Water and food challenges require greater local powers, regional leaders stress in Venice

Roberto Ciambetti, President of the Veneto Regional Council, welcomed members of the European Committee of the Regions (CoR) to Venice on 20-21 May for an external meeting of the commission for Natural Resources, accompanied by a conference and a field visit focused on disaster resilience. The two-day event also featured discussions on the vision of regions and cities for the future of agriculture and food, as well as strategies to strengthen the resilience and sustainability of the wine sector, both essential to Europe’s cultural heritage and economic stability.  

Members of the Commission for Natural Resources (NAT) called for a stronger regional role in shaping the future of agriculture and food policy in the European Union (EU). In a draft opinion led by Joke Schauvliege (BE/EPP), member of the provincial executive of East Flanders, members highlighted the need for better alignment between EU, national, regional, and local policies to ensure a resilient, fair, and sustainable agri-food system by 2040. The opinion emphasised that the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) must better reflect regional diversity, reduce administrative burdens, and prioritise support for farmers facing natural constraints, young and new farmers, and sustainable practices. 

Protecting the wine sector as cornerstone of the EU economy 

This regional approach is especially urgent for key sectors such as wine production, which employs over 3 million people in the EU and contributes more than €100 billion in market value. The wine sector remains a cornerstone of the EU economy, particularly in rural areas, and a pillar of the EU’s cultural heritage but faces major challenges, such as shifting consumer trends, international geopolitical tensions and increasingly extreme weather conditions. Regional and local leaders held a debate led by Roberto Ciambetti (IT/ECR) on market rules and support measures in the wine sector, calling for actions to better protect wine producers against external threats.  

The MOSE: a European success story of disaster resilience  

As climate change continues to threaten livelihoods, local economies and essential infrastructure, innovative regional solutions offer a blueprint for long-term resilience. The conference on 20 May served as a platform to present the first results of a study on “local and regional success stories of investing in disaster resilience”. Among the inspiring examples was the MOSE (Modulo Sperimentale Elettromeccanico) project, which participants had the chance to visit. Completed in 2020, this flagship infrastructure protects Venice from flooding through a system of mobile barriers installed at the inlets of the Venetian Lagoon, representing a cutting-edge solution to rising sea levels and extreme weather events. 

Further in the meeting 

Members of the NAT commission adopted a draft opinion on cybersecurity of hospitals and healthcare providers, led by rapporteur Daniela Cîmpean (RO/EPP), President of Sibiu County Council. The opinion underscores the urgent need for comprehensive measures to counter rising cyber threats, advocates for greater involvement of regional and local authorities in shaping cybersecurity strategies and calls for enhanced cyber hygiene and training across the healthcare sector. The opinion is scheduled for adoption during the next plenary session of the CoR in July.  

Quotes  

Piotr Calbecki (PL/EPP), Chair of NAT commission and councilor of the Kujawsko-Pomorskie Voivodeship: “The Kujawsko-Pomorskie region and the Veneto region are linked by an increasingly strong partnership, a prime example of how crucial interregional cooperation within the European Union is. We are developing joint initiatives, exchanging experiences, and inspiring one another – in the fields of environmental policy, sustainable development and social policy. Such partnerships bring real results and make it possible to implement joint EU projects, strengthen local economies, and enhance the capacities of regional institutions.” 

Roberto Ciambetti (IT/ECR), NAT First Vice President and President of the Veneto Regional Council: "Hosting the work of the NAT Commission in Venice means projecting Veneto into an international context and transforming it into a laboratory from which strategic visions in the agricultural and environmental fields can be developed, which will have European repercussions and which will see the regions crucial for the new EU agricultural direction. Seeing the full participation of the members of the Commission, hosted in the Sala Sansoviniana of the Biblioteca Marciana, is a sign that our work has been productive and effective.” 

Rapporteur Joke Schauvliege (BE/EPP), member of the provincial executive of East Flanders: “The Vision for Agriculture and Food of the European Commission is a priority initiative to ensure fair incomes for farmers, to strongly support young farmers and to revise the Unfair Trading Practices Directive. Farmers play a crucial role in ensuring food security, sovereignty and rural cohesion over Europe. Agriculture thus forms a very important strategic sector. The CoR, by this opinion, wishes to highlight the need of strengthening the regional dimension within the Common Agricultural Policy and simplifying administrative processes.” 

Background 

• Video and photos from the event.  

• Magali Altounian (FR/Renew), deputy-mayor of Nice and chair of the commission for citizenship, governance, institutional and external affairs (CIVEX) of the CoR, shared a call to CoR members to join the Ocean Rise and Coastal Resilience Coalition which will be officially launched during a special Summit held in the city of Nice on 7 June as part of the United Nations Ocean Conference. The Coalition will support coastal cities by planning and implementing the transformations required to address sea level rise, coastal erosion and other treats linked to climate change. 

Contact 

Hélène Dressen
Tel: +32 471502795
Helene.dressen@cor.europa.eu