EUROPEAN UNION

Committee of the Regions

ALDE Group SecretariatCommittee of the Regions

Rue Belliard/Belliardstraat, 1011040 Bruxelles/Brussel

Tel: +32 2 282 2059alde@cor.europa.eu

LeaDeRsThe newsletter of Liberal and Democrat Regional and Local Politicians

Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for EuropeAlliance of Liberals and Democrats for EuropeAlliance des Démocrates et des Libéraux pour l'EuropeAlliance des Démocrates et des Libéraux pour l'Europe

OCTOBER 2012

With your intervention at the Open Days opening session in mind, what would you say is the role of the EU’s Cohesion Policy in helping European regions and cities recover from the fi nancial crisis?

The role of Cohesion Policy is to implement European policy and to make use of local and regional knowledge for the benefi t of the communities. Using cohesion policy can enhance the economic position of these communities by creating jobs and attracting investment. This underlines the very fact that it is local and regional levels that in the end create economy. On that level of government people know each other, institutions and organisations with the necessary know-how to implement European policy are already in place, thereby facilitating the delivery of tangible results. Cohesion policy is there to encourage the lesser developed regions of Europe by giving them a chance to push their weight in the internal market.

The ALDE-CoR Open Days seminar dealt with the role of fi nancial engineering instruments (FEIs) in delivering cohesion policy support. What benefi ts do the FEIs bring to the table in helping SMEs to be established and to grow?

First of all, these instruments have real potential to make cohesion policy more effi cient and sustainable. The instruments that are put into the market are in fact very close to the market itself, therefore acting exactly like other private fi nancial operators. All this is intended for the benefi t of small and medium-sized enterprises. The FEIs are deployed over the course of the full life-cycle of a SME – from conception, even pre-creation, at which state the private sector is not willing to engage, to more developed and later stages. These instruments are fi lling a gap that the commercial market has left in a vacuum.

With energy effi ciency and renewable energy being the key phrases in current EU policy-making, how would you describe the eff orts made in this respect by Local and Regional Authorities, in general and the City of Delft, in particular?

Local and regional authorities are working hard on making their communities more energy effi cient. All over Europe we can see new initiatives that aim to provide sustainable energy. In fact the ALDE delegation witnessed green economy in action on the Danish island of Bornholm during our annual seminar. Inhabitants, consumers and SMEs had their own means of generating energy with the aim of running their households in a sustainable manner. As to the City of Delft, a successful initiative that the city has developed is the

A few words with the ALDE-CoR President

Croatian Minister presents ambitious plans at ALDE Group Meeting in Poreč, Croatia 2

All about jobs - ALDE activity at the October 2012 plenary session of the Committee of the Regions 3

“Putting your money where your mouth is” - ALDE Open Days seminar on fi nancial engineering instruments 3

Joint seminar with the United Democrats on the reunifi cation of Cyprus held in Nicosia 4

ALDE-CoR member Zsuzsa Breier (ALDE/DE) welcomes the ECOS Commission in Frankfurt for a visit to the European Central Bank 4

Simone Beissel (ALDE/LU) assumes her position as ECOS Commission President 5

Roland Werner (ALDE/DE) presents CoR opinion in European Parliament TRAN committee 5

Simone Beissel chairs the workshop with the EER regions 6

Graham Garvie (ALDE/UK) panellist in Open Days conference on Community Led Local Development (CLLD) 6

Rogier Van Der Sande (ALDE/NL) participates in the Conference Partnering for the Bioeconomy in European Regions 6

New ALDE-CoR members 7

Upcoming ALDE activities 8

Ongoing and upcoming ALDE opinions 8

IN THIS ISSUE A few words with the ALDE-CoR President

ALDE-CoR President Bas Verkerk

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Croatia is small and beautiful. We hope that, with time, people will say that it is a small, beautiful and wise country.” Mr Vrdoljak was the keynote speaker at the Group Meeting of the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe in the Committee of the Regions, which took place on 19 October in the City of Poreč in the Croatian Region of Istria. The event was held at the invitation of Ivan Jakovčić Head of the Istrian Government, and Party Leader of the Istrian Democratic Assembly, who pointed out that “EU Accession for Croatia has taken longer than it did for other Member States. With that in mind, we ask our fellow Europeans to help us complete the accession process successfully.”

