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"Europe needs socially just and sustainable growth", underlines PES Group President Karl-Heinz Lambertz
Brussels,26 January 2012
In an interview broadcasted by the German radio station Deutschlandradio, the President of the PES Group in the CoR and Minister-President of the German-speaking community of Belgium, Karl-Heinz LAMBERTZ, underlines the need for a comprehensive European response to the current debt crisis.
"It is true that fiscal consolidation is at the moment necessary, and cuts to spending in the public sector are unavoidable –but there must be a constant dialogue between the governments and the relevant social partners", he underlined, referring to his own country, Belgium, where the adoption of a major reform package of the pensions system and the labour market is currently under discussion.
PRESS RELEASE
Arab Spring countries: Political challenges and opportunities for cooperation at regional and local level, to be debated in Bari by the PES Group in the Committee of the Region
Brussels, 26 Janaury 2012
How to contribute more effectively to the ongoing constitutional processes in countries involved in the Arab Spring? What role for local and regional authorities in the new legislative framework? How best to promote decentralisation and local democracy? In what ways can the European Union improve its support for democratic development and enhance its cooperation in the Mediterranean region?
These are the key questions that the PES Group in the Committee of the Regions (CoR) will address at its public event on 30 January in Bari (Italy), alongside the third plenary session of the Euro-Mediterranean Regional and Local Assembly (ARLEM).
Karl-Heinz Lambertz congratulates Hannes Swoboda, newly elected S&D Group leader
Brussels, 18 January 2012
The Group of the Progressive Alliance of Socialist and Democrats (S&D) in the European Parliament (EP) elected today Hannes SWOBODA MEP (Austria) as their new Group leader. Succeeding Martin SCHULZ, who was elected yesterday President of the European Parliament, he will guide the S&D Group until the 2014 European elections.
On behalf of the PES Group in the Committee of the Regions, PES Group President Karl-Heinz LAMBERTZ warmly congratulated Hannes SWOBODA on his election. "Hannes is an experienced European politician, who has always defended social democratic values", pointed out the PES Group President. "I am confident that given his strong commitment to a truly democratic EU, he will contribute towards putting solidarity and growth back to the top of the European political agenda ", he added.
Karl-Heinz Lambertz sees in Martin Schulz the best ally that local and regional authorities ever had at the Presidency of the European Parliament
Plenary session of the European Parliament, Strasbourg, 17 January 2012
Martin SCHULZ MEP (S&D Group, Germany) was elected today already in the first round with an overwhelming majority of 387 votes President of the Institution for the second half of the EP's term of office (January 2012-June 2014).
On behalf of the PES Group in the Committee of the Regions, PES Group President Karl-Heinz LAMBERTZ warmly welcomed the election of the new President and emphasised three major expectations from his presidency.
Socialists in the Committee of the Regions and the European Parliament set up Task Force on the future of EU cohesion policy
European Parliament, Brussels, 11 January 2012
Socialist CoR and EP political coordinators, as well as rapporteurs and shadow rapporteurs on the 2014-2020 Structural Funds gathered today .for a constitutive meeting of a political Task Force to follow up the European Commission's legislative proposals on the future EU cohesion policy.
Karl-Heinz LAMBERTZ, President of the PES Group in the CoR, and Patrizia TOIA, S&D Vice-President in charge of cohesion policy, took the commitment to present a joint progressive position on the legislative package on the future Cohesion Policy 2014-2020, to be presented to the Commissioner in charge of Regional Policy, Johannes HAHN by mid-2012.
The PES Group has a new visual identity
Brussels, 16 December 2011
At the last meeting of the PES Group, last 14 December, PES Group members approved the proposal for a new visual identity at the PES Group meeting organised alongside the plenary session of the Committee of the Regions.
"The involvement of regional and local authorities in space technologies creates EU added value", argues Hermann KUHN
Brussels, 15 December 2011
Adopted unanimously by the plenary session of the CoR, the draft opinion of the member of the Bremen Regional Parliament (Germany) responds to the European Commission communication on a Space strategy for the European Union that benefits its citizens.
