IN FOCUS
Gender parity has to be applied at all levels of political
representation, from local and regional, to national and European
Stockholm, Sweden, 14 November 2009
Representing the PES Group in the CoR at the Statutory Meeting of PES Women, Claudette ABELA BALDACCHINO strongly criticised the unacceptably low representation of women in top EU positions while pointing out that women's participation in political life cannot be treated in a vacuum. She stressed that it is linked, to a considerable extent, with their participation in the economy, underlining that local and regional authorities can contribute significantly towards improving the political gender balance at all levels of governance.
Mercedes Bresso and Poul Nyrup Rasmussen warn against the renationalisation of the future EU cohesion policy
Malmö,
Sweden
, 23 October 2009
Meeting in Malmö at the occasion of the conference of the PES Group in the Committee of the Regions (CoR) on Smart Green Growth, Mercedes Bresso, President of the PES Group in the CoR, and Poul Nyrup Rasmussen, President of the Party of European Socialists, co-signed today a letter addressed to European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso concerning the future of cohesion policy.
PRESS RELEASE
Local and regional action
vital
for the successful implementation of a Smart Green Growth strategy,
argues the
PES Group in the Committee of the Regions
Malmö,
Sweden
, 23 October 2009
Smart Green Growth as the only viable way out of the current deep economic, social and environmental crises facing the EU and the world, was at the heart of the debates at the extraordinary meeting of the PES Group in the Committee of the Regions, held in Malmö, Sweden, at the invitation of PES Group member and Mayor of Malmö Ilmar REEPALU. The city of Malmö made a highly successful economic and social transition from heavy industry to a green model of growth, based on knowledge and sustainability.
Socialists
in the Committee of the Regions discuss smart green growth
and jobs
Brussels, 13 October 2009
Poul Nyrup RASMUSSEN, President of the Party of European Socialists, Jo LEINEN, President of the European Parliament's Committee for Environment, Public Health and Food Safety, and Ritt BJERREGAARD, Lord Mayor of Copenhagen are key speakers at the extraordinary meeting of the PES Group in the Committee of the Regions, discussing the contribution of local and regional authorities to the promotion of smart green growth and the creation of green jobs. This is a priority that is very high on the political agenda of the PES Group in the CoR as well as of the Party of European Socialists, of which the Group is a full member organisation.
Adopted
at the CoR October plenary session: White paper on adaptation
to climate change: Henning JENSEN (PES/DK)
Brussels, 7 October 2009
'Climate change is a global challenge with local consequences and therefore, it is local and regional authorities that are asked to address them', underlines Henning JENSEN,Mayor of Næstved Municipality (Denmark), whose opinion is of high political relevance as it is adopted less than two months before the much awaited UN Climate Change Conference (7-18 December).
Adopted
at the October plenary session of the CoR: Stockholm Programme
Package: Anna TERRÓN I CUSÍ (PES/ES)
Brussels, 7 October 2009
The regional dimension of the Area of Freedom, Security and Justice should be a priority in the Stockholm programme because local and regional authorities play an important role on issues such as civil justice, security and the integration of immigrants', pointed out Anna TERRÓN I CUSÍ, Secretary for European Union Affairs, Government of Catalonia (Spain).
Adopted
at the October plenary session of the CoR: Green
Paper for a policy review of the Trans-European Transport Network
(TEN-T): Jean-Michel DACLIN (PES/FR)
Brussels, 7 October 2009
'Establishing permanent consultation structures for local and regional authorities from the definition phase of TEN-T projects onwards is essential in order to avoid delays in their realisation' points out Jean-Michel DACLIN, Deputy Mayor of Lyon (France).
Adopted
at the October plenary session of the CoR: An updated strategic framework
for European cooperation in education and training: Jean-Vincent
PLACÉ (PES)
Brussels, 7 October 2009
"We are convinced that the strategic framework for European cooperation in education and training is an essential element of all our efforts in improving the situation for everybody in the current crisis and for the future", said PES member Jean-Vincent PLACÉ, Regional Councillor of Ile-de-France (France) in opening the debate about his opinion responding to the European Commission's communication.
