From a socialist and progressive point of view, the CIVEX Commission for Citizenship, Governance, Institutional and External Affairs covers some the politically most sensitive topics, such as migration, human rights and enlargement, as well as external relations andsubsidiarity and governance-related issues. The Conference on the Future of Europe as a horizontal issue linked to democracy and possibly Treaty changes also falls under the CIVEX remit. Therefore, the CIVEX commission is crucial to achieve some of the most important political priorities of the PES group, namely to strengthen the democratic foundations of the EU and improve its governance through active subsidiarity, as well as to ensure that an EU framework for migration is delivered taking into due account the voices of cities and regions. Moreover, it is through the CIVEX Commission that Local and Regional Authorities will hopefully be able to make their voices heard in the Conference on the Future of Europe.
The CIVEX commission mirrors several parliamentary committees in the European Parliament, among which AFET, DROI, LIBE, AFCO and DEVE. CIVEX also interacts with different Directorates-General (DG) of the European Commission: the DGs for Neighbourhood and Enlargement Negotiations (NEAR), International Cooperation and Development (DEVCO), Migration and Home Affairs (HOME).
The remit of the CIVEX Commission covers the following fields:
In addition, CIVEX is responsible for the following bodies (related to CIVEX remits):
From a socialist and progressive point of view, the COTER commission for Territorial Cohesion Policy and EU Budget deals with important topics for the future of regions and cities in Europe. The European Structural and Investment Funds, cohesion in urban and rural areas, the territorial approach, territorial cooperation and transport and urban policies are main drivers for change. They allow the implementation of integrated strategies based on the needs identified in cities and regions. In the COTER commission, we focus on building a more cohesive Europe based on solidarity that leaves no people and no places behind.
The remit of the Commission for Territorial Cohesion Policy and EU Budget covers the following fields:
From a socialist and progressive point of view, the ECON Commission for Economic Policy is politically particularly sensitive, as it relates notably to economic governance, public investment, competition policy and public services, the governance aspects of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) as well as trade policy, including the follow-up of the negotiations with the United Kingdom.
The ECON commission mirrors several parliamentary committees in the European Parliament, among which ECON, IMCO, INTA and ITRE. ECON also interacts with different Directorates general (DG) of the European Commission, among which: the DGs for Internal Market, Industry, Entrepreneurship and SMEs (GROW), for Defence Matters (DEF), for Competition Policy (COMP), for Financial Stability, Financial Services and Capital Markets Union (FISMA), for Economic and Financial Affairs (ECFIN), for Trade (TRADE), for Regional and Urban Policy (REGIO), and for Structural Reform Support (REFORM).
The remits of the Commission for Economic Policy cover the following fields:
The ENVE Commission for the Environment, Climate Change and Energy is of central importance for the PES Group, as it will notably deal with a substantial port of the consultative work related to the European Green Deal and will thus formulate to a large extet the Committee of the Regions’ position on the fundamental transitions which are necessary to make the EU climate neutral by 2050. Climate and environmental criteria will have to be mainstreamed throughout all policy areas, both practically and financially and this in turn requires the need to build capacities at local and regional level on how to implement the green transition and to protect biodiversity. From a progressive point of view, it is important to ensure a just transition and that the implementation of the Green Deal will leave no region and no one behind. The ENVE commission also coordinates activities related to the Covenant of Mayors, involving local and regional authorities in the fight against climate change and for sustainability. The PES ENVE chair is also chairing the Comittee’s horizontal working group on the Green Deal Going Local. The ENVE Commission mirrors the work of several parliamentary committees in the European Parliament, notably ENVI and ITRE. ENVE interacts with different Directorates-General (DG) of the European Commission: Climate Action (CLIMA), Environment (ENV) and Energy (ENER).
The remit of the Commission for Environment, Climate Change and Energy covers the following fields:
From a socialist and progressive point of view, the NAT Commission for Natural Resources has a unique window of opportunity to leverage its cross-sector policy expertise to strengthen the Committee of the Regions’ position on pressing debates such as depletion of natural resources, digital divide or ageing population in rural areas. It brings together agriculture, food policy, health, rural, maritime, forest, tourism, consumer and civil protection. The NAT Members can influence policy developments covering the whole food production chain, targeting sustainable land use and benefiting rural and coastal community, addressing health threats and boosting health promotion and prevention, stimulating maritime and rural economies, maintaining Europe's leadership in sustainable tourism and keeping consumers and citizens safe and protected. Moreover, it will play a fundamental role on the implementation of the ecological transition, mainly by greening the future common agricultural policy.