"The role o regional and local authorities in the sustainable development, implementation and utilisation of space technologies should not be underestimated", urged the PES/ENVE coordinator in his introductory speech.
Reservations towards Intergovernmental Treaty and focus on growth relaunch key elements of the Committee of the Regions' Resolution on 2012 priorities
CoR Plenary Session, Brussels, 15 December 2011
In the presence of Maroš Šefcovič, European Commission Vice-President responsible for inter-institutional relations and administration, CoR members adopted today a resolution on the institution's priorities for 2012. It responds to the European Commission's Legislative and Work Programme for 2012 and reflects some of the PES Group's key political priorities.
“It is cities and regions that make the difference in the transition to sustainable development and green economy”, says Ilmar Reepalu
Brussels, 15 December 2011
In the presence of Janez POTOCNIK, European Commissioner for the Environment, the Committee of the Regions' (CoR) plenary adopted today by unanimity the draft opinion of the Mayor of Malmö (Sweden) on Contributions of the EU's local and regional authorities to the UN Conference on Sustainable Development 2012 (Rio+20).
“In times of a growing world population, sustainable development and green economy are essential elements to address the problems of global poverty, social injustice and climate change, which concern us all“, stressed the Socialist rapporteur.
"Regional and local authorities must promote concrete targets on energy efficiency", stresses Jean-Louis Joseph
Brussels, 14 December 2011
After the discussion of 39 amendments on a topic that revealed deep divisions across political groups and national delegations, the draft opinion by the Mayor of La Bastidonne and former CoR rapporteur on the Second Strategic Energy Review was adopted by majority by the CoR plenary.
“Against the backdrop of a major economic crisis, greater energy efficiency would enable the European Union to reduce its energy dependency and revitalise its economy by generating major opportunities for the energy, research and labour markets, especially at local and regional level”, argued the rapporteur in his introductory speech.
"I live, therefore I move. I move, therefore I live.": Winning amateur photographers come to Brussels to collect their prizes
Brussels, 14 December 2011
PES Group President Karl-Heinz Lambertz and Alain Hutchinson, President of the jury, welcomed today the winners of this year's photo competition "I live, therefore I move. I move, therefore I live.", organised by the PES Group in the CoR and inspired by the "Youth on the Move" flagship initiative of the Europe 2020 strategy.
PES Group members Michel Delebarre and Jean-Yves Le Drian in François Hollande's campaign team
Paris, 12 December 2011
Michel DELEBARRE, Senator-Mayor of Dunkirk and President of the Committee of the Regions' Commission for Territorial Cohesion (COTER), has joined the campaign team of François HOLLANDE, Socialist candidate running for the 2012 French presidential elections. Under the thematic field "Territories, public services and rural development", Delebarre will be responsible for local and regional authorities. François Hollande himself is Member of the French Parliament and President of the Corrèze department, in the region of Limousin.
Besides Delebarre, Jean-Yves LE DRIAN, President of the Brittany regional Council, is another PES Group member in Hollande's team. The former CoR rapporteur on the Green paper for Territorial Cohesion is in charge of the defence portfolio.
"The European grouping of territorial cooperation must become a preferred tool for implementing European policies", stresses Michel Delebarre
Meeting of the Committee of the Regions' Commission for Territorial Cooperation,
Brussels, 5 December 2011
With just one vote against, members of the COTER commission adopted the draft opinion of Michel DELEBARRE, Mayor of Dunkirk (PES/France), on the Revision of the regulation on the European grouping of territorial cooperation (EGTC).
"The future of regions goes through territorial cooperation", said the rapporteur in his introductory speech. "I am convinced that the EGTC is a viable cooperation tool that responds to the real needs of European citizens", he added.
"The voice of regional and local authorities needs to be better taken into account in the reform of the structural funds ", urges Catiuscia Marini
Brussels, 5 December 2011
The 1st Vice-President of the PES Group in the CoR and President of the Umbria Region (Italy) presented today her working document on the General Regulation laying down common provisions on the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), the European Social Fund (ESF), the Cohesion Fund, the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD) and the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund (EMFF).
