31.3.2009   

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 76/1

—

believes that intercultural dialogue is a key instrument in promoting understanding of cultural diversity and strengthening and uniting people in a multilingual, multicultural Europe;

—

is convinced that dialogue between different religions and world views is one of the prime instruments for sustainable intercultural dialogue;

—

calls on the European Parliament, therefore, to promote a European Charter for intercultural dialogue and suggests that the European Commission and the Member States set up a permanent European Platform for intercultural dialogue, including local and regional authorities, with a view to developing a systematic dialogue starting out from our cities and regions;

—

believes that local and regional authorities have important powers when it comes to promoting intercultural dialogue;

—

feels that local authorities should establish an open dialogue with individual groups or sections within society, and then promote and support communication between these groups, organise meetings and educate people through lectures, festivals, exhibitions and other forms of activity.

—

points out that in many of the Member States regional and local authorities are responsible for legislation relating to integration policy and its implementation and thus play a key role in the integration of immigrants;

—

believes that intercultural dialogue is a prerequisite of successful integration. Being closest to the people, local and regional authorities are able to encourage mutual recognition and a more active involvement in intercultural dialogue.

Rapporteur

:

Milan BELICA (SK/EPP), President of the Nitra Self-governing Region

1.

believes that the basic principle underlying the process of European integration is respect for, and the promotion of, cultural diversity. In this sense, intercultural dialogue is a key instrument in promoting understanding of cultural diversity and strengthening and uniting people in a multilingual, multicultural Europe;

2.

stresses that the concept of intercultural dialogue, allied with social and territorial cohesion, can help to instil the basic values of private, social and civic life, such as solidarity, responsibility, tolerance, respect, traditional values, striving for social progress and understanding of social and cultural diversity. It can also foster the ability to communicate between individuals and groups with a different cultural background and help them live together in solidarity;

3.

highlights the fact that equality of access to culture and freedom of cultural expression are essential features of the European values base and preconditions for intercultural dialogue and integration;

4.

stresses that in order to promote intercultural dialogue effectively, there is a need for cooperation at regional and local level that involves local and regional decision-makers, social partners, education and training establishments, NGOs, and youth, sports and cultural organisations, as well as bodies representing immigrants and other relevant partners at grassroots level. Religious and secular associations are also important partners in this dialogue to help create mutual understanding and tolerance, provided that this is indeed what they do;

5.

is convinced that dialogue between different religions and world views is one of the prime instruments for sustainable intercultural dialogue. The different faith organisations are key players in our society. At local and regional level, public and religious authorities are in a position to develop working methods for promoting mutual understanding and hence strengthening intercultural dialogue. Supporting these methods and activities developed at local and regional level can also help to foster the principle of mutual understanding;

6.

calls on the European Parliament, therefore, to promote a European Charter for intercultural dialogue and suggests that the European Commission and the Member States set up a permanent European Platform for intercultural dialogue, including local and regional authorities, with a view to developing a systematic dialogue starting out from our cities and regions.

7.

believes that local and regional authorities have important powers when it comes to promoting intercultural dialogue. They bear a major responsibility for shaping and supporting our rich variety of cultures. They have a key role in disseminating and applying best practice and exchange of experience in intercultural dialogue, in particular through their coordination of multi-dimensional local and regional networks involving all the relevant players;

8.

believes that local and regional authorities could use their position to raise awareness of the present complex situation and the co-existence of various cultural identities and belief systems. Accordingly, it is important for them to have a real understanding of individual groups and their activity and influence within society. It is therefore necessary to identify as wide a range of stakeholders in the multicultural dialogue as possible and to include them in structures for a direct and intensive exchange with the appropriate local or regional authorities;

9.

observes that many intercultural initiatives are managed at the local and/or regional level. Local and regional authorities, through their proximity to the public, are strategically well placed to respond — in partnership with other local players — to the specific needs and demands of the different cultural groups within their territories, and to promote greater intercultural dialogue;

10.

feels that local authorities should establish an open dialogue with individual groups or sections within society, and then promote and support communication between these groups, organise meetings and educate people through lectures, festivals, exhibitions and other forms of activity. Local and regional authorities should initiate an open dialogue in which they would have an impartial role and respect the freedom and rights of the individual and groups; subsequently, they would only act as intermediaries, possibly providing ‘advisory services’ (information, projects).

11.

believes that immigrants should have the opportunity to vote in local, regional and European Parliament elections;

12.

would therefore encourage the relevant authorities and political groups to promote their participation to help facilitate integration into society;

13.

believes that intercultural dialogue is a prerequisite of successful integration. Being closest to the people, local and regional authorities are able to encourage mutual recognition and a more active involvement in intercultural dialogue;

14.

recommends that the European Union, acting within its remit, ensures clear frameworks and pre-conditions for successful integration, but also recognises that immigration and integration policy is a national competence and the principle of subsidiarity must be respected;

15.

points out the need for the creation and support of management structures (one-stop shops) that can help immigrants with the practical issues they face (as well as the usual bureaucratic problems) and offer useful information, especially for newcomers;

16.

points out that in many of the Member States regional and local authorities are responsible for legislation relating to integration policy and its implementation and thus play a key role in the integration of immigrants. Differences in national systems, as well as the geographical position of each Member State, existing customs and historical and cultural characteristics must be taken into account when elaborating common European frameworks, in accordance with Point 14. This also means that local and regional authorities should apply an integrationist model depending on their specific circumstances;

17.

underlines the fact that local and regional authorities are often involved in determining the effectiveness and efficiency of a number of aspects of integration policy through the way in which they fulfil their responsibilities in these areas;

18.

calls for adequate resources to be provided for integration measures at local and regional level while existing programmes are explored. Local and regional authorities should be assisted in managing the integration process — with information and funding as well as the development of best practices. Strands and measures should be included that enable the funding at local and regional level of projects and measures to integrate immigrants;

19.

notes the huge scale of immigration to the European Union. In this case cooperation and dialogue need to be stepped up in the cultural sphere so as to ensure that cultural differences do not provoke disharmony but instead become a tool of development and an instrument for strengthening tolerance and uniting populations in a multicultural Europe based on mutual respect and solidarity;

20.

calls for the intensification of efforts to draw up a common European Policy to manage irregular immigration. Many of the legal aspects of irregular immigration are beyond the competencies of local authorities, but the social consequences of this phenomenon are first and foremost felt at local and regional level. Ways should be found and efforts should be made to consult the regions and the local level when developing common policies on the issue and address the specific problems of irregular migration in the context of intercultural dialogue;

21.

believes that regional and local authorities play a special role when it comes to migration policy, because many of the services that are important for successful integration — such as housing, healthcare, education and learning programmes for skills and languages — are provided by local and regional authorities and therefore they are also the first concerned by problems in these areas;

22.

points out that the process of integration is sometimes spread over several generations — particularly at local level. For this reason it considers it very important that local and regional authorities provide for effective structural, social, economic and cultural integration, while it is an absolute pre-condition to help to ensure that newcomers are not discriminated against and have rights and access to resources, employment and services so that they can fully take part in European society. Access to the normal labour market — an issue which Member States have responsibility for — is crucial;

23.

recommends considering a possibility that a system of networks of local and regional authorities be set up in each Member State in order to increase cooperation to effectively deal with migratory flows and to integrate immigrants in an informed way by means of local projects promoted by these authorities;

24.

would refer to the European Year of intercultural dialogue in 2008, which by promoting understanding of different cultures is providing a key impetus for the integration of people with a migration background. The Commission should consider whether an annual ‘European Day for integration and intercultural tolerance’ could raise awareness, and highlight the enrichment that can come from cultural diversity.

25.

recommends creating conditions for the integration of immigrant families with local families and communities through integrated programmes set up, with the active participation of immigrants, to improve the built environment and urban planning, provide services, improve the quality of the environment and combat social exclusion. Points out the need to carry out further research that collates experience in all the Member States over recent years concerning the ability to provide housing, including for immigrants with special emphasis on experience in implementing programmes for improving neighbourhoods with high migrant populations;

26.

encourages local and regional authorities to make use of existing EU funding possibilities for helping migrants, asylum seekers and refugees find employment and to gain access to social, health and housing services. Local and regional authorities should ensure the quality and quantity of public services as well as education and learning programmes and the quality of life in cities by providing effective urban planning and adequate housing policy to avoid the degradation of urban areas and setting up effective regeneration programmes for run-down urban areas.

27.

draws attention to the fact that, in the absence of reception and integration projects and stable employment, immigrants may fall victim to exploitation and crime or may themselves, voluntarily or involuntarily, become criminals, creating a possible source of problems in terms of security and social cohesion;

28.

suggests that the Member States, in cooperation with local and regional authorities, all economic and social partners, should make efforts to improve the access of immigrants to work, in line with national competences in this area, and to fight discrimination in the labour market. Member States should inform them of the possibilities and encourage them to prepare for work through continuous, and if necessary, specific training programmes;

29.

believes that developing a sense of belonging starts at school, and that reception and integration programmes can be developed as an integral part of all preschool, school and university systems in the Member States;

30.

feels that local and regional authorities should highlight the role and importance of education as an important means of raising awareness about diversity;

31.

calls for greater attention to be paid to the cultural, linguistic and intellectual potential of immigrants, which are of great importance to the European Union in the globalising world;

32.

stresses the need to support teaching which focuses on mutual understanding. In order to achieve this, the school curriculum should be adapted to reflect the EU's multicultural environment and the principle of actively supporting multicultural dialogue;

33.

places a significant emphasis on foreign language teaching and on developing the basis of multilingualism at pre-school age. It stresses the importance of having a good knowledge of the language of the host country and the area where one lives. It suggests, therefore, that appropriate measures of support and learning opportunities be developed both at school and, for different age groups of migrants, outside the school environment;

34.

also agrees on the need to encourage dialogue between religious communities and associations and other cultural players. People within the EU need to have a better knowledge and understanding of both EU and non-EU countries, including their history and their culture. Immigrants as well as locals must receive a positive education on Europe: the discovery of shared values and a common history, interaction between cultures, and similar social and political rights and duties;

35.

suggests that local and regional authorities commit themselves to fostering intercultural awareness among the staff of local and regional authorities and other public service providers and promote a fair representation of staff with migrant/ethnic minority backgrounds in these institutions;

36.

believes that local and regional authorities can play a role in developing an environment for foreign students that enables them to establish links with the city where they study, however short the period involved.

37.

calls for local and regional authorities to collaborate closely with local media, as well as organisations and associations of cultural interests, in conducting information campaigns at local and regional level, reaching in particular ‘disadvantaged’ groups and thereby ensuring maximum benefit of opportunities available;

38.

considers that local media have an important role to play in informing people as objectively as possible about the situation and reality of Europe's multi-cultural societies and thus, on the one hand, to strengthen the adaptability of the host country population (raising of intercultural awareness and knowledge, acceptance of migration) while, on the other, encouraging migrants to integrate, and to respect the cultures, traditions, customs and languages of the host country and of other EU Member States;

39.

suggests targeting local and regional stakeholders through decentralised events and encouraging appropriate coverage of such events in the regional media. Local and regional authorities should emphasise the clear role of the media in supporting equality and mutual understanding and continue to create the conditions for supporting cultural dialogue;

40.

notes the necessity to promote the creation of new spaces (various digital environments, special cafés, activities in parks or squares) of intercultural dialogue and proposes that support be given to city debates, dialogues, language instruction, naturalisation courses, employment schemes, equal opportunity courses, anti-discrimination schemes, etc., and that the systematic exchange and monitoring of experience, new approaches, successes and failures be ensured at local level.

31.3.2009   

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 76/6

—

believes that the regions and local authorities play a crucial role in the European Research Area (ERA) in that they bring this policy to the European people and are in touch with stakeholders' day-to-day concerns;

—

supports the establishment of a Community legal framework that was requested by Member States in order to facilitate the setting up and effective implementation of infrastructures promoting excellence in Europe that foster research and will ultimately improve Europe's ability to compete with third countries;

—

suggests that when the members of an ERI are regions or local authorities at least three of them should belong to different Member States — irrespective of the origin of the other members of the ERI — in order to ensure that the ERI is transnational;

—

urges that EGTCs be specifically considered as an alternative legal instrument for setting up research infrastructures with a European dimension. Recitals 5 and 9 from the new Council Regulation should therefore make clearer, more explicit reference to this point;

—

highlights the importance of the regional and local authorities in promoting joint research programmes as they are more in touch with the specific local situation in terms of science, technology and the economy, and therefore know when cooperation on areas of strategic importance is required.

—

believes that it is important to maximise regional and local benefits through ‘distributed’ research infrastructures, and account should be taken of the potential support that setting up a virtual network of infrastructures in Europe could bring to ERIs.

Rapporteur

:

Mr Iñaki AGUIRRE ARIZMENDI (ES/ALDE), General Secretary for External Affairs, Autonomous Community of the Basque Country, Spain

1.

believes that the regions and local authorities play a crucial role in the European Research Area (ERA) in that they bring this policy to the European people and are in touch with stakeholders' day-to-day concerns. This Committee therefore argues that the regions should play a strategic role in initiatives to strengthen and enlarge the ERA, especially in those which involve setting up robust research facilities in innovative settings and cooperating in research;

2.

welcomes the two initiatives which have been put forward and recognises that they make an important contribution to deepening and widening the ERA. In its opinion on The ERA: new perspectives (1) the Committee emphasised the need to intensify the process of establishing the ERA as a step towards making Europe the most dynamic economy in the world;

3.

stresses that the regional and local authorities should be considered as the basic units for regional and economic management and that European regional and local authorities should play a key role in implementing the new Lisbon agenda to support a more competitive European economy through an innovation-focussed strategy;

4.

highlights the fact that each of the European regions is different in terms of their economic fabric and level of maturity and specialisation. This Committee therefore underlines the need to bear these differences in mind when linking up the regions to improve global competitiveness. It must, therefore, be ensured that certain regions' specific characteristics, such as remoteness, are not grounds for exclusion when these regions apply to set up an ERI. Steps should thus be taken to ensure that the outermost regions (OR) are able to access this virtual infrastructure network;

5.

calls on Member States to make coordinated, joint decisions with the regions on innovation policy, and on the methods and instruments used to promote this policy, so that the results achieved also respond to the existing need at local and regional level;

6.

agrees with the conclusions reached by the Competitiveness Council (2) on improving the governance of the ERA by taking a long-term view of the project, which will be jointly developed by the Commission and Member States, in collaboration with stakeholders and the European people. This Committee therefore supports the intention to involve all stakeholders, and especially the scientific community, in the governance of the ERA, from the initial drafting stages onwards, thereby respecting the principle of subsidiarity and forging links with other policies on education, innovation, and cohesion;

7.

urges the European Commission and Member States to take the measures necessary to ensure that local and regional authorities are fully and effectively involved in the governance of the two initiatives in question;

8.

supports the establishment of a Community legal framework that was requested by Member States in order to facilitate the setting up and effective implementation of infrastructures promoting excellence in Europe that foster research and will ultimately improve Europe's ability to compete with third countries;

9.

calls on the Commission to include the regions as full members alongside Member States, intergovernmental organisations and third States, when laying down the criteria and requirements for ERI membership. The regions should be thought of as independent managing units rather than representatives of a Member State, as they have sufficient resources and capacity, together with the fully-fledged scientific and technological systems required to cope with the shared leadership process involved in setting up and implementing large infrastructures promoting excellence;

10.

suggests that when the members of an ERI are regions or local authorities at least three of them should belong to different Member States — irrespective of the origin of the other members of the ERI — in order to ensure that the ERI is transnational;

11.

welcomes the fact that ERIs can be funded both through the Framework Programme for Research and the Structural Funds. In addition, the Committee suggests that other sources of private and public funding available in Member States should also be used in a coordinated way;

12.

suggests that mechanisms for coordinating strategy are set up at European level. These mechanisms would involve relevant stakeholders to ensure that a coherent policy for the ERIs is effectively implemented, and would deal with important issues like assessing the initiatives and solving problems on where to locate the new ERIs;

13.

agrees with the Commission on the need to promote initiatives which coordinate stakeholders in order to facilitate the exchange of information and expertise, and increase the multiplier effect of benefits for the economic, scientific, academic and technological fabric of the different regional and local authorities involved. The Committee therefore welcomes the European Portal on Research Infrastructures recently set up by the European Commission in collaboration with the European Science Foundation;

14.

acknowledges that existing legal forms are not fully adequate for setting up European research infrastructures, and recognises the need to develop a framework at European level to ensure that the infrastructures work more effectively and barriers to international research are eliminated;

15.

notes that there are other existing instruments at international, national and European level which ERIs will complement. While some of these instruments were set up for a specific purpose, others — such as the European Grouping of Territorial Cooperation (EGTC) — have wider objectives: facilitating and promoting territorial cooperation to strengthen economic and social cohesion in different fields. The Committee therefore recommends that the ERIs are integrated coherently with the EGTCs and other existing instruments in order to obtain the best possible results from all of them;

