Commission for Economic Policy (ECON)  

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The remit of the Commission for Economic Policy covers the following fields:

  • Competition and State Aid Policy
  • Economic and Monetary Policy
  • Economic Governance and European Semester
  • Industrial Policy and Industry 4.0
  • Internal Market and Digital Single Market
  • International Trade and Tariffs (including WTO issues)​
  • Local/Regional Finance and Investment
  • Public Investment
  • ​Public Procurement
  • Public Services
  • SME Policy and entrepreneurship
  • Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) Governance
  • Taxation Policy

The ECON Secretariat is also responsible for the European Entrepreneurial Regions (EER) award scheme, which rewards EU regions with the most credible, forward-thinking and promising vision and innovative entrepreneurial policy strategy.

ECON is in charge of the Network of Regional Hubs for EU policy Implementation Review (RegHub)​. RegHub is a platform, which involves local and regional actors through consultations to collect their experiences on EU policy implementation.

ECON manages the Broadband Platform, which is a joint initiative between the European Committee of the Regions (CoR) and the European Commission to help high-speed broadband reach all European regions.

The ECON Commission also plays a lead and coordination role in relations between the CoR and the European Investment Bank (EIB) Group​, which span a broad range of actions and policy fields.

Finally, via surveys, studies and analyses the ECON secretariat helps its members to monitor current trends in European cities and regions, and to identify good policy practices.​

