EUROPEAN UNION Committee of the Regions Summit in Athens European Recovery: Local Solutions

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1 ISSN EUROPEAN UNION Cmittee of t R t Es of a l p Summit in Atns European Recovery: L Solutis We ctribute to sustainable a urban developme in t EU, ierview with Werner Hoyer, pside of t EIB Mid-term view of t Europe 2020 stregy Nº 86 JANUARY-FEBRUARY 2014

2 TABLE OF CONTENTS 1 Editori Dit siety chleng to be tackled in t near futu 10 Espoo Innovi Garden Lced project ady for glob outach 18 Rapporteurs have tir say 11 Rource efficie Europe flagship initie 22 Brief a Ev Ierview with Werner Hoyer, pside of t European Invtme Bank 4 Ioannis Sgouros: A strg Europe a Europe of s a citi 6 A Psidency of hope 7 12 T chleng of t Youth t Move flagship initie 13 Iustry is t nchpin of Europe s ecic covery 14 T Agea for w Skills a Jobs in t R 15 Help for si disadvaaged a disabled people is a priority for t Brislava Re 24 European Electis 2014 Former Cmittee meers dre policy t European Parliamen Speci Feu: Summit in Atns Europe 2020 Stregy mid-term view Ierview with Micl Delebar, chairman of t CoR s Europe 2020 Plform 16 Policy Anysis Europe 2020: Mid-term sults, expectis a policy cmeis R & Citi of Europe N 86 Dictor of Publici: Lau Thieule Editor-in-Chief: Branislav Stanicek Cmittee of t R Cmunici, Pss a Ev Dictore Rue Belliard/Belliardstra Bruxell/Brusl BELGIQUE/BELGIË Tel Fax R & Citi of Europe is a magazine of t Cmittee of t R, publisd by t Cmunici, Pss a Ev Dictore. T cte of this magazine do not necsari flect t opinis of t European Uni institutis. itr t institutis/bodi of t European Uni, nor any pers acting tir behf, can be ld spsible for any misu of t informi provided. European Uni, 2014 Pried in Belum Reactis/cm: saciti@cor.europa.eu

3 Nº 86 JANUARY-FEBRUARY 2014 EDITORIAL Summit in Atns is taking place a historic me for t futu of Europe THE 7 AND 8 MARCH 2014 REPRESENT ANOTHER HISTORIC MOMENT FOR THE COMMITTEE OF THE REGIONS. THE 6 TH EUROPEAN SUMMIT OF REGIONS AND CITIES WILL TAKE PLACE IN ATHENS AT A KEY POLITICAL JUNCTURE FOR THE FUTURE OF EUROPE. THE SUMMIT WILL BE HELD SOME WEEKS BEFORE THE NEW ELECTIONS TO THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND CONSEQUENTLY A NEW COLLEGE OF COMMISSIONERS WILL BE APPOINTED. FURTHERMORE, THE SUMMIT WILL BE ORGANISED ON THE EVE OF THE SPRING EUROPEAN COUNCIL, WHICH IS USUALLY DEVOTED TO THE ES ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL AFFAIRS. Ramón Luis Vcárcel Siso (ES/EPP), Pside of t Cmittee of t R For th, t object of t summit a to take stk of t ecic covery of s a citi a t progss of t European job ci stregy, a to debe t futu of t Uni. In particular, t aim of t first summit ssi is to ctribute to t ssme of Europe s stregy for growth a jobs a l a perspecte, including t specific ccerns politic level in Gece. T co summit ssi, with t high-level debe about t futu of Europe, will ctribute to t EU discour by addssing t subject of public opini in Gece a in t st of Europe. I welce t fact th t Cmittee can cou t substai support of t Gek Dele a in particular t pside of t Re of Attica. I am pers cvinced th we have to explain why mo Europe is t soluti a why its supporters a bt placed to offer solutis to t cur difficult situi. Specific sts will be taken to guaraee t link with t -going politic a sio-ecic deb in Gece a to ge a broad, public visibility to t outce of t summit. Once t Atns Declari is adopted, t Cmittee of t R will p its cmeis for viewing t Europe 2020 stregy to t European Council Pside. This meeting will take place a few days aad of t Spring European Council of March T debe with Pside Herman Van Rpuy will low t CoR s leadership to p t Atns Summit proposs a clarify in wh ways t Europe 2020 Stregy s overl architectu can be vid in order for Europe s sustainable, smart a incluse growth stregy to better deler sults in Europe s s a citi. In particular, t Cmittee of t R would like to e t multi-level governance a ownership of t stregy stngtned. T tmic fus a financing of t Stregy will so be discusd. Fin, following a ri of ven cfenc ld throughout 2013, t Cmittee will p its ssme of t added vue of t Europe 2020 Flagships a a collecti of bt practic for meeting Europe 2020 targets t a l level. Clear, it is ady a succs th t Cmittee h managed to persuade t European Council Pside to put t visi of Europe 2020 stregy t top of t European Council agea. Once EU leaders have provided strec politic dicti to how t Stregy will need to be vid, our Cmittee will furtr stngtn its cooperi with t European Cmissi in order to ensu its vie a flected in t Cmissi s eveu proposs t view. This cooperi will of cour ctinue with t new European Cmissi, but so with t European Parliame a t Council after t May 2014 European Parliame electis. Lt but not let, t Cmittee of t R h so proven th it is an instituti clo to tho who believe in t European project. For many people in Ukraine, European iegri is mo than a piece of paper: it ps a visi for t futu brinng to Ukrainians a prospect of stability, peace, demracy, solidarity a spect for human rights a fuame feds. For th, I aded a dele of p of l t CoR politic groups to carry out a fact-fiing missi a to make ctacts with Ukrainians who had been demstring since Noveer to dema clor ti with t EU. We so met with t Ukrainian meers of t Cfence of t Re a L Authoriti for t Etern Partnership (CORLEAP) well p of Ukrainian s a citi siis to expss support to t Ukrainian l a authoriti who wish to deen partnership with tir couerparts t European Uni. As t critic ev in Ukraine unfold, we need to ke open l channels l levels of governme for diogue, including l a authoriti, encourang t cer governme to achieve its declad objecte of European iegri a itering th t EU-Ukraine Assii Ageme is still possible. If t right coitis a in place, we ctinue to believe th t Ageme would provide t bt possible foui for a fe, modern, prosperous a demric Ukraine. REGIONS AND CITIES OF EUROPE 1