The presentation took place in the framework of the structured dialogue on the reform of EU structural funds, organised by the CoR with the participation of Johannes HAHN, Commissioner in charge of Regional Policy, László ANDOR, Commissioner in charge of employment, social affairs and inclusion, representatives of associations of regional and local authorities and other key stakeholders.
"The introduction of a Financial Transaction Tax is more urgent than ever", says Ralf Christoffers
Brussels, 2 December 2011
After the discussion of 45 amendments on a topic that highlighted divergent points of view amongst political groups, the own-initiative draft opinion on a Common System of financial transaction tax (FTT) by the Minister for Economic and European Affairs of the State of Brandenburg (PES/Germany) was adopted by majority by the members of the ECOS commission.
“The introduction of a European financial transaction tax is an important step to stop short term speculative activities and to re-establish the supremacy of democratic politics over the financial markets", underlined Ralf CHRISTOFFERS in his introductory speech.
“Respect for human dignity is a key principle of European integration”, stresses Per Bodker Andersen
Brussels, 1 December 2011
Members of the CIVEX commission adopted today unanimously the draft opinion by Per BODKER ANDERSEN, Deputy Mayor of Kolding (PES/Denmark), on Victims’ rights. The document responds to a package of one European Commission communication and two legislative proposals, which set minimum standards for the protection of victims of crime and propose measures to make victims' protection orders enforceable in different Member States.
“Local and regional authorities are in most cases the first point of contact for victims of crime and responsible for providing a wide range of support services as well as finding appropriate solutions to ensure protection for vulnerable victims, mainly women, young people and children”, pointed out the rapporteur.
The PES Group in the CoR fully subscribes to the principles for
action of the Party of European Socialists
Brussels,1 December 2011
The Council of the Party of European Socialists (PES), the organ which debates major policy issues and decides the PES priorities in the year ahead, gathered in Brussels on 24 November and unanimously adopted the PES Declaration of Principles. The document, which has been the fruit of extensive work over the last year, identifies fundamental values that should govern any action undertaken by the PES. The PES Group in the CoR has been closely involved in the elaboration of these principles.
PES Group President Karl-Heinz LAMBERTZ congratulates new Interim President of the Party of European Socialists
Brussels, 25 November 2011
Following the unexpected resignation of PES President Poul Nyrup Rasmussen for personal reasons, the PES Presidency elected on 24 November Sergei STANISHEV, Chairman of the Bulgarian Socialist Party (BSP) and former Prime Minister (2005-2009), to the position of PES Interim President. Mr Stanishev will hold this office until the next ordinary PES Congress, (to be held in Bucharest on 28-29 September 2012), which will elect the next PES President.
The EDUC commission overwhelmingly supports Mia De Vits' opinion on the modernisation of higher education
Brussels, 23 November 2011
With just two votes against, members of the EDUC commission adopted the draft opinion of PES Group member Mia DE VITS, member of the Flemish Parliament (Belgium). The document responds to the European Commission's reform agenda for higher education, which is part of the EU strategy for growth and jobs, aiming to help the EU economy overcome the current crisis.
PRESS RELEASE
The PES Group in the Committee of the Regions puts the call for a European agenda for Social Housing at the heart of the debates of the PES Convention
Brussels, 22 November 2011
How to ensure affordable and universally accessible housing for all? In which way can housing contribute to fostering growth and sustainability? What can be done to guarantee better governance in the field of housing?
These are the key questions that the PES Group in the Committee of the Regions (CoR) will address at its workshop in the framework of the Convention of the Party of European Socialists (PES). In times of financial, economic and social crisis, in which thousands of citizens all over Europe experience greater difficulties in finding decent housing, the PES Group is looking at the formulation of a European response to the challenges of Social Housing.
LET'S KEEP MOVING – Smart, sustainable and fair transport policy solutions for Europe
Brussels, 10 November 2011
The PES Group held its third seminar in the lunchtime cycle on Sustainable Europe, focusing on Smart, sustainable and fair transport policy solutions for Europe in cooperation with the Foundation for European Progressive Studies (FEPS). Key speakers were PES/CoR Group member Antonio COSTA, Mayor of Lisbon (Portugal), rapporteur on the EU's White Paper on Transport, and Laurent DAUBY, Director of knowledge and membership services at the International Association of Public Transport (UITP).