16.

urges that EGTCs be specifically considered as an alternative legal instrument for setting up research infrastructures with a European dimension (3). Recitals 5 and 9 from the new Council Regulation should therefore make clearer, more explicit reference to this point;

17.

highlights the current geographical distribution of European research infrastructures which, mainly for historical reasons, are located in Western Europe and should be planned so that they are distributed evenly throughout Europe and, where possible, among Member States too. This decentralised distribution of facilities will achieve benefits for the regions and at the same time meet the need at European level for new infrastructures, and could be strengthened by a virtual network connecting all these facilities, providing particular support for small or medium-sized research infrastructures that could be important for the development of knowledge in areas of strategic importance and for economic development and innovation in the regions and local areas concerned;

18.

agrees with the conclusions reached by the Competitiveness Council on 30 May 2008 which call on the Commission and Member States to support regional and local authorities in applying for, building and implementing modern research infrastructures. The Committee suggests:

19.

highlights the importance of the regional and local authorities in developing innovative settings for ERIs, as regional policy has a significant impact on attracting scientists and promoting ERIs as centres for regional development. ERIs thus have the potential to produce significant socio-economic benefits for the cities and regions in which they are located;

20.

agrees that the European Commission should make the decisions on the ERIs as, in the view of the Committee, this procedure would be simpler and shorter than if each decision on the ERIs had to be taken on a case-by-case basis by the Council. In order that the decisions made in this process are taken in a fully transparent and legitimate way, the Committee suggests that details are provided on the European Commission's assessment criteria and that a management committee is established — made up of representatives of the Member States, and/or, where appropriate, the regions or local and regional authorities or their associations — which would have a decisive influence on the decisions taken by the Commission regarding the ERIs. The Committee also suggests that suitable coordination mechanisms are set up in Member States to ensure that the opinion of each Member State in the management committee reflects the opinion of the regional or local authorities it is representing;

21.

welcomes the removal of administrative, legal and tax barriers in the legal form proposed for the ERIs in this regulation, e.g. tax exemptions and more flexible procurement procedures, which in the view of the Committee will help to simplify the process of setting up large research infrastructures, ensuring greater efficiency and better results;

22.

highlights the importance of the regional and local authorities in promoting joint research programmes as they are more in touch with the specific local situation in terms of science, technology and the economy, and therefore know when cooperation on areas of strategic importance is required. In fact some regions in Europe are already successfully leading or are involved in coordination and collaboration instruments for research programmes, as in the case of the ERA-NET projects. The Committee of the Regions stresses that, as well as the Member States the regional authorities should above all be involved in promoting cooperation agreements in the framework of joint programming;

23.

points out the need to include in the proposal and appropriately define the most effective coordination mechanisms that will allow the agreements between the different regional and local authorities that make up Europe to work smoothly;

24.

is aware that there is a real need for a programme containing these elements; the Committee believes however that implementing this programme ought not to impose any additional burden on the Member States and the regions and therefore suggests that it be supported by the Commission, both in terms of facilitating agreements and through the commitment of financial resources, as this is essential to ensure that the programme produces satisfactory results. The Committee suggests that the Commission sets up a separate fund to support this initiative;

25.

suggests that, before launching new programmes, both the EU and Member States should try all possible ways of achieving synergies between existing transnational policies and cooperation instruments and establishing the mechanisms which will ensure that existing coordination programmes are used to the full, such as the ERAnet programme, the open method of coordination, and the European Technology Platforms for example;

26.

recognises the importance of setting up initiatives focussed on achieving coordination and cooperation between the stakeholders involved in European research, development and innovation, in order to achieve the objective set out in the Lisbon Strategy of turning Europe into the most competitive and dynamic economy in the world. This Committee suggests however that the process of coordination should be organised from the bottom up, taking into account the principles of variable geometry and subsidiarity. In this respect, allowing the regions to participate voluntarily in this process should be seen as a step towards promoting variable geometry;

27.

agrees with the Commission on the need to tackle the challenges that go beyond the national sphere jointly, as it is the regional and local authorities themselves who best understand the problems and difficulties they have to deal with, and it is precisely by bringing together resources, people and knowledge that the likelihood of finding solutions to the most complex scientific and technological problems is increased;

28.

calls for the priority topics in the framework of joint programming to be decided in a consensual way, taking into account the large number of regions with relevant skills and experience, and carrying out tailored consultation exercises with the scientific community and all stakeholders involved in each field;

29.

suggests that, due to its design and spirit of change, this programme sets out a pragmatic, flexible and detailed roll-out programme in which regional priorities for research also play an important role.

31.3.2009   

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 76/14

—

Reiterates the importance of a European strategy which can support economic growth and jobs, based on innovation, research and competitiveness, especially in view of the current crisis on financial markets and its likely impact on the real economy. The strategy must at the same time become increasingly sustainable by both safeguarding the principles of cohesion and mutual support and protecting the environment

—

Notes that, despite its call for a European partnership, the Strategy for Growth and Jobs relaunched in 2005 by the Spring European Council has not succeeded in involving to the necessary extent the institutional players with a key role to play in its implementation; and points out that the Spring European council recognised ‘the role of the local and regional level in delivering growth and jobs’ and that ‘increased ownership of the growth and jobs agenda at all levels of government will lead to more coherent and effective policy-making’

—

Notes that this deficit of the above-mentioned ownership of the growth and jobs strategy is at the root of failure to convert the Lisbon objectives into integrated policies at all levels of government, and that this has led to processes which are not always the most effective as regards use of the production, financial, human and social resources earmarked for the achievement of the objectives of economic growth and better jobs

Rapporteur

:

Flavio DELBONO (IT/ALDE), Regional councillor and vice-president of the Emilia Romagna Region

1.

Takes note of the growing disparity between European and world economic growth, particularly as a result of changing conditions brought about by globalisation of markets;

2.

Reiterates the importance of a European strategy which can support economic growth and jobs, based on innovation, research and competitiveness, especially in view of the current crisis on financial markets and its likely impact on the real economy. The strategy must at the same time become increasingly sustainable by both safeguarding the principles of cohesion and mutual support and protecting the environment;

3.

Notes that, despite its call for a European partnership, the Strategy for Growth and Jobs relaunched in 2005 by the Spring European Council has not succeeded in involving to the necessary extent the institutional players with a key role to play in its implementation; and points out that the Spring European council recognised ‘the role of the local and regional level in delivering growth and jobs’ and that ‘increased ownership of the growth and jobs agenda at all levels of government will lead to more coherent and effective policy-making’;

4.

Points out in particular that the work of the Lisbon Monitoring Platform has revealed a ‘Lisbon paradox’: local and regional authorities (LRAs) play a major role in the growth and jobs strategy (education, innovation, research at a local/regional level), but in many cases do not perceive this to be part of the Lisbon Strategy (lack of economies of scale/scope), nor do a majority of them feel that the Lisbon Strategy is really useful for them;

5.

Assumes that efficient implementation of the Lisbon Strategy can only be achieved if local and regional areas have the robust capacity to generate, attract and harness human resources, flexible and multidimensional skills, trained researchers and high-level specialists; if they are governed by models for behaviour, values, trust-based relations and organisational ability facilitating interaction and cooperation between officials and businesses, an effectively operating market and quality of life; if they are properly and sufficiently equipped with tangible and intangible infrastructure; and if they have credible and efficient institutions;

6.

Notes that this deficit of the above-mentioned ownership of the growth and jobs strategy is at the root of failure to convert the Lisbon objectives into integrated policies at all levels of government, and that this has led to processes which are not always the most effective as regards use of the production, financial, human and social resources earmarked for the achievement of the objectives of economic growth and better jobs;

7.

Reiterates the statements recently made by the Committee of the Regions in a number of opinions on the Lisbon Strategy, as regards:

8.

Therefore stresses the need for:

9.

Advises that, if the Strategy is to succeed, the different levels of government need to put into practice their decisions laid down in the Spring European Council's guidelines, coordinating their agendas in the relevant policy areas to achieve a more integrated approach and make policy-making more effective. In this context, multi-level governance agreements should be encouraged;

10.

Encourages EU LRAs and associations and networks thereof (e.g. Lisbon Regions Network) to step outside their formal remits and, in the context of the Strategy, launch tangible policies and initiatives to give direction to economic and social operators and support them in pursuing the objectives of growth and jobs;

11.

Calls upon the national governments of the EU 27 to involve their country's regional and local authorities in the implementation of the Lisbon Strategy more effectively from the beginning to its final period. This could be achieved by:

12.

Calls on the Commission to review more exhaustively the state of play in its annual report to be published in December 2008, carrying out a systematic, country-by-country analysis of the role and participation of LRAs in governance of the Strategy;

13.

Calls on the 2009 Spring European Council to encourage the widest possible dissemination of integrated policy-making and multi-level governance tools as a permanent policy-making feature throughout the EU, from now to 2010 and beyond;

14.

Renews its commitment to contribute to the success of the Strategy both by monitoring its implementation at regional and local level and by actively supporting national audits, not least through its national delegations;

15.

Moreover, calls on the Commission and the institutions at all levels to step up communication endeavours, both to inform local and regional authorities about policies and programmes developed, not least with the aim of funding initiatives and programmes which are in line with the Lisbon objectives, and to inform the public about the impact that the Strategy for Growth and Jobs can have on daily life, raising awareness of what European initiatives can do;

16.

Ongoing international change and the fact that the Lisbon Strategy has not been fully implemented call for a broad reflection on the approach that future Community initiatives for more growth and better jobs should take;

17.

Views prompt and coordinated action by the European Union to safeguard and regulate financial markets as a key prerequisite for growth and employment.

18.

Calls for a broad reflection and debate to be opened involving in a practical way all stakeholders, whose contribution is decisive for the achievement of the objectives, on:

19.

Notes the need to focus implementation of the European Strategy for Growth and Jobs on research and innovation-based competitiveness, which is the key to making the EU economic and trade area genuinely competitive internationally and to redefining the internal job market in terms of quantity and quality of work. At the same time, measures to promote SME competitiveness and achieve better lawmaking must be continued. The social and environmental, in addition to economic, sustainability of growth must remain the main parameter in establishing arrangements for pursuing the competitiveness objective;

20.

Suggests developing the Community approach no longer as a broad strategy but as a structured set of coordinated, integrated policies, which would give it greater, further-reaching impact;

21.

Stresses the need for more effective Community decision-making, as regards drawing up, coordinating and implementing the policies and programmes that will make up the new competitiveness agenda. At the same time, national competences must be preserved, in compliance with the subsidiarity principle. In this connection, it is to be hoped that the review of the Community budget will include major decisions that will facilitate competitiveness policies, both looking at the amounts earmarked and ensuring close coordination between the policies themselves. Where this would fall within Member States' remits, the European Union and its Member States must introduce effective tools for decision-making and coordination between different levels of governance to ensure the success of the policies;

22.

Points out the need for assiduous measures to increase and enhance investment in applied research. All levels of government must work together to stimulate and support the myriad of SMEs in their quest for investment procedures which, while safeguarding the competitiveness of businesses in the internal market, will springboard them onto international markets. Public investment in basic research must go hand in hand with substantial private investment in applied research into product and process innovation;

23.

Aware of the importance of the single market as a pre-requisite for a genuine, effective competitiveness strategy, calls for renewed efforts to implement all measures aimed at completing the single market; moreover, calls for the local and regional dimension to be highlighted with a view to giving SMEs greater competitive capacity through competitive harnessing of local and regional diversity;

24.

In implementing a genuine, effective competitiveness strategy, particular efforts must be made to reduce the number of work accidents;

25.

Stresses the need for an active European energy policy in the areas of production, consumption and supply by gradually reducing energy dependence on third countries; this is essential to support the competitiveness of Europe's businesses, especially SMEs, and to maintain an appropriate quality of life for its people;

26.

Highlights the need to be proactive and use a variety of methods to promote new jobs for women, bearing in mind that the measures adopted in this area must be shaped by the Member States or by local and regional authorities, in accordance with their responsibilities. Empirical evidence suggests that female labour is more sensitive to net salary than male labour and that in some circumstances some form of incentives for new jobs for women might help to bridge the substantial gap that persists in many countries with regard to the Lisbon objectives;

27.

Warns that, in addition to combating the impact of population decline in many regions, action is urgently needed to address the demographic problem caused by the ageing population in the EU, which requires a new welfare deal for families as well as a careful immigration policy which also takes into account human and social needs. Immigration policies are required which encourage immigration not just of executives and professional and managerial staff but also, where necessary, of unskilled workers who can support SME production, depending on the needs of individual Member States and/or of local and regional authorities. Social and economic globalisation leaves no room for the sort of attitudes that have often led to unlawful practices in the labour market;

28.

Points out the importance of high-level scientific education, but also of primary, secondary, vocational and further education, which is essential for opening paths to subsequent high-level training and creates the conditions and opportunities for increased participation, also for women, in working and productive life. To this end, efforts should be stepped up to bring about real reductions in early school-leaving;

29.

In view of the above, stresses the need for the fundamental values of the European project to remain a point of reference;

30.

Therefore draws attention to the importance of the European social model and the European Social Agenda, together with the Bologna Process and the Copenhagen Process in the field of education and training. Despite their diversity, the national systems share common foundations and principles which shape a shared understanding of social progress, and within this shared notion of social progress the social actors, local communities, groups, local and regional authorities and civil organisations play an increasingly important role;

31.

Recalls the commitment to environmental protection, through both local measures and global initiatives, particularly in connection with the Kyoto Protocol on climate change; in this regard, stresses the importance for local and regional stakeholders of the Commission's ‘sustainability package’, and in particular the Communication on the sustainable industrial policy action plan as an integrated strategy to help the EU economy become not only more competitive but also more environmentally sustainable;

32.

Points out, moreover, that local knowledge is crucial for adapting the Lisbon objectives for local and regional implementation, and that a shared statistics system and a facility for interpreting indicators must therefore be developed at local and regional level as well;

33.

Suggests that the Strategy be implemented post-2010 on the basis of improved governance which can give European endeavours to promote economic growth and jobs fresh impetus and vigour. This governance must be able to surmount the difficulties of current mechanisms (open method of coordination, agreement of benchmarks, structural indicators and additional technical improvements;

34.

This governance should be based on:

35.

The Committee of the Regions will make further contributions to the debate with a view to the decisions that will have to be taken regarding future European growth and jobs policy after 2010. To this end, the Committee of the Regions will also look into the possibility of setting up a CoR working group to exchange views with the Community institutions on these matters.

31.3.2009   

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 76/19

—

reminds the EU institutions that local action is key to meeting the 20 % energy efficiency targets. The crucial role of regions and cities in delivering these objectives is already clearly recognised by the European Commission and the European Parliament;

—

points out that transport, housing and public buildings, and public lighting infrastructure, which are planned for and provided by local and regional authorities, are both areas where significant CO2 reductions and energy savings can be achieved;

—

considers the need for the action plans of towns and cities to sit within the context of regional and national plans. Regional plans could provide the link between the local and national initiatives which would ensure that local plans are developed in a coherent manner. The action plans must introduce practical instruments so as to achieve the targets, and adequate financing must be made available;

—

believes that the Covenant should be relaunched to make explicit the opportunity for all sub-national authorities, including regions, to be members;

—

calls for EU funding and financing to be adapted in order to prioritise actions to promote sustainable energy use such as an increase in the percentage of regional funding to be spent on improving the energy efficiency of domestic homes from 3 % to 5 %. EIB loans should be readily accessible for local authorities and regions willing to invest in energy efficiency programmes, promote the use of renewable energy sources and reduce CO2 emissions.

Rapporteur

:

Ms Kay TWITCHEN (UK/EPP), Member of Essex County Council

1.

Welcomes the invitation by the European Commission to comment on the role of regions within the Covenant of Mayors.

2.

Underlines that every citizen has the right to know what their elected representatives are doing to ensure the sustainability of their environment for future generations.

3.

Emphasises that the ‘Covenant of Mayors’ is an excellent opportunity for Mayors to engage citizens in collective and positive action to combat climate change and will enable the European Union to demonstrate true leadership in this sphere.

4.

Reminds the EU institutions that local action is a key determinant of individual changes in behaviour which is crucial to meeting the 20 % energy efficiency targets and the crucial role of regions and municipalities to delivering this is already well recognised by the European Commission (1) and European Parliament (2).

5.

Notes that by promoting sustainable energy and energy efficiency, the Covenant of Mayors can spur on the cities and regions to implement changes to protect their most vulnerable citizens, particularly those on low and fixed incomes, from the effect of high energy prices and from suffering fuel poverty. In doing so, however, care should be taken to avoid subsidising energy use and to allow scope for strong incentives to improve energy efficiency and, as far as possible, reduce energy use.

