• Regional separatism

  Press release: 'We need to strike a balance between regional and local differences, and European cooperation in order to make unity in diversity a reality', stresses Karl-Heinz Lambertz

  14 May 2013
  High level academics, politicians and journalists met today in Brussels to discuss with members of the PES Group in the Committee of the Regions (CoR) the challenges posed by regional movements for autonomy or independence.

• Milk quota

  'The territorial impact of the phasing out of milk quotas must be carefully considered', stresses René Souchon

  30 April 2013
  The NAT commission adopted today by overwhelming majority the draft opinion on Smoothly phasing out the milk quota system, by the President of the Auvergne Region (PES/France). "In many regions, milk production – which represents a total of 15% of the value of the common agriculture production - is a key pillar of the economy and plays an important role in developing a sustainable agriculture", underlined the rapporteur in his introductory speech, stressing that the market reform process needs to better take account of regional and structural differences in milk farming and the milk industry, and, in particular, of the role of small and medium-sized family farms.

• Smart cities

  ‘Local authorities must be recognized as drivers of innovation’, stresses Ilmar Reepalu

  24 April 2013
  The ENVE commission adopted today by overwhelming majority the draft opinion on Smart cities and communities – European innovation partnership (SCS), presented by the Mayor of Malmö (Sweden), who emphasised that “in many cases, it is cities that first and foremost contribute to develop a sustainable society.”

• Frontier workers

  'We need to improve the social dimension of European labour mobility' stressed PES Group President Karl-Heinz Lambertz

  23 April 2013
  The ECOS commission adopted today by unanimity the draft opinion on Frontier workers, presented by the Minister-President of the German-speaking Community of Belgium. "More than one third of EU citizens live in cross-border areas, meaning that crossing borders is part of their daily life, be it for work or leisure activities", stressed the rapporteur, reminding that young people in particular benefit from the opportunities to develop their skills through cross-border work experience

• Economic and political situation in Portugal

  "The way out of the economic crisis goes through investment in social policy ", stresses José Luís Carneiro

  19 April 2013
  Ahead of the COTER seminar held in Porto at the invitation of PES member José Luís Carneiro, Mayor of Baião, a delegation of PES Group members had yesterday an exchange of views with members of the Portuguese Socialist Party (PS), including João Ribeiro, PS Spokesman and International Secretary, and Manuel Pizarro, currently running for the mayorship of Porto. Topics for discussion included the economic and political situation in Portugal, as well as the management by the local and regional authorities of the employment crisis in the EU.

• EU budget

  2014-2020 EU budget: Karl-Heinz Lambertz and Martin Schulz agree that citizens must not fall victims of a last-minute low-cost deal

  12 April 2013
  Taking the floor on behalf of the PES Group, President Karl-Heinz Lambertz responded yesterday to the intervention of the President of the European Parliament, Martin Schulz, who joined CoR members during the institution's 100th plenary session for a debate on the challenges faced by the two institutions, and in particular the future EU budget.

• Press release

  Press release: PES and ALDE Groups in the CoR firmly condemn criminalisation of homeless people in Hungary

  11 April 2013
  The Presidents of the PES and ALDE Groups in the Committee of the Regions (CoR), Karl-Heinz Lambertz and Bas Verkerk, express their deep concern over the recent moves of the Hungarian authorities which allow for the criminalisation of homelessness by changes brought to the Hungarian constitution. Homelessness is a major challenge for many local and regional authorities over Europe, and the problem has reached alarming dimensions with the economic crisis which in many countries has led people to lose their homes. The Hungarian Parliament has recently voted an amendment to the 2012 Constitution including the provision that criminalises those 'residing habitually in public places', a clause which had previously been rejected for being incompatible with the human right to dignity by the country's Constitutional Court.

• Industrial policy

  'Regions and cities are key drivers in implementing the European industrial policy', stresses Claude Gewerc

  11 April 2013
  Members of the Committee of the Regions (CoR) expressed today their overwhelming support for the CoR opinion on A Stronger European industry for growth and economic recovery, drafted by Claude Gewerc, President of Picardy Regional Council (PES/France). The opinion was also warmly welcomed by the European Parliament's rapporteur, Reinhard Bütikofer (Greens).

• State aid modernisation

  'State aid for the purpose of rescuing and restructuring firms is an essential tool to help regions out of the crisis', stresses Christophe Rouillon

  11 April 2013
  “The crisis has restored the legitimacy of public investment, and regional and local authorities are once again recognised as being active players in the economy”, stressed the mayor of Coulaines in his introductory speech. "Therefore, we should avoid to fall in the trap of moral or ideological judgements: State aid for rescuing and restructuring firms in difficulty is an essential tool to maintain the economic fabric of a region in a period of instability, by preserving industrial know-how, fostering educational and vocational training and promoting the preservation of jobs”, he explained.

• Transition processes

  'Regional and local authorities are key actors in promoting transition processes', stresses Maciej Kobylinski

  11 April 2013
  CoR members adopted today by unanimity the draft opinion of the Mayor of Slupsk (PES/Poland) on the EU support for sustainable change in transition societies. It is part of the EU's response to recent political transitions in its neighbourhood, notably in the countries of the Arab Spring.

• Cloud computing

  Cloud computing: dissemination of advance technology must go hand-in-hand with informed usage, argues Gabor Bihary

  11 April 2013
  CoR members adopted quasi-unanimously the opinion of the Member of Budapest General Assembly (PES/Hungary), which responds to the European Commission strategy for cloud computing (referring to the storage of data on remote computers, accessible by users over the internet).

• Gender equality

  FEATURES: Back to basics: equal rights for women

  05 April 2013
  A few weeks ago, on 8 March, we celebrated yet another International Women's Day, briefly preceded and equally briefly followed by the usual proclamatory literature and events about women's rights. There is nothing wrong with international, European or national days in defence of a cause, but what really matters is the in between celebrations. This comes with the stark realisation that equality of rights between women and men is still not a reality in the EU and, to make matters worse, changing things does not even seem to be a political priority.

• Elections in Malta

  Karl-Heinz Lambertz congratulates Joseph Muscat and the Malta Labour Party on historic election victory

  11 March 2013
  The Malta Labour Party marked a historic victory in yesterday's general elections, obtaining 54.8% of the votes, and putting an end to the 15-year rule of the conservative Nationalist Party. Joseph Muscat, the 39-year-old leader of the Malta Labour Party and former MEP, will become the new Prime Minister.

• Happy International Women’s Day

  Message of PES Group President Karl-Heinz Lambertz on International Women’s Day

  08 March 2013
  Gender inequalities persist in the EU, with varying intensity from one Member State to the next but invariably disastrous for half of Europe’s population, and not only. Women are the most likely victims of poverty, unemployment, precarious working conditions and the gender pay gap.

• Youth guarantee

  Karl-Heinz Lambertz welcomes crucial agreement on youth guarantee by Employment and Social Policy Council

  28 February 2013
  'The European Socialist family has just scored a major victory in the fight against youth unemployment. The PES Group in the CoR is proud to have contributed towards today's decision of the Council of Ministers to introduce youth guarantees across the EU', stated the President of the PES Group, underlining that the intense campaign of the Party of European Socialists, which the PES Group has fully supported, has been instrumental in securing rapid progress on this issue.

Saturday 25 May

29 May PES Group Bureau meeting - JDE51 30 May PES group meeting - JDE52 19 June PES Group ENVE Coordination meeting - JDE53 02 July PES Group Bureau meeting - JDE51 03 July PES group meeting - JDE52