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Implementation report on cross-border healthcare is published
Implementation report on cross-border healthcare is published
13.07.2020
European Commission's Annual report 2019 on the application of the principles of subsidiarity and proportionality and on relations with national parliaments
European Commission's Annual report 2019 on the application of the principles of subsidiarity and proportionality and on relations with national parliaments
07.07.2020
CoR ECONomic Bulletin No. 7: Updates on the COVID-19 crisis
CoR ECONomic Bulletin No. 7: Updates on the COVID-19 crisis
03.07.2020
Summary of the EER final workshop of the COSME project on Connecting entrepreneurial ecosystems
Summary of the EER final workshop of the COSME project on Connecting entrepreneurial ecosystems
29.06.2020
Update on the ongoing RegHub consultations
Update on the ongoing RegHub consultations
29.06.2020
Commission reiterates its intention to step up collaboration with the Committee of the Regions
Commission reiterates its intention to step up collaboration with the Committee of the Regions
29.06.2020
Services sector needs clear and well enforced Single Market rules
Services sector needs clear and well enforced Single Market rules
29.06.2020
A sustainable trade policy that benefits local and regional economies
A sustainable trade policy that benefits local and regional economies
26.06.2020
The European Week for Waste Reduction rewards its best actions implemented in 2019
The European Week for Waste Reduction rewards its best actions implemented in 2019
25.06.2020
Share your experience: How is COVID-19 affecting regions and cities?
Share your experience: How is COVID-19 affecting regions and cities?
05.06.2020
CoR ECONomic Bulletin No. 6: Updates on the COVID-19 crisis
CoR ECONomic Bulletin No. 6: Updates on the COVID-19 crisis
05.06.2020
RegHub becomes part of the new Fit for Future Platform​
RegHub becomes part of the new Fit for Future Platform​
20.05.2020
CoR ECONomic Bulletin No. 5: Updates on the COVID-19 crisis
CoR ECONomic Bulletin No. 5: Updates on the COVID-19 crisis
15.05.2020
Special 2021-2022 EER edition on Entrepreneurship for a Sustainable Recovery
Special 2021-2022 EER edition on Entrepreneurship for a Sustainable Recovery
13.05.2020
UN invites local leaders to record themselves on their work on SDGs and the Covid-19
UN invites local leaders to record themselves on their work on SDGs and the Covid-19
06.05.2020
CoR ECONomic Bulletin No. 4: Updates on the COVID-19 crisis
CoR ECONomic Bulletin No. 4: Updates on the COVID-19 crisis
29.04.2020
CoR ECONomic Bulletin No. 3: Updates on the COVID-19 crisis
CoR ECONomic Bulletin No. 3: Updates on the COVID-19 crisis
17.04.2020
CoR ECONomic Bulletin No. 2: Updates on the COVID-19 crisis
CoR ECONomic Bulletin No. 2: Updates on the COVID-19 crisis
07.04.2020
CoR ECONomic Bulletin: COVID-19 impact and response measures
CoR ECONomic Bulletin: COVID-19 impact and response measures
27.03.2020
Summary on a survey on the socio-economic transformation of Europe's coal regions
Summary on a survey on the socio-economic transformation of Europe's coal regions
11.03.2020
EP and CoR Presidents ask to redouble efforts to address new migration crisis, fight Coronavirus, adopt an ambitious EU budget and strengthen European democracy
EP and CoR Presidents ask to redouble efforts to address new migration crisis, fight Coronavirus, adopt an ambitious EU budget and strengthen European democracy
05.03.2020
European Commission and cities and regions pledge closer cooperation to boost uptake of Free Trade Agreements
European Commission and cities and regions pledge closer cooperation to boost uptake of Free Trade Agreements
02.03.2020
State aid draft consultation underway
State aid draft consultation underway
19.02.2020
"EU Budget risks being a failure for people and a gift to populism" warns CoR President Apostolos Tzitzikostas
"EU Budget risks being a failure for people and a gift to populism" warns CoR President Apostolos Tzitzikostas
18.02.2020
Michael Murphy from Ireland becomes new chair of the CoR's commission for Economic Policy
Michael Murphy from Ireland becomes new chair of the CoR's commission for Economic Policy
14.02.2020
Consultation on Air Quality - Executive Summary
Consultation on Air Quality - Executive Summary
13.02.2020
European Commission Work Programme 2020
European Commission Work Programme 2020
30.01.2020
Cross-border healthcare consultation – update
Cross-border healthcare consultation – update
21.01.2020
Implementation report on air quality is published
Implementation report on air quality is published
20.12.2019
Cross-border healthcare consultation underway!
Cross-border healthcare consultation underway!
11.12.2019
Meeting with Baltic regions
Meeting with Baltic regions
04.12.2019
Take part in our survey on the implementation of Free Trade Agreements (FTAs)! The survey will be open until 13 December midnight.
Take part in our survey on the implementation of Free Trade Agreements (FTAs)! The survey will be open until 13 December midnight.
29.11.2019
European Entrepreneurial Region label 2021 will reward green and sustainable entrepreneurship
European Entrepreneurial Region label 2021 will reward green and sustainable entrepreneurship
27.11.2019
EUROCHAMBRES and the European Committee of the Regions released a list of recommendations on the implementation of Free Trade Agreements
EUROCHAMBRES and the European Committee of the Regions released a list of recommendations on the implementation of Free Trade Agreements
21.11.2019
Cinsedo and Subsidiarity Conference
Cinsedo and Subsidiarity Conference
21.11.2019
Chambers and Regions said a collective effort is needed to boost uptake of EU Free Trade Agreements (FTA)
Chambers and Regions said a collective effort is needed to boost uptake of EU Free Trade Agreements (FTA)
19.11.2019
Local and regional leaders streamline views on the collaborative economy, the EU's competition policy and administrative capacity
Local and regional leaders streamline views on the collaborative economy, the EU's competition policy and administrative capacity
28.10.2019
Commissioner-designate announces further development of RegHub
Commissioner-designate announces further development of RegHub
10.10.2019
Special allocations for coal regions should not divert money from regional policy
Special allocations for coal regions should not divert money from regional policy
09.10.2019
Next European Commission should avoid introducing new public-procurement legislation
Next European Commission should avoid introducing new public-procurement legislation
08.10.2019
SMEs need more EU support to compete on global markets
SMEs need more EU support to compete on global markets
08.10.2019
Call for expression of interest from startups in the Regions awarded with the EER label to pitch their ideas to investors at the EBN Congress
Call for expression of interest from startups in the Regions awarded with the EER label to pitch their ideas to investors at the EBN Congress
12.09.2019
