The EU’s Committee of the Regions began its 166^th plenary session on Wednesday 14^th May in the European Parliament’s Hemicycle. The session featured six opinions and three resolutions, alongside several debates. There were strong Irish contributions throughout the session.

The session opened with a debate on ‘The European Research Area’ with Commissioner Ekaterina Zaharieva, who has responsibility for startups, research and innovation. During her opening statement, Commissioner Zaharieva noted “Regions and cities are essential to Europe’s excellence in research and innovation. Fostering collaboration, strengthening local ecosystems, and supporting diverse talent—our common efforts help position the EU as a global leader. Together, we ensure that Europe remains the most attractive destination for researchers and that science thrives at every level of our Union.” In response, members called for tangible commitments for collaboration such as full integration of local and regional authorities into the European Research Area Forum.

Following the debate, the CoR adopted Melanie Kühnemann-Grunow’s (DE/PES) opinion ‘Building the European Research Area: A Local and Regional Perspective’, which echoed many of the concerns and issues raised during the previous item.

The second opinion of the afternoon was rapporteur Jaume Collboni Cuadrado’s (ES/PES) topical ‘The Role of Cities and Regions in the EU Affordable Housing Plan’. The opinion seeks to pre-empt the EU Affordable Housing Plan, calling for; a clear definition of conditionalities, greater coordination between the local and regional government and the EU on housing and increasing access to funding and investment for housing.

Making his maiden plenary speech, Cllr. Dermot Lacey noted “A lot of the report is based on the principle that local government has power, I come from a country where the system has been decimated by central government, so I appeal to the Council of Europe and the Committee of the Regions to support us in the campaign for real local government power in our country… The second point I want to make is that the key change that the European Union can make is to ease the restrictions on state aid, that’s what stops us delivering the infrastructure we need, that is what I would appeal to the European Union to do. Lift the restrictions on State Aid, even if it’s for a short period of ten years, we need that in order to deliver the kind of infrastructure we need to deliver. Real people’s lives are being destroyed by the lack of housing, only Europe, National or local can deliver on that. I support the report.”.

The opinion was adopted by the plenary.

The third opinion of the session was Birgitta Sacrédeus’ (SE/EPP) ‘Healthcare Workforce: Regional Challenges and Solutions’. Central to the opinion is that regional disparities can have an impact on the resilience and cohesion of society, which the rapporteur posits as important factors in being able to withstand both health and geopolitical crises. The rapporteur urges that the EU, and its Member States invest in efforts to secure the supply of skills across the entire healthcare system. The opinion was duly adopted.

Cllr. Kieran McCarthy made his first contribution of the session during the debate on Isabelle Boudineau’s (FR/PES) opinion ‘Cohesion policy as a key engine in achieving EU goals and reforms: how to further build on its performance-based approach while respecting decentralisation, partnership and multilevel governance’. Cllr. McCarthy used his speaking slot to voice his disappointment in ‘unclear narratives’ on the future of cohesion funding. He noted that “It’s highly frustrating that we must continue to fight for subsidiarity and against centralisation. We need more effective collaboration to protect principles of partnership, multi-level governance, and local capacity building.” The opinion was subsequently adopted.

The final opinion of the first day was Carmine Pacente’s (IT/RENEW E.) ‘Metropolitan Regions and Functional Urban Areas as Socio-Economic Drivers of Sustainable Investment in the 2021-2027 Cohesion Policy Framework’. This opinion notes that essential to the involvement of local and regional representation within policy is involving towns and cities at all stages of the policy cycle.

The opinion was adopted and the session concluded day one with a debate on EU local matters.

Day two began with a debate on Loredana Capone’s (IT/PES) opinion ‘Strengthen Farmers’ Position in the Agri-food Supply Chain’. This opinion concerns the Regulation establishing a common market organisation of agricultural products (CMO) and a new Regulation on cross-border enforcement against unfair trading practices. These proposals aim to strengthen farmers’ position and restore the trust between actors in the agri-food supply chain. Both proposals seek to directly reflect several recommendations of the Strategic Dialogue on the future of EU agriculture and respond to some of the most pressing challenges that the agricultural sector faces.

Following the previous opinion’s adoption the plenary entered a debate titled ‘The EU-UK Relationship: Perspectives for Regional and Local Cooperation’. The debate featured contributions from Sandro Gozi MEP (Renew E./IT) co-chair of the European Union-United Kingdom Parliamentary Partnership Assembly and Marsha de Cordova (PES/UK) as well as Irish members Cllr. Dan Boyle and Cllr. Caroline Dwane Stanley. Cllr. Dwane Stanley noted “The European Alliance Group welcome the resetting the EU-UK relationship, this is a positive development.

From an Irish perspective fostering greater cooperation between EU and UK is necessary, not only for collective prosperity and resilience but also for maintaining peace on the island. The Irish case is an example of how cooperation effects communities within and outside the EU. Thus, highlighting the urgent need to bolster cross-border relations. This cooperation needs to extend across all social and economic aspects of our lives.

