This plenary session represented the final session before the summer break. The meeting was the first plenary for new Member Cllr Mick Cahill and alternate member Cllr Padraig McEvoy.

The session featured 2 debates and 10 opinions. Due to the transition period following the recent European elections, there were no MEPs in attendance meaning the only statements given in support of opinions or during debate came from Commissioners. Commissioner for Agriculture Janusz Wojiechowski spoke during the debate on the future of CAP, subsequently Commissioners Elisa Ferreira and Iliana Ivanova spoke during the debate on improving EU support for regional research and innovation ecosystems, the role of the Regional Innovation Valleys.

Following the acceptance of minutes the plenary session began with the CoR’s various group leaders giving statements on the recent European election results, the ECR claimed that there is now clear evidence of a swing to the right, the EPP said that the centre is holding and the Greens warned of increasing amounts of misinformation and scaremongering.

Next on the agenda was Towards a Global Green Deal: harmonising global frameworks for climate change, biodiversity and sustainable development which was presented jointly by EPP and PES. The rapporteur, Rafał Kazimierz Trzaskowski (PL/EPP), noted that this opinion focuses on how we respond to the world us. He noted that there is sometimes a feeling, especially in local and regional government, that the current programme is too top down rather than bottom up, this he believes is leading to disenfranchisement as people feel they are being dictated to and shamed for not taking more action. The opinion promotes the power of the CoR to act as an intermediary between the EU and local and regional communities to implement the EU’s Green Deal.

Somewhat aptly this debate was followed by a debate on the Future of the Common Agricultural Policy. This debate focused on the progress of the reformed CAP, which entered force on the 1^st January 2023 along with its 10 specific objectives:

• ensure a fair income for farmers,
• increase competitiveness,
• improve the position of farmers in the food chain,
• climate change action,
• environmental care,
• preserve landscapes and biodiversity,
• support generational renewal,
• vibrant rural areas,
• protect food and health quality, and
• foster knowledge and innovation.

The Commissioner spoke about the importance of ensuring a fair wage is provided for each farmer. Furthermore, he noted that Europe has already had success lowering emissions and increasing productivity and we must now reinforce solidarity with farmers and the international community.

Speaking during the debate, Cllr. Aoife Breslin, noted that:

“ The evidence is clear, emissions must be cut across society, and comparatively those cuts must be higher in the agricultural sector if we are to meet our climate targets.

To this point CAP has demonstrated three things:

• that global food systems cannot be taken for granted,
• that climate and environmental considerations must be central to our thinking, and
• that we must be realistic about the capacity of our farmers and our administrations to manage and adjust to change.

But we also have to be realistic – CAP cannot do everything. Many environmental proposals, such as land restoration, require action and funding well beyond the scope and duration of a typical CAP framework in order to ensure a just transition.

The onus is on us as local and regional representatives to communicate to farmers what the CAP is capable of. Reassure farmers that they won’t be left to face these daunting challenges alone.

I am therefore calling for the EU to listen to our agricultural communities because if we fail to understand them, we will fail to meet the challenges presented by the climate crisis and that will be an indictment of us as a society not just farmers.”

The subsequent opinion attached to the debate was adopted by majority following a vote on over 150 amendments to the text.

The next item to be agreed was the Revision of the CoR Rules of Procedures. A key part of this debate was the inclusion of an amendment to the CoR Rules of Procedure ensuring gender equality rather than gender diversity. Furthermore, the plenary voted in support of an amendment ensuring that each Member States’ bureau delegation would be gender balanced.

This was followed by the aforementioned debate on Improving EU Support for Regional Research and Innovation Ecosystems – The Example of the Regional Innovation Valleys with Commissioner for Cohesion Elisa Ferreira and Commissioner for Innovation, Research, Culture, Education and Youth Iliana Ivanova. During her opening statement Commissioner Ferreira announced that the Commission has identified 151 regions as Regional Innovation Valleys. She noted that this initiative will be supported with €116 million worth of funding under the European Innovation Ecosystems (EIE) programme of Horizon Europe, the EU research and innovation programme,  and the Interregional Innovation Investments (I3) Instrument of the European Regional Development Fund.

All three of Ireland’s regions were announced as Innovation Valleys.

Speaking during the debate, Cllr. Declan McDonnell said:

“Recognition of the North West of Ireland as a Regional Innovation Valley will greatly enhance our ability to coordinate research and innovation investment, and policies.

It will enable us to address regional challenges more effectively while maintaining a strong alignment with EU priorities.

Building on our national and regional Smart Specialisation Strategies, the Northern and Western Regional Assembly is well-positioned to work with leading innovators in our region to tackle specific local challenges through the development of deep-tech innovation.

By collaborating with our universities and key sectors such as Agrifood, Marine and Blue Economy, Tourism, Renewable Energy, Med Tech, and Advanced Manufacturing, we can significantly boost both regional and European competitiveness but also facilitate the implementation of the New European Innovation Agenda within our region.

Our goal is to address critical issues such as climate action, food security, circular economy, digital transformation, and healthcare improvements.”

This debate was followed by the two final opinions of the opening day, firstly Addressing Europe’s Medicine Shortages and later Soil Monitoring and Resilience, both were adopted by the plenary.

Day two of plenary featured five opinions and one debate. Beginning with the adoption of rapporteur Loredana Capone’s opinion – The role of local and regional authorities in the transition towards a circular economy. This opinion seeks to address the issues of biodiversity loss, resource use, climate change impact, and environmental risks to health and well-being which the rapporteur stresses is imperative for achieving sustainability. It was subsequently adopted.

The second opinion of the morning was Mark Speich’s (DE/EPP) opinion Active subsidiarity: a fundamental principle in the EU Better regulation agenda. Setting the context for this opinion the rapporteur stated that “The debate on EU decision-making and on the principle of subsidiarity is topical in view of the upcoming renewal of the institutional term of office and the EU’s strategic agenda”. The opinion’s recommendations would also contribute to the future debate on the revision of the EU Treaties, to the CoR’s position in a potential review of the interinstitutional agreement on better law-making and to the bilateral cooperation agreements with the Parliament and the Commission.

A central theme of the second day was sustainable water management, the topic was featured in one debate and two opinions which were both adopted. The context for the debate centred on the fact that in 2019, 29% of EU territory was affected by water stress for at least one season, and water scarcity is already forcing local and regional authorities (LRAs) to declare drought emergencies, fuelling tensions in local communities and cross-border regions. The CoR note the negative impact that droughts, floods and other extreme weather phenomena are having.

The first of the two final opinions of the plenary was Enhancing the European Administrative Space (ComPAct), which seeks to encourage and strengthen administrative cooperation between Member States. The second was EU roadmap to fight drug trafficking and organised crime. Both were adopted.

Following the adoption of the final opinions, President Vasco Cordeiro welcomed new members recently appointed to the CoR including Irish Member Cllr. Mick Cahill. Cllr. Cahill used the occasion to praise the Just Transition initiative, before noting that he welcomes the next phase of its roll-out and that he hopes that this phase will “look at where the real problems are in Ireland and to localise them”.