4 INTERVIEW Werner Hoyer, pside of t European Invtme Bank We ctribute to sustainable a urban developme in t EU WE MET WERNER HOYER, PRESIDENT OF THE EUROPEAN INVESTMENT BANK (EIB), TO TALK ABOUT THE CURRENT CHALLENGES AND THE WAYS IN WHICH THE EIB IS SUPPORTING ECONOMIC RECOVERY IN OUR CITIES AND REGIONS. PRESIDENT HOYER STRESSED THAT THE EIB, AS THE EUROPEAN UNION S NON-PROFIT LONG-TERM LENDING INSTITU- TION ESTABLISHED IN 1958 UNDER THE TREATY OF ROME, WAS A POLICY-DRIVEN BANK WHOSE SHAREHOLDERS WERE THE ES MEMBER STATES. AS A TRULY EU BANK, IT USES ITS FINANCING OPERATIONS TO BRING ABOUT EUROPEAN INTEGRATION AND SOCIAL COHESION. IN 2013, AS A RESULT OF THE CAPITAL INJECTION BY MEMBER STATES, THE EIB STEPPED UP ITS LENDING ACTIVITIES BY AROUND 40% TO NEARLY EUR 70 BILLION IN SUPPORT OF ECONOMIC GROWTH AND JOB CREATION IN EUROPE. THE EIB AS AN INTEGRAL PART OF THE EUROPEAN CRISIS RESPONSE WILL ALSO CONTINUE ON ITS COUNTER-CYCLICAL AND GROWTH-ENHANCING COURSE. Wh a t European Invtme Bank s prioriti in supporting ecic covery a job ci? Let me first highlight t fact th t European Invtme Bank, which is an EU Bank, made a delibere U-turn in 2013 by moving a pro-cyclic to a clear couer-cyclic cour in order to lp overce t crisis in Europe. This w made possible by our shaholders, t 28 EU Meer St, which decided to substai stngtn our capit ba by paying in an extra EUR 10 billi new capit th we ud to boost our financing operis. As a sult of t capit injecti, we stped up our leing actiti in 2013 by arou 40% to near EUR 70 billi in support of ecic growth a job ci in Europe. In particular, we cud accs to lg-term financing for sml a medium-sized busins. As an additi sp to t crisis, we expaed our toolkit a rolled out se bra new, most guaraeeorieed products such t first Trade Finance Facility in Gece a t Project Bo Initie. After most two years of csi, we a now eing signs of covery in Europe. But we should not be cplace. T cquenc of t crisis a like to ctinue to cstrain ecic growth for se time. Thus t EIB, an iegr part of t European crisis sp, will ctinue its couer-cyclic a growth-enhancing cour. This year we expect leing to ce again ach most EUR 70 billi. In 2013, t EIB made a delibere U-turn by moving a pryclic to a clear couer-cyclic cour in order to lp overce t crisis in Europe. But we so have to start looking beyo t cur crisis. On a pers note, I believe th invtme in arch, developme a innovi mains t cornerste for growth in Europe. Europe s futu weth will de how succsful we a innovors, which means how quick we cvert ide io products a rvic. This is w we need to st up our efforts, a t EU Bank, with its lg history of supporting R&D a innovi in Europe, is ady to do so. How is t EIB lping s a citi to corct si a ecic ianc? Ecic a Si Cosi is e of t EIB s primary leing object. In ce years we have incad our involveme a cooperi with t European Cmissi, ng particular emphis to Cosi Policy in t programming period. By cplemeing EU gras through t provisi of loans, structud finance, a financi a technic advisory rvic, we ctribute to sustainable a urban developme in t EU. A key instrume in support of EU Cosi Policy is t Structur Programme Loan (SPL), which co-financ priority invtm with EU Structur Fus in Meer St a s. In particular, we a lping tho Meer St subject to ve austerity meus, such Gece, by providing enhanced technic sistance. This significa improv t implemei of projects t grou, making SPL an importa instrume to coueract t crisis. Building t Structur Programme Loan portfolio of over EUR 19 billi to de (in li to t programming period), we have approved 29 ni a SPL operis in ce years. Let me emphi th this EUR 19 billi in leing h ctributed to t implemei of invtme programm supported by EU gras with a tot project cost of EUR 195 billi. T succs a, ieed, t necsity of t Structur Programme Loans a furtr demstred by t high dema t Meer St in t financing period. 2 t Es of a l p

5 Nº 86 JANUARY-FEBRUARY 2014 Werner Hoyer h been pside of t European Invtme Bank a chairman of its board of dictors since January Prior to this appoime, Werner Hoyer w a meer of t Butag for mo than 20 years. Fr 2009 to 2011, rved t German Foign Office Minister of Ste (duty minister) spsible for politic a curity affairs, European affairs, United Nis a arms ctrol a w so cmissier for Franco-German cooperi. Dr Hoyer had pvious ld t positi of duty foign minister a Minister for EU affairs 1994 to He is a lgstaing meer of Germany s Fe Demric Party (FDP) a various tim h rved its duty chairman a foign affairs spokman, curity policy spokman a whip. He h ld t positi of pside of t European Liber Demric Reform Party (ELDR) in Brusls. Prior to his politic caer, Werner Hoyer cupied a nuer of academic posts. He w dictor of t ecics a informi dartme t Carl Duisberg Siety a sie lectur a nior arch sista t Unersity of Cologne, w obtained a dtore in ecics. Furtrmo, t Bank supports t Territori a Urban Agea by financing programm a projects a municip level. We have approved over 300 operis ping se EUR 55 billi for This h ctributed to a tot invtme of EUR 175 billi. T capacity to finance both large a sml invtm, often cplex multi-ctor invtme projects, a lg-term a cpetite bis, lo us to app an iegred a thus high efficie approach to meeting t needs of t Es citi a s. One of t key issu in many s is youth unemployme. A t any specific tools to tackle this issue? In Ju 2013 we launcd a dediced youth employme scme cled Skills a Jobs Invting for Youth. This scme aims to cpleme t Es Youth Employme Initie notab its main instrume, t Youth Guaraee well initi Meer Ste a level. T scme h two pillars: t Invtme in Skills cpe addss job-led skills gaps a mismcs a fus invtme in training. T Jobs for Youth cpe is aimed t cruitme of young people by SMEs by providing cpani with better accs to finance. In just six mths t EIB provided loans of most EUR 9.1 billi to tackle youth unemployme. This is a major succs. I am very proud to tell you th t initi cmitme of EUR 6 billi for 2013 w significa exceeded. In just six mths t EU Bank provided most EUR 9.1 billi in loans to tackle youth unemployme. This is a major succs. EUR 4.5 billi w earmarked for financing uer t Invtm in Skills pillar; projects included iructu for coary educi a vi training well support for stude loan scm. Uer t Jobs for Youth pillar, loans to SMEs a young epneurs in s w youth unemployme r exceed 25% acd most EUR 4.6 billi. We time th t loans ctributed to t ci of about jobs for young people. Gen t succs of our youth employme scme, we a going to exte our financi support in this aa. In 2014 we expect to make available let anotr EUR 6 billi to fight youth unemployme becau we just cannot afford, eitr ecic or si, to lo t younger generi. REGIONS AND CITIES OF EUROPE 3