6.

Notes that regional and local authorities have already started to undertake activities and initiatives which will contribute to the goals and objectives of EU climate change policy, showing leadership with the bold and necessary decision to increase energy efficiency for the benefit of their citizens and the environment. The Covenant of Mayors, like a number of similar national and international initiatives, provides a strong mechanism for renewed impetus for this work to continue.

7.

Welcomes the newly created possibility of being able to take account of municipalities' past performance in energy efficiency and energy saving and urges municipalities that are leading the way in this area to play an active role in the covenant and to present their own projects.

8.

Welcomes the positive start to the Covenant and the high level of political commitment from European municipalities who have signed up to achieving more than 20 % energy savings. However if only large cities sign up, this initiative risks being a symbolic gesture. It is now time to engage all sub-national authorities, municipalities and regions, as appropriate to the internal structure of each Member State, to intensify sign-up to the Covenant or to boost the number of partners involved in other kinds of practical work to a similar end. Small municipalities should be informed about the possibility of joining together in regional networks.

9.

Calls therefore for the regional and local levels to be an equally indispensable partner in the Covenant and the implementation of EU climate change commitments.

10.

Welcomes progress in the legislative frameworks provided by the energy and climate change package which will give legislative certainty and a framework for activities to be undertaken through the Covenant of Mayors. However more activity is required at EU level to action the commitment of member states to reduce energy consumption by 20 %.

11.

Regrets the failure to introduce a binding energy efficiency target in the 2008 climate change and energy package which is the missing link to achieving the necessary CO2 reduction; and

12.

Underlines that without a framework that sets targets at EU, national, regional and local levels, the Covenant will not be enough to deliver the at-least-20 % emission reductions that signatories have committed themselves to. It is important for local and regional authorities to be involved in drawing up climate and energy targets, for practical instruments to be adopted for achieving these targets, and for adequate financing to be made available.

13.

Reiterates messages of earlier opinions adopted by the CoR in this field (3). Regions, like towns and cities, are key players in the field of energy having responsibilities in numerous activities which deal with planning, permitting, investment, procurement, production and consumption. Transport, housing and public buildings, and public lighting infrastructure, which are planned for and provided by local and regional authorities, are both areas where significant CO2 reductions and energy savings can be achieved.

14.

Emphasises the impact which a general goal of reduction in consumption of both consumer goods and natural resources such as water will make on reducing emissions and energy use. In many cases, regions can have a wider impact on behavioural change than individual local authorities and thus are well placed to influence citizens to change behaviours as they operate across both urban and rural areas.

15.

Therefore advocates a major role for regions and hopes that the competent regional bodies will encourage the numerous municipalities within their respective areas to take part.

16.

Considers the need for the action plans of towns and cities to sit within the context of regional and national plans. Regional plans could provide the link between the local and national initiatives which would ensure that local plans are developed in a coherent manner. It is important that the action plans contain concrete financial, technical, human resource, legislative and evaluative instruments, as well as a timetable, for achieving these targets.

17.

Recalls that there are profound differences between regions, that certain systems, sectors and regions may be particularly affected by climate change, and that the ability to adapt, which is distributed unevenly among the various sectors and regions, is closely bound up with socioeconomic development; in this regard, regions and local authorities have an important role to play.

18.

Welcomes the benchmarking element of the Covenant and underlines the leadership role regions could play in identifying local opportunities for action, sharing best practice, identifying project partners, allocating funding, measuring progress and communicating success. Local initiatives should be embedded in a regional or national framework to maximise the impact and enable opportunities for partnerships to emerge. In addition they should be free to set themselves ambitious targets, which are sustainable, exceeding those in national frameworks.

19.

Recognises an important factor in the success or failure of the Covenant will be the size of the partnerships committing to undertake actions. In order for actions to be effective they need to be large enough to have an impact but small enough to ensure local ownership. Whereas major cities can achieve economies of scale, regions can help smaller municipalities and rural authorities in particular to confront the considerable challenges involved in improving energy efficiency, promoting sustainable energy sources and reducing CO2 emissions.

20.

Reminds the Commission of the important role played by regions and cities to influence energy markets through their role as a large procurer of heat and electricity and as a supplier of heat and electricity through for example, combined heat and power systems and municipal waste processing systems such as Energy from Waste, Anaerobic Digestion and production of Solid Recovered Fuels and develop renewable and alternative sources of energy with low greenhouse gas emissions. and develop renewable and alternative sources of energy with low greenhouse gas emissions.

21.

Thus the Covenant should be relaunched to make explicit the opportunity for all sub-national authorities, including regions, to be members with the aim of maximum territorial coverage, including rural areas which face considerable challenges to improve energy efficiency, promote sustainable energy sources and reduce CO2 emissions. The Covenant of Mayors should be coordinated with similar national initiatives.

22.

Reiterates its support for the objectives of the Covenant and the scope of its activities, including reducing energy demand and consumption, developing a sustainable and secure energy supply through the promotion of renewable energy sources and improving the energy efficiency of products.

23.

Insists that emission reduction measures have long-term sustainability as their main goal and thus that qualitative criteria are attached to targets to ensure that sustainability can be assured.

24.

Points out that in order for the Covenant to have a long term impact, it needs to be firmly embedded in the constitutions of the authorities who sign up to it, protecting its commitments and goals from future interference or watering down resulting from possible future changes in political leadership or administrative and boundary changes.

25.

Points out that short term budgetary pressures challenge regions and cities who take medium to long term investment and policy decisions to improve their own energy efficiency, to promote the use of sustainable energy sources and reduce CO2 emissions. National performance assessment targets should take this into account.

26.

Suggests that as there is no one definition for Mayor or Region which exists across all Member States in the EU, the title of the Covenant and its implied scope needs to ensure that it does not exclude other bodies or inhibit sign-up to the Covenant.

27.

Highlights the variation in progress across EU cities and regions in reducing CO2 emissions and energy consumption in recent years and that some pioneers of progress are already reaching beyond the ‘low hanging fruit’. Account should be taken of the variety of energy intensity of consumption and production and the associated greenhouse gas emissions situations across and within Member States, particularly between urban and rural areas.

28.

Calls for support in preparing baseline emission reduction trajectories as well as clear guidance on how emissions data is going to be reported and measured. This is essential to be able to compare and benchmark.

29.

Suggests that in order to avoid mistakes being repeated, benchmarking should include examples not only of failures but also of successes. These examples should be directly applicable, and consequently details of all initiatives, including their budgets, should be provided. The EU should include lessons drawn from the US Conference of Mayors and the North Eastern and Mid-Atlantic (US) Regional Greenhouse gas initiative.

30.

Suggests that as many cities and municipalities are members of regional or national networks which have all developed methodologies and accounting systems, ways of using these methodologies within the Covenant should be considered whilst at the same time looking to harmonise reporting and measuring tools in the medium term. This would avoid reinventing methodologies and might encourage wider participation in the Covenant. The aim is to ensure that the majority of municipalities that are members of existing networks sign up to the Covenant of Mayors.

31.

Suggests that the timescales within the Covenant need to allow the Bench Marks of Excellence and existing initiatives which are considered best practice to be shared across Member States prior to the action plans being developed. This will ensure that the action plans which cities and regions prepare can reflect this good practice.

32.

Underlines the importance of the European and national context to the success of local action and in particular the failure of the Commission to action and update the 2006 Energy Efficiency Action Plan. This will be required in order to give Member States and their regions and cities the incentive to push for efficiencies beyond the 20 % EU target.

33.

Repeats the call at the June European Council to the European Commission and Member States to expedite its implementation and to consider its revision.

34.

Urges that there should be a direct link between national energy action plans and those of the regions as these are an indispensable link between the national sustainable energy plans and those of the cities and municipalities. It is important for local and regional authorities to be involved in drawing up climate and energy targets, for practical instruments to be adopted for achieving these targets and for adequate financing to be made available.

35.

Calls for EU funding and financing to be adapted in order to prioritise actions to promote sustainable energy use such as an increase in the percentage of regional funding to be spent on improving the energy efficiency of domestic homes from 3 % to 5 %. EIB loans should be readily accessible for local authorities and regions willing to invest in energy efficiency programmes, to promote the use of sustainable energy sources and to reduce CO2 emissions.

36.

Suggests therefore that the mid-term review of EU funding programmes needs to look at how the full range of programmes can be adapted to support energy efficiency, promote sustainable energy sources and reduce CO2 emissions, and ensure programmes to improve energy efficiency are accessible to regions and cities. Thus, for instance, possible revisions, in addition to an increase of regional/cohesion funding to support the energy efficiency of domestic homes, should include greater investment to support the commercialisation of new technologies under programmes such as FP7. A review of the regulations governing state aids may also be necessary in order for measures to be taken in the area of industrial change and energy conversion.

37.

Invites the Commission to continue to develop and accelerate the review of measures which could assist cities, towns and regions effect behavioural change e.g. promoting and classifying energy efficient products.

38.

Believes that regions and cities would be assisted in their efforts to meet and exceed the 20 % energy efficiency target for 2020 if the target were made binding and the EU Energy Efficiency Action Plan were updated to take account of this, including the expectation that Member States revise National Action Plans to reflect this target.

31.3.2009   

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 76/23

—

notes that there are at present considerable differences between Member States regarding the way in which volunteering is organised and that there is a lack of statistical data and thorough research into volunteering.

—

calls upon the European Commission to support the promotion of cooperation between voluntary organisations by developing not only a European Youth Volunteer Portal, but also a database of best practices, projects, opportunities and detailed information. The European Commission should make use of and refer to national, regional and local information, so that the information is made more easily available to young people.

—

wholeheartedly supports the initiative of the European Parliament and others to declare 2011 the European Year of Volunteering, and is ready to participate actively in its implementation. Throughout this year particular attention should be paid to young people and inclusion.

—

calls upon the Commission, the Member States and the local and regional authorities to strongly support volunteering within the education system, so that young people come into contact with voluntary activities at an early stage and come to see it as a normal contribution to community life. Such voluntary activities could become part of the curriculum.

—

believes that volunteering constitutes a particularly valuable possibility of mobility for young people. In view of this, disadvantaged young people who would like to volunteer and who would otherwise benefit less, or not at all, from opportunities for mobility, require various forms of support. Support to the training and mobility of socio-educational instructors specialised in youth and youth leaders will be very useful in this context. Moreover, the opportunities which local and regional authorities have to reach this target group more effectively should be utilised.

Rapporteur

:

Rinda DEN BESTEN (NL/PES), Executive Member of Utrecht Council

1.

notes that there are at present considerable differences between Member States regarding the way in which volunteering is organised and that there is a lack of statistical data and thorough research into volunteering. Because harmonisation of laws and regulations is neither possible nor desirable, the Committee of the Regions proposes that a phased approach be adopted. The first phase would consist of a detailed study of the different systems and laws and regulations which exist in the various Member States with regard to volunteering, the wishes of (potential) young volunteers and the obstacles which they encounter when they want to volunteer abroad, and the benefit of volunteering for the young volunteer as well as the region of origin and host region. This information could contribute to the discussion and generate a new policy which fits in well with the reality of youth volunteering in Europe.

2.

welcomes the initiative of the European Commission to promote the mobility of young volunteers across Europe.

3.

appreciates the European Commission's creativity in its search for a way to facilitate youth volunteering in another EU country, but is afraid that making national schemes for voluntary activities interoperable is not the solution because of the different ways of organising volunteering in the various European countries. For these reasons we advocate the promotion of cooperation between voluntary organisations (be they social organisations or authorities) in different EU countries and we encourage Member States to promote cross-border voluntary projects.

4.

calls upon the European Commission to support the promotion of cooperation between voluntary organisations by developing not only a European Youth Volunteer Portal, but also a database of best practices, projects, opportunities and detailed information. The European Commission should make use of and refer to national, regional and local information, so that the information is made more easily available to young people.

5.

emphasises the role of local and regional authorities with regard to volunteering and in particular the involvement of young people with fewer opportunities. Volunteering can open up a way to inclusion for youth with fewer opportunities, and since in many Member States the local and regional authorities are directly responsible for youth policy and possess a great deal of knowledge and experience on the subject, this is the level where innovative and creative solutions are usually found and where important partnerships are entered into. In addition, local and regional authorities play an important role in encouraging young people since they are close to the organisations which receive volunteers and can motivate them to exchange young volunteers.

6.

calls upon the Member States to allocate adequate funds to local and regional authorities for the implementation of common objectives for voluntary activities by young people and encourages Member States to make use of EU funds and programmes (such as the European Social Fund and the Youth in Action Programme) to enhance the quality of international voluntary projects by offering support and guidance to national, regional and local voluntary organisations. This support is intended to help organisations to build up international contacts, develop specific competences which are necessary in order to support young people from other countries and to set up international projects.

7.

recommends that the local and regional authorities should strongly support the development of an infrastructure to support volunteering, whilst at the same time, of course, leaving the autonomy of volunteering intact. For example, the establishment of local and regional volunteer centres can help to promote volunteering, supply information, motivate young people to do cross-border volunteering and assess the quality and effectiveness of volunteering.

8.

deplores the fact that there are still socio-economic and administrative obstacles which hinder the mobility of young volunteers. It therefore proposes to take the lead by drawing up a list of these obstacles in the context of a broad review of volunteering (as described in point 1 of this opinion). Because of the lack of data on volunteering, the Committee of the Regions also requests the Member States to submit the findings of the broad review by 2011, so that volunteering policy can be adjusted.

9.

wholeheartedly supports the initiative of the European Parliament and others to declare 2011 the European Year of Volunteering, and is ready to participate actively in its implementation. Throughout this year particular attention should be paid to young people and inclusion.

10.

would stress the importance of reducing linguistic barriers in Europe by encouraging language learning by volunteers.

11.

points out that volunteering needs a broader definition than the one used in the proposal. Volunteering can be done on either a full-time or a part-time basis, for a short or long term, unpaid or with pocket money and/or coverage of expenses, with or without a contribution from the volunteer depending on the target group and circumstances.

12.

emphasises the importance of recognising skills acquired, so that they may be used later in the volunteer's career (work or study). Volunteering is after all an important form of informal learning and contributes to the development and accessibility of youth education. For these reasons schools, as well as social organisations and the business community should be able to play a (greater) role in recognising skills acquired through volunteering and in implementing the existing instruments for this purpose, Europass and Youthpass.

13.

calls upon the Commission, the Member States and the local and regional authorities to strongly support volunteering within the education system, so that young people come into contact with voluntary activities at an early stage and come to see it as a normal contribution to community life. Such voluntary activities could become part of the curriculum.

14.

considers it extremely important to ensure a proper balance regarding the added value that volunteering can bring for young people and for society (in all its aspects). The interests and the development of young people always come first and the interests of society follow on from that through the more active commitment and involvement of young people in society.

15.

expresses its appreciation for the European Voluntary Service (EVS) and hopes to see it further developed in the future so that as many young people as possible have the opportunity to engage in volunteering abroad.

31.3.2009   

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 76/30

—

welcomes the Commission's growing awareness that local authorities ‘are increasingly vocal in their wish to become stakeholders and actors in development’ but stresses, that local and regional authorities are not newcomers to this sphere; they have already been active for decades and are both committed to and interested in participating as active players in development cooperation, its funding and its reform;

—

reiterates the need to set up a ‘stock exchange’ (bourse/electronic internet portal) for local and regional authorities that are actively involved in decentralised cooperation on the basis of a system established at local and regional level. It will notably ease exchanges of information among European local and regional authorities active in development cooperation and allow matching between local and regional authority projects in Europe and in developing countries. This would facilitate the development of decentralised cooperation projects and improve their coordination, create synergies and avoid duplication; welcomes the cooperation with DG Development in this respect;

—

draws attention to the fact that many of the EU's local and regional authorities have development-based links with their counterparts in the developing world, and thus acquired expertise, especially in such spheres as education, health, municipal services (water and waste management), small-scale fishing and aquaculture, infrastructure, transport, communications, the environment, rural development, regional economic development and supporting the development of local bodies and political decentralisation;

—

notes that the involvement of local and regional authorities in the recipient countries must be taken into account when trying to make development policy more effective and coherent.