ECA Special Report 2019: Local and Regional Authorities are important partners to reach out to European citizens – The European Commission replies
ECA Special Report 2019: Local and Regional Authorities are important partners to reach out to European citizens – The European Commission replies
12.09.2019
European Commission sees in the RegHub project a major example of the CoR to promote "active subsidiarity"
European Commission sees in the RegHub project a major example of the CoR to promote "active subsidiarity"
22.08.2019
Reghub participated in RICC network's Annual Conference
Reghub participated in RICC network's Annual Conference
22.08.2019
Consultation on improving the communication with local and regional public authorities
Consultation on improving the communication with local and regional public authorities
22.08.2019
RegHub second consultation underway!
RegHub second consultation underway!
14.08.2019
Territorial Analysis of the Country-specific Recommendations for 2019
Territorial Analysis of the Country-specific Recommendations for 2019
18.07.2019
Cities and regions call for support for coal regions in transition
Cities and regions call for support for coal regions in transition
09.07.2019
Meeting with Metropole Ruhr
Meeting with Metropole Ruhr
04.07.2019
Supporting Europe's industry to face the future
Supporting Europe's industry to face the future
26.06.2019
Empowering Sustainability Gelderland Top Climate Entrepreneurs
Empowering Sustainability Gelderland Top Climate Entrepreneurs
17.06.2019
First RegHub survey completed!
First RegHub survey completed!
15.05.2019
EU cities and regions pave the way to localise the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
EU cities and regions pave the way to localise the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
07.05.2019
EU Law and Policy Institute Europa decentraal discussed with the Regional Hubs Network project director and coordinators the future of EU Better Regulation
EU Law and Policy Institute Europa decentraal discussed with the Regional Hubs Network project director and coordinators the future of EU Better Regulation
06.05.2019
The European Commission confirms its interest in the Network of Regional Hubs
The European Commission confirms its interest in the Network of Regional Hubs
06.05.2019
The government of North Rhine-Westphalia discussed with experts from universities and CoR RegHub-coordinator tasks and functioning of a regional hub​
The government of North Rhine-Westphalia discussed with experts from universities and CoR RegHub-coordinator tasks and functioning of a regional hub​
30.04.2019
Commission report refers to REGHUB initiative and indicates stepping up the collaboration with the Committee of the Regions to contribute to Commission’s policy making
Commission report refers to REGHUB initiative and indicates stepping up the collaboration with the Committee of the Regions to contribute to Commission’s policy making
25.04.2019
Results of the CoR-OECD Survey: The key contribution of regions and cities to sustainable development
Results of the CoR-OECD Survey: The key contribution of regions and cities to sustainable development
11.04.2019
RegHub first consultation underway!
RegHub first consultation underway!
22.03.2019
Official Launch of RegHub at the European Summit of Regions and Cities in Bucharest
Official Launch of RegHub at the European Summit of Regions and Cities in Bucharest
15.03.2019
The Presidents of the German speaking regional parliaments welcome the Task Force Subsidiarity recommendations
The Presidents of the German speaking regional parliaments welcome the Task Force Subsidiarity recommendations
11.03.2019
Regional Parliament in North Rhine Westphalia discusses the better involvement of local and regional authorities in EU policy making
Regional Parliament in North Rhine Westphalia discusses the better involvement of local and regional authorities in EU policy making
11.03.2019
German Bundesrat supporting the setting up of the RegHub Network
German Bundesrat supporting the setting up of the RegHub Network
08.03.2019
REGHUB Initiative finds great interest at the meeting of the Urban Agenda Coordinators
REGHUB Initiative finds great interest at the meeting of the Urban Agenda Coordinators
08.03.2019
Cities and regions must play a lead role in shaping investment and economic reform plans
Cities and regions must play a lead role in shaping investment and economic reform plans
15.02.2019
Better EU Laws: new network of "Regional hubs" meets for the first time in Brussels
Better EU Laws: new network of "Regional hubs" meets for the first time in Brussels
31.01.2019
Take part in the COR/OECD survey on Sustainable Development Goals
Take part in the COR/OECD survey on Sustainable Development Goals
13.12.2018
Regions' race for best entrepreneurial strategy begins
Regions' race for best entrepreneurial strategy begins
19.11.2018
Belgian socialist becomes voice of EU regions on economic issues
Belgian socialist becomes voice of EU regions on economic issues
25.10.2018
SMEs need support from all levels to go digital
SMEs need support from all levels to go digital
25.06.2018
Updating the tax system: regions and cities support simplification and fair rules
Updating the tax system: regions and cities support simplification and fair rules
21.06.2018
Michel Delebarre elected as chair of the Commission for Economic Policy
Michel Delebarre elected as chair of the Commission for Economic Policy
18.09.2017
How to best support the competitiveness of SMEs?
How to best support the competitiveness of SMEs?
28.06.2017
Cities and regions key to strengthen economic recovery and undertake structural reforms, new report shows
Cities and regions key to strengthen economic recovery and undertake structural reforms, new report shows
21.06.2017
EER winner Małopolska presents its entrepreneurial achievements
EER winner Małopolska presents its entrepreneurial achievements
15.05.2017
Robotics experts meet with decision makers of cities and regions to boost innovation
Robotics experts meet with decision makers of cities and regions to boost innovation
09.05.2017
Promoting entrepreneurship for islands' economic growth
Promoting entrepreneurship for islands' economic growth
20.04.2017
Looking for the most entrepreneurial regions and cities in Europe
Looking for the most entrepreneurial regions and cities in Europe
15.03.2017
European Public Sector Award 2017 open for application
European Public Sector Award 2017 open for application
06.03.2017
"Let's make SMEs life easier"
"Let's make SMEs life easier"
28.02.2017
European Semester: Better output with local and regional input
European Semester: Better output with local and regional input
28.02.2017
European Industry Day 2017: strategic investment and stronger partnerships will drive industrial innovation
European Industry Day 2017: strategic investment and stronger partnerships will drive industrial innovation
27.02.2017
Extremadura kicks off its year as European Entrepreneurial Region
Extremadura kicks off its year as European Entrepreneurial Region
26.01.2017