6 t Es of a l p 4 t E U s a of g a l a p r n a e ATHENS 6 th EUROPEAN SUMMIT OF REGIONS AND CITIES

7 Nº 86 JANUARY-FEBRUARY RUAR Y 2014 Summit in Atns European Recovery: L Solutis ON THE EVE OF THE SPRING EUROPEAN COUNCIL AND A FEW MONTHS AHEAD OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT ELECTIONS, POLITICIANS, EXPERTS AND OPINION-LEADERS FROM ACROSS EUROPE MEET IN ATHENS FOR THE COMMITTEE OF THE REGIONS 6TH EUROPEAN SUMMIT OF REGIONS AND CITIES. THE OBJECTIVE OF THIS SIXTH EDITION IS TO TAKE STOCK OF EFFORTS MADE AT EUROPEAN, NATIONAL, REGIONAL AND LOCAL LEVEL TO DELIVER JOB-RICH RECOVERY. THE SUMMIT WILL FOCUS ON HOW TO IMPROVE EU GOVERNANCE, OFFERING A TIMELY OPPORTUNITY FOR SUBSTANTIAL DIALOGUE AMONG ALL PARTNERS, AND WHAT DEFINES SUCCESSFUL COOPERATION BETWEEN THE PUBLIC AND PRIVATE SECTOR. IT IS ALSO AN OPPORTUNITY FOR A HIGH-LEVEL DEBATE AMONG EUROPEAN POLITICAL LEADERS ON THE 2014 EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT ELECTIONS. REGIONS AND CITIES OF EUROPE 5

8 SPECIAL FEATURE Summit in Atns 6 th EUROPEAN SUMMIT OF REGIONS AND CITIES ATHENS A strg Europe a Europe of s a citi It is now evide th t crisis facing us in Europe is not just an ecic e. It is above l politic a clear instituti. ver befo h public dinchame a scticism with gard to EU machinis been so ien. Europe must so ach a major decisi to change policy dicti, change, in otr words, its way of thinking a acting, so to build people s trust a cfidence. Initi evidence of this will be provided by our strec choic for Europe Do we wa a Europe foued si solidarity a employme or a Europe marked by austerity, poverty a si exclusi? T Gek dele hop th this summit will make a substai ctributi to deening t diogue, so to provide a cvincing sp to t above issu. Ramón Luis Vcárcel Siso (ES/EPP), Pside of t CoR with Ioannis Sgouros (EL/PES), Governor of t Re of Attica It is with a n of hour a g pleu th my coury a t of Attica is hosting t 6th European Summit of R a Citi in Atns. This summit coincid with t 20th annersary of t fouing of t Cmittee of t R a so with t Gek Psidency of t Council of t European Uni. At this peci critic time, we a invited to -examine t role of t CoR a so of lfgovernme in ecic growth, innovi a si welfa. T prolged csi facing t Meer St, unpcedeed unemployme, poverty a si exclusi amg ever broader s of siety is a ste of affairs th is genering new chleng for lf-governme. T summit tak place Gece s new-tablisd elected authoriti cplete tir first term. In t t a hf years or so since t system came io operi, t 13 Gek s have made a significa ctributi towards developme. For tho of us still fiing our feet, t summit ps a major opportunity to inforce t new institutis a multilevel governance in Gece. T msage for Europe s futu must be e of politic stability, growth a employme for l. A Psidency of hope Dimitris Kogeropoulos (EL/EPP), Sectary-Gener, Decerid Administri of Attica T Gek psidency of t European Uni in t first hf of 2014 is not a crisis psidency. It is a psidency of hope a optimism, not just for Gece it emerg t de crisis of t pt few years, but for Europe a whole, our larger shad la, which is taking firm sts to avoid t aftermh of t peed shks th have struck l t world s major eci. In its dai struggle to get top of t crisis, Gece h fou a steadft a csta in t European Uni. This h been not just in terms of t financi aid provided through t programm th came stam 2010, but so of proting EU sourc a co-fued projects, who launch a implemei made it possible for Gece to avoid getting stuck, while so ctinuing to be engaged with a channg Europe. A ri of joi projects we launcd in t coury s largt, Attica, which is to about hf of Gece s acte populi, a in t municipiti for which we a spsible. An example is t Ni Ctingency Rerve operi programme, an iegred acti plan to support epneurship, busins a tir employe through advisory a training meus, well proting employme in s th a feeling t effects of t ecic crisis. T is so t Human Rourc Developme operi programme, which provid cpnse rvic to t ls a people suffering or risk of poverty, with t aim of empowering vulnerable si groups through psychosi support meus a uerpinning t fight against poverty a si exclusi for a large proporti of t populi affected by t ecic crisis. Gece h pulled through. A th is our msage to people in otr European couri. Togetr we a getting to t otr side, leaving this crisis behi us. A we have lear t lss of t ev th led to this situi so th history do not pe itlf. 6 t Es of a l p

9 6 th Nº EUROPEAN 86 JANUARY-FEBRUARY 2014 SUMMIT OF REGIONS AND CITIES Summit in Atns Europe 2020 stregy mid-term view ATHENS WE HAVE ALMOST REACHED THE HALF-WAY POINT OF THE EUROPE 2020 STRATEGY FOR SMART, SUSTAINABLE AND INCLUSIVE GROWTH, WHICH WAS ENDORSED BY THE ES MEMBER STATES IN JUNE ITS IMPLEMENTATION IS THE JOINT RESPONSIBILITY OF ALL LEVELS OF GOVERNMENT, HELPING TO ENSURE THE ES FUTURE, MAINTAIN EUROPE S SOCIAL MODEL AND OUR SOCIAL MARKET ECONOMY. THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION HAS SCHEDULED A MID-TERM REVIEW OF THE STRATEGY FOR AS PART OF ITS CONTRIBUTION TO THIS REVIEW, THE COMMITTEE BUREAU DECIDED IN SEPTEMBER 2012 TO DRAW UP A ROADMAP FOR THE MID-TERM ASSESSMENT OF THE STRATEGY, CULMINATING IN THE PRESENTATION OF A REPORT AND POLITICAL DECLARATION AT THE ATHENS SUMMIT IN MARCH REGIONS AND CITIES OF EUROPE 7

