ACTIVITIES / Debate Europe
Political Groups activities
The Bureau of the Committee of the Regions agreed in November 2005 to launch a new communication initiative in support of members' political and information activities in the framework of Plan D for Democracy, Dialogue and Debate. The CoR scheme is aimed at:
- promoting and enhancing the role of the CoR as
institutional representative of the regional and local authorities of the
European Union and privileged discussion partner of their representative
associations;
- informing people of the activities and objectives of the CoR.
The initiative is funded and organised via the four
political groups of the CoR. Members may, individually or together with other
members, propose one or more projects for the use of the funds. In 2007, EUR
400,000 was allocated for members' political and information activities. Rules
applying to the initiative are set out in a regulation
which entered into force on 1 January 2006.
European People's Party (EPP)
2007
2007 Summer University: "Local Media Meets Europe - Europe Meets Local
Media"
On 12-13 June 2007 the EPP Group in the Committee of the Regions is organising in Brussels its second Summer University for local and regional journalists and press officers. This year's Summer University will be dedicated to energy and climate change and to the enhanced security in Europe. The main objective of the Summer University is to encourage local and regional media to report more frequently on EU affairs in order to bring Europe closer to its citizens.
Competition for students in higher education: "Do you speak Europe?"
From 26 February to 30 April 2007 the EPP Group in the Committee of the Regions is holding its first competition for students in higher education on the theme of "Do you speak Europe?". Through this contest the EPP Group wants to encourage young people to express Europe with their own words. The aim is to produce an original brochure aimed at general public and explaining practical achievements and advantages of the EU and the role of cities and regions in the European integration process.
2006
2006 Summer University: "Local Media Meets Europe - Europe Meets Local
Media"
On 19-20 September 2006, the EPP Group of the Committee of the Regions organised its first Summer University for local and regional media. More than 70 journalists from Europe's regions and cities came to Brussels to discuss the future of Europe, and in particular the Constitution, Europe's borders, the EU budget, the Services Directive, and the implementation of the Strategy for Growth and Jobs through the EU's Cohesion policy with key EU political personalities and local and regional politicians. The 2006 Summer University confirmed that a more decentralised and participatory approach is needed in the EU's communication and information strategy.
EPP website
Group of the Party of European Socialists (PES Group)
2007
Within the framework of
information and communication activities for CoR
members, the PES Group organises an extraordinary meeting in Brussels on 8 May 2007, dedicated to the implementation of the Barcelona childcare targets at local, regional and national levels. H igh- quality affordable childcare is a political priority for the PES Group because its provision is ensured mainly at sub-national level and it is key to reaching the Lisbon targets as well as realising equal opportunities for wo men and men in the EU. The event will encourage the exchange of best practices at national, regional and local level, fostering a constructive debate between policy makers and childcare practitioners.
2006
Conference, Porto, 7 December 2006
Presentation of best practices from women working for the promotion of women's economic and political representation at sub-national level.
Conference, Brussels, 29 November 2006.
Exchange of views on current communication challenges related to EU regional policy and European affairs. Journalists, press and communication officers of Socialist and Social-democratic European parties as well as the Socialist Groups of the EP and the CoR were involved in this event.
PES Group Annual Extraordinary meeting, Bordeaux, 29 May 2006
Organised at the invitation of Alain ROUSSET, President of the Aquitaine Region in France, this meeting took place exactly one year after the 'No' vote at the French referendum on the draft Constitutional Treaty. The meeting focused on the territorial dimension of Plan D for Democracy, Dialogue and Debate.
PES Group website
Group of the Alliance of Liberals and
Democrats for Europe (ALDE)
Mission Statement for the EU
On 22 March 2007, in the context of the COR Plenary Session in Rome, the ALDE Group in the Committee of the Regions launched its proposed 'Mission Statement for the European Union' to explain in 10 points the purpose and the need for an efficient EU in the 21st century.
Annemie Neyts, ELDR Party President; Graham Watson, Leader of the European Parliament ALDE Group; Pat Cox, President of the International European Movement and former President of the European Parliament; Artur Mas, President of Convergencia Democratica de Catalunya; Kristiina Ojuland, Vice-President of the Estonian Reform Party; and other liberal leaders and media representatives joined ALDE Group President Ivo Opstelten for this event.
Mobility seminar
The ALDE Group in the COR organised a seminar on 18 December 2006 on promoting citizens' mobility in the European Union, to tie into the European Year of Workers' Mobility 2006.
The event brought together mobility experts from European regions and cities, the European Commission and European Parliament, to discuss opportunities and potential obstacles to mobility across Europe.
ALDE website
Union for Europe of the Nations - European Alliance (UEN-EA)
2007
UEN-EA Schools Competition 2007
Given the success of last year's competition 11 schools from 6 Member States are currently participating in the UEN-EA Group Secondary Schools Competition. Students are taking part in a competition involving a quiz and essay writing competition encouraging them to learn more about Europe and each others' regions as well as debate and discuss the future of the EU.
Two winners will be selected from each school and will travel to the June Plenary Session of the Committee of the Regions in Brussels where they will participate in a series of meetings. Students will also take part in a discussion over the future of Europe with members of the Committee of the Regions.
2006
Active Ageing in the EU
The Union for Europe of the Nations-European Alliance (UEN-EA) hosted a seminar on 5 December 2006 to discuss Active Ageing and citizens' role in the development of the EU. The seminar focused on the ways in which Europe's senior citizens can contribute to the development of Europe and how the EU can benefit from their experience and knowledge. The meeting was attended by MEPs, the European Commission, experts and representatives of groups for older people from around Europe.
UEN-EA Seminar on "Communicating Europe" Tallinn , Estonia
The UENEA Group held its annual Extraordinary Meeting in Tallinn, Estonia on 8 September 2006. The meeting was followed by a seminar on engaging citizens on a dialogue on the future of the EU at the local level attended by senior local and regional politicians from across the EU, as well as MEPs and local politicians and Government Ministers from Estonia.
Secondary Schools competition 2006
The UEN-EA Group in the Committee of the Regions held a pan-European competition for secondary schools across the EU. A pilot project was launched in schools in five member states. School pupils took part in a quiz and essay writing competition to encourage them to learn more about the Committee of the Regions, the EU and the regions of the partner schools.
The quiz was initiated, designed and planned by members of the UEN-EA Group, one of four political groups in the Committee of the Regions. Members of the UEN-EA group from each of the pilot areas helped to organise the competition in a local school. The winners from each region were invited to Brussels to attend the June plenary session of the Committee of the Regions and a special CoR meeting where they debated and discussed issues relating to their home regions, the EU as well as the future of the EU.
UEN-EA website