 Previous Meetings

 Next Meetings

Head of Unit: Bert Kuby

Assitant to the HoU: Cécile Eclache

Webmaster: Brigitte Gendebien

Administrators:


  • Nils Brunelet, in charge of Local/Regional Finance and Investment, Collaborative Economy, Economic Governance, Economic and Monetary Policy. Also in charge of relations with the EIB, membership of the Group of Communicators (GOC)
  • Effrosyni Kossyvaki (SNE), in charge of Public procurement, International trade and Tariffs (including WTO issues), Competition Policy and State Aid
  • Maria Lozano Uriz, in charge of Digital Single Market, Broadband Platform
  • Claudia Moser (SNE), in charge of Coal regions in transition, Industrial Policy and Industry 4.0, Economic and Monetary Policy, Taxation Policy
  • Rafael Mondelaers, in charge of SME Policy and Entrepreneurship, EER scheme, RegHub
  • Audrey Parizel​, in charge of Sustainable Development Goals Governance, Economic Governance and European Semester
  • Alexander Popov, in charge of Digital Single Market, Broadband Platform
  • Robert Rönström, in charge of Public procurement, International trade and Tariffs (including WTO issues), Competition Policy and State Aid
  • Anke Schuster, in charge of Digital Single Market, Broadband Platform
  • Marine Siva, in charge of Barometer
  • Rainer Steffens (SNE), in charge of RegHub
  • Piotr Zajączkowski, in charge of SME Policy and Entrepreneurship, EER scheme, Internal Market

Assistants:

  • Teresa Geyer​, in charge of RegHub
  • Francisco Javier Herraiz Ongay, in charge of the general support to ECON Commission legislative work​
​
To contact the ECON team, please use the Contact form

  • Administrative capacity of local and regional authorities: Opportunities and challenges for structural reforms and a more effective European economic governance
    Publication date: 30.11.2018
    Theme: European semester / Economic Governance
    Keywords: ECON (Commission for Economic Policy)
    Author: Jürgen Pucher (Project Leader) and Haris Martinos (METIS GmbH).
    Files:

  • The involvement of the Local and Regional Authorities in the European Semester – Analysis of the 2018 National Reform Programmes
    Publication date: 01.10.2018
    Theme: European semester / Economic Governance, European Fund for Strategic Investment (EFSI), Europe 2020 Strategy
    Keywords: ECON (Commission for Economic Policy)
    Author: Jürgen Pucher (Project Leader) and Wolfgang Schausberger (METIS GmbH)
    Files:

  • Active subsidiarity and the European Semester: the involvement of cities and regions in policy-making for investment and structural reform
    Publication date: 03.07.2020
    Theme: Subsidiarity and proportionality
    Keywords: ECON (Commission for Economic Policy)
    Author: Alessandro Valenza and Paul Hickey (t33 Srl), Sabine Zillmer and Paul Georis(Spatial Foresight)
    Available languages:

  • Assessing the need for a modification of the state aid rules for the phasing-out of coal
    Publication date: 23.03.2020
    Theme: Industrial policy
    Keywords: ECON (Commission for Economic Policy)
    Author: Michele Alessandrini, Pietro Celotti, Giacomo Nespeca (t33 Srl), Silke Haarich, Christian Lüer, Sabine Zillmer (Spatial Foresight GmbH), Erich Dallhammer, Martyna Derszniak-Noirjean, Markéta Prasilova (OIR GmbH), and Salvatore Tarantino.
    Files:

  • EU policy framework on SMEs: state of play and challenges
    Publication date: 29.07.2019
    Theme: SME policy
    Keywords: ECON (Commission for Economic Policy)
    Author: Michele Alessandrini, Alessandro Valenza, Andrea Gramillano, Chiara Zingaretti, (t33 Srl), Sabine Zillmer, Frank Holstein and Giacomo Salvatori (Spatial Foresight). Contributions from Erich Dallhammer,Mailin Gaupp-Berghausen and Martyna Derszniak (ÖIR)
    Files:

  • Implementing a place-based approach to EU industrial policy strategy
    Publication date: 16.07.2019
    Theme: Industrial policy
    Keywords: ECON (Commission for Economic Policy)
    Author: M. Alessandrini (t33), P. Celotti (t33), E. Dallhammer (OIR), H. Gorny (OIR), A. Gramillano (t33), B. Schuh (OIR) and C. Zingaretti (t33) with contributions from M. Toptsidou (Spatial Foresight)
    Available languages:

  • Assessing the implementation of the 2014 Directives on public procurement: challenges and opportunities at regional and local level
    Publication date: 14.06.2019
    Theme: Public procurement
    Keywords: ECON (Commission for Economic Policy)
    Author: Alessandro Valenza, Michele Alessandrini, Paul Negrila and Pietro Celotti (t33 Srl).
    Available languages:

  • A territorial approach for the implementation of the SDGs in the EU – The role of the European Committee of the Regions
    Publication date: 11.04.2019
    Theme: Long-term strategy for investment, growth and jobs (renewed Europe 2020)
    Keywords: ECON (Commission for Economic Policy)
    Author: François Levarlet, Michele Alessandrini, Pietro Celotti (t33) with contributions from Giacomo Salvatori and Frank Holstein (Spatial Foresight), Martyna Derszniak-Noirjean and Mailin Gaupp-Berghausen (ÖIR), Paolo Seri, Veronika Müller (t33)
    Available languages:

  • The democratic dimension of EU negotiations on trade agreements: the role and responsibilities of citizens and LRAs
    Publication date: 17.12.2017
    Theme: Trade (incl. TTIP)
    Keywords: ECON (Commission for Economic Policy)
    Author: Bernd Schuh, Sanja Brkanovic, Helene Gorny, Edith Stifter (ÖIR) in collaboration with Paola Le Moglie and Pietro Celotti (t33).
    Available languages:

  • The involvement of the local and regional authorities in the European Semester: analysis of the 2017 National Reform Programmes
    Publication date: 19.10.2017
    Theme: European semester / Economic Governance
    Keywords: ECON (Commission for Economic Policy)
    Author: Jürgen Pucher and Wolfgang Schausberger (METIS GmbH).
    Available languages:

  • Improving the European Semester by involving local and regional authorities: Overview of good practices
    Publication date: 11.10.2017
    Theme: European semester / Economic Governance
    Keywords: ECON (Commission for Economic Policy)
    Author: Jürgen Pucher and Haris Martinos (METIS GmbH).
    Files:

  • Implementation of the Decision and the Framework on SGEIs: involvement of LRAs in the reporting exercise and state of play as regards the assessment of social services as economic activities
    Publication date: 08.06.2017
    Theme: Economic and Monetary Union (EMU), European Structural and Investment Funds
    Keywords: ECON (Commission for Economic Policy)
    Author: Sabine Zillmer, Silke Haarich, Frank Holstein and Maria Toptsidou (Spatial Foresight) with contributions from Paola Le Moglie (t33)
    Files:

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