The ALDE meeting focussed on the role of tourism as a driver for growth and jobs. Seeing as Croatia is placed among the top ten countries in Europe when it comes to protected cultural heritage, tourism occupies an important position in the country’s economy by not only contributing towards the GDP but also moulding the image of Croatia for the rest of Europe. The question of funding various cultural projects was discussed at length. Doris Ansari, First Vice President of the ALDE group in the CoR, drew attention to the potential of EU funds when used wisely, especially when it comes to helping to revitalise sectors that are lagging behind.

Croatian Minister presents ambitious plans at ALDE Group Meeting in Poreč, Croatia

From left to right: Ivan Jakovčić Head of the Istrian Government, and Party Leader of the Istrian Democratic Assembly, Ivan Vrdoljak, Croatian Minister of Construction and Physical

Planning, Doris Ansari, First Vice President of the ALDE group in the CoR, Edi Štifanić, Mayor of the City of Poreč and Berislav Šipuš, Croatian Deputy Minister of Culture.

Speaking about the role of Croatia as a future Member State of the European Union, Ivan Vrdoljak, Croatian Minister of Construction and Physical Planning, announced that “we [Croatians] aspire to be net contributors, not only benefi ciaries. Everyone says

provision of a subsidy for placing solar panels on the roofs of residential houses and providing geothermal energy to SMEs. Additionally, Delft is also very active in implementing a policy banning large vehicles in the city centre as well as advising citizens on implementing energy and environment-friendly measures in household.

Could you please highlight a particular opinion that the CoR approved during its 97th plenary session and that, in your opinion, will have an important role to play in moulding EU legislation?

The highlight was certainly the opinion on the Multiannual Financial Framework, most importantly because it is crucial for the benefi t of millions of Europeans. Its importance is three-fold:

− A decision on the actual amount of the budget is needed as soon as possible and this opinion attempts to make a positive contribution to the debate;

− It is important that LRAs have a say in how this money will be spent. Structural funds are imperative if we are to enhance the economy and in this respect LRAs, being closest to the citizens and to the labour market, are well placed to contribute to the decision-making;

− The MFF should also determine the sector most deserving of investment. In this respect the right choice would be to opt for strengthening knowledge-driven economy, for it is an opportunity for Europe to remain competitive.

What impact has the ALDE group had at this CoR plenary?

I want to highlight Paul O’Donoghue’s (IE/ALDE) opinion which calls for a more integrated strategy for the Atlantic region to stimulate economic growth and to create jobs. I would also like to highlight Luciano Caveri’s (IT/ALDE) opinion on Regional-specifi c approaches to climate change in the EU. Both of these show the ALDE group’s continued eff orts to create jobs and tackle the challenges of this century.

You will be hosting a seminar at the ELDR Party congress in Dublin on 10 November with the title: “How much economic growth and security can the energy transition provide?” What is your own view on this matter?

The European liberals have made the energy transition a priority throughout 2012. In a few weeks time we will be gathering at our annual congress in Dublin to agree a road map for the energy transition. Imagine what it would do for our energy independence, for the climate, and for our national budgets, if we could dramatically reduce the imports of fossil fuels because millions of our citizens were participating in generating clean energy!

Structural funds play a key role in facilitating this transition to a carbon-free economy. And it is not exaggerated to say that Cohesion policy is one of the most powerful instruments available to accelerate this transition and to achieve the EU’s energy and climate objectives. The potential is enormous and our seminar in Dublin will enlighten us further on this matter.

OCTOBER 2012

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that are in store.” These tasks will not only protect these regions but also create new jobs and economic activity, and as well as improving energy effi ciency of buildings and promoting renewable energy micro-generation, they include reactivating local food chains, reinforcing ICT networks, developing agri-tourism, and investing in civil protection.

“Putting your money where your mouth is” - ALDE Open Days seminar on fi nancial engineering instruments

The ALDE Open Days seminar titled “Putting your money where your mouth is: Do Financial Engineering Instruments really work?” addressed the role of FEIs in helping business creation and growth of SMEs in the post-2014 structural funds programme and called for an investment-led approach replacing to a great extent the grand regimes of the past. In the next programming period FEIs will be set up as equity or loan funds to help SMEs to be established and to grow. This seminar was aimed at preparing stakeholders for the new programme and learning from past experiences is an invaluable part of this process. For those regions which already have FEIs it off ered a great opportunity to gain best practices and look at pitfalls.

The conclusion of the workshop was that the key to successfully managing loan funds is to have fund managers that have local know-how and are therefore capable of implementing EU tools according to local needs. “It should be a requirement that the Investment Board get out on the street and talk with people who need the money,” said panelist Flo Clucas (Former ALDE-CoR

Doreen Huddart, Member of Newcastle City Council and a Member of the Committee of the Regions, followed suit by addressing the development of culture through public private funding partnerships. By using Newcastle as an example, she demonstrated how the cultural revival of a city can also benefi t the surrounding region and not only the city.