Rapporteur

:

Heini UTUNEN (FI/ALDE), Member of Jyväskylä Town Council

1.

welcomes the Commission's communication, since development policy is urgently needed to combat worldwide poverty and its causes and achieve equality. Europe cannot cut itself off from the problems of the rest of the world;

2.

hopes that 2008 will mark a turning-point in EU development efforts, which aim to make the Millennium Development Goals a political priority;

3.

is concerned to note that the volume of European development aid has decreased for the second year running and that only a few countries (e.g. the Netherlands, Sweden and Denmark) are fulfilling the international commitment in relation to the amount of aid given;

4.

also laments the fact that not only is the amount of aid granted by the European Union too low, but it is also not sufficiently effective;

5.

considers the communication to be very important for local and regional authorities and therefore welcomes the Commission's recognition that the EU must adopt an inclusive approach that involves local government and civil society, both in Europe and in the developing countries;

6.

welcomes the Commission's growing awareness that local authorities ‘are increasingly vocal in their wish to become stakeholders and actors in development’ but stresses, that local and regional authorities are not newcomers to this sphere; they have already been active for decades and are both committed to and interested in participating as active players in development cooperation, its funding and its reform; points out that some European counties and regions are already fulfilling their proportional contribution towards the target of spending 0.7 % of gross national income on development cooperation;

7.

is pleased about the fruitful cooperation between the Committee of the Regions and the Commission, which demonstrates that the role of the Committee of the Regions and of local and regional authorities in development policy is receiving increasing recognition. Local and regional authorities should be regarded as important partners who are involved in EU development policy;

8.

calls to mind the principle that good governance is decisive for the success of development policy and that a key aspect of good governance is an awareness that the best decisions are taken as close as possible to grassroots level;

9.

recognises the importance of budgetary and sectoral aid, in particular for the poorest countries, but urges that a mechanism be created in relations between central government and civil society players whereby a new culture can be developed in the use of aid. This might take the form of a scheme at local and regional authority level to link central government and civil society development aid;

10.

notes that a stronger and more effective partnership between European players would ensure that measures are complementary and strategically sustainable, especially in relation to aid management;

11.

urges the Commission to give priority to the inclusion in the Community budget of the European Development Fund (EDF) and to coordinate it with the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) within the enlarged European Neighbourhood Policy, in order to improve the coordination of the EU's development cooperation policy activities;

12.

welcomes the Commission's recognition that in order to achieve the Millennium Development Goals the EU must adopt an approach that encourages participation and that it invites local and regional authorities and civil society to be involved in development policy both at European level and in the developing countries;

13.

calls for local and regional government as well as civil society organisations to be treated as actors in their own right, each of which has an important but distinct role and relevance in relation to development efforts and calls for their action to be coordinated, complementary, effective and efficient, transparent and participatory;

14.

reiterates the need to set up a ‘stock exchange’ (bourse/electronic internet portal) for local and regional authorities that are actively involved in decentralised cooperation on the basis of a system established at local and regional level. It will notably ease exchanges of information among European local and regional authorities active in development cooperation and allow matching between local and regional authority projects in Europe and in developing countries. This would facilitate the development of decentralised cooperation projects and improve their coordination, create synergies and avoid duplication; welcomes the cooperation with DG Development in this respect;

15.

welcomes the initiative taken by the Council of European Municipalities and Regions (CEMR) to develop an Internet portal for municipalities to help them to find a twinning partner in Europe; welcomes the extension of the twinning portal managed by the CEMR, which enables twinning between European municipalities with municipalities in developing countries; the Committee should consolidate and encourage the work carried out by the CEMR.

16.

emphasises that all Europeans, including public authorities, the private sector and individual citizens, must share responsibility for global development issues;

17.

notes that although — depending on the Member State — not all levels of local and regional government necessarily have competence for development cooperation, this means that there is a need for collective responsibility for development issues at European level. Development cooperation must in one way or another be incorporated into the activities of local and regional authorities, even if this does not happen directly through financial aid projects with the partners in the developing countries. Ways of doing this could be presented at a special exchange ‘forum’;

18.

sees as positive from the perspective of local and regional government that the Commission recognises the need to include local and regional authorities in development cooperation, and welcomes the Commission's communication in particular from this point of view;

19.

draws attention to the fact that many of the EU's local and regional authorities have development-based links with their counterparts in the developing world, and thus acquired expertise, especially in such spheres as education, health, municipal services (water and waste management), small-scale fishing and aquaculture, infrastructure, transport, communications, the environment, rural development, regional economic development and supporting the development of local bodies and political decentralisation;

20.

believes that these projects will give local and regional authorities legitimacy, expertise and experience in those areas that are particularly important for the economic and social progress of the developing countries, and that it is therefore vitally important to give them a more significant role and to draw on their experience in development policy;

21.

points out that in many EU Member States, local and regional authorities have a legal right to take part in national development policy on the basis of decentralised cooperation. They can therefore be regarded as direct players in EU development policy and external affairs;

22.

points to the advantages of decentralised cooperation and draws attention to the need to promote it, since many local and regional authorities directly fund and implement development policy. The have a complementary role and make development policy more coherent;

23.

stresses that municipalities and regions wish to strengthen their involvement based on partnership and expertise by making efforts above all in the specific areas covered by local and regional government. They will also work together with development cooperation actors to raise people's awareness of solidarity with developing countries;

24.

believes that the closeness of local and regional government to the people and the subsidiarity principle mean that its role is, at its best, a multi-level perspective, which is part of national, European and global development policy and ensures and improves the effectiveness of aid;

25.

stresses the important role which local and regional authorities in the outermost regions can play as privileged partners in the development of the EU's cooperation policies with neighbouring third countries, while also serving as laboratories for projects requiring appropriate coordination of the European Development Fund (EDF) and the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF);

26.

notes that the involvement of local and regional authorities in the recipient countries must be taken into account when trying to make development policy more effective and coherent;

27.

stresses that local ownership and decentralisation should be guiding principles in relation to development efforts and development policy;

28.

would like to see an approach promoted which would enable local and regional government in Europe and the developing countries better support development stakeholders and players;

29.

shares the view that democracy does not just mean free choice, but is built on a daily basis — reflecting economic and social development, in which local and regional government plays a key role;

30.

notes that the added value of local and regional authorities is particularly evident in their role, which is ideally to establish democracy and good governance, and to promote the decentralised model of government;

31.

stresses that representatives of European local and regional authorities do not work solely with their counterparts in the South, but also with the rest of civil society;

32.

draws attention to the problems that arise from aid being dependent on a one-sided, top-down system, which is the most common approach used by even the European Commission to deliver aid. Real partnership and involvement of the local level and organisations representing it (i.e. associations of local and regional authorities) are absent, which means that funding does not have an effect at local level. At the same time the effects of aid provided by NGOs, which is generally local, do not necessarily extend to public authorities, local and regional authorities and institutional mechanisms, which further hampers the long-term impact and effectiveness of aid;

33.

feels that the top-down system does not result in adequate involvement of local and regional authorities, and involvement of the right people, nor allow for different approaches and breadth. Therefore, a bridge is needed to connect central government and the grassroots level. In many of the developing countries receiving aid, local government and support for it could produce tangible solutions, which must obviously be implemented on a case-by-case basis;

34.

is convinced that granting development aid to local and regional authorities within the recipient country would in many cases produce better, more transparent and more sustainable governance. Care must be taken to ensure that the cost to the donor is kept within acceptable limits.

31.3.2009   

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 76/34

—

points out that the Committee of the Regions is prepared to collaborate in drawing up a future common immigration policy and to contribute to that policy,

—

emphasises that local and regional authorities are first to be significantly affected by a common immigration policy. On the one hand, they are particularly affected by the difficulties of illegal immigration, while, on the other, they are responsible for providing immigrants with a range of services as part of the local integration process. For this reason they must be fully involved in the development of a European framework for legal immigration, in measures to combat illegal immigration and in development cooperation with countries of origin,

—

points to the great importance of migrants in the light of their contribution to the socio-economic development of the EU. To ensure the international competitiveness of the European Economic Area, the attractiveness of the EU must be perceptibly improved, so that greater use is made of local and regional capacity,

—

notes that the Member States' competence for stipulating how many third-country nationals may enter their territory to seek work there as employees or self-employed workers provides a way of taking national and regional labour market needs into account,

—

recognises the crucial importance of mastering the official language or languages of the host country. Successful integration at local and regional level is facilitated by early acquisition of the official language(s),

—

stresses that there is a relationship between illegal and legal immigration and that combating illegal immigration is of key importance for framing a policy on legal migration. On the one hand, the fight against illegal immigration must be consistent and comprehensive, so as to effectively combat often organised criminal structures. On the other hand, steps must be taken to facilitate legal migration where there are labour shortages or where the main purpose is the exchange and transfer of knowledge or further training of migrants during a limited stay.

Rapporteur

:

Werner JOSTMEIER (DE/EPP), Member of the North Rhine-Westphalia Landtag

1.

supports a common immigration policy, which has been in the process of development since the European Council meeting in Tampere in 1999, and culminating in the European Pact on Immigration and Asylum;

2.

points out that the Committee of the Regions is prepared to collaborate in drawing up a future common immigration policy and to contribute to that policy; notes that local and regional authorities are ready to face the new challenges and to promote the exchange of approaches that have proved effective in this area at local and regional level;

3.

is satisfied with and appreciates the increased cooperation with the European Commission, which should be continued;

4.

welcomes the partnership-based approach adopted by the European Commission. Cooperation and solidarity between the Member States and EU institutions should also allow for involvement of local and regional players. The future challenges call for coordinated and coherent measures, which require effective action by the EU and the Member States as part of a common immigration policy;

5.

emphasises that local and regional authorities are first to be significantly affected by a common immigration policy. On the one hand, they are particularly affected by the difficulties of illegal immigration, while, on the other, they are responsible for providing immigrants with a range of services as part of the local integration process. For this reason they must be fully involved in the development of a European framework for legal immigration, in measures to combat illegal immigration and in development cooperation with countries of origin;

6.

like the Commission, sees the need for mechanisms based on solidarity between the Member States and the EU in burden-sharing and policy coordination. The local and regional authorities draw attention to the financing of tasks such as monitoring and control of borders as well as integration policy, which has an impact on public finances at national, regional and local levels;

7.

considers respect for human rights, the principles of the rule of law, and the promotion of democracy to be key aspects of any immigration policy. The European Union guarantees the freedoms and principles enshrined in the Charter of Fundamental Rights, including human dignity, freedoms, equality, solidarity, citizens' rights and legal rights. The rights of women and children are particularly important here. Traditions or practices that violate these principles cannot be tolerated. The shared European values from which the Charter of Fundamental Rights springs are not negotiable. Everyone in the European Union must accept European basic rights as a binding code of values;

8.

points out that migrants already constitute an important and integral part of society in many European municipalities and regions. The European Union is a society with a truly rich and diverse cultural heritage, which must be preserved and developed. UNESCO defines culture as a complex that embraces not just art and literature, but also ways of life, basic human rights, value systems, traditions and beliefs. Immigration can help to enhance cultural diversity. The European Union has paid particular tribute to cultural diversity by making 2008 the European Year of Intercultural Dialogue (1);

9.

in the light of previously adopted Committee of the Regions opinions, calls for local and regional players to be involved in the next stages of a common immigration policy for the future (2);

10.

points to the great importance of migrants in the light of their contribution to the socio-economic development of the EU. To ensure the international competitiveness of the European economic area, the attractiveness of the EU must be perceptibly improved, so that greater use is made of local and regional capacity;

11.

considers clear and transparent rules — and compliance with them — to be urgently needed for reasons of legal certainty and the fair treatment of third-country nationals;

12.

sees systems to encourage integration, with attractive residence conditions for third-country nationals and their families, as an important way of acquiring the needed labour for the European economic area. Effective programmes for managing migration in a way that is appropriate to the labour market should also take issues of family reunification as defined in Directive 2003/86/EC into account;

13.

observes that by simplifying administrative procedures, a common immigration policy could lead to a substantial reduction in red tape, both for the Member States and for regional and local authorities;

14.

considers it important for the Commission to evaluate what will be required of regional and local authorities as a result of the measures which it is proposing should be taken at EU or national level. It is also important that the tasks that may be required of local and regional authorities should be financed at national level or through EU funding;

15.

notes that the Member States have different labour market needs. Consideration must therefore be given to the varying requirements of national, regional and local labour markets, maintaining the autonomy of the Member States and respect for the subsidiarity principle when introducing any EU-wide standards, procedural rules and residence permits such as the planned EU Blue Card. The Member States' competence for stipulating how many third-country nationals may enter their territory to seek work there as employees or self-employed workers provides a way of taking labour market needs into account;

16.

in this context welcomes the Commission's proposal that local and regional authorities be actively involved in improving the balance between skills and sectoral needs, and it is here that particular local and regional characteristics can be taken into consideration;

17.

notes the importance of local and regional authorities playing an active role in the integration of immigrants. The specific needs of municipalities and regions must be taken into account in the future common immigration policy and in the accompanying measures, for instance operation of the European Integration Fund, without prejudice to the principles of subsidiarity and proportionality;

18.

links the exercise of basic rights to responsibility and duties towards other people, society and future generations. Honouring the European value consensus is an obligation to show respect and tolerance, a prerequisite for peaceful and democratic co-existence. Intercultural dialogue can play an important role in encouraging this;

19.

considers active cooperation between all parts of civil society and a positive attitude on the part of immigrants and of host societies to be important prerequisites for integration. Countries of origin can make a contribution to the integration of their nationals in European host countries;

20.

recognises the crucial importance of mastering the official language or languages of the host country. Successful integration at local and regional level is facilitated by early acquisition of the language(s). Immigrants and most especially their children should be strongly encouraged to learn the official language(s) of the host country, while their right to have a perfect command of their mother tongue should also be respected and supported;

21.

considers the provision of basic, understandable information on the city, area or district of destination and the most common lifestyles in these places, to be a priority;

22.

emphasises the importance of possessing a basic familiarity with the history and institutions of the host society. Enabling immigrants to acquire this basic knowledge is crucial to successful integration;

23.

advocates holding reception programmes and activities for recently arrived third-country nationals, so that they can acquire a basic knowledge of the language, history, institutions, socio-economic features, cultural life and key values of the host society;

24.

it supports funding for innovative programmes or integration models that include language learning and communication workshops, together with information on cultural, political and social aspects of the host society;

25.

believes that education plays a key role in integration. Local and regional authorities have important tasks in relation to education in terms of promoting equality of opportunities for everyone. The Green Paper published by the Commission on Migration & mobility: challenges and opportunities for EU education systems (3) sets out this key role played by education in relation to integration. The Commission should thereby take particular account of local and regional remits when evaluating consultation;

26.

notes the important role of work in the integration of migrants. Unemployment is often an obstacle to successful integration, especially where it affects young people. Immigration of third-country nationals must take place in line with the labour market requirements of the different Member States. It is crucial for integration that migrants have their own gainful employment, especially since this ensures that they are covered by social security systems. Without this, migrant access to social security systems would place a particular burden on regional and local authorities and could not be explained to the public in the Member States;

27.

stresses that there is a relationship between illegal and legal immigration and that combating illegal immigration is of key importance for framing a policy on legal migration. On the one hand, the fight against illegal immigration must be consistent and comprehensive, so as to effectively combat often organised criminal structures; therefore, it is important for agreements with third countries to incorporate provisions with regard to the fight against illegal migration including, in particular, the readmission of illegally residing third-country nationals. On the other hand, steps must be taken to facilitate legal migration where there are labour shortages, in the case of highly skilled labour, or where the main purpose is the exchange and transfer of knowledge or further training of migrants during a limited stay — something that is also conducive to the subsequent development of the countries of origin;

28.

calls for comprehensive information to be provided about the relevant EU funds and assistance programmes so that all local and regional stakeholders can make use of existing funds and programmes;

29.

believes that under the future EU immigration policy it may be necessary to extend the capacity of FRONTEX in the field of border control and prevention of threats to security, by allocating financial and human resources to enable this agency to perform its task effectively;

30.

explicitly notes that under the future EU immigration policy, account is taken of the need to boost the capacity of local and regional authorities to manage migration flows, in particular by allocating appropriate financial resources and ensuring access to EU funding and programmes. Failure to establish a sustainable and effective immigration policy — i.e. one that is accepted by all stakeholders — would have high socio-economic costs and would jeopardise our welfare, social harmony and economic development;

31.

calls for financial support for integration policy and especially educational tasks at local and regional level. The Green Paper on immigration and mobility will address the issue of the contribution made by Community programmes and funds to supporting integration policy. Local and regional integration-specific tasks in the sphere of education must be backed up by the European Integration Fund;

32.

points out that under the future EU immigration policy the key importance of promoting dialogue and cooperating with countries of origin and transit countries must be borne in mind, using instruments of European neighbourhood policy, the Union for the Mediterranean and implementing effective development cooperation. Local and regional authorities play an important role in promoting such cooperation. This is particularly the case with authorities that can serve as cooperation platforms for joint efforts with neighbouring third countries;

33.

draws attention to the global dimension of migration, which has far-reaching consequences for countries of origin and for the European Union. For this reason, particular account must be taken of the way the issues of migration and development are interlinked. It should be borne in mind that the emigration of skilled workers must not have a negative economic impact (‘brain drain’) on developing countries. In the case of circular migration, workers could use or pass on the skills they have acquired once they return to their country of origin;

34.

believes that, given the challenges associated with illegal immigration, when framing future EU immigration policy the focus must be on the need for practicable, coordinated measures to combat people trafficking and criminal organisations, so as to prevent human tragedies;

35.

urgently backs European Union measures to prevent illegal immigration, which often encourages exploitation, especially of women and children. Consistent measures must be taken here. The networks of people smugglers and the groups that organise or participate in human trafficking must be combated in cooperation with the countries of origin and transit countries. Local and regional authorities must be involved in cooperation measures as appropriate;

36.

recognises the opportunities inherent in an effective immigration policy which can contribute to economic growth and cultural diversity. Local and regional authorities support such a policy, which contributes to enhancing the economic and social potential of the European Union; at the same time reiterates that the European Union can fully enjoy the benefits of legal migration if the fight against illegal immigration is comprehensive and successful.