10 SPECIAL FEATURE Summit in Atns 6 th EUROPEAN SUMMIT OF REGIONS AND CITIES ATHENS Progss made Europe 2020 is below expectis Ierview with Micl Delebar, chairman of t CoR s Europe 2020 Plform THE EVIDENCE GATHERED BY THE COR CONFIRMS THAT THE STRATEGY HAS SUCCEEDED IN ENCOURAGING MANY LOCAL AND REGIONAL AUTHORITIES TO SET MORE AMBITIOUS POLICY GOALS; HOWEVER, THE PROGRESS MADE ON EUROPE 2020 IS BELOW EXPECTATIONS. ALTHOUGH IT HAS PROVEN DIFFICULT TO INCREASE EM- PLOYMENT RATES AND OTHER GROWTH INDICATORS DURING WHAT HAS BEEN THE WORST CRISIS IN LIVING MEMORY, THE ASSESSMENT CARRIED OUT BY THE COR HIGHLIGHTS THE NEED TO RETHINK EUROPE 2020 AND TO PROVIDE IT WITH A TERRITORIAL DIMENSION, BETTER GOVERNANCE INVOLVING THE VARIOUS LEVELS OF GOVERNMENT WORKING TOGETHER IN PARTNERSHIP WITH ONE ANOTHER AS WELL AS ADEQUATE FUNDING. REGIONS AND CITIES OF EUROPE HAS PREPARED THIS SPECIAL FEATURE WHICH WILL PRESENT THE COMMITTEE S VIEWS ON THE MID-TERM REVIEW ALONG WITH ITS RECOMMENDATIONS AND PROVIDE A PLATFORM FOR THE COR S MEMBERS, MAINLY THE EUROPE 2020 STRATEGY PLATFORM CHAIRMAN, MICHEL DELEBARRE, TO OUTLINE THE KEY CHALLENGES THAT LIE AHEAD. Micl Delebar (FR/PES), Chairman of t CoR s Europe 2020 Plform Wh is t added vue this stage of t Europe 2020 stregy t perspecte of l a authoriti in t European Uni? T Europe 2020 stregy ady h t advaage of existing in a crisis ctext. This is moover a crisis with ymmetric impacts, t ecists would say. Gen t diffenc in t way t EU Meer St a t European institutis any t crisis, this is quite an importa factor. Fin, t Europe 2020 stregy w a fence amework for strger earmarking of t Structur Fus T pyramid of Europe 2020 prioriti will determine t range of possible Structur Fu invtm. Of cour, it is still too ear to take stk of t situi in this spect. However, t i added vue of t Stregy for l a authoriti may have ls to do with its specific predus than with an eleme of soft power, i.e. t fact th it h gen l a authoriti a European approach for aming tir own developme stre. In my opini, this is particular leva to sustainable developme. One example which springs to mi is t strec approach adopted by my of Nord-P de Cais to try to aicipe t Third Iustri Revoluti. T Europe 2020 stregy will be subject to a mid-term view. T European Cmissi taking up office in January 2015 will have to decide wtr adjustme is needed. Wh a t main weakns of t Europe 2020 stregy which need to be medied? T first quti will be to decide wtr this is a view or visi. However, let s be istic - in t pt mid-term vie, wtr of t Lisb stregy or t budget programming period, did not bring about any volutis. vertls, I feel th t is scope for substai visi. In terms of governance, t Europe 2020 stregy should be mo incluse a demric, not just European level but so t level of Meer Ste predus. T European Parliame should play a mo decise role, a l a authoriti should so be mo clo involved. This involveme should ce aad of coury-specific cmeis, which should not be left up to a haful of officis t e of a corridor in se Cmissi building. I so think th se of t Stregy s instrum should be vid. For example, this appli to t Flagship Initi, which this stage appear to lack stability, declaris of iei without actu providing a specific a traceable amework for acti. Th said, me forming governance will not be sufficie to get ordinary Europeans board. Even tho who a well-informed European issu a ei cfud by European ni stre a pacts with targets t in t le dista futu. We need to know how to p t in a straightforward way, so th we can show th t European Uni h a ct amework for ecic, si a envirme acti, a th t Es gener approach is not bad arbitrary decisis behi clod doors t European Council. How can l a authoriti a t EU ctribute to a visi of t Europe 2020 stregy? A how is this ctributi influenced by differing cstituti arrangem (feder, cerid a decerid st)? T Europe 2020 stregy is digned to have an impact t grou, particular in coini with European fuing programm. L a authoriti a a litmus tt for this impact. In view of this, tir ctributi is i, a in my opini it should not be ctinge t disi of powers in t specte Meer St. This would be to take an excse ltic view of a situi which in any ca is csta channg in t diffe Meer St, not let in my own. How is t CoR supporting t mid-term view of t Stregy, a wh role will t CoR s Europe 2020 mitoring plform play? At t initie of Pside Vcárcel, t CoR h made t mid-term view of t Europe 2020 stregy its top priority for Cnsus this priority transc politic diffenc. Implemei is bad mse politic a anytic efforts in advance of t positis adopted by t otr European institutis, which in t first hf of 2014 will have otr ccerns. T CoR is t instituti ping EU l a governme in European decisimaking prs, but we i th we a 353 meers ping se l a authoriti in Europe. We wa to get t maximum anys a specific experience our dediced Europe 2020 Stregy plform. We have had arou 1100 pli to our qutinai t Europe 2020 stregy, which in my opini means th we cannot be overlooked in terms of pens. 8 t Es of a l p