The role of tourism as a driver of growth and jobs was exemplifi ed by study visits to two projects fi nanced by EU funds. The PARENZANA projects reshaped an old railway line into a bicycle path, which in turn has opened up opportunities for tourism-based businesses inland from the coast and established long-term cross-border cooperation. Project R.E.D.D. H.I.L.L. aims to set up tourist infrastructure in Završje, supporting the establishment of a modern and innovative choice of tourist and cultural attractions in a hamlet with a derelict castle. This is done in preparation for a Structural Funds project.

Other speakers included: Edi Štifanić, Mayor of the City of Poreč, Oriano Otočan, Head of Department for International Cooperation and European integration of the Region of Istria and Berislav Šipuš, Croatian Deputy Minister of Culture.

The meeting was attended by 27 ALDE members and alternate members.

All about jobs - ALDE activity at the October 2012 plenary session of the Committee of the Regions

In the context of the 10th anniversary of the Open Days in conjunction with the October plenary session, the ALDE group in the Committee of the Regions focussed on two big challenges that Europe currently faces – economic growth and climate change.

The CoR unanimously endorsed the Maritime Strategy as part of the elaboration of the 2014-

2020 Atlantic Action Plan, though argued that the Strategy must re-position the Atlantic Area as a central part in the functioning of the global economy in that it is the western gateway to the European Union. The rapporteur, Paul O’Donoghue (IE/ALDE) calls for a more integrated strategy for the Atlantic region to stimulate economic growth and to create jobs.

In his opinion, on Regional-specifi c approaches to climate change in the EU, adopted unanimously, Luciano Caveri (IT/ALDE) listed a set of tasks needed to mitigate climate change in mountainous regions. The rapporteur pointed out that “mountainous regions are extremely vulnerable to climate change – they can be an advance warning for the changes

Paul O’Donoghue

Luciano Caveri

LeaDeRs The newsletter of Liberal Democrat Regional and Local Politicians OCTOBER 2012

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President, Current Advisor to the Mayor of Liverpool and Chair of the Mayoral Commission on EU Aff airs).

The seminar was chaired by ALDE-CoR President Bas Verkerk. Other speakers included Bruno Robino, Head of Region –

Southern Countries, Regional Business Development, European Investment Fund and Petty Attridge, Investment Director at SPARK Ventures, UK.

the public and to deliberate on how the benefi ts of reunifi cation could be reaped by the whole of Cyprus.

Drawing on examples of unifi cation processes in Europe, the President of the ALDE-CoR group, Mr Bas Verkerk, pointed out that the economy of Cyprus could benefi t from more economic integration in a similar way as the EU as a whole has benefi ted from the single market. Unifi cation is the political decision needed to allow economic integration in Cyprus which will yield growth and prosperity.

Dr. Mehmet Çakici, Leader of TDP, the Turkish Cypriot Social Democrats Party addressed the losses incurred by the political and economical divisions between the two communities. In her address, Praxoula Antoniadou Kyriacou, President of the United Democrats, emphasised that the Cyprus Presidency of the EU concerns all the Cypriots and that it can be utilised towards the reunifi cation of the country. The liberals being the only political force in Cyprus - at least within the Greek Cypriot community - that continue to be focused on reunifi cation and on the growth opportunities that this could bring to all the Cypriots as well as to Turkey and Greece, attention was drawn to energy as an opportunity to make or break the Eastern Mediterranean – Cyprus needs responsible leaders to treat the energy factor as an opportunity for peace-making. In this regard the EU was called upon to apply Collective European Leadership towards the attainment of the Reunifi cation of Cyprus.

ALDE-CoR member Zsuzsa Breier (ALDE/DE) welcomes the ECOS Commission in Frankfurt for a visit to the European Central Bank

Joint seminar with the United Democrats on the reunifi cation of Cyprus held in Nicosia

From left to right: Bas Verkerk, Dr. Mehmet Çakici and Praxoula Antoniadou Kyriacou

The ALDE group in the CoR and the United Democrats Party of Cyprus held a joint event in Nicosia on 6 September in the Headquarters of the United Democrats.