"Public procurement policy must be socially and environmentally sustainable,
and SME-friendly", stresses Henk Kool
European Parliament, Brussels, 20 October 2011
Henk KOOL, PES coordinator of the CoR Commission for Economic and Social Affairs (ECOS) and Vice-Mayor of the City of Den Haag (PES/Netherlands), represented today the CoR at the S&D Group meeting on the revision of the public procurement directives. "Making public money work for people – towards a revision of the public procurement Directives" brought together decision-makers, trade unions and social and environmental NGOs. It was organised at the initiative of Stephen HUGHES MEP (UK), S&D Group Vice-President, and in cooperation with Alejandro CERCAS MEP (Spain), S&D Group coordinator of the European Parliament's Committee on Employment and Social Affairs.
Active Ageing: turning the challenges into opportunities
Brussels, 12 October 2011
Only a few months away from the European Year for Active Ageing 2012, the PES Group held a workshop in the framework of this year's Open Days on active ageing. The aim of the debate was to discuss the challenges and opportunities of active ageing by sharing good practices and by putting forward concrete policy proposals.
Special attention was paid to active ageing at local and regional level. PES members Per BODKER ANDERSEN, Deputy-Mayor of Kolding (Denmark), and Clemens LINDEMANN, President of the District of Saar-Palatinate (Germany), were amongst the panel speakers."Concrete steps are needed at EU level to promote mobility for local and regional authority staff within and beyond the EU", argues Mireille Lacombe
Brussels, 12 October 2011
Adopted unanimously by the CoR plenary, the draft own-initiative opinion of the Vice-President of Puy-de-Dôme General Council (France) calls for long-awaited legal provisions that would lift existing barriers to temporary secondments of local and regional authority staff to other local and regional authorities. "Such mobility would facilitate the implementation of the European acquis, contribute to cohesion and foster cooperation amongst local and regional authorities, ultimately contributing to territorial development", pointed out Mireille LACOMBE
"Local and regional authorities are best placed to raise awareness about citizens' fundamental rights", argues Lotta Hakansson Harju
Brussels, 12 October 2011
Adopted unanimously by the plenary session of the CoR, the opinion of the Member of Järfälla Municipal Council (PES/Sweden) responds to the European Commission communication on the Strategy for the effective implementation of the Charter of Fundamental Rights by the European Union.
"It is at the local and regional levels that many of the fundamental rights are provided for and guaranteed", underlined Lotta HAKANSSON HARJU, noting the added value brought by the expertise of local and regional authorities with regards to healthcare, education and social security.
PRESS RELEASE
Public Services: Committee of the Regions behind PES Group President LAMBERTZ on raising de minimis, rejecting population criterion and questioning European Commission role in efficiency measuring
Brussels, 12 October 2011
Adopted by overwhelming majority by the plenary session of the Committee of the Regions, the opinion drafted by PES Group President Karl-Heinz Lambertz sends a clear message to the European Commission.
The opinion responds to the European Commission's proposal for a legislative package on the revision of state aid rules governing Services of General Economic Interest (SGEI), published on 16 September (the so-called "Almunia package").
The European Commission picks up a number of points defended by the CoR in its first opinion, elaborated by the same rapporteur and adopted at the July plenary session, regarding the local, cross-border and EU dimension of public services, such as the extension of the exemption from state aid rules to social services of general interest.
However, the Committee of the Regions had to reiterate several key demands:
- raise the de minimis threshold, below which public aid is not subject to State aid control, to EUR 800 000 a year (the European Commission proposes only EUR 150 000 per year);
- abandon the local authority population criterion among the conditions for applying the new de minimis regulation; it considers that population size is largely irrelevant when it comes to measuring the impact of an authority's activity on trade and that it would be wrong to penalise pooling of services, particularly where there are joint municipal authorities;
- reject the European Commission's intention to evaluate the economic efficiency of public services compensation, since such evaluation would go well beyond its remit;
- provide a more appropriate definition of "basic social services", those that will in future be exempted from state aid qualifications.