11 6 th EUROPEAN SUMMIT OF REGIONS AND CITIES ATHENS Nº 86 JANUARY-FEBRUARY 2014 Dit siety chleng to be tackled in t near futu We stsd t need to cogni t role th a l authoriti play in supporting t Dit Agea Flagship initie A Roouts (NL/EPP), Mayor of t City of s Hertogenbosch Informi a Cmunici Technolo a a key factor for improving coordini a cooperi in various fields between European authoriti l levels, European citizens a pre eiti. In terms of governance, it is t l a authoriti th a t clost to ordinary people; ty a spsible for providing t most importa rvic affecting t welfa of tir citizens in such a thca, educi, public order, da protecti, cyber curity a si rvic. L a authority involveme in t Dit Agea fosters innovi a cpetitens through tailod solutis, including broadba roll-out, dit ecy, e-inclusi a e-governme. In additi, this involveme should so be en in t broader ctext of t European fuing provided for Dit Agea initi. T CoR is cvinced th substai budgetary support will be i in t cing years. We sha t European Parliame s ccerns about t Council s decisi to duce t budget for dit iructu a rvic uer t Cnecting Europe Facility, EUR 9.2 billi to just EUR 1 billi, a we urge th t sourc needed for dit invtm be guaraeed uer t European Structur a Invtme Fus, pferab a significa higr level than t EUR 14 billi led between 2007 a We so cl for ICT innovi to be gen priority support uer t new Horiz 2020 programme, w t ca uer t arch Framework Programme in t pvious budget period. Lt, we welce t opportuniti provided through t European Invtme Bank, which aims to inca its loans for broadba iructu to EUR 2 billi euro a which h explicit emphid t importa role for t l a level in this type of growth-orieed invtme. T CoR csiders th t Dit Agea is a succsful stregy for achieving a flourishing dit ecy by It outlin t polici a actis needed to maximi t benefit of t dit voluti for l. T implemei of t Dit Agea is dee t right level of aiti a cmitme EU, ni, a l level, which will empower Europe to build a new ecic model bad knowledge, a sustainable ecy a high employme. REGIONS AND CITIES OF EUROPE 9

12 SPECIAL FEATURE Summit in Atns 6 th EUROPEAN SUMMIT OF REGIONS AND CITIES ATHENS Espoo Innovi Garden L-ced project ady for glob outach T bench-learning Espoo Innovi Garden in Finla is cing new openings for European succs. Markku Markkula (FI/EPP), Meer of t Espoo City Council Invtme in iructu a buildings amouing to 5 billi euros h been earmarked for educi, arch, busins a housing in this aa over t next ten years. Large-sce si chleng a typic extme cplex in nu. T key to succs is to be fou in discussis about new opportuniti a arch in multi-dimensi co-ci teams a networks both a glob. For this, boosting new capit t level of life change manageme is critic to succs: city, innovi a cfidence to innove a form a cruci for l a decisi-makers. Drers of change a most often unersiti with nearby busins. Ty a chlenged to ce new learning a arch envirm with a new, open, innovi working cultu. One excelle ca illustring how tory transl io practice is Ato Unersity in Finla a its collabori with public a pre players. T Espoo Innovi Garden a fe km2 aa with t Ato Unersity Campus its co is a ling cmunity with 110 niiti, arch scieists, over 800 cpani, stud, a sid. A g de mo is t way, with plans a cmitm to invt 5 billi euros iructu a buildings for educi, arch, busins a housing in this aa over t next ten years. T drer of change for succs is its epneuri mi-t. T CoR h sted ver tim th EU needs pieering s which cmit to cing new innovi eco-systems. Summing up t key outc of t CoR Innovi Uni Cfence 27 Noveer 2013, this means modernising Triple Helix collabori a ccts bad t following: 1. Innovi cmuniti opere eco-systems through systemic vue networking in a world without borders; 2. Innovi prs a strg bad dema-dren ur oriei a custers cruci players in innovi; 3. Innovi stre fus cysing open innovi a encourang iidus a cmuniti to move towards epneuri discovery a effecte u of ditid rvic; 4. Innovi is accelered through partnerships experimeing a carrying out rapid prototyping. For this, s need Smart Speciisi stre ecic age for change. This RIS3 is above l an -going dynamic, evolutiary prs. Wn finid, t Espoo Innovi Garden will be a ling example of t Europe 2020 stregy being implemeed l level. T Triple Helix cct cpris t bic elem: (1) A mo prine role for t unersity in innovi, a par with iustry a governme in a knowledge bad siety; (2) Moveme toward collabore liships amg t t major instituti sps, in which innovi policy is incing an outce of ieracti rr than a pscripti governme; (3) In additi to fulfilling tir traditi functis, each instituti sp so tak t role of t otr, performing new rol well tir traditi functi. Institutis taking n-traditi rol a viewed a major potei source of innovi in innovi. Initi, iustry oper in t Triple Helix t lus of producti, governme t source of ctractu lis th guaraee stable ieractis a exchange, a t unersity a source of new knowledge a technology, t genere principle of knowledgebad eci. T incad importance of knowledge a t role of t unersity in incubing technology-bad firms have gen it a mo prine place in t instituti firmame. 10 t Es of a l p

13 6 th EUROPEAN SUMMIT OF REGIONS AND CITIES ATHENS Nº 86 JANUARY-FEBRUARY 2014 Rource efficie Europe Lia Gillham (UK/EA), Meer of Runnymede Borough Council T Europe 2020 Stregy, which w approved by t EU a t Meer St in 2010, w mea to be t Es primary tool for boosting Europe s ecic performance a improving sustainable developme by Four years after its launch, it is now time to vi t Stregy, which is wide cognid having failed to ful deler ver of its flagship object. T h been se progss Rource Efficie Europe, t flagship initie en instrume for achieving a range of EU object, particular in t aa of energy a clime. Amg otrs, t object include ducing genhou g emissis, making t Uni mo silie to futu ris in glob energy pric, ensuring t mo sustainable u of nur sourc a a shift towards a low-carb ecy in Europe. However, dpite limited progss in t Es envirme performance following an inca in invtme in gen innovi a t take up of newable energy sourc, t EU is still far achieving most of its key target object. If ecic growth a employme h bece sething of a taboo subject for t EU, this is even mo so t ca for t targets th we t in t a of educi, arch a innovi, poverty ducti, youth a iustri policy. T ecic crisis h waked hav across t EU with cord levels of unemployme, particular amg young people in Europe. As with t Lisb stregy, I feel th t EU may be unable to meet t expectis th we orin t out to achieve. We need to look not t object of t EU 2020 targets a t amou of invtme needed; t Meer St should coopere mo clo with L a Re Authoriti ty can lp to ce t right envirme for growth a jobs l level a in a mo targeted manner. T is a certain luctance for such devolved spsibility but I believe it to be of key importance. In additi, t Europe 2020 Stregy is csided to be an abstract policy by most EU citizens, particular in t UK. T EU needs to u clear a simple language if it is to explain its stre to its citizens. Clarity a acti should be t new buzzwords for As t EU budget ps 2% of tot public speing in t EU, t necsary sourc cannot ce t EU e. Meer St have failed to make full u of EU fuing to spur t lg-term invtm th a so bad needed to kile ecic growth. T lack of ownership a t tting of targets using a top down approach, with sca gard for t role of s a citi a tir unique uerstaing of wh is bt for tir l aa, h lped make this stregy even ls cdible in t ey of our citizens. If t stregy could be viewed to make it mo citizen ie a take t form of a true partnership model in which t s a l governm a ful engaged, we would su e a diffe pictu in Sustainable growth in Europe REGIONS AND CITIES OF EUROPE 11