Growth
that favours social well-being, a priority for the PES Group
in the Committee of the Regions
Brussels, 7 October 2009
Food production and its contribution to socially and environmentally sustainable growth was the focus of the workshop 'Growth at all costs? Bringing the local back into the economy', organised by the PES Group in the CoR on 6 October in Brussels, within the framework of Open Days 2009. Mercedes BRESSO, President of the PES Group in the CoR, René SOUCHON, CoR rapporteur on Biodiversity, and Olivier DE SCHUTTER, special UN rapporteur on the right to food and Professor of the University of Louvain, discussed the role of agriculture in overcoming the current economic crisis within the EU and in addressing poverty globally.
Europe in my everyday life: PES
Group members meet the winners of this year's photo competition
Brussels, 7 October 2009
The winners of the photo competition Europe in my everyday life, which is part of the PES Group's communication strategy for 2009, were the special guests at the Group meeting chaired by President Mercedes BRESSO.
Karl-Heinz KLÄR, 1st Vice-President of the PES Group and President of the jury of the competition, awarded the prizes to the winners.
20th issue of echoes, the PES Group newsletter, out now
Brussels, 2 October 2009
In this number:
- Features: a post EU elections analysis
- Interview: PES Group rapporteurs appointed
for the October CoR plenary session talk about their draft opinions
- "Taking the challenge": Swedish presidency of the Council
- Plus, overview of opinions on the agenda of the CoR plenary session, news of the PES Group and the Party of European Socialists, and more.
Cohesion policy with strong emphasis on people, a top priority
for the PEs Group in the Committee of the Regions
Brussels, 24 September 2009
At an extraordinary meeting held yesterday in Brussels, members of the PES Group had a lively exchange of views on the Group's priorities for the next term of office of the Committee of the Regions, beginning in February 2010. Strong cohesion policy placing people at the heart of its concerns and focus on the quality of economic growth that benefits the poor were key aspects.
The
PES Group defines its priorities for the next term of office of the
Committee of the Regions (2010-2014)
Brussels, 16 September 2009
The PES Group in the CoR will hold an extraordinary meeting on 23 September (CoR Headquarters, Brussels) to exchange views on the priorities of regionally and locally elected PES members for the coming years, taking account of the changing landscape of the European institutions.
PES Group Workshop
OPEN DAYS
2009
Brussels, 9 September 2009
Mercedes BRESSO, President of the PES Group in the Committee of the Regions and President of the Piedmont Region (Italy), Olivier DE SCHUTTER, UN Special Rapporteur on the right to food, and René SOUCHON, CoR rapporteur on Biodiversity and President of Auvergne Regional Council (France), will discuss how sustainable food production can boost local economies and restore growth in a socially and environmentally friendly manner. The workshop will take place in the seat of the CoR (Jacques Delors Building, Rue Belliard 101, Room 51 1040 Brussels) on 6 October, between 14h30 and 16h00.
There are major challenges to be addressed in order to ensure that growth is accompanied by territorial cohesion. The trend towards uniform products, concentration of production and the practice of monoculture expose farmers and fishermen to global market fluctuations and threaten territorial diversity.
First
Vice-President Karl-Heinz KLÄR points at irregulated Capitalism
as the main cause of the financial crisis
Brussels, 7 September 2009
" In order for globalisation to work effectively and in the best interest of mankind, it must be protected from the excesses of freewheeling capitalism and its financial industry in its current ugly form" argues Karl-Heinz Klär, First Vice-President of the PES Group, in his article on "the Ethics of capitalism", just published in the Social Europe Journal (SEJ). SEJ is the first quarterly electronic journal addressing issues of critical interest to progressives across Europe and beyond.
In his article, Karl-Heinz Klär explains how the crisis has affected local and regional authorities throughout the EU and points at the defects of the current capitalist system, urging for changes in global governance - corporate as well as public.
Read the article in full on the Social Europe Journal's website »
The
PES Group Secretariat meets the assistants of the European Parliament's
S&D Group
Brussels, 3 September 2009
The PES Group Secretariat hosted today an information session for the assistants of Members of the European Parliament from the Group of the Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats (S&D Group), its sister political Group in the newly formed European Parliament.
Christos
PALEOLOGOS is no longer with us...
