of European Schools of Planning and the European Regional Science Association. A Master Class on EU Cohesion Policy with 28 participants from 17 EU Member States. 186 regions and cities partnered up for the event together with the European Committee of the Regions legislative works and political groups, the European Commission Directorate-General for Regional and Urban Policy and 12 other DGs. More information: European Week of Regions and Cities Reporting Mini-Site launched! Have a first look into the proceedings of this year s European Week of Regions and Cities via our on-line reporting pilot project, with 21 workshop organisers from the European Week presenting their events on-line. The full compendium of all workshops will be available later this year in PDF-format on the event website. Check out our new reporting mini-website, share it and give us your feedback we look forward to hearing from you! (COR-ewrc@cor.europa.eu) Nº 98 November-December

20 A look back at 2016 EuroPCom 2016: Reflecting [on] Europe Reflecting cor.europa.eu/europcom #europcom [on] Europe Brussels, 20 and 21 October 2016 The 7th edition of EuroPCom, Reflecting [on] Europe, took place in the European Committee of the Regions and the European Parliament on the 20th and 21st October. Annually, EuroPCom creates a space for open and critical discussion of communication experts, sharing ideas and opening opportunities for future collaboration. While the CoR is the event s coordinator, EuroPCom is a collaboration of institutional partners such as the European Parliament, Council of the EU, European Commission, and the Economic and Social Committee. In a fast-changing communication context, it is important to build on the principles of confidence and trust in order to address key political and societal challenges, while encouraging reflection on Europe as a source of inspiration. EuroPCom strived to address these issues through a varied and challenging programme of 24 sessions that inspired open and fruitful discussion among more than 600 public communication professionals from all over Europe and was followed by more than 2,000 online viewers. In 2016, EuroPCom s sessions thus took a regional and local perspective on three fundamental areas. Facing challenges: telling stories and drawing on experience addressed key political challenges such as the refugee crisis, the Eurosceptic narrative and how to communicate investment. Connecting to citizens explored local events on EU and citizens dialogues, transparency and citizen engagement, and how to empower citizens at local level. Finally, the cluster around taking new communication approaches looked at how open data, transparency and trends in visual communication could enable more effective communication. The ideas labs, a new initiative for this year, took their themes from proposals submitted by participants and created a dynamic bottom-up space for collaboration to be carried over the two days of the conference. IRE conference in Salzburg : How regions and cities can benefit from the Juncker Plan Regions and Cities of Europe Franz Schausberger Sustainability was the overarching topic at this year s Conference of European Regions and Cities, organised by the Institute of the Regions of Europe (IRE) from September 2016 in Salzburg. About 220 representatives from politics and economics met to discuss and work on sustainability strategies in the fields of finance, integration, land use, water management and tourism. Sustainability means that politicians look ahead not just to the next election but at least to the next generation to our children, according to Franz Schausberger, chair of the Board of the IRE and a representative of the Province of Salzburg at the European Committee of the Regions. Only if the subnational levels regional and local authorities can support this united Europe, and only if they are involved in European policy, will the European project have a longterm future. Regions, cities and municipalities will in future continue to be a haven of functioning democracy that is much more relevant to, and therefore much more trusted by, the general public than the national and European levels. In a panel discussion on European funding for sustainable projects participants discussed ways of implementing potential investment at regional level, the instruments available and ways for regions and cities to access them. The focus of discussion was the European Fund for Strategic Investments (EFSI), also known as the Juncker Plan. The aim of this EUR 21 billion joint initiative by the European Commission and the European Investment Bank (EIB) is to mobilise the private sector and generate a total of EUR 315 billion of investment to boost economic development within the EU. Participants coming from different Regions all over Europe noted that, although the funding was available, there was a lack of eligible projects, and that the economic and financial crisis had seriously stifled the market. They agreed that the public sector s own debt was a major obstacle to new investment. In addition the public sector was also faced with the problem of making infrastructure projects ready for the market, which is why an advisory hub was set up as part of the EFSI. The local level in particular needs support in the form of advisory services, said Wilhelm Molterer: I think it is more important to provide services than just money. Participants also felt that bureaucracy needed to be simplified so that projects could be implemented more effectively and that less complex structures were needed. Market-ready projects could also be developed at expert level, for example by setting up PPP taskforces within ministries. Under the EFSI, local authorities also have the option of pooling their projects with neighbouring authorities. The Conference of European Regions and Cities is held on an annual basis and discusses topical issues for Europe s regions and cities with a focus on future strategies and challenges for politics and the economy. Each year, it brings together around 250 political and economic representatives from the various regions of Europe. 18 News from the EU s assembly of regional and local representatives