31.3.2009   

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 76/38

—

believes that in order to keep the concepts of inclusion and solidarity robust, cohesion policy must continue to pursue a new economic and social balance without succumbing to the temptation to overload cohesion policy with too many mutually incompatible goals.

—

maintains that the goals of cohesion and growth can and must be mutually compatible, since these are two closely correlated goals, and stresses the need to find out how growth can improve cohesion and not how cohesion can reinforce growth.

—

doubts whether it makes sense to assign to cohesion policy instruments the goals of competitiveness for the growth strategy and calls for an analysis to be made — in the process of considering the future configuration of the structural funds — of the impact of earmarking under the Lisbon strategy on the results of economic and social cohesion.

—

thinks it necessary to look into the possibility of developing more informative and comprehensive indicators of development and prosperity that respect the not insignificant differences at regional and local level in income, availability of public services, quality of healthcare and the provision of cultural and vocational education.

—

highlights the fact that if the desire is for cohesion policy to take an important role in buttressing a new economic and social balance, it must have the appropriate resources and means, whereas the current level of funding is no more than the minimum needed to carry out this function

Rapporteur

:

Marta VINCENZI (PES/IT), Mayor of Genoa

1.

believes that there is a growing need to give cohesion policy a territorial dimension, in addition to an economic and social one, as despite progress and improvements, not only do disparities in development between regions persist but structural problems within regions are increasing as well. Stresses the importance of ensuring that the principles of equality and proportionality are respected alongside this territorial dimension.

2.

agrees that many activities funded by the European Union have demonstrated added value. The admissibility of a project makes it easier to attract public and private funding and to develop innovation in management and implementation more rapidly.

3.

regrets that the Commission continues to neglect the leverage effect of structural funds and refers to the Committee's outlook opinion on the matter, in which it proposed an evaluation framework for the various dimensions of added value in cohesion policy.

4.

welcomes the introduction of the concept of regions in transition, which embraces not only the current phasing-in and phasing-out areas but also those regions whose funding is set to expire at the end of the 2007-2013 funding period, and supports solutions being prepared for these areas.

5.

welcomes the consultation that preceded the Commission's publication of the Green Paper on territorial cohesion, pointing out that all the parties involved continue to acknowledge and support the role of cohesion policy in the building of the Europe Union.

6.

notes that the possibility of introducing new and varied admissibility criteria has been raised in the debate. There have been calls to take into account not just GDP and GNI, but also the population structure and settlement patterns (data on population dispersal, ageing and dependency rates), the labour market, supply of services, geographical conditions, the urban and rural dimensions, natural and cultural heritage, environmental and climate factors, etc. All of these factors can be said to have an impact on economic and social development. At the same time, the Community-wide indicators for the demarcation of eligible areas have proved valuable, but a larger set of indicators from a broader ‘basket’ of data should be used for the substantive assessment of the efficacy of cohesion policy.

7.

hopes that the substantive assessment of disparities in development and progress on cohesion will take into account not just GDP and GNI, but also the labour market (data on employment, mobility and training), services on offer (data on access, efficiency and distribution) and land use (data on extent, continuity and polycentrism), the population structure and settlement patterns (data on population dispersal, ageing and dependency rates), the general standard of education, investment in research and innovation (data on resources earmarked for R+D+i in relation to GDP), and the specific geographical features of some regions such as outermost, island or mountain regions.

8.

maintains that the challenges of climate change and the problems of energy supply will continue to have an impact, in different ways and degrees, on a wide range of economic and social development issues and will impinge upon the efforts and capacities of cohesion policy.

9.

emphasises that the outermost and island regions are particularly vulnerable to the new climate and energy challenges, but that they also offer an opportunity for the EU, in that they could be used as natural testing grounds for assessing problems and seeking solutions, benefiting the EU as a whole

10.

points out that although regional statistics are a key instrument, for improving admission criteria and modifying development indicators in many Member States where they are already available they can be difficult to use or process, and where they are not yet available they can prove difficult to obtain or measure.

11.

notes that promoting European cohesion by reducing discrepancies in development continues to be the goal. Therefore support must go above all to economically disadvantaged regions, but in order to be successful and relevant to everyone, cohesion policy must embrace all European regions.

12.

maintains that the foremost challenge is to speed up the convergence of lagging regions, especially the integration of areas in the new Member States, as regularly and quite rightly pointed out in the European Commission's various papers on cohesion policy.

13.

considers that high priority should be given to identifying and addressing infrastructure deficits.

14.

stresses that the aim of cohesion policy is to strengthen economic, social and territorial cohesion and, on this basis, also to make a contribution to the European Union's sectoral policies or national policies of the Member States.

15.

considers that the integration of sectoral and cohesion policies is still very rare and maintains that strengthening the integrated approach would require setting horizontal goals to harmonise, in the first instance, the development of agriculture, the environment, energy and transport.

16.

sees an even greater need in the current economic climate for network and cluster projects that transcend regional borders.

17.

maintains that the goals of cohesion and growth can and must be mutually compatible, since these are two closely correlated goals, and stresses the need to find out how growth can improve cohesion and not how cohesion can reinforce growth.

18.

doubts whether it makes sense to assign to cohesion policy instruments the goals of competitiveness for the growth strategy and calls for an analysis to be made — in the process of considering the future configuration of the structural funds — of the impact of earmarking under the Lisbon strategy on the results of economic and social cohesion.

19.

stresses that all the parties believe that rationalising the procedures would help to facilitate management of the funds, but warns that the reforms must be careful not to sacrifice the added value of multi-level involvement of regional and local authorities in community governance.

20.

maintains that the legal and administrative environment is crucial to the success of cohesion policy and points out that boosting institutional capacity is one of the most precious and least visible resources for the implementation of interventions and hence the functioning of cohesion policy.

21.

notes that the growing competition in output and administrative efficiency between Europe's regions is a factor to be borne in mind in regard to economic and social cohesion, since it affects the attraction of foreign investment and integration into the global economy.

22.

welcomes the development of new and innovative financial engineering instruments in the area of cohesion policy (such as revolving funds) and, at the same time, notes that the principle of co-financing is a valid and effective instrument for ensuring that the added value of cohesion policy is maintained.

23.

stresses the enormous contribution that cohesion policy could make to the visibility of the European project and notes that the Commission, in collaboration with the Member States and regional and local authorities, must find even more effective ways of informing the European public about publicise the policy's benefits and results.

24.

notes that the principles of concentration, planning, cofinancing, additionality and partnership that underlie the present European cohesion policy have shown their worth and believes they must remain the fulcrum of community action in the future.

25.

notes that the European cohesion policy must remain anchored in a strong partnership between all tiers of government and increasingly involve local and regional authorities at all stages, from the defining of projects to the evaluation of programmes.

26.

accents the importance of territorial cooperation, in terms of added value and local visibility, for all dimensions of cohesion policy and urges that the possibilities introduced by the new EGCT instrument should be exploited to the full.

27.

calls for the urban dimension of cohesion policy to be bolstered, noting that while urban areas are often the engine for economic growth, they also have to contend with serious economic disparity, social inequality and cultural isolation.

28.

draws attention to the need for greater coordination in tackling the problems of rural areas and the difficulties of urban ones, since the link between urban reality and rural environment is an essential component of an integrated policy of regional development.

29.

recommends that rural development instruments be incorporated into general cohesion policy, since structural funds already finance many actions with parallel goals and this could be the best way of avoiding a duplication of projects and interventions.

30.

proposes collaboration between management and statistics organisations to put together new regional statistics instruments which would assess the impact of cohesion policy, in a relevant and targeted way, better define development indicators or further refine admissibility criteria.

31.

thinks it necessary to look into the possibility of developing more informative and comprehensive indicators of development and prosperity that respect the not insignificant differences at regional and local level in income, availability of public services, quality of healthcare and the provision of cultural and vocational education.

32.

notes that the possibility of using integrated forms of funding, such as revolving funds with venture capital and soft or secured loans, could produce a beneficial multiplier effect without overturning cohesion policy's system of subsidies.

33.

believes that public authorities, including local and regional authorities, will in future be called upon to invest more in supply of or support for services of general interest, in order to bridge the gaps, particularly in the area of utilities and transport.

34.

notes that the Member States of the European Union are facing the demographic challenge of a gradual ageing of its population and stresses that one aspect of this change is the growing demand for public services — above all, healthcare and social services — that guarantee the same efficiency and quality to all.

35.

maintains that simplification of cohesion policy must be based on the principles of subsidiarity and proportionality and reporting requirements and monitoring procedures linked to the magnitude of the interventions and the geographical location of projects in order to cut costs and devolve management.

36.

maintains that the European Union must acknowledge and boost the territorial dimension of cohesion policy in order to make possible an economic and social development that is not only balanced and sustainable between the various regions, but also polycentric and harmonious in the regions themselves.

37.

stresses that cohesion remains an important challenge, since the large discrepancies in economic and social development between the various regions and within them remain and, indeed, have been exacerbated by the European Union's latest enlargement.

38.

believes that in order to keep the concepts of inclusion and solidarity robust, cohesion policy must continue to pursue a new economic and social balance without succumbing to the temptation to overload cohesion policy with too many mutually incompatible goals.

39.

highlights the fact that if the desire is for cohesion policy to take an important role in buttressing a new economic and social balance, it must have the appropriate resources and means, whereas, in the Committee's view, the current level of funding is no more than the minimum needed to carry out this function and should respond to the pressure to contain spending arising from the worldwide financial crisis, a situation in which the need to implement cohesion policies more effectively is even greater.

40.

notes that cohesion must maintain a European dimension and rebuff any attempt to re-nationalise the Community effort, whose added value lies not least in being a wide-ranging common policy with clear strategic objectives that can respond to the continental and global challenges and adapt itself to regional and local needs.

41.

stresses the leverage effect of cohesion policy, since investment engenders long-term structural effects on regional and local economies, fosters innovative approaches to development and employment and impacts profoundly on the capacity-building of administrations and businesses.

42.

calls for new financial instruments to be applied which could contribute in a more simple and effective way to investment, especially in regions that need restructuring and innovation and particularly to sustain the role and development of SMEs.

43.

notes that, in keeping with the subsidiarity principle, local and regional authorities need to be involved at all stages, from planning to evaluation, because they are the tier of government nearest to the end recipients as well as those primarily responsible for implementation of cohesion policy.

31.3.2009   

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 76/42

—

considers binding the European Union's pledge to offer a future in Europe to the whole of the Western Balkans, providing the countries in the region meet its accession criteria.

—

urges the Western Balkan countries to lose no time in meeting the EU's conditions for relaxing its visa policy. The visa requirements currently imposed on those living in the Western Balkan countries make it difficult to establish social contacts with partners from the EU Member States and are a stumbling block to implementing education and development projects; calls on the EU Member States to continue to relax visa requirements for the Western Balkan countries.

—

underlines the importance of the processes launched in the Western Balkan countries to decentralise and distribute state power; points out that ethnicity must not be the sole or main factor in these processes, and considers it important, in very ethnically mixed countries, to bolster the position of central institutions that are crucial if the state is to function, while at the same time accepting the autonomous decision-making of regional and local institutions and authorities.

—

stresses the importance of continuing to make determined efforts to strengthen the independence of the judiciary. Efforts to combat corruption and to enhance public confidence in the judiciary must be continued.

—

is in favour of local and regional authorities and institutions collaborating closely with partners in the EU Member States and calls for the creation of appropriate institutional and financial mechanisms to enable local and regional authorities to be more involved in cross-border and regional projects, alongside national associations of local self-government, including participating in initiatives within a European Grouping of Territorial Cooperation.

Rapporteur

:

Mr František KNAPÍK (SK/EPP), Mayor of Košice

1.

considers binding the European Union's pledge to offer a future in Europe to the whole of the Western Balkans, providing the countries in the region meet its accession criteria.

2.

welcomes the progress made by the countries of the Western Balkans in moving towards the European Union; considers that the signature of a Stabilisation and Association Agreement (SAA) between the EU and the Republic of Serbia as well as between the EU and Bosnia and Herzegovina is absolutely essential if the whole region is to have a future within the European Union. Another demonstration of progress on European integration is the real prospect of Montenegro and Albania, followed by the other countries in the region, acquiring candidate country status in the near future and the progress made in accession discussions with Croatia.

3.

recommends that the European Commission does more to capitalise on the experience of the new Member States in both the process of both accession and transformation. The views of the new Member States should be an added benefit when it comes to drafting EU policies, especially regarding the accession ambitions of the Western Balkan countries.

4.

urges the Western Balkan countries to lose no time in meeting the EU's conditions for relaxing its visa policy. The visa requirements currently imposed on those living in the Western Balkan countries make it difficult to establish social contacts with partners from the EU Member States and are a stumbling block to implementing education and development projects; calls on the EU Member States to continue to relax visa requirements for the Western Balkan countries.

5.

underlines the importance of the processes launched in the Western Balkan countries to decentralise and distribute state power; points out that ethnicity must not be the sole or main factor in these processes, and considers it important, in very ethnically mixed countries, to bolster the position of central institutions that are crucial if the state is to function, while at the same time accepting the autonomous decision-making of regional and local institutions and authorities.

6.

points out that recognition and protection of national minorities is one of the Copenhagen criteria which must be met by any state wishing to join the European Union; is convinced that a central element of minority rights is to facilitate peaceful co-existence between populations which differ in race, language or religion and the majority population, so that their specific needs are met.

7.

urges countries in the region to take measures to enhance women's participation in political, social and economic life and to promote gender equality. Notes that discrimination against women and domestic violence still occur and therefore calls on these countries to increase efforts to further women's rights.

8.

proposes that the administrative capacity of national institutions and local authorities be reinforced in order to get the most out of funding for the Western Balkan countries from the Instrument for Pre-Accession Assistance (IPA).

9.

stresses the importance of continuing to make determined efforts to strengthen the independence of the judiciary. Efforts to combat corruption and to enhance public confidence in the judiciary must be continued.

10.

regrets the prevalence of corruption, which poses an obstacle to creating a transparent public service and hampers the efficient management and administration of EU funds and programmes.

11.

welcomes the work being done to create a Regional School of Public Administration (RESPA) which would have all the powers expected of a vocational educational institution for public servants and should help to boost administrative capacity in the Western Balkan countries. The Committee recommends that existing public administration schools in the individual countries collaborate with this institution as much as possible. It also supports further European Commission instruments to strengthen administrative capacity, build up institutions and implement EU legislation, especially through twinning and the Technical Assistance Information Exchange (TAIEX) and Support for Improvement in Governance and Management (SIGMA) instruments.

12.

welcomes the successful transformation of the Stability Pact for South-Eastern Europe into the Regional Cooperation Council; considers regional cooperation to be one of the prerequisites for the Western Balkan countries to move forward in EU accession process. Improving cross-border cooperation merits particular attention here, since in many cases it is border regions that have suffered most in the wake of the armed conflicts of the 1990s. For this reason, the Committee calls for the development of cross-border infrastructure between the countries of the region.

13.

believes that the way to overcome the divisions, prejudices and distrust caused by the disputes and conflicts that in the recent or less recent past have involved the countries of the Western Balkans and neighbouring countries that are now EU members is to strengthen cross-border cooperation between coastal and border areas of the countries of the Western Balkans and those of close or neighbouring EU countries.

14.

welcomes the progress made in creating a free-trade zone — CEFTA — in the Western Balkans; recommends that the participant countries act more swiftly to create an area that operates effectively throughout the region, since a regional free-trade area will help individual countries prepare for joining the EU single market.

15.

is in favour of local and regional authorities and institutions collaborating closely with partners in the EU Member States and calls for the creation of appropriate institutional and financial mechanisms to enable local and regional authorities to be more involved in cross-border and regional projects, alongside national associations of local self-government, including participating in initiatives within a European Grouping of Territorial Cooperation.

