CoR members held today a debate on the 'Future of Europe' with Antonio Tajani, President of the European Parliament, who in his intervention emphasized on the important role of regional and local authorities in shaping Europe's future. "Cities and regions are the place where citizens see the EU legislation implemented", he said.
Taking the floor on behalf of the PES Group, President Catiuscia Marini, President of the Umbria Region (IT), noted that "being the institution closest to the citizens, we know very well the anger, the concerns and the frustrations of citizens. The European Union urgently needs a 'social cure' in order to improve their living conditions", she stressed.
"We must pay particular attention to young people who are the ones who have suffered the most from the effects of the economic crisis, and take better care of migrants' rights and particularly of unaccompanied minors", she added.
Last but not least, President Marini and Karl-Heinz Lambertz, the CoR's First Vice-President, underlined the importance of cohesion policy as a the real driving force of Europe. "We have to build on European politics that express solidarity, cooperation and a sustainable growth", she concluded.