Brussels, 3 September 2009
We are deeply saddened by the sudden and premature loss of our dear comrade Christos Paleologos, who passed away on Sunday 30 August. A member of the Committee of the Regions since the creation of the institution in 1994, Christos was a convinced European, who will be remembered for his ideological integrity, high motivation, unequivocal commitment and quality of work. He was an invaluable member of the PES Group and he will be greatly missed.
Mercedes BRESSO congratulates the 5 newly elected
S&D Vice-Presidents and the one S&D Quaestor of the European
Parliament
Brussels, 15 July 2009
Yesterday, 14 July 2009, the new European Parliament held its constitutive session, electing its President, 14 Vice-Presidents and 5 Quaestors for the first half of the 2009-2014 mandate.
Adopted
at the CoR June plenary session: The management of bio-waste
in the EU: Mona-Lisa
NORRMAN (PES)
Brussels, 18 June 2009
'We need to develop a market for bio-waste at local level', stresses Mona-Lisa NORRMAN, Member of Jämtland County Council (Sweden), whose opinion responds to the 2008 EC Green Paper on the management of bio-waste in the EU.
Adopted
at the CoR June plenary session: Non-discrimination, equal opportunities
and the implementation of the principle of equal treatment between persons: Claudette
ABELA BALDACCHINO
Brussels, 18 June 2009
'Discrimination stems from ignorance and prejudice and the best way to fight this will always be education. Therefore, local authorities should promote activities and events that celebrate diversity's stresses Claudette Abela Baldacchino, Deputy Mayor of Qrendi (Malta), whose opinion responds to the European Commission's new proposals for improved anti-discrimination.
Adopted
at the CoR June plenary session: One
year after Lisbon: Halting biodiversity loss: René
SOUCHON (PES/FR)
Brussels, 18 June 2009
The CoR opinion by René SOUCHON, President of Auvergne Regional Council (France), underlines the fast rate at which loss of biodiversity is occurring and calls for policy makers and scientists to cooperate in order to tackle this issue jointly. The rapporteur suggests cross-cutting policies (spatial planning, agriculture and fisheries etc.) and coordinated action from all levels of governance.
Adopted
at the CoR June plenary session: One
year after Lisbon: the Africa-EU partnership at work & The EU-Africa-China
trilateral dialogue and cooperation: Jean-Louis DESTANS
Brussels, 17 June 2009
The opinion by Jean-Louis DESTANS, President of the General Council of the Eure (France), which was adopted unanimously both by the RELEX commission and the plenary, allows the CoR to take for the very first time a position on the EU, Africa and China trilateral partnership and to formulate a position on the role of local and regional authorities.
Adopted at the CoR June plenary session: Maritime
and coastal package: Michel
DELEBARRE
Brussels, 17 June 2009
'We need to make a qualitative leap when it comes to our perception of the Sea and adopt a more strategic, global and integrated approach amongst sectors, regions, political and economic stakeholders and to invent a new governance', stressed the author of the CoR opinion Michel DELEBARRE, CoR 1st Vice-President and Mayor of Dunkirk, which is the 3rd largest French harbour.
Adopted
at the CoR June plenary session: CoR White Paper on multilevel governance
by Michel
DELEBARRE, CoR First Vice-President, and Luc
VAN DEN BRANDE, CoR President
Brussels, 17 June 2009
Multi-level governance is the flesh and muscle of European integration, enabling to choose the best method for devising good policy which is as inclusive as possible, and therefore operating at several levels', stated Michel Delebarre, rapporteur of the CoR White Paper on multi-level governance. The white paper, which is an own-initiative opinion, contains a series of concrete policy recommendations on how to make multilevel governance a reality in the EU.
PES Group photo competition: and the winners are…
Brussels, 17 June 2009
The jury of the second edition of the photo competition organised by the PES Group in the Committee of the Regions met this Monday to select the 6 winning photos. The choice was really difficult as more than 400 photos were submitted and the theme offered the possibility of various interpretations to the participants.
Voting
as one European polity: an unattainable goal?
PES Group meeting, Brussels, 17 June 2009
Ten days after the European elections, Ernst STETTER, Secretary General of the Foundation for European Progressive Studies (FEPS), exchanged views with the PES Group in the Committee of the Regions on the outcome of the elections. Failure to shift the debate on European elections from the national to a truly European level was widely acknowledged.