16.

is aware of the fact that civil society organisations play an important role in promoting EU integration and supports the networking of civil society organisations in the region and the development of common projects.

17.

regards the smooth running of local and regional authorities as essential both for the internal consolidation of individual countries and for the process of bringing them into line with the EU; recommends that governments step up communication with local and regional authorities, promoting the idea of European integration.

18.

welcomes the special mechanism to support local and regional governments in the Western Balkans which is part of the Instrument for Pre-Accession Assistance (IPA), which the European Commission announced at the conference in Brussels in April 2008; recommends that the European Commission simplify the procedure for providing help as much as possible, especially by speeding it up and making the mechanisms for providing it more effective; believes that while aid in whatever form must be targeted, it must also be for the widest possible range of recipients.

19.

is conscious of a regional imbalance — between metropolitan areas and regions more remote from urban centres — in the operations of local and regional authorities concerned with harmonious and balanced territorial development and promoting the idea of European integration; sees a need to help the sub-national authorities to operate effectively in rural regions, especially ethnically mixed areas, where the emphasis should be on implementing multiethnic projects.

20.

is aware of the fact that the local and regional authorities of the countries in the Western Balkans play a fundamental role in finding the required institutional response to the rights of national minorities; therefore calls on the governments in those countries to consult local and regional authorities when new standards and legal frameworks relating to the rights of national minorities are discussed and adopted, with due consideration for the Council of Europe's Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities.

21.

stresses the importance of local and regional authorities in overcoming prejudices and differences between ethnicities in the region and in this connection their role in communication between the various tiers of local and national government in the individual countries.

22.

welcomes the substantial progress of accession negotiations with Croatia, which send a signal to the other Western Balkan countries about their own membership prospects, once they fulfil the necessary conditions, and believes that current uncertainty following the Irish referendum that the Lisbon Treaty will enter into force has no implications for the ongoing accession negotiations with Croatia.

23.

welcomes the progress made in regional policy and cross-border cooperation and appreciates that Croatia is doing more to settle differences with its neighbours.

24.

points out that Croatia needs to make further progress with judicial reforms, fighting corruption, rights of national minorities, refugee return and shipbuilding restructuring if it is to make major progress in its accession process.

25.

points out that Croatia must quicken the pace of public administration reform and improve administrative capacity at local and regional level.

26.

believes that further progress of the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia towards stepping up relations with the EU is possible providing the conditions and criteria set by the European Council in June 2008 are observed.

27.

appreciates the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia's contribution to stability in the Western Balkans and takes into account the decision of its government regarding the recognition of Kosovo's independence.

28.

welcomes the setting-up of its Joint Consultative Committee EU — the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia and encourages the deepening of political dialogue between sub-national authorities of the EU and its counterparts from the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia.

29.

notes that it has finally been possible to resolve the political crisis in the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia. Would call for immediate measures to improve and strengthen the working of government bodies, in order to enable it to address the causes of the problems encountered in the electoral process in June 2008, and also to ensure that future elections are held in accordance with internationally agreed models. Would stress the need to step up political dialogue between political parties, in order to shape a stable political climate of consensus for carrying out the reforms that are a precondition for EU membership.

30.

proposes continuing the process of decentralisation while ensuring that ethnicity is not the main criterion in forming local or regional authorities; calls for maintaining the political stability of the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia at national, regional and local level by stressing the need for dialogue rather than other means.

31.

supports the constructive role of the Committee on Inter-Community Relations, at both national and local level, as a mediator between the various ethnic communities and parliament. The Committee also calls for the preservation of the multiethnic character of the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia and in particular the scrupulous observance of the population's minority rights.

32.

welcomes the resumption of negotiations assisted by the UN's special envoy Matthew Nimetz and calls on the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia to step up its efforts to help resolve the issue of the country's name in line with UN Security Council Resolutions 817/93 and 845/93; would stress the importance of good neighbourhood relations if the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia is to make further progress towards EU membership.

33.

recommends pressing ahead with public administration reform, including reform of local taxation, in order to give authorities greater autonomy in deciding on financial matters.

34.

welcomes the implementation of measures to reform public administration and give greater powers to local authorities.

35.

stresses the need to boost economic growth and economic performance. Economic prosperity and sustainable economic growth are the prerequisite of successful progress towards EU accession.

36.

highlights the need for political consensus on issues related to European integration.

37.

calls for political parties to abandon unconstructive positions at local level so that decisions can be reached by consensus which will address local problems and the needs of local communities.

38.

calls for the implementation of effective mechanisms to wipe out corruption at both national and local level; at the same time calls for the commitment of the relevant institutions in the fight against organised crime to be made more effective.

39.

welcomes the buttressing of local authority powers in the area of local taxation and spending.

40.

recommends strengthening the decentralised powers of local authorities.

41.

would invite Albania to enforce in full the provisions of the framework agreement of the Council of Europe for the protection of national minorities, above all when it comes to the use of minority languages.

42.

welcomes the signature of the Stabilisation and Association Agreement between the European Union and Bosnia and Herzegovina and supports closure of the Office of the High Representative (OHR) and the strengthening of the EU Special Representative Office as soon as the necessary conditions and objectives have been met.

43.

values that the question of the final status of Kosovo has not major repercussions in Bosnia and Herzegovina and that the overall political and security situation has remained calm.

44.

welcomes the adoption of police reform by the Bosnian parliament in view of its importance in moving forward the EU accession process. is conscious of the fact that this reform, as adopted, is the product of a consensus wrought by long and intricate negotiations between all the participating parties; nevertheless, stresses the need for further constitutional changes to make national institutions more functional and ensure that the ethnic factor ceases to be the determining factor in the running of the society in Bosnia and Herzegovina; also stresses the importance of closer cooperation with the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY).

45.

appreciates the holding of democratic local elections in October 2008 and values that they passed without incident; is aware of the importance of the democratic election of local councillors and their role in the process of democratising the society in Bosnia and Herzegovina and bringing it further into line with the EU.

46.

supports strengthening the administrative capacity of the Directorate for European integration in the BiH Council of Ministers, as well as the capacity of other institutions and bodies working on the European integration process.. Bosnia and Herzegovina's progress in the European integration process will require further efforts in implementing EU related reforms.

47.

is aware of the fact that a nationwide debate on EU accession should be backed up by a number of well targeted projects which bring in national, regional and local civil servants, academia and the non-governmental sector. The experience of the new Member States could be a source of inspiration here, especially regarding the establishing of a national convention on the EU which proved successful in Slovakia and was also launched in Serbia in 2006.

48.

welcomes the holding of democratic and transparent elections, especially since these were the first presidential elections since Montenegro's declaration of independence in 2006.

49.

welcomes Montenegro's active contribution to stabilising the region, especially its constructive approach in establishing good bilateral relations with neighbouring countries and takes into account the decision of its government regarding the recognition of Kosovo's independence..

50.

welcomes the establishment of a European Commission delegation in the capital, Podgorica, and is confident that it will be a great help in facilitating and increasing communication between the European Commission and Montenegro and assisting the latter's efforts to join the EU.

51.

calls for reform of the judiciary to be accelerated and the position of the public administration to be strengthened; supports further progress in administrative and judicial reform; with a view to the implementation of the Stabilisation and Association Agreement, recommends strengthening administrative, political and legal capacity.

52.

calls on the appropriate authorities to do more to wipe out corruption in the central and local government institutions and to combat organised crime, especially the trafficking of drugs and other commodities.

53.

welcomes the signing of a Stabilisation and Association Agreement between the Republic of Serbia and the European Union and calls on the Serbian government to meet in full the obligations attached to its implementation.

54.

welcomes the arrest of Radovan Karadžić on the territory of Serbia and appreciates the efforts of the new Serbian government in this matter; stresses the importance of continued cooperation between the Serbian government and the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY).

55.

invites the EU to move decisively in order to step up relations with Serbia, bringing into force the intermediate agreement and launching the process of ratifying the stabilisation and association agreement by the parliaments of the Member States; and believes that Serbia could feasibly attain candidate country status in 2009.

56.

welcomes the fact that the presidential elections in January and February this year and the early parliamentary and local elections in May took place democratically and also appreciates the democratic way in which the government crisis was resolved.

57.

emphasises the need for effective fiscal decentralisation and supports the adoption of a law on the local government assets in the wording proposed by the Standing Conference of Towns and Municipalities.

58.

welcomes the ratification of the European Charter of Regional Self-Government by the Serbian parliament and its entry into force on 1 January 2008.

59.

recommends the elaboration of a strategy for decentralisation for the purpose of transparency and predictability of the decentralisation process in Serbia; stresses the need to fortify local institutions and proposes that special attention be devoted to ensuring that the rights of national minorities and ethnic groups are fully respected.

60.

calls on Belgrade to accept the European Union Rule of Law Mission in Kosovo (EULEX).

61.

supports the continued deployment of the EULEX mission despatched to Kosovo by the European Union and welcomes the EU's commitment to shouldering much of the responsibility for future developments in Kosovo; welcomes the agreement on the transfer of powers from UNMIK to the EULEX mission.

62.

welcomes the results of the donors' conference on Kosovo, organised by the European Commission on 11 July 2008 in Brussels and appreciates the EU's commitment to Kosovo and to the stability of the Western Balkans.

63.

supports the participation of Kosovo in regional initiatives, especially those that relate to the prospect of a future in the EU for the Western Balkans, and points out that the accession of the Western Balkans to the European Union will not be successfully concluded unless all the players in the region are involved in the process.

64.

notes that the new constitution enshrines the rights of the individual national communities.

65.

welcomes the creation of the Consultative Council for Communities under the aegis of the president and the introduction of a double majority system under which issues pertaining to the vital interests of individual communities must be approved by a majority not only of legislators, but also of the representatives of the individual communities. It also recommends that the date on which this is brought into force be agreed in coordination with members of the international community.

66.

hopes that the unilateral declaration of independence of Kosovo will not raise new barriers to trade or to the movement of people in the Balkans.

67.

supports keeping an international community presence in Kosovo over the long term; calls on the international community to furnish substantial assistance in the implementation of the new constitution given the inadequate administrative resources of the Kosovan institutions.

68.

regrets that the administrative capacities remain insufficient to ensure efficient and transparent public service and management of EU funds and programmes.

69.

urges national minority communities to take part in the conduct of public affairs in Kosovo as provided for by the new constitution and notes with regret the reluctance of Serbian community representatives to take part in the shaping of public administration institutions and in the democratic process of choosing elected representatives for the Kosovo institutions.

70.

calls on the Kosovo authorities to respect the different ethnic minorities and to fulfil all international requirements in this respect.

31.3.2009   

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 76/48

—

recommends that, insofar as they meet the set requirements by the European Commission, the group of potential candidate countries should also be entitled to draw on the three other components and thus be subject to the same terms and conditions as candidate countries,

—

recommends that this opinion should be the starting point for a more comprehensive and thorough evaluation of past experience as that would bring into focus — and document — the wide-ranging and substantive work done by local and regional authorities in the course of earlier enlargements. In this connection, the Committee of the Regions should, with the help of research funding, undertake a thorough-going analysis of local and regional involvement in the IPA between 2007 and 2009,

—

recommends that the Committee of the Regions should, at the start of 2009, launch a round-table discussion, to which delegates from the Commission, the Parliament and the local and regional authorities from the candidate and potential candidate countries, and other relevant players, would be invited to discuss the issue in detail, thereby providing the starting signal for the re-evaluation process,

—

asks that, as part of this evaluation, a political reference framework be drawn up between the Committee of the Regions and the Commission on the involvement of local and regional authorities in enlargement processes. The Committee should adopt this political reference framework as it represents a unique opportunity to reassess existing structures and types of collaboration, in a bid to further advance cross-border cooperation between local and regional authorities in Member States, candidate countries and potential candidate countries.

Rapporteur

:

Ms Helene LUND (DK/PES), Member of Furesø Municipal Council

1.

welcomes the successful conclusion of the fifth wave of enlargement, in which the local and regional authorities in Bulgaria and Romania played a key role in fostering the development of sustainable local and regional democracy;

2.

underscores the importance of learning from the experience of past enlargements in the field of cross-border cooperation so as to optimise and enhance efforts as part of the current accession negotiations with candidate and potential candidate countries;

3.

thus recommends that greater focus be placed on cooperation between local and regional authorities in the Member States, candidate countries and potential candidate countries;

4.

welcomes the Instrument for Pre-Accession Assistance (IPA) established under the relevant Commission proposal (COM(2004) 627 final) and Council Regulation (1085/2006), and would refer to its own opinion on the subject (CdR 498/2004 fin). The Committee of the Regions backs the structure of the IPA, which is made up of the following five components: a) support for transition and institution-building, b) cross-border cooperation, c) regional development, d) human resources development, and e) rural development;

5.

notes that the IPA, which runs from 2007 to 2013, is an important tool in helping establish durable political and administrative structures in the candidate and potential candidate countries, as it has, since 1 January 2007, brought together the various different strands of pre-accession aid previously in place for Turkey and the Western Balkans: Phare, Ispa, Sapard, Cards and the financial instrument for Turkey;

6.

welcomes the three-year indicative financial framework under the IPA for the allocation of resources to each beneficiary country, as this demonstrates a flexible approach, and points out that it is not possible to come up with a single solution appropriate to all — hence the need for flexible tools that are able to meet the challenges and issues specific to each individual country;

7.

at the same time notes that beneficiary countries are divided into two groups: (i) candidate countries — the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Croatia and Turkey; and (ii) potential candidate countries — Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, Serbia and Kosovo. The Committee of the Regions also notes in this regard that the first group (candidate countries) is able to seek support under all five components, while the second (potential candidate countries) is able to do so only under the first two components (support for transition and institution-building, and cross-border cooperation);

8.

recommends that, insofar as they meet the requirements set by the European Commission, the group of potential candidate countries should also be entitled to draw on the three other components and thus be subject to the same terms and conditions as candidate countries;

9.

stresses the vital importance of putting in place tough requirements for the subsequent documentation of the results achieved under the IPA;

10.

draws attention to the fact that, often, a large proportion of legislation is implemented at local and regional level (as much as 70 % of EU environmental legislation falls into this category), thus making it vital for local and regional authorities to have a genuine opportunity to secure IPA support so that they can press ahead with their worthwhile and important work and continue to play a constructive role in the development of sound administrative structures and sustainable local and regional democracy in the candidate and potential candidate countries;

11.

underscores the fact that, to meet the requirements established under the aquis communautaire, the Copenhagen criteria and the December 1995 Madrid conclusions, candidate and potential candidate countries must develop durable and decentralised political and administrative structures;

12.

points out that local and regional authorities are frequently citizens' first point of contact with the system and it is thus vital that they should be able to provide the services citizens require. Experience shows the importance of working towards the development of strong, decentralised political and administrative structures, as these are often weak in candidate and potential candidate countries. This is one area in which EU local and regional authorities have a great deal of experience, given that the challenges involved are faced by such authorities in all Member States. The Committee of the Regions also underscores the importance of ensuring that citizens do not experience any sustained deterioration in service levels in the course of the enlargement process as that may cloud their opinion of EU membership;

13.

stresses, therefore, how important it is to focus on the development of strong, decentralised structures since much of the aquis communautaire is implemented at local and regional level, and notes the vital need for the local and regional level to engage with central government as an equal partner since a well-developed administrative capacity at local and regional level that is able to provide the requisite services and meet the challenges arising helps relieve pressure on central government;

14.

points that, if the political and administrative structures at local and regional level are to have a sound political and administrative base, it is important to develop in cooperation with civil society a local democracy that citizens can trust and in which they feel they have a say. Local and regional authorities have many years' experience in cross-border cooperation, for instance through town-twinning schemes, which also bring aspects of culture and identity into the development of democracy and administrative structures. This in turn brings added value to the Community;

15.

also draws attention to the local and regional level's expert grasp of intercultural cooperation as it is that level which, more often than not, is in direct contact with citizens from different cultural backgrounds. Local and regional authorities are thus experienced in working with different cultures at close quarters. This is an asset that can be also be drawn on in enlargement-related intercultural activities between Member States, candidate countries and potential candidate countries;

16.

considers it important to develop a cohesive approach to cross-border cooperation in any pre-accession processes;

17.

stresses that one of the Committee of the Regions' key external relations priorities is to explain the enlargement process to citizens (CdR 322/2006 fin). To facilitate the more effective communication of its efforts in this area, the Committee of the Regions should be systematically kept abreast of local and regional authorities' practical, constructive and durable achievements in the enlargement process;

18.

thanks all local and regional authorities in the Member States, candidate countries and potential candidate countries that have taken part in the study underpinning this opinion. They have made an outstanding contribution to the drafting of this opinion by bringing in their experience of cooperation between local and regional authorities in the Member States, candidate countries and potential candidate countries. The submission from the Croatian cities and regions was particularly comprehensive and reflective of their strong commitment to the issues involved The responses from all the countries that took part constitute a strong, practical starting point for the work of evaluating activities to date and provide a basis for developing a set of political guidelines for future work;

