June 25, 2021

The following is a press release from the European Committee of the Regions:

On behalf of the Presidents of the European Committee of the Regions, the Government of the Autonomous Region of the Azores and the Conference of European Regional Legislative Assemblies, we invite you to attend the event "The place of regions in the European Union architecture in the context of the Conference on the Future of Europe".

The current pandemic has shown the crucial role that regional and local authorities have in delivering healthcare and managing social and economic recovery. Regions also bring proven added value to the European Union, in particular in the green and digital transitions, and in strenghtening trust with citizens. The Conference on the Future of Europe provides an opportunity to reflect on the functioning of democracy including on the place of regions and to take better into account the territorial dimension in the governance of the European Union.

This event will feature two panel debates with Presidents of regions and of regional parliaments from various EU member states. These will be followed by the adoption and official signing of a Declaration as the starting point of a political alliance that aims at enhancing the regions' political impact at the European level on matters with direct relevance to the work of local and regional authorities. The final text of the Declaration will be available on the event's day.

Registration here: https://ec.europa.eu/eusurvey/runner/Place_of_regions_in_EU_registration?_cldee=YWRyaWVubi5uYWd5QGNvci5ldXJvcGEuZXU%3d&recipientid=contact-eeb66fd664bae8118113005056a043ea-6475f95b986349b1abe5d892bc6a6f19&esid=ef3193e9-54d4-eb11-8118-005056a043ea&_cldee=ZWRpdG9yc0BsZXRhLmx2&recipientid=contact-45adf204f85feb11811b005056a033d5-5adef547dbab4887a9ee10b40df9d446&esid=853bc91e-96d5-eb11-8118-005056a043ea. The connection link will be sent on 28 June.

Speakers:

Apostolos Tzitzikostas (EL/EPP), Governor of the region of Central Macedonia, President of the European Committee of the Regions

Gustavo A. Matos Expósito (ES/PES), President of the Parliament of the Canary Islands and President of the Conference of European Regional Legislative Assemblies

José Manuel Bolieiro (PT/EPP), President of the Autonomous Region Azores

Mark Speich (DE/EPP), CoR CIVEX Chair and Secretary of State for Federal, European and International Affairs in North Rhine-Westphalia

Concepción Andreu Rodrķguez (ES/PES); President of the Regional Government of La Rioja

Rachid Madrane (BE/PES), President of the Parliament of the Brussels-Capital Region

Ilse Aigner (DE/EPP), President of State Parliament of Bavaria and President of the Conference of German state parliaments

Massimiliano Fedriga (IT/ECR), President of the Friuli-Venezia Giulia Region and President of the Conference of the Regions and Autonomous Provinces

Antje Grotheer (DE/PES), CoR CIVEX Member and Vice-President of Bremen City Parliament

Leendert Verbeek (NL/PES), King's Commissioner of Flevoland and President of the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe

Olgierd Geblewicz (PL/EPP), President of West Pomerania Region and President of the Association of Polish Regions

Alin-Adrian Nica (RO/EPP), President of Timis County Council

Juraj Droba (SK/ECR), President of the Bratislava Region

Vasco Ilķdio Alves Cordeiro (PT/PES), 1st Vice President of the European Committee of the Regions and Member of the Regional Parliament of Azores.

Should you have any questions, please contact:

Marie-Pierre Jouglain, Press officer, European Committee of the Regions

Mariepierre.jouglain@cor.europa.eu | tel.+32 (0) 473 52 41 15