Our work

The European Committee of the Regions (CoR) intervenes at several stages of the EU law-making process. CoR commissions draft opinions on EU legislative proposals and members gather in plenary to vote and adopt those opinions.

The CoR also works closely with national, regional and local authorities, making their voices heard and fostering political debate, not only in Brussels, but also in EU regions and cities, outside Europe and online.​

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Mission statement

Our political action is based on the belief that cooperation between European, national, regional and local levels is essential if we are to build an ever closer and more mutually supportive union among the people of Europe and respond to the challenges of globalisation.​​

How does the CoR work?

The CoR is composed of 329  members and 329 alternates from all EU countries. Each national government proposes its regional and local representatives (members and alternates) – the national delegations. CoR members have a five-year term of office, starting from the date of their official appointment by the Council.

Six commissions (sub-committees), made up of members and grouped by policy areas, analyse the legislative texts drafted by the European Commission and draw up opinions, which are then discussed and adopted at CoR plenary sessions.

Every two-and-a-half years, the plenary assembly elects the CoR President and the First Vice-President. The President represents the Committee and directs its work. If the President is absent or unable to attend, he/she shall be represented by the First Vice-President or one of the other Vice-Presidents.​

What kind of legislation gets debated?

The European Commission and the Council of the European Union must consult the CoR whenever new proposals are made in areas that have repercussions at regional or local level: economic, social and territorial cohesion, Structural Funds, European Regional Development Fund, European Social Fund, employment and social affairs, education, youth, vocational training, culture and sport, environment, energy and climate change, transport, trans-European networks, and public health.

Outside these areas, the Commission, Council and European Parliament have the option to consult the CoR. The CoR adopts recommendations on draft EU laws and also proposes new policies on the basis of local and regional experience and expertise. It can also propose new laws and put new issues on the EU agenda.

The CoR's role was recognised and strengthened by the Treaty of Lisbon in 2009. The CoR must be consulted during all phases of the EU legislative process and can bring EU legislation before the European Court of Justice whenever it deems that its institutional rights or national, regional and local governments have been neglected. Consequently, the CoR's relations with the European Commission, the European Parliament and the Council have been strengthened.

Promoting dialogue and cross-border cooperation

Co​nsultations are organised by the CoR to get input from local and regional authorities, experts and other stakeholders so they can contribute to the opinions proposed by our CoR members for adoption at EU level.

Interregional groups are special interest groups of members who gather to discuss issues at local/regional level or sometimes across different countries.

The CoR also coordinates some networks to enable regions and cities to exchange best practices, both at the European level and beyond. The Eastern Partnership (CORLEAP) and the Euro-Mediterranean Assembly (ARLEM) , for instance, attest to the CoR's efforts in the field of EU neighbourhood policy.

Further cross-border cooperation includes:

Monitoring, assessment and research activities

Last but not least, the CoR

  • makes sure all levels of government are involved and that EU legislation is properly implemented at local and regional level
  • assesses the potential impact of EU legislative proposals on the ground
  • encourages decentralisation and reinforced partnership for effective policy-making in the EU
  • complements its strategic planning by trying to anticipate future challenges and opportunities which in turn may help ongoing decision-making

Documents