The remit of the Commission for Natural Resources covers the following fields:
From a socialist and progressive point of view, the SEDEC Commission for Social Policy, Education, Employment, Research and Culture is politically particularly sensitive, as it deals notably with employment, the implementation of the European Pillar of Social Rights, equality and labour mobility. At the same time, the implementation of R&I policies is very relevant to Socialists, Social Democrats and Progressives since it brings into play social, territorial and economic cohesion. Ethical aspects of Artificial Intelligence are of particular concern for our Group. Moreover, most policies covered by the SEDEC commission, including those related to education and training as well as youth, are central to a just transition that empowers people and leaves no person or region behind.
The SEDEC commission mirrors several parliamentary committees in the European Parliament, among which EMPL, FEMM, CULT, IMCO and ITRE. SEDEC also interacts with different Directorates-General (DG) of the European Commission: the DGs for Employment, Social Affairs and Inclusion (EMPL), Research and Innovation (RTD), Communications Networks, Content and Technology (CONNECT), Education, Youth, Sport and Culture (EAC), Justice and Consumers (JUST), Regional and Urban Policy (REGIO) and the Joint Research Centre (JRC).
The remits of the Commission for Social Policy, Education, Employment, Research and Culture cover the following fields:
The Joint Consultative Committee between the European Committee of the Regions and North Macedonia was set up in 2008. Its purpose is to prepare the ground for North Macedonia's accession to the EU by promoting political dialogue and cooperation between regional and local authorities in the EU and their counterparts in the country.
The Joint Consultative Committee between the European Committee of the Regions and Montenegro was set up in 2011. It works to reinforce the Committee’s activities promoting greater inclusion of the territorial dimension in the stabilisation and association process for south-eastern Europe and political dialogue between EU local and regional authorities and their Montenegrin counterparts.
The Joint Consultative Committee between the European Committee of the Regions and Serbia was set up in 2014 to encourage greater inclusion of the territorial dimension in the stabilisation and association process for south-eastern Europe and strengthened political dialogue with Serbian local and regional authorities.
Set up in 2006, the Working Group on relations with Turkey provides the members of the European Committee of the Regions with a mechanism for monitoring accession negotiations with Turkey. It promotes the Committee’s involvement in interinstitutional cooperation while maintaining political dialogue between the EU’s local and regional authorities and their counterparts in Turkey.
The Working Group on relations with the Western Balkans (covering Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Kosovo*) was set up in 2006 and can be used by members of the European Committee of the Regions to encourage greater inclusion of the territorial dimension in the stabilisation and association process for south-eastern Europe and the future accession negotiations with these countries. The Working Group also contributes to the Committee’s involvement in interinstitutional cooperation in this field, while maintaining political dialogue between the EU’s local and regional authorities and their Western Balkan counterparts.
* “This designation is without prejudice to the positions expressed by the EU Member States on Kosovo’s status and is in line with United Nations Security Council Resolution No. 1244/1999 and the International Court of Justice Opinion of 22 July 2010 on Kosovo’s declaration of independence.”
Launched in 2010, the Euro-Mediterranean Assembly of Local and Regional Authorities (ARLEM) is a permanent political body representing local and regional authorities within the Euro-Mediterranean Partnership.
The Assembly consists of an equal number of delegates on each side (40 representing the EU and 40 from the southern and eastern Mediterranean partner countries). The Assembly is co-chaired by the president of the European Committee of the Regions (for the EU) and a representative of the southern and eastern Mediterranean partners.
ARLEM has one commission, the Commission for Sustainable Territorial Development, whose role is to issue reports for adoption at ARLEM’s annual plenary session.
Set up in 2011, the Conference of the Regional and Local Authorities for the Eastern Partnership (CORLEAP) is a platform for regular dialogue between local and regional authorities from the EU and their counterparts in the Eastern Partnership (EaP) countries (Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Moldova and Ukraine).
CORLEAP is co-chaired by the President of the European Committee of the Regions and a representative from the partner countries.
The platform is made up of 36 regional and local politicians, 18 from the Committee and 18 from the six Eastern Partnership countries.