The topics discussed during the event were The relaunch of the economy in Europe: how the reunifi cation of Cyprus can contribute to a stronger economy and How reunifi cation of Cyprus can help the country out of the economic crisis. “Working Towards a Better Europe” being the topical theme of the Cypriot EU Presidency, this event served to open up the debate to

ECOS commission delegation at the ECB study visit

OCTOBER 2012

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Simone Beissel assumes her position as ECOS Commission President

On 19 September Simone Beissel, Municipal Councillor of the City of Luxembourg (ALDE/LU), took over from Arnoldas Abramavicius (EPP/Lithuania) the chairmanship of the Committee of the Regions Commission for Economic and Social Policy for the second-half of the current CoR mandate.

Ms Beissel has outlined her priorities as the new chair of

the ECOS commission as follows. Tackling of the consequences of the fi nancial, economic and social crisis at the local and regional level remains the key concern for the Commission for Economic and Social Policy. This means that the ECOS Commission will actively contribute to European policy-making aiming at creating sustainable jobs, addressing youth unemployment, and protecting the vulnerable from falling into poverty while managing public debt to achieve sustainable budgetary balances.

At the invitation of ALDE member Zsuzsa Breier (ALDE/DE) the ECOS Commission delegation attended a study visit in Frankfurt on 12 September.

Financial market innovation and regulation and the eff ects of the fi nancial crisis all impact profoundly on local and regional authorities. For this reason the study-visit aimed to bring together ECOS Commission members and representatives from the European central fi nancial market institutions, research institutes

and market actors, familiarising them with the mechanisms aimed at combating and preventing crises. The ECOS delegation visited the European Central Bank during the course of which the following topics were addressed: Euro bailout / public debt crisis / European Systemic Risk Board. The ECOS members also visited the German Stock Exchange (Deutsche Börse AG).

The study visit was attended by three ALDE members: Simone Beissel (LU), Satu Tietari (FI) and Toomas Vitsut (EE).

Roland Werner (ALDE/DE) presents CoR opinion in European Parliament TRAN committee

Roland Werner

Two of the three regulations in the “airport” package - on ground handling services and noise-related operating restrictions - were up for discussion at the European Parliament on 18 September. The CoR’s rapporteur, Roland Werner, member of the COTER commission welcomed the legislative proposal by saying that “in our view, this is a balanced proposal which will help to stimulate growth. Liberalising this sector will improve quality and choice for users and we are therefore wholly in favour of it”. However, he also stressed the importance of taking account of local specifi cs and establishing transitional arrangements to enable airports to make the necessary changes gradually, in accordance with their size. On the other hand, Mr Werner expressed strong reservations about the proposal to give the European Commission mandatory powers to intervene at local level.

In connection with the second regulation, Mr Werner noted that, “the CoR is, purely and simply, proposing the deletion of Article 10, insofar as it gives the European Commission the right of scrutiny and fi nal decision-making power over local authorities concerning the introduction of noise restrictions.”

Simone Beissel

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Simone Beissel chairs the workshop with the EER regionsIn the context of the Open Days, Ms Simone Beissel chaired the closing session of the workshop with the EER regions (European Entrepreneurial Regions) on 10 October titled “EER hands-on experience: Promoting young entrepreneurship in European entrepreneurial regions”. The workshop aimed to demonstrate the progress made in the implementation of the EER action plan related measures with regard to the promotion of entrepreneurship, especially for young people. The EER jury members and the fl oor were encouraged to discuss possible next steps for the further promotion of this subject at regional and local level. In her closing remarks Ms Beissel emphasised the need to reinforce entrepreneurship as a precondition for sustainable growth in European regions and cities. She pointed out that the Small Business Act and the EU’s entrepreneurship agenda could be critical in this respect.

Graham Garvie (ALDE/UK) panellist in Open Days conference on Community Led Local Development (CLLD)

Graham Garvie

Graham Garvie, Member of Scottish Borders Council and CoR rapporteur on the COTER commission own-initiative opinion on Community Led Local Development (CLLD), was the keynote speaker at Open Days workshop titled “Local development as a key pillar of EU integrated territorial development policies 2014-2020”.

The inter-disciplinary workshop aimed at bringing together EU officials, elected representatives and practitioners to jointly examine the case of Community-Led Local Development. Crucially, the 100 elected members from the Erasmus Programme for Local and Regional Elected Representatives were in attendance. CLLD draws from the experience of the LEADER Programme for Rural Development, the European Fisheries Fund, as well as URBACT, EQUAL, URBAN and other initiatives so that in the future local communities can

develop and implement Local Development Strategies.In his intervention, Mr Garvie elaborated on the role of CLLD as the only provision of the new General Regulation governing the new EU Regional, Rural and Maritime funds for 2014-2020 that specifi cally brings together all these very diff erent funds.