14 SPECIAL FEATURE Summit in Atns 6 th EUROPEAN SUMMIT OF REGIONS AND CITIES ATHENS T chleng of t Youth t Move Alin Adrian Nica (RO/ALDE), Mayor of Dudtii Noi With t lp of t Europe 2020 Mitoring Plform, t Cmittee of t R (CoR) carried out a survey to evue t succs of t Youth t Move flagship initie of t Europe 2020 Stregy 26 Steer 2012 to 5 Noveer T majority of spo witnd a ri in youth unemployme a a decline or stagni in youth employme. In additi, many spo believe th t channg nu of t labour market means t is a need to think t skills a experienc taught school, to ppa young people mo for t transiti school to work, to provide mo speciid training a ctinued caer advice, to inca young people s mobility a to take acti to ach out to marnid young people i.e. tho who a not ced for by cvei employme agenci due to sioecic s, migri or otr factors. T overwlming ime amg spo w tfo th l t aims of t Youth t Move initie a leva. Gen t overl growing ccerns about youth employme a t widpad cogniti th an acte labour market for young people gener multiple benefits for l age groups, l spo sted th tir city or w engaged in programm proting object such job ci, skills developme a mching, mobility, etc. T approacs taken a very der a tailod to t specific needs a characteristics of each city or. T going ecic crisis playing out throughout t EU, particular in Gece, Spain, a Portug, is having a significa adver impact young people today, flected in youth unemployme r, which have rin in virtu l spo liti. Peripr s, peci isla a, have suffed mo than cer, mo afflue s. Globisi a systemic chang in t labour market mean th t is a need to think educi coary a tertiary levels, g with vi training a life-lg learning opportuniti. If ty a to succeed, young people today must choo tir field of study or work with g ca a be ppad to be flexible, moted a acte in ctinuing to develop tir knowledge a skills ba. Mobility is an importa means through which young people can broaden tir skills a gain vuable experience. Migri for employme purpos is mo pve now than it h been in t ce pt; however, it is worth bearing in mi th it can so have nege effects for tho s th lo skilled workers. Ear school leaving Ear school leaving is e of t strgt inver pdictors for job prospects. T cpleti of full-time educi is i for accsing t job market, particular in t ca of disadvaaged young people, who experience additi forms of exclusi a discrimini. T initie addss key problems a is uful it vie t diffe aims a stre in taem a not isoled issu. Ieed, t survey sho just how ierled t issu of educi, youth employme, mobility a life-lg learning a. As gards t actis a polici developed part of t Youth t Move initie, cooperi between diffe tiers of governme is critic becau t EU a ni governm can a should t t broader parameters of policy w t details of tir implemei a adapti to l circumstanc a most effecte carried out by l authoriti. Equ, l a authoriti need to cmunice back to t ni a EU levels about wh works a wh do not. Fuing for t actis uer t Youth t Move initie is der but should ctinue to mobili l, ni a EU fus. T EU Structur Fus, in particular t European Si Fu, a critic, peci for sourctrapped couri a s. It is importa to mitor t Youth t Move initie a t ni targets a wide csided to be adeque though t a a few importa exctis: t outermost s may qui adjustm may a nuer of rur a th have been hardt hit by ecic a systemic shifts in t typ a availability of jobs; this is so true for t labour force. 12 t Es of a l p

15 6 th EUROPEAN SUMMIT OF REGIONS AND CITIES ATHENS Nº 86 JANUARY-FEBRUARY 2014 Iustry is t nchpin of Europe s ecic covery Claude Gewerc (FR/PES), Pside of Picardy Re Council As well weakening t European Uni s producte capacity, t cur crisis h so widened inequiti within t EU a raid incing a letime ccerns about lis, si dumping a t lack of cpetitens of Europe s busins. Since 2008, Europe h lost mo than t milli jobs in t manufacturing ctor e. Yet, with a market of over 500 milli people, a trained a skilled workforce, t co most importa glob curncy a innove busins, Europe h wh it tak to get t ecy going again. Our iustry, which employs thirty fe milli wen a men, iubitab ps t enne of our ecy. For se time now, I have been cling for t EU to tablish an iegred iustri policy, with a strg l a dimensi. We need to take sts not to encourage innovi a invtme a improve accs to financing a markets but so to develop skills a training to ke pace with structur chang a aicipe futu job quim. With this in mi, t Picardy Re h now been running its Iustri Spring eve for most ten years, with significa succs in achieving its go of channg young people s titud to jobs a caers in iustry. European level coordini iustri issu could lp to clo t cpetitens gap between t European Uni a t otr g world powers a enable us to hold our own mo effecte t world stage. T next Ierni Clime Cfence is to be ld in Paris in 2015 a it will be vit for Europe s s to be ped t. T succs of t negotiis will, in my view, de wtr t European partners manage befoha to age an aitious agea for iustry. Iustri policy a manufacturing REGIONS AND CITIES OF EUROPE 13

