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Elections take centre Stage at EA Group meeting in Monshttps://web.cor.europa.eu/ea/News/Pages/Elections-take-centre-Stage-at-EA-Group-meeting-in-Mons.aspx2024-03-17T23:00:00ZElections take centre Stage at EA Group meeting in Mons<p>​At the European Alliance group's meeting, held alongside the European Summit of Regions and Cities, discussions centred on regional needs and the forthcoming European, local, and federal elections. The session was led by our President, Karl Vanlouwe, where Raül Romeva, one of the European Free Alliance's Spitzenkandidaten, presented the EFA party's manifesto and emphasised the significance of regional involvement in decision-making processes. Additionally, EFA President Lorena López de Lacalle addressed the evolving nature of elections and underscored the importance of reassessing priorities. <br><br>Former EA Presidents, Stanislaw Szwabski and Uno Silberg, also contributed to the dialogue, alongside participants from the EU Councillor and <span><span>Young Elected Politicians </span></span>networks.<br></p>
Gryffroy advocates for grassroots approach in Green Deal implementationhttps://web.cor.europa.eu/ea/News/Pages/Gryffroy-advocates-for-grassroots-approach-in-Green-Deal-implementation.aspx2024-03-18T23:00:00ZGryffroy advocates for grassroots approach in Green Deal implementation<p>​At the recent Mons Summit of Regions and Cities, held on March 19, Andries Gryffroy engaged with a panel on the prospective developments of the Green Deal, joined by a diverse group of locally elected officials from across the EU.<br><br>Based on current realities from the ground and emerging trends, the session has put forward key ideas on how regions and cities can better participate in the European Green Deal to ensure it becomes a real compass for sustainability and people’s well-being.<br><br>Andries Gryffroy, member of the Flemish Parliament, recalled that the Green Deal will achieve its objectives only if regions and cities are fully involved in the policy and decision-making process. Moreover, he pointed out that regions are different from each other and that a one-size-fits-all approach is not the solution.<br><br>"The Green Deal must be built from the bottom up, says Andries Gryffroy. Regions and cities cannot be just implementers, they need to be part of the decision-making process and fully involved from the outset. Moreover, we cannot treat regions in the same manner because they are all different in their assets and challenges. The future Green Deal should be flexible enough to take into account those specificities, he concluded". <br></p>
Mons Summit: Maupertuis moderates high-level debate on future of Cohesion Policyhttps://web.cor.europa.eu/ea/News/Pages/Mons-Summit-Maupertuis-moderates-high-level-debate-on-future-of-Cohesion-Policy.aspx2024-03-18T23:00:00ZMons Summit: Maupertuis moderates high-level debate on future of Cohesion Policy<p>​During the 10th European Summit of Regions and Cities, EA Vice President Nanette Maupertuis took a leading role by moderating an important discussion on the future of cohesion policy. The debate featured Commissioner for Regional Policy Elisa Ferreira, European Parliament's REGI Committee Chair Younous Omarjee, and Committee of the Regions (CoR) President Vasco Cordeiro.<br><br>During the debate, partners committed to cohesion, including prominent representatives from various local and regional associations, engaged in a detailed dialogue. They discussed <span><span>the future directions of Cohesion Policy</span></span> with the Chair of the High-Level Group of Specialists, in light of a recently released report.<br><br>With the European elections less than three months away, the CoR, in collaboration with the initial partners of the #CohesionAlliance issued a collective appeal urging European institutions and national governments to prioritize Cohesion Policy as the cornerstone of the EU's growth strategy for the upcoming decade. As the President of the Assembly of Corsica and the EA group coordinator in the COTER commission, Ms Maupertuis has consistently advocated for a robust Cohesion Policy. She has frequently emphasised the necessity for the EU to ensure territorial cohesion among its diverse regions. Her advocacy is particularly focused on regions grappling with geographic and demographic challenges.</p>
Join us for the European Summit of Regions and Cities in Mons on the 18-19 March 2024https://web.cor.europa.eu/ea/News/Pages/Join-us-for-the-European-Summit-of-Regions-and-Cities-in-Mons-on-the-18-19-March-2024.aspx2024-02-01T23:00:00ZJoin us for the European Summit of Regions and Cities in Mons on the 18-19 March 2024<p>Global challenges and local solutions is a motto which will be discussed by 1,500 delegates for the 10th summit of regions and cities.  We would like to invite you to join us in debating many themes from a local and regional perspective, shape our regions future and debate the European elections. <br><br>We encourage as many of our friends to attend.  Please register here: <a href="https://cor.europa.eu/en/summits/2024">https://cor.europa.eu/en/summits/2024</a><br>​</p>
Empowering European Youth from the CoR: EA Group YEP and EFA Youth Participate in the EU Elections Debatehttps://web.cor.europa.eu/ea/News/Pages/Empowering-European-Youth-from-the-CoR-EA-Group-YEP-and-EFA-Youth-Participate-in-the-EU-Elections-Debate.aspx2024-01-31T23:00:00ZEmpowering European Youth from the CoR: EA Group YEP and EFA Youth Participate in the EU Elections Debate<p>​As the next European elections approach, scheduled from 6th to 9th June 2024, the European Committee of the Regions (CoR) hosted a lively debate on the future of Europe in its 159th Plenary Session, held in the Parliament hemicycle. The debate featured youth organizations from different European political families, as well as Young Elected Politicians (YEPs) from each group. The discussions reflected diverse perspectives on the role of youth in shaping the EU's democracy, and the urgency of motivating young people to vote.<br><br>The first debate included the participation of Valentina Servera Clavell, president of the youth movement of the European Free Alliance (EFA) party. She emphasized the need for more youth representation and diversity in European institutions, and the need for young generations to feel represented by them. She also denounced language and cultural suppression, giving examples of the lack of rights for languages such as Catalan and Breton, and urging members to keep advocating for this diversity.<br><br>The second debate focused on how to mobilise young people ahead of elections. It featured the participation of Máirín McGrath, YEP of the European Alliance (EA) Group. She highlighted the increased engagement of young people in the EU and stressed the importance of youth participation in elections. She suggested some improvements, such as better political education and transparent media engagement. She also criticized holding elections in June, proposing May as a better alternative due to conflicts with exams and travel plans.<br><br>Finally, other members also took part in the debate, such as Joseph Kobor, recently appointed as rapporteur general for an opinion on the Defence of Democracy Package. He pointed out that Europe had failed in many challenges with young people, and that Europe should change to better represent the interests of the young. The debate on the future of Europe at the CoR was a valuable opportunity to hear the voices of young people from different political backgrounds and regions. As the next European elections draw near, the CoR reaffirmed its commitment to supporting youth participation and representation in the EU’s democracy.</p>