The PES Group elects its new Executive
Brussels, 11 October 2011
Meeting ahead of the plenary session of the Committee of the Regions, the PES Group elected today Catiuscia MARINI, President of the Umbria Region (Italy) as its First Vice-President, also responsible for cohesion policy. She will assist Karl-Heinz LAMBERTZ, Minister-President of Belgium's German-speaking Community, who had been elected in June as new President of the PES Group. A convinced European and former MEP (S&D Group), Catiuscia Marini will work closely with President Lambertz to take forward the Group's political priorities, increase its impact within the European institutions as well as strengthen its cooperation with the PES family.
"Together we will work to anchor the European project in our regions and cities, in accordance with the principles of solidarity and cooperation", told the newly elected Vice-President PES Group members.
Photo competition "I live therefore I move // I move therefore I live": meet the jury!
Brussels, 11 October 2011
The jury of the photo competition "I live therefore I move // I move therefore I live" will meet on 12 October, alongside the plenary session of the Committee of the Regions to select the best photographies of this year's edition.
This year, the jury will be chaired by PES Group member Alain Hutchinson, member of the Brussels Parliament. The Group will also be represented by Elisabeth Vitouch, member of the municipal council of Vienna.
the photography professional field will be represented by, several times awarded photo-reporters Cédric Gerbehaye and Gaël Turine, and by Stéphanie Bliard, assistant curator of the internationally renowned Museum of photography of Charleroi.
The work of the jury will not be easy as almost 300 entries have been submitted.
¨Europe needs to invest in social housing policies and foster solidarity on the ground¨, urges Alain Hutchinson
Brussels, 11 October 2011
With only two votes against, CoR members adopted today the draft own-initiative opinion by the Member of the Brussels-Capital Regional Parliament on A European agenda for social housing.
¨For the first time, our institution raises this topic of prior concern to the other European institutions and asks to set up a real European agenda for social housing¨, underlined the rapporteur in his introductory remarks.
"We need to boost our industry policy through a coordinated response at regional and local level ", argues Paxti Lopez
Brussels, 11 October 2011
Members of the Committee of the Regions (CoR) adopted today by unanimity the draft opinion of the President of the Basque Government (Spain), responding to the European Commission's Europe 2020 flagship initiative on an Integrated Industrial Policy for the Globalisation Area.
"Local and regional authorities play a key role in restoring confidence in the EU", tells Martin Schulz MEP to the PES Group in the Committee of the Regions
Brussels, 11 October 2011
The President of the European Parliament's S&D Group and candidate to the EP presidency for the second half of the mandate (January 2012 - June 2014) addressed today the members of the PES Group, meeting ahead of the Committee of the Regions' (CoR) plenary session.
PES Group President Karl-Heinz LAMBERTZ opened the debate, pointing to the dramatic repercussions for local and regional authorities from the imposition of austerity measures by national governments across the EU.
“Regions and cities count on an integrated approach to cohesion policy”, argue Michel DELEBARRE and Giorgos KAMINIS
Opening session of the 2011 Open Days, European Parliament, 10 October 2011
Under the motto “Investing in Europe's future: Regions and cities delivering smart, sustainable and inclusive growth”, the President of the Committee of the Regions, Mercedes BRESSO (PES/Italy) opened today together with the European Commissioner in charge of Regional Policy, Johannes HAHN and the Chair of the European Parliament' Regional Development Committee (REGI), Danuta HÜBNER the ninth edition of the European Week of Regions and Cities (OPEN DAYS).
The PES Group was represented by the President of the CoR's Commission on Territorial Cohesion Michel DELEBARRE, Mayor of Dunkirk and member of the French Senate, and Giorgos KAMINIS, Mayor of Athens (Greece).
The PES Group in the CoR fully supports the call of the Party of European Socialists for a democratic, accountable and transparent credit rating system
Meeting of the PES Presidency, Brussels, 6 October 2011
Represented by Alain HUTCHINSON, Member of the Brussels-Capital Regional Parliament (Belgium), the PES Group participated yesterday in the works of the Presidency of the Party of European Socialists (PES), the highest organ for the management of the day-to-day business of the PES and for the execution of the tasks as set out by these Statutes. The Presidency adopted a declaration calling for immediate regulatory measures to tackle the most urgent problems of the private credit-rating system and the creation of a European Independent Credit Rating Agency.
