Valcárcel: "together we can restore and consolidate the social and economic Europe"

For 20 years the Committee of the Regions has advocated a subsidiarity-based European Union

​President of the Committee of the Regions (CoR), Ramón Luis Valcárcel Siso (ES/EPP), reflects on the past and future developments of the CoR and its institutional role within the European Union.

"During its plenary session of 25-26 June, the Committee of the Regions will celebrate its 20th anniversary. A week ahead of the start of a newly elected European Parliament and just some months ahead of the installation of a new European Commission College it is a good occasion to look back, to think what we have achieved and also to debate about the future role of the Committee of the Regions.

"Looking back, the Committee made clearly good use of the prerogatives in which the Treaties provide for. As a consultative body the Committee succeeded in influencing the key EU legislative with a direct administrative, regulatory or financial impact on regional and local authorities. Over time it reinforced its role as a political assembly giving expression to regional and local democracy at the European level. Inciting EU institutions and Member States to actively engage with regions and cities the Committee of the Regions helps to build confidence and to close the 'delivery gap' of EU policies on the ground.

"Since its inaugural plenary session in 1994 the Committee of the Regions' tasks have gradually increased. Strongly advocating a subsidiarity based European Union, the Committee has managed to be entrusted the task of guardian of the subsidiarity principle together with national parliaments. The Lisbon Treaty widened the policy areas for which the Committee is to be obligatory consulted. In addition to the European Commission today also the European Parliament and the Council of the European Union make use of the CoR's expertise asking for its formal opinion on priority dossiers of territorial relevance.

"Meanwhile the Committee has not refrained from strengthening its ties with EU institutions and organisations active within Europe's borders and beyond. In line with its Mission Statement the Committee has set up the necessary networks and platforms in order to bring in the expertise of regional and local authorities on priority dossiers and to closer engage with the EU's wider neighbourhood.

"Since the outbreak of the crisis in autumn 2008, EU institutions, Member States and regional and local authorities have, however, all been incited to revise the way they relate to each other and notably how they cooperate together in order to jointly address the deep social and economic impact of the sovereign debt crisis in Europe. The EU needed to get back on the path towards recovery and sustainable growth. Certainly, the process of Economic Monetary Union completion has tested the resilience of public authorities at all levels, but it is my belief that 'more Europe' is indispensable to ensure sustainable growth and quality jobs in the future. Cohesion amongst Member States needs to be restored and the increasing 'spread' amongst the EU's richest and most lagging behind regions is to be inversed.

"It became clear from the crisis that in the 21st century all levels of governance in the EU are interdependent and interconnected. Only by working together, building a multilevel governance based European Union, political leaders at all levels have a chance to restore and consolidate the European economic model of social market economy and our way of life for the future.

"It is against this background that I plea for the strengthening of the political and institutional role of the Committee as a unique EU's Assembly of Regional and Local Representatives embodying a Europe of closer cooperation, legitimacy and proximity."

Ramón Luis Valcárcel Siso (ES/EPP), President of the Committee of the Regions