Secondly, in a time of global uncertainty there’s a clear need for working together, there cannot be a situation where different tariffs are levied for exports from the same island we hope that the EU trade commissioner will take this into consideration in negotiating with the US.

My final plea is for the young people who have been affected by Brexit, I believe that all young people should be able to study, work and travel across the EU and the UK. The youth of today are our future and hopefully by fostering their free movement we can build a future of strong cooperation. I wish everyone success with the summit next week.”

Cllr. Dan Boyle followed highlighting that “The relationship between the UK and the European Union has been enhanced and reset and we should welcome that, as has been said by previous speakers, Ireland has been a particular beneficiary of that.

The efforts of the EU to secure and effective agreement through the Windsor Agreement has allowed the economy on the island of Ireland, not only to be protected but to be enhanced and economic activity has increased as a result.

As we refine this relationship and improve it, it has to be based on local and regional government working more and more with each other. We need to find enhancements and replacements for programmes such as the interreg programme, which has proved so successful in the past and has allowed local and regional governments to achieve best standards through cooperation with their country. I have a concern that the threat that does exist, exists in an impending trade agreement between the US and the UK.  We need to be wary not only because of the differential in tariffs but also because there is a very real risk that the US, through a trade agreement with the UK may lead to a relaxation on food imports and allow the practices of excessive hormone use in beef production, the chlorination of chicken and the type of food standards in Europe that we do not accept and cannot accept.

I would urge British colleagues to insist whatever agreement is reached does not breach those standards because it’s important that the role of the consumer and the citizen is understood in this regard.

Finally, we should be looking towards a relationship where we look at what we have in common and also where the highest standards are applied towards the climate crisis and how we protect international agreements such as the Paris Agreement, as a partner country and a neighbouring country the boundaries and borders are meaningless in this context, I am optimistic for the future and we should be optimistic for the future, it can only work if we work together.”

The plenary subsequently moved its attention to the local matter debate on ‘Celebrating diversity with the LGBTQI+ Prides in Europe’, which was proposed by Pascal Smet (BE/PES) and featured a contribution from Kim van Sparrentak (NL/Greens), Co-President of the European Parliament LGBTIQ+ Intergroup.

The Irish delegation made two contributions to the debate, firstly via Cllr. Kieran McCarthy’s intervention where he noted “Over the past 16 years the Cork LGBTQI parade has become part of a weeklong festival in the city and has grown in size and success to become the main regional pride event in Ireland.

There is a general sentiment that pride parades are not just a celebration they are a powerful symbol of solidarity and justice, togetherness, diversity and inclusion, identity and resilience and I’ve seen in my city that the cork pride parade is an opportunity for people from all backgrounds to come together and unite and see that our differences enrich us rather than diminish us, unite us rather than divide us.

Pride events safeguard hard won achievements and pride is a time to honour the brave individuals who have paved the way and amplified the voices of those who continue to advocate for change, on matters such as this we must never be silent and always speak out.”

Secondly, Cllr. Gillian Coughlan spoke on the topic “We are here united in diversity and we cannot afford to backslide on that. We must keep our fortress of rights strong and we must defend those rights. It is not good enough to allow countries to diminish those rights.

We heard yesterday from a representative from the Danish presidency and he spoke of conditionality. I think here in the CoR we are going to have to begin to bargain. If people are not willing to maintain our rights and defend our rights then perhaps something may have to be diminished for them. It is not good enough for people who are gay, lesbian or trans to be diminished like this or have their rights to be diminished like this.

In Ireland we have celebrated just this year, ten years of marriage equality. We came from a dark place of sexual repression, so must now stand in solidarity with our brothers and sisters in Hungary and other places so that their rights are defended.”

The plenary next held a debate on the institutional priorities for the CoR. Speaking during the debate Cllr. Kieran McCarthy highlighted that “Cohesion resilience, and proximity are the pillars a stronger more inclusive and future proof Europe”, and they must form the basis of the CoR’s priorities.

A resolution on the topic was subsequently adopted by the plenary.

The plenary would subsequently adopt another resolution on the ‘Mid-term review of Cohesion Policy 2021-2027’. The resolution urges the Commission to swiftly finalise the mid-term review of programmes such as the ERDF, CF, JTF and ESF+ where proposals have been submitted, while ensuring managing authorities retain the flexibility to make further amendments in light of future legislative revisions. However, the CoR uses the resolution to express concern that the Commission’s approach does not provide new funding but rather reallocates existing cohesion policy funds under different rules or central management, risking reduced investment impact.

Following the resolution’s adoption the plenary held one final debate on the “The future of the EU Budget” and subsequently adopted a resolution attached to this debate entitled “Draft resolution in view of the next MFF”. This concluded the plenary session; the next session will take place on the 2^nd and 3^rd of July, once again in the Hemicycle.