19.

recommends that this opinion should be the starting point for a more comprehensive and thorough evaluation of past experience as that would bring into focus — and document — the wide-ranging and substantive work done by local and regional authorities in the course of earlier enlargements. In this connection, the Committee of the Regions should, with the help of research funding, undertake a thorough-going analysis of local and regional involvement in the IPA between 2007 and 2009. Research should be conducted in cooperation with universities and organisations across the Member States and applicant countries. It is also recommended that a follow-up group be established, made up of representatives of the political groups, the Commission and the local and regional authorities from the candidate and potential candidate countries. Its task would be to monitor the research work and report back to the Committee and the working groups, thereby generating broad commitment to the evaluation process;

20.

recommends that the Committee of the Regions should, at the start of 2009, launch a round-table discussion, to which delegates from the Commission, the Parliament and the local and regional authorities from the candidate and potential candidate countries, and other relevant players, would be invited to discuss the issue in detail, thereby providing the starting signal for the re-evaluation process;

21.

recommends that the evaluation work should also involve the Committee of the Regions secretariat, the three working groups for the Western Balkans, Turkey and Croatia, which have to some extent already considered the relevant aspects of enlargement, and the joint consultative committee with the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, as they will be able to bring to bear considerable knowledge of the challenges facing candidate and potential candidate countries;

22.

asks that, as part of this evaluation, a political reference framework be drawn up between the Committee of the Regions and the Commission on the involvement of local and regional authorities in enlargement processes. The Committee should adopt this political reference framework as it represents a unique opportunity to reassess existing structures and types of collaboration, in a bid to further advance cross-border cooperation between local and regional authorities in Member States, candidate countries and potential candidate countries. The purpose of the political reference framework is to act as a shared reference document for the Commission and the Committee of the Regions for the ongoing development of the IPA, through defining a set of recommendations for enlargement cooperation, so that this instrument can be better attuned to meeting local and regional authorities' specific needs;

23.

recommends that local and regional authorities be involved as an equal player in the enlargement process, given their considerable expertise and knowledge in helping strengthening candidate and potential candidate countries through cross-border local and regional cooperation. This must be seen as a common resource that also benefits the rest of the Union and its institutions. The Commission and the candidate and potential candidate countries are therefore asked to work with local and regional authorities to develop the requisite legal and financial framework for input of this kind. The political reference framework on the involvement of local and regional authorities could be a first step towards achieving this objective;

24.

notes that smaller cross-border projects conducted by local and regional authorities provide vital added value since, as past experience from a number of Member States shows, the openness, transparency and direct contact between partners inherent in smaller projects engender mutual trust and produce tangible results to practical problems;

25.

would stress in that connection that, as experience in Romania and elsewhere has shown, resources accessible to fund decentralised projects under the pre-accession instruments are of key importance for institution-building at local and regional level in the candidate and potential candidate countries;

26.

recommends that all elements of the IPA be adjusted to take account of local and regional authorities and NGOs, which make a key contribution to enlargement processes. As experience from a number of Member States, including the UK and Denmark, shows, local and regional authorities have difficulty in reaching the lower support limit for cross-border projects under the IPA;

27.

thus feels it is important that the IPA should devote more attention to strengthening administrative capacity at local and regional level rather than focusing solely on building up the central administration. Unless local and regional authorities have the requisite administrative capacity in place, it will be difficult to implement the aquis communautaire in any sustainable way;

28.

notes that, from experience, one fundamental factor hindering the effective use of project funding is the insufficient capacity of candidate and potential candidate countries to make proper use of the support given to them. This applies to the entire process — from application to implementation and reporting — and is largely due to lack of experience. It should be noted in this regard that language barriers and lack of technical know-how on the application procedures and project management constitute major challenges for project start-up and implementation. This further underscores the importance of putting in place genuine support facilities under the IPA to help local and regional authorities build up their administrative capacity;

29.

would thus propose that the IPA incorporate a phased approach that makes it possible to start off with smaller projects before moving on to bigger ones once experience has been gained and administrative capacity has increased;

30.

recommends that a special budget heading be established within the IPA for small projects, as was the case in earlier programmes such as the Phare Baltic Project Facility and the Tacis Small Project Facility, and notes that, from 1998 to 2001, 259 projects were implemented under these programmes as cooperative ventures between the Member States and Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Russia, Belarus, Ukraine and Moldova, and that, in 2000, the European Court of Auditors' evaluation of the Tacis programmes — and others — recommended that, as it has proved so successful, more funding should be allocated to the Tacis Small Project Facility;

31.

would at the same time draw attention, among other things, to the experience from Turkey, which shows just how smaller projects that frequently involve quite specific initiatives do bring substantial added value to the Union as a whole, as such projects are also a way to spread positive EU-related information and knowledge at local and regional level and raise practical awareness of what the EU is about;

32.

points out that, as experience of past support programmes shows, it is important that support under the IPA should be provided with as little red tape as possible and should not be split into too many phases, each with its own respective grants, and thus feels that the programmes need flexible structures under which funding can be moved between the different budget lines to reflect new developments, thereby helping to build on and improve projects as they are implemented. In that connection, the Committee of the Regions would also note that cumbersome bureaucratic arrangements are particularly restrictive for smaller projects. The Committee of the Regions notes, for instance, that, as experience in Serbia shows, delays in the transfer of project funding to the appropriate authorities may have untoward consequences;

33.

notes that national organisations can help facilitate how projects are run, for instance, by taking on an active role as a contact point and information provider. Such organisations often have the requisite know-how and are in a position to help promote best practices in project management;

34.

draws attention to the successful cooperation between Member States and Turkey, Croatia and the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia under the EU's culture programme, and between the Member States and Turkey under the EU's lifelong learning programme, and also to the positive experience of working together with Turkey, Croatia, the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia and Serbia under the EU's 7th framework programme for research. The Committee of the Regions notes that this approach — and the attendant exchange opportunities — should also be reflected in the IPA so as to more readily facilitate local and regional-level exchanges of experts from specific sectors between Member States, candidate countries and potential candidate countries;

35.

notes the key importance of focusing on sector-specific expertise. As experience from Denmark and Poland shows, involving local and regional experts who are engaged on a daily basis with the specific issues at stake, facilitates focused dialogue and is also conducive both to teamwork and to the learning process. Experience from the UK indicates that exchanges of experts must be seen as a positive two-way process, i.e. where both sides learn from each other inasmuch as national sector-based experts from the Member States are also able to benefit from working together in this way. Experience from Italy and Croatia shows that projects such as these, from which both sides benefit, can pave the way for further projects and encourage further cooperation;

36.

draws attention to the key importance of the lifelong learning and training programmes, which are designed to ensure that learning does not stop at each individual project but continues to develop and gain momentum, and notes that, as experience from Romania and elsewhere shows, cooperation in this field is vital to secure an effective and viable public sector;

37.

believes that a specific budget heading should be set aside for interpretation, and notes that, as experience from Estonia, Croatia and elsewhere shows, the planning and implementation of cross-border projects is hampered by lack of access to professional interpreting since stakeholders are unable to communicate in a way that is conducive to the success of the project and to mutual understanding;

38.

calls attention to the need for greater focus to be placed on project data as, in some cases, data have proved difficult to access and to be of variable quality; this in turn can have an adverse impact on project standards;

39.

feels that a strong administrative capacity at all levels of government is vital for the development of institutional reforms, and notes that such reforms risk being undermined if there are weaknesses in the administrative structure. In Croatia and Bosnia, for example, delays in the application of national legislation are having a negative impact on project implementation at local and regional level;

40.

notes therefore the need to focus on the potential challenges involved in securing proper interplay between EU rules and national legislation. In Serbia, for instance, inconsistencies between tendering rules can result in misunderstandings and delays in project implementation;

41.

points out the importance of securing a viable balance between support for the various areas. As experience of past enlargements shows, the development of the different sectors involved has varied considerably. While progress has been made in the aquis-based sectors that have been recognised as clear political priorities, in other sectors, very little has been done. This has resulted in a narrow focus on a small number of sectors, so that other key public-sector areas have been deprived both of resources and of the attention that is due them. For that reason, a whole range of initiatives have been introduced in these areas with undue haste and under enormous pressure of time and resources. This in turn has compromised any scope for achieving effective results;

42.

would stress, in the light of the experiences outlined above, that EU projects should be launched at an early stage of the process so that their implementation — and thus the sought-for results — do not suffer needlessly because of pressure of time;

43.

feels that a broader view must be taken of the political criteria in order to take due account of the balance and interplay needed between political criteria that are laid down by the EU and those that are adopted at other, national levels. Past experience with the Phare programme has shown that some of the support provided to meet the political criteria has proved ineffectual because of an overly narrow scope. The support has not adequately reflected the need to address the interplay between key areas such as public-sector reform, the development of civil society, good governance and the fight against corruption. Moreover the support has failed to reflect the key point that many facets of the political criteria cannot be put into practice without impacting on the economic criteria. It is thus important that the local and regional level is involved in setting priorities under the IPA so that support is determined on the basis of genuine need. The Committee therefore points out that, as experience from Croatia makes clear, problems may arise if the national development strategies fail to dovetail with the strategies of external donors;

44.

feels that, given the need for coordination between local, regional and central tiers, the local and regional level should be involved at an earlier stage in the process. Experience shows that, where coordination is lacking, a great many activities are launched from the central level that are not brought to bear at a later stage in resolving issues arising at the local and regional level. As a result, the potential of the activities and projects that are launched is not exploited to the full;

45.

thus recommends enhanced coordination between the central tier and local and regional authorities and would draw attention inter alia to the Croatian regions of Sisak-Moslavina, Slavonia, Osjecko-Baranjska, Lika-Senjand the cities of Varaždin and Karlovac, which are seeking greater involvement in the preparatory work for the operational programmes under the IPA. This will also help secure consistency between what is actually needed and any activities that are launched;

46.

proposes therefore that, as part of operative IPA programming, steps should be taken to encourage more input from elected local and regional authorities, as has happened in Croatia in relation to IPA component II (cross-border cooperation). The Committee of the Regions notes that it is local and regional authorities that have experience of — and are in touch with — local and regional requirements and are thus in a position to identify and help resolve the issues at hand. It is thus recommended that this approach be extended to other applicant countries and be expanded to include the other programme priorities.

31.3.2009   

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 76/54

—

notes that managing climate change is one of the most important political challenges facing local and regional authorities in the years ahead;

—

believes that to achieve the ambitious 2020 targets it is necessary to ensure that ICT-enabled solutions are readily available and also that they are fully deployed;

—

stresses that ICTs play an important role in implementing the EU's Sustainable Development Strategy. They exert a positive impact on development through new technological and commercial innovations and promote structural changes in the use of natural resources by utilising the most intelligent and cleanest processes;

—

highlights the fact that the vast potential of ICTs to improve energy efficiency boosts Europe's competitiveness and increases business opportunities at local and regional level;

—

points out that local and regional authorities have several instruments at their disposal which can help to exploit to the full the opportunities offered by ICT in managing climate change, such as for example responsibilities and powers in the fields of land-use planning, energy supply, construction and transport;

—

proposes that in connection with a European event on energy efficiency, an exhibition and competition could be held for local and regional authorities on the best energy efficiency projects using ICTs, and is prepared to participate in both the exhibition and the event itself; and that the Commission draw up a practical guide, together with the Committee of the Regions and other stakeholders, on how local and regional authorities can exploit ICTs in their climate change plans.

Rapporteur

:

Risto KOIVISTO (FI/PES), President of the Tampere Regional Council

1.

notes that in its recent opinions it has identified managing climate change as one of the most important political challenges facing local and regional authorities in the years ahead;

2.

supports the 2020 targets set by the Council to reduce emissions by 20 % compared to 1990 levels, to raise the share of renewable energies in overall EU energy consumption to 20 % and to achieve 20 % savings in EU energy consumption compared to projections;

3.

like the Commission, believes that to achieve the ambitious 2020 targets it is necessary to ensure that ICT-enabled solutions are readily available and also that they are fully deployed;

4.

reiterates its earlier stand that energy efficiency must be given priority in all European energy policy choices; is therefore pleased that the European Commission states in the communication that it wants to use ICTs to increase the efficiency of energy production, distribution and trade;

5.

having drawn special attention to the social and economic dimensions of ICT in its opinions on the Commission's recent i2010 initiatives, is pleased that the Commission now takes environmental aspects of the information society into account;

6.

stresses that ICTs play an important role in implementing the EU's Sustainable Development Strategy. They exert a positive impact on development through new technological and commercial innovations and promote structural changes in the use of natural resources by utilising the most intelligent and cleanest processes;

7.

highlights the fact that the vast potential of ICTs to improve energy efficiency boosts Europe's competitiveness and increases business opportunities at local and regional level.

8.

is convinced that the Commission has made the right choice in giving priority to cooperation with and input from urban communities in validating and testing ideas and feels that this is fully consistent with the Committee's previous comments on the i2010 strategy;

9.

believes that its precisely the local and regional level of administration which, because of practical needs, can come up with the most creative and innovative initiatives in support of the EU's i2010 strategy;

10.

points out that local and regional authorities have several instruments at their disposal which can help to exploit to the full the opportunities offered by ICT in managing climate change, such as for example responsibilities and powers in the fields of land-use planning, energy supply, construction and transport;

11.

notes that local and regional authorities already make extensive use of ICTs in many of their activities which have the effect of reducing energy consumption and emissions, such as for instance:

12.

endorses the Commission's proposal to give ICT companies the leading role at this stage in structural change aimed at reducing the ecological footprint of ICTs;

13.

also draws attention to the great opportunities ICTs offer local and regional authorities to increase productivity, improve their services and at the same time reduce energy consumption and emissions. However, frequently a precondition for being able to exploit these opportunities is wider structural reform in administrative practice, such as for example:

14.

states that Europe's local and regional authorities and their networks are happy to participate in the ICT consultation and partnership process relating to energy efficiency and to disseminate good practice;

15.

urges the Commission, in cooperation with the Member States, to devise appropriate funding models, which also take into account the needs of local and regional authorities, and to make energy efficiency in general and ICT-based solutions in particular a priority area for all sources of funding.

16.

feels that, despite the fact that several initiatives are already underway, transport should have been included in the communication as one of the areas of focus in the initial stage as it offers vast potential for energy savings and many opportunities for ICT applications and is crucial from the viewpoint of local and regional administration;

17.

agrees with the Commission that it is important to support the development of computers which consume less energy and also calls on the Commission to invest in the development of methods enabling the more effective recovery of heat energy generated in large computer rooms;

18.

in addition to the energy efficiency potential of ICTs highlighted by the Commission, draws attention to the major impact which the manufacture, transport and destruction of IT products has on the sector's ecological footprint and considers it important to try to influence this impact, both through voluntary agreements and, where necessary, through legislation;

19.

proposes the drawing up of general guidelines on the development of research on ICT-enabled energy efficiency, so that fragmented European, national and regional resources can be combined to better serve common goals;

20.

emphasises the importance of customer-driven research and believes that a precondition for its success is close cooperation between scientific research, ICT and other companies, energy producers, local and regional authorities and consumer organisations;

21.

in view of the major importance of local and regional authorities for energy efficiency, urges that they be given a key role in the EU's framework research programme and in similar national framework programmes and, above all, in the large-scale pilots for tracking the ecological footprint of ICTs referred to in the communication;

22.

is concerned that, despite the importance of the matter at hand, not enough has been invested in the roll-out of innovations in the form of mass market products and services, and notes that local and regional authorities, in addition to playing a pioneering role in exploiting innovations, can offer companies in the sector a positive economic environment;

23.

considers the lack of common standards to be a major problem from the viewpoint of market growth, especially in technology areas closely associated with local and regional administration, such as for example smart building control systems, lighting control and traffic systems. The lack of standards prevents technical interoperability, limits market competition and hampers public procurement;

24.

points out that the priority areas mentioned by the Commission lack standard measuring methods enabling local and regional authorities to evaluate the usefulness of different solutions;

25.

notes that distributed energy generation at local and regional level is appropriate from the point of view of electricity generation and security and offers an opportunity to combine different means of production. Therefore it warmly endorses the Commission's plan to increase the exchange of information and good practice in new ICT-based business models for distributed generation and to invest in related research and development;

26.

points out that the communication makes no mention of promoting green ICTs in public procurement and calls for the development of procedures which would make it easier than at present for local and regional authorities to give priority to energy efficiency in public procurement, especially in the pre-commercial procurement procedure, and to related ICT development;

27.

welcomes the Commission's remark in the communication that it expects close cooperation with the Committee of the Regions and proposes that:

28.

proposes that in its next communication on ICTs and the environment, due in spring 2009, the Commission:

29.