Rogier Van Der Sande (ALDE/NL) participates in the Conference Partnering for the Bioeconomy in European Regions

Rogier Van Der Sande, in his capacity as the CoR rapporteur on Innovating for sustainable growth: A bioeconomy for Europe, participated as a speaker in the fi rst session of the Conference Partnering for the Bioeconomy in European Regions titled Research and Innovation in the Bioeconomy which took place on the fringes of the Open Days on 12 October. The conference aimed at fostering the active role of regions for the implementation of the bioeconomy strategy throughout Europe. The event off ered a discussion platform providing information and highlighting opportunities for regional stakeholders concerning local initiatives and investment possibilities in the bioeconomy research and innovation areas.

In his intervention Mr Van Der Sande emphasised that bioeconomy is fi rst and foremost about growth and jobs; a piece of the puzzle in creating a more sustainable future where natural resources are used in the most effi cient way. He further elaborated that the transition towards a bioeconomy would help Europe to discover renewable resources, both with regard to energy as well as raw materials. The sustainable production and exploitation of the bioeconomy would lead Europe to produce more with less, and at the same time limit the negative impact on the environment. Mr Van Der Sande suggested that Local and Regional Authorities could facilitate the mapping and availability of documented best practices of regions that are successful in planning and implementing of several aspects of the bioeconomy.

OCTOBER 2012

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New ALDE members

Full members:Mr Cristian Mihai ADOMNITEI (President of Iaşi County Council, Romania)

Mr Emilian OPREA (Mayor of Chitila town, Ilfov County, Constanţa County, Romania)

Ms Jasna GABRIČ (Deputy mayor of Trbovlje, Slovenia)

Dr Zsuzsa BREIER (Staatssekretärin für Europaangelegenheiten, Germany)

Mr Madzhid MANDADZHA (Mayor, Municipality of Stambolovo, Bulgaria)

Mr Audrius BIELSKUS (Member of Kazlų Rūda Municipal Council, Lithuania)

Alternate members:Mr Nida AHMEDOV (Mayor, Municipality of Kaolinovo, Bulgaria)

Ms Sebihan MEHMED (Mayor, Municipality of Krumovgrad, Bulgaria)

Mr Andrei Ioan CHILIMAN (Mayor of District 1 – Bucharest, Romania)

Mr Marian PETRACHE (President of Ilfov County Council, Romania)

Ms Veronica DIACONU (Local Councillor, Gorgota commune Local Council, Prahova County, Romania)

Mr Leoluca ORLANDO (Sindaco del Comune di Palermo, Italy)

Mr Vincas KAPOČIUS (Mayor and member of the municipal council of Trakai, Lithuania)

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10 November - ALDE will be participating in the ELDR congress held in Dublin, Ireland on 8-10 November. ALDE-CoR will be holding a lunch debate titled “How much economic growth and security can the energy transition provide?” as part of the discussions leading to the ELDR theme resolution. The debate will be chaired by ALDE-CoR President Bas Verkerk. Speakers will include Mihail Kasyanov - Leader of People’s Democratic Union, former Prime Minister of Russia, Marc Guerrero - Vice-President of ELDR and

Representative of the Government of Catalonia and Piet de Vey Mestdagh - Member of the Executive Council of the Province of Groningen, Member of the Committee of the Regions.

On 18 December the ceremony of the LeaDeR Awards (Liberal Democrat Regional and Local Politicians Awards) will be taking place in the Jacques Delors Building of the Committee of the Regions. ELDR President Sir Graham Watson will be handing out the awards together with the ALDE-CoR President Bas Verkerk.

Upcoming ALDE activities

Opinion on the European Innovation Partnership ‘Agricultural Produc–tivity and Sustainability’ by Anne BLIEK-DE JONG (Member of the Executive Council of the Province of Flevoland, NL) Adoption at CoR plenary 29-30 November 2012 Opinion on Innovating for sustainable growth: A bioeconomy for Europe by

Rogier VAN DER SANDE (Member of the Executive Council of the Province of Zuid-Holland, NL) Adoption at CoR plenary 29-30 November 2012 Opinion on Community-Led Local Development by Graham GARVIE (Member of Scottish Borders Council, UK) Adoption at CoR plenary 29-30 November 2012

Opinion on the Statute and funding of European Political Parties and Political Foundations by István SÉRTŐ -RADICS (Mayor of Uszka) Adoption at CoR plenary in February 2013

Ongoing and upcoming ALDE opinions