July 5, 2022

The following is a press release:

The Greens in the European Committee of the Regions (CoR) have elected Una Power (IE) and Niina Ratilainen (FI) as co-presidents of the political group. Alongside them, Ufuk Kâhya (NL) and Josha Frey (DE) will serve as vice-co-presidents for the next 2.5 years of the CoR mandate.

The new leadership of the group confirmed its commitment and enthusiasm to continue ensuring a strong greens' voice and advocating for implementation of the Green Deal at local levels. The bureau members form a strong team and complement each other with their respective knowledge and experience from different countries and diverse backgrounds.

Niina Ratilainen has been Councillor on the shore of the Baltic Sea, in the Turku City Council since 2012. Besides City Council, she is a board member of the leading energy company in Southwest Finland and a board member of the Green Party in Finland. In the CoR, she is the Greens' Political Coordinator in the CIVEX Commission and a member of the ENVE Commission. She has studied, advocated, and demonstrated for halting climate change and is working for girls' rights, gender equality, and climate justice.

Speaking on her election as co-president of the Greens in the CoR, Ratilainen said, 'The Greens are an active group in European politics and it is a great honour to lead the group's work in the CoR. Our goal is a Europe in which good environmental standards, local democracy and equal rights are promoted and implemented in all regions and municipalities.'

Una Power has been serving as co-president of the Greens in the CoR since June 2021. She is a Local Representative for the Green Party Ireland in Dún Laoghaire Rathdown County Council. Since graduating with a degree in Politics and German from University College Dublin, she has worked in both the NGO and political sectors, advocating for women's rights, environmental protection, and a just transition.

Speaking on her re-election as co-president of the Greens in the CoR, Power said, 'I am incredibly excited to work together with Niina as co-presidents of the Greens. Together, we can have a strong impact on policy decisions and will bring environmental needs to the fore.'

Josha Frey was elected as vice-co-president of the Greens in the CoR for the first time on 29 June. He has been a member of the State Parliament of Baden-Württemberg since 2011, and chairs currently the Upper Rhine Council. Coming from the border triangle of Germany, Switzerland and France, Frey continues building bridges between the countries of Europe and supporting the deepening of cross-border cooperation at the regional level across Europe.

Ufuk Kâhya has been a vice-co-president of the Greens in the CoR since the establishment of the group in February 2020. He has been a member of the -'s Hertogenbosch Municipality Council for 12 years and currently serves as Alderman for talent development, health and data.

After three mandates as member of the Schleswig-Holstein State Parliament, former co-president Bernd Voss decided not to stand for re-election and retire from politics. His mandate as CoR member and Greens co-president came to an end in June 2022.

Saana MIRALA The Greens | Political Adviser

saana.mirala@cor.europa.eu

+32 472 100 27