16 SPECIAL FEATURE Summit in Atns 6 th EUROPEAN SUMMIT OF REGIONS AND CITIES ATHENS T Agea for w Skills a Jobs in t s Pavel Braa (CZ/ECR), Duty Mayor of Rádlo As an ecic aa, t European Uni h been awa for many years th it needs to invigore t dynamism a cpetitens of its ecy. Unfortune, t Ty of Lisb, adopted in 2000, failed to le up to its aitis a ca is being taken with t ce adopted Europe 2020 stregy to get things right. T Cmittee of t R csta iter t poi th t l a levels need to be involved in t stregy every stage if tanble sults a to be achieved. This appli not let to t succsful implemei of e of t EU2020 s flagship initi, t Agea for w Skills a Jobs, which w launcd in 2010 to lp meet t target of 75% employme amg people of working age (aged 20 to 64) by T main EU instrume for implemeing particular meus is t European Si Fu (ESF). Between 2007 a 2013, t Czech Rublic ud ESF fuing t operi programm fussing human sourc a jobs, educi a adaptability. This made a potei EUR 3.8 billi available to Czech applicas. Since 2007 Libec Re h been coucting a campaign to foster educi in science a technology disciplin. T programm a so ud by t s. I am Libec Re, which cupi a rr speci li, neighbouring both Pola a Germany. This is a with a very strg iustri traditi who ecy h en dramic transformi in ce decad. T traditi textile ctor h ceded to new brancs, peci t autote iustry. However, t h lg cteed with a shortage of skilled labour in se trad. In a bid to ver this unfortune ste of affairs, since 2007 Libec Re h been coucting a campaign to foster educi in science a technology disciplin. To this e, t h its own gra programme to encourage vi training in shortage disciplin. Libec Re us projects supported t ESF to encourage pupils primary a coary schools to study t trad needed. Amg t initi organid a projects days, w primary school pupils a able to u t practic clsros, laborori a workshops of coary schools a fi out about diffe disciplin. Various leisu time actiti a starting to be offed w people can improve tir skills. Trips to iustri ritage sit a exhibitis a organid, a in-rvice training c a being t up for teacrs. T s unique border li so provid scope for collabori between cpani a educi institutis. Libec Re is playing an acte part in t cross-border cooperi th h now been going for mo than twey years in t is-nisa-nysa Euro. T academic coordini ce in t Euro orcstr cooperi between higr educi institutis in t t neighbouring couri (joi academic boards, stude exchang, shad academic journ, etc.). T is even a co-run is Unersity, w stud study in a diffe coury each year. Chaers of cmerce so work togetr, t a ctact c for busins, a cross-border priz for innovi a awarded gular. Libec Re cclud its own experience th t most importa tk is t mching of t dem of t labour market (employers) a t supp of skilled labour. This will not happen by itlf: it needs t acte cmitme of l t key partners, including cpani. A it needs t authoriti, above l, to play a coordining role. T cruci thing for border s, however, is to capiti t potei of crossborder educi a t cross-border labour market to ensu th tiers a not a barrier but an opportunity. 14 t Es of a l p

17 6 th EUROPEAN SUMMIT OF REGIONS AND CITIES ATHENS Nº 86 JANUARY-FEBRUARY 2014 Help for si disadvaaged a disabled people is a priority for t Brislava Re Pavol Fšo (SK/EPP), Pside of t Brislava Self-Governing Re T Brislava Re provid si rvic to make life eier for ve disabled people; a lp tho in difficult circumstanc a demstre th such people a vued a can be iegred io siety. T Brislava Re runs 15 si rvic faciliti for various target groups. T oldt of t is t adult Si Ca Ce (SCC) in Báhoň, which h been in operi for most 80 years. A nuer of institutis celebred annersari in ce years, including t Karol Mulay SCC, Slovakia s first day ce for me haicapped childn (30 th annersary in 2012), Sibírska SCC (25 th annersary), Htia SCC (20th annersary) a t Iegra SCC for adults a childn (20 th annersary). This year, Rača SCC will so celebre its 20th annersary. Javorinská SCC for adults a childn, foued in 1969, is anotr of t oldt faciliti in Cer Europe. T fact th t institutis have been in operi for many years sho th we a carrying a traditi. T Brislava Re so supports a nuer of organisis a projects th fus si rvic a aid to sid. In additi, t h broadened a improved t quity of its si rvic by opening fe slted housing c, which low disabled people to le iee possible a g improve tir quity of life wn cpad to traditi instituti ca. T Brislava Re is so tby implemeing t Ni Acti Plan for t Transiti Instituti to Cmunity Ca in t Si Servic System, adopted by t Ministry of Labour, Si Affairs a Famili, which is bad t Europe 2020 stregy a t European Cmissi s European Disability Stregy T Quity Requim for Si Servic of t Brislava Re adopted by t Brislava council cstitute a furtr significa st towards improving t quity of si rvic. This is t first, a so far, such dume produced by a Slovak. T Brislava Re so organis its own ev, such t Re Ompic Gam for nior citizens institutis run by t a by t City of Brislava. T aim of t eve is to provide nior citizens with a light-arted opportunity to take part in sport, get exerci a have fun t same time. REGIONS AND CITIES OF EUROPE 15

18 6 th EUROPEAN SUMMIT OF REGIONS AND CITIES ATHENS POLICY ANALYSIS Europe 2020: Mid-term sults, expectis a policy cmeis REGARDLESS OF THE DIFFERENCES THAT EXIST IN TERMS OF THEIR CONSTITUTIONAL MAKE-UP OR THE COMPETENCES AND RESOURCES AT THEIR DISPOSAL, THE ES LOCAL AND REGIONAL AUTHORITIES UNDOUBTEDLY PLAY A KEY ROLE IN MANY OF THE POLICY AREAS COVERED BY THE EUROPE 2020 STRATEGY, BE IT INNOVATION, EDUCATION, SOCIAL PROTECTION, ENVIRONMENT RELATED POLICIES OR OTHERS. THE VAST MAJORITY OF THE 1059 PARTICIPANTS IN THE LATEST COR CONSULTATION STATED THAT EUROPE 2020 HAD HELPED THEM TO IMPROVE THE WAY IN WHICH THEY SET THEIR PRIORITIES ALLOWING THEM TO MAKE MEASURABLE PROGRESS. LRAS ACROSS EUROPE HAVE BEEN KEEN TO ADOPT A LONG-TERM VISION FOR EUROPEAN GROWTH AND NOT ONLY TO APPLY SHORT-TERM ANTI-CRISIS MEASURES. Flagship Initi have encouraged many spo to adopt policy programs th a specific in line with tir gos. LRAs have fou tm to be both uful a leva a this h been flected in both t polici a actis adopted l a t informi provided by LRAs in sp to t CoR s surveys. T stregy h ced a amework for stimuli, inspiri, participi a for t exchange of ide. In se c, LRAs have adopted governance systems involving t participi of stakeholders, including in t aa of target-tting, well forms of vertic coordini between t diffe levels of governme. Otr a citi meanwhile would appear to feel ls involved a em to have adopted a mo dista approach towards Europe Ty csider it to be an abstract policy which ts unistic targets. This is due to a coini of factors such a lack of vertic coordini between l levels of governme, policy cycl a budgets, a lack of sourc or administre capabiliti a otrs. Progss towards t Europe 2020 targets is below expectis T evidence gd by t CoR sho th progss towards t Europe 2020 targets t EU a ni level is below expectis. T Europe 2020 iicors, mitod by Eurost, cfirm t fiings of t CoR s ports, highlighting th t existing gaps between s have widened even furtr. However, major problems with obtaining cplete a time da level have mea th it h been particular difficult to any this situi in any detail. T ecic crisis h taken a avy toll t Es s. T gaps th exist between tm in terms of levels of GDP a employme have widened dramic, versing t cvergence t of pvious years, while sub-ni budgets have uerge dramic cuts, main t expen of public invtm. It h proven difficult to improve employme r a otr Europe 2020 target iicors during wh h been t worst crisis for decad. However, t is a good de of evidence to suggt th t a so otr s for Europe 2020 s unsisfactory progss so far. T CoR s ssme pinpois t weakns of t stregy s territori bli approach to policy dign, which ignos t stngths, weakns a specific developme opportuniti of Europe s s. This approach risks jeopardising t chanc of t Europe 2020 object being achieved which could, in turn, inca dispariti, aggrave territori vulnerabiliti furtr a duce to an unsisfactory level t nuer of invtm th a so necsary for supporting lg-term growth, tby uermining t quid n of cmitme to, a ownership of, t Europe 2020 stregy. Stregy needs better vertic coordini between l levels of governme T Europe 2020 targets a often csided to be unistic yet t opposite is true: t targets aim to t leva a cdible chleng tby enabling tm to play an effecte role in terms of stimuling, mitoring a ssing acti. To achieve this aim, t targets should vary between s a should be t in partnership involving l levels of governme, mixing a topdown a a bott-up approach. T annu cycle of EU ecic governance (European Semter) should follow t same principle. To tap io t potei of place-bad approacs, Ni Reform Programm (NRPs) should be digned, implemeed, mitod a sd by l levels of governme a otr leva stakeholders bad a partnership approach. Against t backgrou of t worst ecic crisis in ling memory, t European Semters 2011 to 2014 have fud t short-term need for fisc csolidi. Europe 2020 s lger term gos of smart, sustainable a incluse growth must main t top of t agea in t European Semter. Lg-term fuing approach a mo effecte speing T invtm needed to support t stregy qui a lg-term fuing approach a mo effecte speing. T EU budget plays a vit structuring role, primari through t cosi policy instrum. As public mey e will not suffice, innove solutis should be ideified to mobili pre fus, including through t incing involveme of t EIB. If ty a to play a tline role, LRAs must improve tir capability to spe mo effecte, doing mo with ls 16 t Es of a l p

