The Committee of the Regions is the voice of the regions and cities in the European Union (EU). It represents local and regional authorities across the EU and advises on new proposed laws that have an impact on regions and cities. Established in 1994, the Committee of the Regions (CoR) is an EU advisory body composed of 329 Members (and 329 Alternate Members).
The CoR gives regions and cities a formal say in EU law-making ensuring that the position and needs of regional and local authorities are respected. Through the adoption of opinions and resolutions, the CoR makes sure that the voice of local and regional authorities across Europe is heard on matters that directly impact them.
Six thematic commissions carry out the legislative work of the European Committee of the Regions, which covers a broad range of areas that concern local and regional authorities.
These commissions are:
- CIVEX – Citizenship, Governance, Institutional and External Affairs
- COTER – Commission for Territorial Cohesion Policy and EU Budget
- ECON – Economic policy
- ENVE – Environment, Climate Change and Energy
- NAT – Natural Resources
- SEDEC – Social Policy, Education, Employment, Research and Culture
In the commissions, CoR members produce opinions on EU legislative proposals and initiatives, and discuss other issues relevant to the work of Europe’s more than one million local politicians. These commissions then submit draft versions of opinions and resolutions for discussion and adoption at every Plenary session (6 per year).
All the CoR members are elected local and regional representatives from the EU 27 Member States. Members from one country form the National Delegation which reflects the political, geographical, regional and local balance of their country. Members can also join one of the five political groups of the CoR: European People’s Party (EPP), Party of European Socialists (PES), Renew Europe (former ALDE), European Alliance Group (EA), the Greens and European Conservatives and Reformists Group (ECR). Members can also choose to not be part of a political party if they so wish (non-aligned).
For further information visit:
Irish delegation to the CoR
Aoife Breslin
Eamon Dooley
Caroline Dwane Stanley
Kate Feeney
Deirdre Forde
Kieran McCarthy
Declan McDonnell
Una Power
Emma Blain
Dan Boyle
Gillian Coughlan
Michael Crowe
Alison Gilliland
Jimmy McClearn
Padraig McEvoy
Conor McGuinness
Enda Stenson
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