As already pointed out by the Committee on previous occasions, energy efficiency and increased use of renewable energy must be a key element of European energy policy. Stepping up investment in ICTs that boost energy efficiency enables local and regional authorities to manage climate change, to increase distributed energy generation and to reduce energy consumption and offers new business opportunities for local companies;

30.

The Committee attaches great importance to the Commission's plans to draw on the experience of urban communities in validating and testing ideas and to work together with them and existing networks of local and regional authorities. Because of their many roles (such as e.g. regulator, consumer, service provider, energy user and supplier, initiator, expert and provider of guidelines), local and regional authorities have many reasons to wholeheartedly support the full exploitation of ICT in efforts to increase energy efficiency. The Committee will endeavour to use all the means at its disposal to raise awareness of these opportunities among urban communities and networks of local and regional authorities and will encourage them to take part in the partnership process;

31.

The Committee hopes that the Commission will devote more effort to establishing standards in this field so that local and regional authorities have access to products with better interoperability. Standardisation and quality criteria also help to foster competition in the market and make it easier for authorities to purchase products which have a beneficial impact on energy efficiency;

32.

As part of their joint responsibility for the environment, local and regional authorities could, with the support of the EU and Member States, act as a pioneer and set examples for others by using ICTs to improve energy efficiency. This pioneering role would include establishing a new partnership with ICT companies and energy producers, making public buildings energy-smart, introducing smart lighting in public places and increasing energy efficiency in administration and service provision;

33.

The Committee proposes that in its next communication on this subject the European Commission could publish the EU's action plan for using ICT to promote sustainable development. The Committee believes that it is essential that the overall analysis also cover transport and that the action plan include an extensive e-strategy for reducing carbon dioxide emissions, quantitative sectoral targets for these emissions and measures to be taken by the EU and Members States to achieve these targets and, further, that it define indicators for monitoring progress.

31.3.2009   

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 76/58

—

stresses the fact that the prime purpose of supranational measures must be to generate European added value. In consequence, the Committee endorses the Commission's call to capitalise more on the diversity — based on common values — of school systems in Europe, with their many innovative and excellent practices

—

points out the need to keep in mind the varying degrees of decentralisation in different Member States. In many Member States, responsibility for schools lies with the local and regional authorities. It is important, therefore, to have effective political and administrative interaction between all tiers and that common policies are drawn up. The most successful way to improve schools is for local and regional authorities to be active partners in the process and take responsibility for the development of education in their areas

—

thinks that t should not be forgotten that education is acquired not only in school, but also in pre-school establishments and in everyday life outside of school — for example, in the family, in leisure activities with contemporaries, in digital environments or through the media. Those responsible for education or youth policy should endeavour to see the young people in their care in the round and consequently factor into their thinking — as far as possible — the extracurricular education processes and the influence that these have on school education and informal education.

—

notes that it is largely local and regional authorities that have — as far as they have been able — funded pre-school provision throughout Europe and continuously built up and improved it over many years. Nevertheless, now as in the past, many projects — such as promoting multilingualism in young children, especially in border regions — can only be launched with support from European programme funds. In such cases, the Committee thinks that European Union support measures should offer greater continuity to avoid good projects folding after only a few years due to lack of funding and the knowledge and experience acquired being lost. Continuing with these projects would require financial support from the EU.

—

hopes in this regard that the new Comenius Regio programme will give local and regional authorities greater scope to decide for themselves the priorities they would like to set in the support for projects.

—

offers the Commission its support in the cooperation it proposes. It reiterates that cooperation should consist above all in the direct pooling of experience between bodies responsible for education policy in the Member States.

Rapporteur

:

Ms Helma KUHN-THEIS (DE/EPP), Member of the Saarland Landtag

1.

welcomes the European Commission's Communication on Improving competences for the 21st century, which sets out important challenges facing education systems in Europe. It largely concurs with the Commission in its analysis of the difficulties and with the conclusions it reaches. In particular, it agrees entirely with the Commission's view that investing in young people — especially in the education sphere — should be the highest priority.

2.

would have found it helpful here if the Commission had sought to calculate the scale of the financial commitment for local and regional authorities that implementing its proposals would entail.

3.

takes the view that combating the problems examined by the Commission is in many respects already at the heart of efforts not only of Member States but also of local and regional authorities. For this reason, the Committee laments the Commission's failure to mention in its remarks the contribution that local and regional authorities — with their diverse responsibilities in the education sector and their detailed knowledge of the local and regional circumstances — are already making, to tackling the questions raised and the fact that they will continue to provide financial resources and expertise.

4.

does see a need, on the other hand, for further action, given the key role of education in economic growth and prosperity in Europe and the pre-eminent importance of schooling with regard to lifelong learning. For this reason, it supports in principle the proposal to strengthen European cooperation on schools.

5.

at the same time stresses the fact that the prime purpose of supranational measures must be to generate European added value. In consequence, the Committee endorses the Commission's call to capitalise more on the diversity — based on common values — of school systems in Europe, with their many innovative and excellent practices. This applies particularly to the approach put forward by the Commission of supporting bodies responsible for the form and substance of education systems — at local and regional as well as national levels — by facilitating the exchange of proven methods.

6.

points out the need to keep in mind the varying degrees of decentralisation in different Member States. In many Member States, responsibility for schools lies with the local and regional authorities. It is important, therefore, to have effective political and administrative interaction between all tiers and that common policies are drawn up. The most successful way to improve schools is for local and regional authorities to be active partners in the process and take responsibility for the development of education in their areas.

7.

thinks that the Communication's approach of focusing only on the structuring of European cooperation on schools is legitimate and viable. It should not be forgotten, however, that education is acquired not only in school, but also in pre-school establishments and in everyday life outside of school — for example, in the family, in leisure activities with contemporaries, in digital environments or through the media. Those responsible for education or youth policy should endeavour to see the young people in their care in the round and consequently factor into their thinking — as far as possible — the extracurricular education processes and the influence that these have on school education and informal education.

8.

underscores the Commission's observation that skills acquisition largely depends on the learners themselves, ‘by reflecting critically on their learning aims, managing their learning with self-discipline, working autonomously and collaboratively, seeking information and support when necessary, and using all the opportunities of information and communication technologies’ (see point 2.3). Therefore, in a society in which the capacity for lifelong learning is increasingly important, learning to learn and independent learning are absolutely essential and need to be encouraged as key skills.

9.

considers it important, for this reason, that schools have a coherent concept of education so that pupils understand how the education they receive is structured and what is expected of them. The learning of children and young adults should be marked by positive expectations, receptiveness, stimulation and direction.

10.

endorses the view that curricular reform should take a holistic and skills-oriented approach ‘involving teachers, learners and other actors fully’ (point 2.5), wobei besonders die Einbeziehung der Erziehungsberechtigten wichtig ist. High expectations should be set for the school system whilst recognising that schools also depend to a large extent on social circumstances. Two examples illustrate the point. Firstly, the school's efforts bear more fruit if the foundations of a positive attitude to learning have already been laid in the family and pre-school facilities. Secondly, as the end of schooling approaches, the signals sent by the economy and the labour market are also very important for young people's motivation to learn. For their part, schools can also sustain a new culture of citizenship by:

11.

agrees with the Commission that promoting reading skills is one of the school's core tasks. Many of the support strategies set forth by the Commission — especially regarding the school environment — are classic local and regional authority roles, including promoting the language skills of families and improving the literacy infrastructure. The equipping of schools, multimedia libraries and leisure facilities, which is mostly funded by regional and local authorities, is also an important factor in developing a positive attitude towards mathematics, information technology, natural sciences and technology (MINT subjects).

12.

stresses, in addition to the acquisition of reading and writing skills, the importance of developing ICT (e-literacy) skills as school. This is the best way of preparing children and young people for an independent life and enabling them to master modern information technologies, which bring additional added value for their personal development and that of society

13.

shares the Commission's view of the importance of individualised learning approaches and the purpose of assessment. Assessments should be formative and forward looking — in other words, they should be intended to shape further learning more effectively and more individually. In reality, however, they are often summative, that is to say definitive, and used only to grade pupils. Here the Committee still sees a considerable need for improvement in initial and in-service teacher training. European programmes to spread new knowledge can make a contribution here, especially if they can also reach trainee teachers and teachers who are receiving in-service training.

14.

regrets the wording in the third indent of the conclusion — ‘adopting a comprehensive approach to competence development, encompassing curricula, learning materials, teacher training …’ — since it fails to make clear that this is not a call for a harmonised approach across Europe, but an impetus to Member States and those within them who are responsible for education.

15.

sees a close connection between education designed to cultivate an entrepreneurial culture and spirit and the principle mentioned above whereby the overall aim is to foster the development of independent individuals who are prepared to act on their own initiative — not only in the economic sphere, but in their role as citizens who take responsibility for the community. Schools must therefore develop high quality learning for every student (Section 3), positioning themselves as educational communities from the cognitive, cultural and social point of view, and boosting not only education for knowledge, but also education for citizenship. Another important factor in this context is close cooperation with the local and regional world of work.

16.

unreservedly endorses the Commission's plea for better learning opportunities for pre-school children. It explicitly endorses the statement that ‘improving pre-school provision and widening access to it are potentially the most important contributions […] to improving opportunities for all and achieving Lisbon goals.’ It is in pre-school facilities that important foundations are laid for subsequent successful learning throughout the school career. This is not only true for children from disadvantaged groups; a good pre-school education benefits all. Children's attendance at pre-school facilities offers an initial opportunity for an approach to knowledge in which socio-educational steps, from the earliest years, lay down the foundations for positive attitudes towards social existence, commitment, learning and to involving families in their own children's education. The innovative teaching methods that are often adopted in pre-school facilities could be usefully applied, with appropriate changes, to the ensuing levels of education. However, the Committee warns that even the best possible provision at the pre-school stage does not absolve teachers in subsequent education from their responsibility to keep alive and further develop their pupils' joy of discovery and appetite for learning.

17.

notes that it is largely local and regional authorities that have — as far as they have been able — funded pre-school provision throughout Europe and continuously built up and improved it over many years. Nevertheless, now as in the past, many projects — such as promoting multilingualism in young children, especially in border regions — can only be launched with support from European programme funds. In such cases, the Committee thinks that European Union support measures should offer greater continuity to avoid good projects folding after only a few years due to lack of funding and the knowledge and experience acquired being lost. Continuing with these projects would require financial support from the EU.

18.

hopes in this regard that the new Comenius Regio programme will give local and regional authorities greater scope to decide for themselves the priorities they would like to set in the support for projects.

19.

backs the Commission in its call for greater fairness in the education system, but cannot endorse its sometimes too general pronouncements on the different solutions in place in the individual Member States, including the age at which children are sent to schools that issue qualitatively different school-leaving qualifications. A 2007 McKinsey study (1) shows that success in learning depends far more on the structure of education than how the school system is organised. For this reason, effort should be put into improving the quality of teacher training — as the Commission quite rightly says elsewhere in its communication (Section 4).

20.

considers it important that all the Member States strive for even greater equality of opportunity in access to schooling. The aim is for everyone to have access to high quality schooling and to ensure that social and economic inequalities do not play any considerable role.

21.

is aware that in many instances pupils from migrant backgrounds face very complex problems and therefore require particular attention. In this context it welcomes the Commission's Green Paper (2) on this matter on which the Committee of the Regions will soon draw up a separate opinion. Schools must be supported in the efforts they are making to integrate foreign pupils and their families, by providing intercultural education that ensures attention for all and respect for diversity. An understanding of the strong links between language and culture highlights the importance of language learning, covering both an aural and written knowledge of the host country language, as a means of communication and contact, and preserving the language of the country of origin, as a token of identity and respect and celebration of diversity.

22.

considers it a very important task of schools to support disadvantaged pupils, to bolster their self-confidence, to recognise their progress and to show them pathways to success that as far as possible match their individual circumstances and needs. However, it should also not be forgotten that very promising pupils with particular gifts and talents have just as much right to be stimulated, supported and challenged. That, too, is part of a fair school system. One of the most important and exacting tasks in teaching is to structure individual support for all pupils in a way that does not diminish social solidarity. The individual's sense of responsibility for the whole must be preserved.

23.

calls for a huge reinforcement of the importance of these curricular and extracurricular measures to bring down early school leaving. Local and regional authorities bear a large part of the responsibility in this matter and invest considerable resources. In this connection the Committee recognises that making resources available from the European structural fund is a great help, but would like to see local and regional authorities given more access to European support funds with the least possible red tape.

24.

on the question of ‘second chance’ schools, points out the importance of a second learning pathway not only for young people, but at all stages of life. All adults, though especially, of course, those who missed out on a lot as children and young adults, must still have opportunities for development.

25.

feels that the overall measures concerning education provision for pupils with special educational needs is inappropriate. Firstly, the individual needs of such children vary greatly; secondly, there are considerable differences between systems in the Member States for providing for special educational needs. It must be the general aim of education to give pupils with learning and adaptation difficulties prompt and flexible help irrespective of the type of school they attend. It is wrong, therefore, to judge the quality of special needs education solely on the kind of school attended. For many pupils it is only special needs schools that provide access to education. In particular, however, it is important for children who may have special educational needs that these are spotted and recognised as early as possible in their pre-school years so that support mechanisms can be activated. This would make the transition into school much easier for the children concerned and their families.

26.

stresses the importance of school development for the sustainability of the reforms introduced in the various education systems. As part of this, the role of school inspections — which should promote and support flexibility and innovation in schools — should also be examined. In line with this, the Committee urges the Commission to pursue with care any policy of coordination and coherence which could stifle the overall objectives of innovation and entrepreneurship at the school level if it becomes a vehicle for standardisation. The Committee thinks that school reform is a matter in which not only Member States but also local and regional authorities as well as schools themselves could benefit from pooling experience and recognises that European programmes, especially Comenius and the earlier ARION, have been and continue to be very useful in this regard.

27.

endorses the Council's view (3) that schools should become self-evaluating learning communities that set themselves new goals, committing to the educational policy of their local or regional authority, possible according to the constitutional provisions of the Member State, and playing a role in drawing up these policies. This includes improving continuous education and development provision for teachers. In this connection, the Committee welcomes schools and teachers cultivating good contacts with the local community. In its view, the regional and local tiers are crucially important for a school's sound development.

28.

agrees with the Commission that teachers are crucial to achieving the Lisbon goals. It feels that priority must be given to high-quality pedagogical and technical initial teacher-training that includes periods of teaching practice.

29.

calls for greater teacher mobility in initial and continuing education. It is reasonable to expect that teachers who have gained first-hand experience in other European countries will be able to bring alive to their pupils the diversity of Europe's traditions and cultures and bring them to recognise shared values.

30.

can think of other factors which should be taken into account in the initial and continuing education of teachers. Among these is the change in learning behaviour through use of the internet and the associated innovations. There thus needs to be a change in the image of teachers and how they see themselves. Flexibility is vital: teachers must be quick to recognise trends in education and engage with changes in the sector. Teachers, social and youth workers, and many others involved in teaching roles must work together and seek to understand each other's professional environment. Teamwork should be one of the pillars of initial and continuing education. Equally important are networking and cooperation with colleagues at other schools.

31.

also proposes to address the role of complementary and possibly semi-professional work. In many regions, for example, the role of learning coach has been created to tackle the individual needs of particular learners. There could be models here for other school systems to imitate.

32.

feels that the Commission's proposal for better recruitment is a question that needs attention. The Committee regards as a sound approach the targeted recruitment of qualified applicants — who would then be continuously supported in their education and career — as set out by the Commission in point 4.4 of the communication.

33.

agrees with the Commission that the demands placed on school managements have risen enormously. Local and regional authorities have recognised this and, in an attempt to attract competent individuals to the job, are endeavouring to make schools a more attractive workplace for school managers too.

34.

believes that it is important, as part of ongoing cooperation in this area, to conduct a general debate on the role and tasks of school leaders and the competences required of them. It is also important in this context to exchange experience on good practices in the recruitment of school leaders.

35.

offers the Commission its support in the cooperation it proposes. It reiterates that cooperation should consist above all in the direct pooling of experience between bodies responsible for education policy in the Member States. The Committee sees the real priority here to be the focus proposed by the Commission in its conclusion: improving literacy, extending access to pre-school provision and strengthening teacher education. It calls for more and easier ways of using EU funds to foster the transfer and testing of procedures that have proven their worth in local authorities and regions. The principle here, however, must be to take the greatest care in transposing models from one region to another — because of the different cultural and social context involved — and this should only be done on the basis of a conscious decision and with the express consent of those responsible at local level.

36.

thanks the Commission for the stimulating ideas in its communication and asks it to take note of these remarks as the discussion proceeds.