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Investing on time to deliver jobs and inclusion:
CoR plenary to focus on EU structural funds and youth employment
- CoR President Valcárcel and Commissioner Hahn to lead debate on
future implementation of EU cohesion policy
- Role of creative sectors in job creation and phasing-out of EU milk
quotas on agenda
- Europe 2020 conference on poverty and social exclusion on 29 May
During the Committee of the Regions plenary on 30 May CoR President, Mr
Ramon Luis Valcárcel Siso, will be joined by the European Commissioner for
regional policy, Johannes Hahn, in reviewing the current state of play of the
EU's cohesion package negotiations for the period 2014-2020.
The one day event will be an opportunity to consider what can be done
to ensure that programmes funded by EU cohesion policy start swiftly and on
time.
The outcome of a CoR survey will also be presented assessing the
progress made in each Member State in shaping operational programmes.
Delivering growth and jobs will dominate the plenary discussions with
CoR members also voting on an opinion on the Youth Employment Package
(rapporteur Enrico Rossi (IT/PES), President of the Toscana Region).
Main issues to be debated:
Cultural and creative sectors for growth and jobs
Investing in the cultural sector has been identified among the
political priorities of the CoR, which it views as a driver for economic growth
and jobs, whilst also contributing to social wellbeing and social inclusion.
As cultural markets are crucially dependent from public expenditure,
CoR argues that, as far as possible, public policies should not let them be seen
as easy targets for financial cuts.
The issue will be debated through the presentation of a drafted opinion
by Anton Rombouts (NL/EPP), Mayor of 's-Hertogenbosch, on the European
Commission's strategy to boost growth and jobs in cultural and creative sectors.
Phasing-out of EU milk quotas
The EU milk quota system, which came into force in 1984, looked to
address the problem of over-production. However following changes in the market,
quotas are now expected to be abolished in 2015.
René Souchon (FR/PES), President of the Auvergne Region, will present a
draft opinion for adoption that reviews the European Commission's second report
on the evolution of the market situation and sets conditions to ensure the
smooth phasing out of the milk quota system.
Mr. Souchon argues that not enough consideration has been given to the
territorial and regional impact of the proposals.
It questions the Commission's argument for the total abolition of milk
quotas and market liberalisation of the milk market and calls for further
analysis on its consequences for Europe's regions.
Europe 2020 conference: Fighting poverty and social exclusion (29
May, Brussels)
One day before the plenary session on 29 May, the CoR will also be
holding a conference on "Fighting poverty and social exclusion: What role for
regions and cities? "
The event will be the fourth in a series of seven covering the Europe 2020
Strategy flagship initiatives.
Local policy approaches and good practices will be discussed, together
with lessons learnt from successful transnational cooperation.
Speakers will include CoR President Valcárcel, CoR First Vice-President
Mercedes Bresso, Member of the European Parliament and Chairwoman of the
Committee on Employment and Social Affairs, Pervenche Berès, as well as
President of the Social Platform, Heather Roy.
The Committee of the Regions' 101st Plenary Session will be held on
Thursday 30 May from 2:30pm – 9pm in the European Parliament, Brussels.
The full session will be web streamed live on: www.cor.europa.eu.