June
issue of echoes, the PES Group newsletter, out now
Brussels, 17 June 2009
In this number:
- Editorial: reflection on the result and abstention rate at the European
elections
- Interview: all 4 PES rapporteurs appointed for the
June CoR plenary session talk about their draft opinions
- Features: Job opportunities in Europe: Are we looking
hard enough?
- Plus, overview of opinions on the agenda of the CoR plenary session, news of the PES Group and the Party of European Socialists, and more.
Read the newsletter in English, French and German »
Subscribe to the newsletter and receive the next issues by post »
Photo competition: Choosing your best photos
Brussels, 15 June 2009
After 4 months of a more than successful second photo competition, we are pleased to inform you that more than 400 photos were posted on our website.
The jury composed of representatives of the PES Group and professional personalities in the world of photography, education and youth met today to select the 6 best photos.
Message from PES Group President, Mercedes BRESSO:
European elections: an eloquent abstention rate across the EU...
Brussels, 10 June 2009
The outcome of the European elections calls for careful reflection. It puts in place a new European Parliament that is more conservative and more euro-sceptic than the outgoing one.
Michel Delebarre demands the involvement of local and regional authorities in the preparation of the next UN climate change summit
Copenhagen, Denmark, 4 June 2009
CoR First Vice-President Michel DELEBARRE addressed today the Local Government Climate Change Leadership Summit, an event bringing together local and regional authorities from around 100 countries from around the world. The event is an initiative of the Local Government Denmark (LGDK) and the Chairman of its International Committee Henning JENSEN, PES Group member of the CoR and Mayor of Næstved
PHOTO
COMPETITION now closed. Thank you all for participating
Brussels, 3 June 2009
More than 450 photos posted on our website, more than 23 000 visitors !
Michel
DELEBARRE addresses SOLIDAR stressing the local
and regional dimension of social Europe
Brussels, 26 May 2009
The CoR 1st Vice-President opened the Annual General Assembly of SOLIDAR, the European network of NGOs working for social justice in Europe and worldwide.
The PES Group in the Committee of the Regions calls
for high quality, accessible and affordable healthcare for all
PES Group Seminar Palma de Majorca, 22 May 2009
The
seminar of the Committee of the Regions' Group of the Party of
European Socialists on cross-border healthcare provision, organised
at the invitation of the President of the Government of the Balearic
Islands, Francesc ANTICH I OLIVER, was an opportunity
for a lively exchange of views on a politically sensitive theme.
Read the press release in full in: English
» | français
» | Deutsch » | Castellano »
Explore this event (updated after the meeting)
»
|
|
|
|
Programme |
Key documents, presentations,
|
Speakers profiles |
Photos of the event |
PES
Group Seminar: cross-border cooperation on health services
Palma de Majorca 21-22 May 2009
Brussels, 7 May 2009
Health, and consequently healthcare, are key concerns of citizens in all Member States and in a European Union without borders.
A delegation of PES Group will discuss about how health and healthcare can be organised and improved for all during the seminar which will be held in Palma de Majorca on 21 and 22 May 2009 at the invitation of the President of the Government of the Balearic Islands, Francesc ANTICH I Oliver.
'On Europe Day, we call for a more social Europe'
Message of PES Group President Mercedes Bresso
Brussels, 8 May 2009
Only few weeks separate this year's 9th of May, Europe Day, from the European elections. While the European Union has plenty to celebrate in terms of achievements over fifty years since its inception, Europeans are left to cope with the effects of the deepest and most widespread recession that the EU economy has experienced in the post-war era. With the prospect of 27 million unemployed by 2010, it is clear that Europe needs a new direction and that citizens need a more social Europe.
'Europe
needs the political courage to halt biodiveristy loss'
Meeting of the CoR commission for Sustainable Development, Brussels, 7 May 2009
The DEVE commission has adopted today by an overwhelming majority the draft opinion on "halting biodiversity loss" and "EU strategy on invasive species" by Socialist rapporteur René Souchon, President of Auvergne Regional Council (France).
The President of the PES Group, Mercedes BRESSO Group warmly welcomes the appointment of Patxi LOPEZ as President of the Basque Region
Brussels, 7 May 2009
She expresses the conviction that, after the regional elections held on 1st March 2009, this will bring a wind of change in the Basque Country through a political leadership aiming at uniting the country, in full respect of diversity.