21 EPP Group in Dubrovnik & Winter University The political groups events EPP group external meeting: the role of the EU Strategy for the Adriatic and Ionian Regions (EUSAIR) in increasing prosperity and security in Europe The EPP group in the European Committee of the Regions held its external meeting in Dubrovnik on 28 October at the invitation of Nikola Dobroslavić, president of the Dubrovnik-Neretva region in Croatia and an EPP- CoR Member. Nearly 80 EPP-CoR Members were present to debate the challenges and opportunities for the Adriatic-Ionian region, with the keynote speech delivered by Marija Vučković, deputy minister for regional development and EU funds. The first round of discussions focused on identifying the obstacles faced by the region and seeking to find answers to them through enhanced cooperation and exchange of best practices from all levels of governance. The second session aimed at strengthening regional cooperation on security, especially the possibilities offered by the macro-regional approach in promoting cross-border, transnational and interregional cooperation to help address the common security and migratory challenges. The event closed with a citizens dialogue event with Mr Dobroslavić, CoR president Markku Markkula, EPP-CoR president Michael Schneider together with Marija Vučković, deputy minister for regional development and EU funds and Snježana Bužinec, mayor of the municipality of Jakovlje. The dialogue brought together students, local decision-makers and citizens to discuss the role of the region in the European Union as well as current challenges. The 10th edition of the EPP-CoR Winter University gathered 60 journalists, journalism students and media makers in Brussels to discuss about open data and how to use it for better European storytelling. Many of the issues raised were of importance to local and regional authorities, especially on the key questions of opening up data and the benefits it can bring to European cities and regions. These can be notably felt in terms of transparency and accountability, but also in terms of efficiency. Participants had the occasion to exchange with CoR members, representatives from the European Institutions, local and regional authorities and practitioners from the field. They concluded that in view of the benefits, governments should further open up their data. This should be coupled with measures to boost data literacy both for citizens and journalists alike. Award ceremony for the 2016 PES group photo competition Imagine Europe without borders What are borders? How do they affect our lives? What makes them real or imaginary? How are they changing? What does this mean for us as individuals and as citizens of our town, region, country or the European Union? Imagine Europe without borders invited both amateur and professional photographers to capture their interpretation of this very topical issue in a photo. Prizes included up to EUR worth of photographic equipment, plus a three-day trip for two to Brussels. The three best photos were selected by a jury chaired by Olga Zrihen, vice-president of the PES group and member of the Wallonian Parliament, Belgium, along with professionals from the world of photography. At the award ceremony held on 7 December at the CoR headquarters, people had the chance to discover the winning photos and meet the 3 winners: Antonella Candiago (20 years old, from San Giustina, Italy), Bernardina Cerlek (33 years old, from Zagreb, Croatia) and Milada Kotorová (58 years old, from Kežmarok, Slovakia). Nº 98 November-December

22 The political groups events ALDE: Party congress in Warsaw During the ALDE party congress of December in Warsaw, Poland, an important delegation of the ALDE group in the European Committee of the Regions triggered a key debate with its resolution about the future of European cohesion policy. Much of the discussion centred on the future role of the national level of government and whether to simplify procedures so that local and regional managing authorities can apply directly to the European Commission for project funding. The ALDE group in the European Committee of the Regions also opened the nomination process for the 2017 Local and Regional Politicians (LeaDeR) awards. To find out more or to nominate someone for one of the awards, which aim to recognise the work of outstanding local and regional liberal and democrat politicians and foster best practice at sub-national level, visit our website: EA group s Primary School Art Competition 2016 My Region, My Language and Culture The European Alliance group in the European Committee of the Regions continues its tradition of encouraging young people to express themselves through artwork and has launched the 2016 Primary Schools Art Competition. The topic for this year My Region, My Language and Culture is designed to capture artistic expressions of language and culture in the lives of our young students across the European Union. The competition is open to children in primary schools aged between 6 and 12 years of age. This year s competition will see the participation of 20 primary schools from 10 Member States across the European Union. Winning entries will be exhibited at the Committee of the Regions at the beginning of December, after which the artworks will be transformed into postcards for the students and schools to send to their friends and families. The aim of the drawing competition is to engage children in a creative exercise to identify the role of their region, traditions, language and culture in their regions and support their creativity and innovative ideas expressed through art. More information is available at: ECR localism conference calls for reform of EU regional policy Regions and Cities of Europe The future of the EU s regional policy was in the spotlight for the ECR group s localism conference in Lecce, Italy this autumn. Taking place on Friday 21 October at the famous Teatro Paisiello, the event boasted an impressive line-up of speakers calling for EU regional policy reform, including Raffaele Fitto MEP, president of Conservatives and Reformists and mayor of Lecce, Paolo Perrone. Welcoming participants to his home province of Lecce, Raffaele Fitto said: Cohesion policy is a very important instrument and Italy is one of its main beneficiaries. However, current decisions made in the EU do not match the needs of local populations. The EU s regional policy accounts for approximately one third of the total EU budget, with the policy aiming to support all regions and cities across the EU through job creation, economic growth and sustainable development. Despite this, the gap between the richest and poorest regions in Europe has persisted and policy has not fully delivered. ECR group president Rob Jonkman said: Our conference has illustrated the urgency in reforming the EU s regional policy along a more bottom-up, place-based approach. During the conference, the example of the management of the Xylella fastidiosa outbreak was presented as a case study to demonstrate how a lack of localism can harm the economy. The outbreak, first reported in 2013, is a virus that results in olive trees no longer being able to produce olives, affecting olive oil producers in Mediterranean countries. The virus heavily impacted the south of Italy, whose economy is reliant on the olive industry. If local government had been more effectively involved, we could have better tackled the crisis, said Francesco Bruni, Member of the Italian Senate for Puglia. Other speakers included Italian Senator Francesco Bruni, Hungarian MP Zoltan Kész and Professor Antonio Palmisano. ECR vice-president Oldřich Vlasák and the ECR s COTER coordinator Pavel Branda also appeared on the panels. 20 News from the EU s assembly of regional and local representatives