“We need to promote regional and local energy efficiency plans that take up the real challenges on the ground”, says Jean-Louis JOSEPH to ENVE members
Malmö, 3 October 2011
Responding to the European Commission communication on energy efficiency, the draft opinion of Jean-Louis JOSEPH, Mayor of Bastidonne (France), obtained the overwhelming support of ENVE members, having gathered at the external ENVE meeting in Malmö (Sweden).
"The promotion of environmental democracy is driven at grassroots level", argues Ilmar Reepalu
Malmö, 3 October 2011
Members of the ENVE commission adopted today by unanimity the draft opinion Ilmar REEPALU, Mayor of Malmö (Sweden), on The contribution of the EU's local and regional authorities to the UN Conference on sustainable development 2012 (Rio+20).
"Cities and regions make a vital contribution to the creation of a sustainable society", said in his introductory speech Mr Reepalu, who is the Chair of the CoR Commission for the Environment, Climate Change and Energy (ENVE). "We need to make sure that the Rio+20 conference adopts a coherent multilevel governance approach, based on partnership, synergy and shared responsibilityglobally and between all levels of governance", he emphasised.
René Souchon regrets Agriculture Council deadlock over European food aid scheme
Brussels, 28 September 2011
The President of the Auvergne Regional Council (PES/France) and CoR rapporteur on the Common Agriculture Policy (CAP) deeply regrets that the Agriculture and Fisheries Council, because of the opposition of a small number of Member States, does not support the European Commission's proposal for amending the legislation to allow the full allocation of 500 million euro planned for the European Programme of Food Aid for the most Deprived (PEAD) to be released for both 2012 and 2013. The Council met in Brussels, on 20 September.
Karl-Heinz Lambertz congratulates Klaus Wowereit for his re-election as Berlin mayor
Brussels, 20 September 2011
The Social Democratic Party of Germany (SPD) emerged as the strongest force in Sunday's election in the city-state of Berlin. The current mayor, Klaus WOWEREIT, was confirmed in his office for the third time.
"I warmly congratulate Klaus for his re-election", said PES Group President Karl-Heinz LAMBERTZ, who added: " For the seventh time in the round of the seven regional elections held in Germany this year, the Social Democrats get into government and this result will no doubt be reflected also in the next national elections".
Karl-Heinz Lambertz congratulates Social Democrat Helle Thorning-Schmidt, Denmark's next Prime Minister
Brussels, 16 September 2011
Social Democrats and their centre-left allies won yesterday's parliamentary elections in Denmark, defeating the Liberal Democrats of Lars Løkke Rasmussen, the outgoing prime minister.
"Helle Thorning-Schmidt has put an end to the ten-year Liberal-Conservative rule and her election as the country's first ever woman Prime Minister signals a bright new start for Danish politics", said PES Group President Karl-Heinz Lambertz.
Karl-Heinz LAMBERTZ congratulates Martin SCHULZ on his nomination as S&D candidate to the EP Presidency
European Parliament, Strasbourg, 14 September 2011
The Group of the Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats (S&D) in the European Parliament (EP) nominated yesterday its leader, the German MEP Martin SCHULZ, as candidate to the presidency of the European Parliament for the second half of its term of office (January 2012-June 2014). If elected, he will succeed current EP President Jerzy Buzek (EPP/Poland).
Martin Schulz has been a Member of the Parliament since 1994 and President of the EP's Socialist and later S&D Group since 2004.
"If we really want to enforce territorial cohesion, we need to better connect people within Europe", tells Michel Delebarre to the European Parliament
European Parliament, Brussels, 8 September 2011
The President of the CoR Commission for Territorial Cohesion (COTER) and Mayor of Dunkirk (PES/France) represented today the CoR at the discussions of the European Parliament's Committee on Transport and Tourism on the draft report of Mathieu Grosch (EPP/Belgium) on the European Commission's White Paper - Roadmap to a Single European Transport Area.
