Speech by Apostolos Tzitzikostas, President of the European Committee of the Regions, at the Conference on the Future of Europe, Strasbourg
April 8, 2022
The following is a press release:
Today Citizens all across Europe ask for more transparency,
Inclusiveness, participation.
Locally and regionally elected politicians,
bridge citizens and national governments,
By listening to them on a daily basis,
By implementing European and national laws on the ground
And by channelling to the capitals needs arising from
Local Business and civil society.
So Their role is enshrined in the Constitutions,
Their capacity to act is supported by budgets,
Their legitimacy is secured by fair elections.
What we ask citizens today is to consider to propose, here,
the same tools they already use
at national level to influence national policy:
we propose citizens to use Mayors and regional councils
for echoing their voice here in Brussels and Strasbourg, thus bringing Europe closer to them.
We propose to use the principle of subsidiarity
As political answer to their legitimate requests.
In fact, through a more structured
Implication of local and regional authorities
in EU affairs,
including through a stronger Committee of the Regions,
an answer can be given to the main request
put forward by citizens:
namely: better involvement
and closing the gap between them and the institutions.
We,
the regionally and locally elected politicians,
are 'European politicians':
because
we make Europe happen on the ground,
we implement policies and
we adopt regional legislations that
are indeed essential to transpose the European laws.
We therefore believe,
the answer for a performing European Democracy
can be also found by a stronger role
given to local and regional authorities
within the legislative process of this Union.
Thank you very much
- Published: 08.04.2022 17:17
- Preses relīze, LETA
- © The given news may not be republished in any way or amount, or otherwise used by the mass media or Internet websites, without written permission of LETA. If this provision is not observed, the matter will be taken to court pursuant to the laws and regulations of the Republic of Latvia.
Send a comment to editor
Speech by Apostolos Tzitzikostas, President of the European Committee of the Regions, at the Conference on the Future of Europe, Strasbourg