19 6 th EUROPEAN SUMMIT OF REGIONS AND CITIES ATHENS Nº 86 JANUARY-FEBRUARY 2014 T Europe 2020 stregy could benefit a coini of bott-up a top-down planning a target tting 2 % 48 % 37 % 1 % 12 % Ful age Substanci age Age to a limited exte Do not age l No answer well haling new financi instrum in an efficie way. T quity of public administri is cruci in this n a, mo broad speaking, for ensuring a territori diffeied approach to t Europe 2020 stregy. Multi-level governance li t skills, cpetenc, experienc a knowledge of t diffe levels of governme, a t LRAs must sume tir spsibiliti in this prs. Tfo, thinking Europe 2020 bad a mix of top-down a bott-up planning involv stngtning administre capabiliti a placing this issue t very top of t Es policy agea. T LRAs need to be supported in tir efforts to improve tir administre capabiliti, t lack of which hits tho s th a lagng behi t hardt. T CoR Buau s politic declari, a t accpanying mid-term ssme port th will be discusd a adopted during t Atns Summit, a ieed to spearad an in-dth debe, involving l stakeholders, how to pursue t object of smart, sustainable a incluse growth, building t diffeied ts of Europe s citi a s. We expect t European Cmissi to publish a new Cmunici t Europe 2020 midterm view in March which will be discusd t spring European Council. We hope th Europe s policy makers will take accou of t CoR s cmeis how to new t Europe 2020 Stregy a ensu its lg-term succs, Es ecic growth a si cosi. Youth employme a educi REGIONS AND CITIES OF EUROPE 17

20 RAPPORTEURS HAVE THEIR SAY IN THIS REGULAR COLUMN, MEMBERS TO THE COMMITTEE OF THE REGION WRITE IN THEIR OWN WORDS WHAT MOTIVATES THEM TO TAKE ON THE ROLE OF RAPPORTEUR FOR THE POLICY AREA THAT THEY ARE WRITING THEIR OPINION. THE FOLLOWING EIGHT OP-EDS FOCUS ON A DIVERSE NUMBER OF TOPICS FROM WASTE SHIPPING REGULATIONS TO THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A EUROPEAN PUBLIC PROSECUTOR S OFFICE. European Lg Term Invtme Fus Sime Beisl (LU/ALDE), Chair of t CoR s Cmissi for Ecic a Si Policy a municip council of t City of Luxeourg T idea behi European Lg Term Invtme Fus ELTIFs is to ce an invtme fu for lg-term invtm, for example in iructu projects. T Cmittee of t R would like ELTIFs to bece an tracte tool for financing invtm in European s, in a such energy, transport, cmunicis iructu, iustri rvice faciliti, housing, a clime change a eco-innovi faciliti. In many s, public invtme is decing, making pre invtme mo necsary than ever, but it mains difficult to tract fus. A clear a harmid leg amework ELTIFs, for example, could be a major st forward, though it must uer no circumstanc place t transfer of ni governme fuing to sub-ni authoriti. This is part why t ECOS cmissi decided to draft an opini this rr cplex financi topic. Anotr why ELTIFs a importa is th ty a ieed to be an tracte invtme for pensi fus. In se Meer St, l a authoriti opere tir own pensi fus, which might be ited in channelling se lgterm invtm io ELTIFs. T main msage in t opini is th t CoR broad welc t Cmissi s propos ELTIFs, even though se rr technic chang a propod. This is in line with t pvious CoR opini t Cmissi s Gen Paper t lg-term financing of t European ecy. T CoR so pois out th ELTIFs could make a major ctributi to t Europe 2020 stregy, smart, sustainable a incluse growth can be proted by invtme in lg-term ts. T draft opini so pois to t benefits of a harmid market in lg-term invtme fus. Cur, sml Meer St such Luxeourg a Estia suffer in particular t agmeed capit market. ELTIFs must strike a bance between tracting a genering dema for lg-term invtme while ensuring choice for invtors. T CoR so pois out, however, th diffenc in Meer St tax-m could be an obstacle to pooling capit in ELTIFs, peci w cross-border projects a ccerned. We a urng t Cmissi to t ert thsholds for si issu Jean-Louis Dtans (FR/PES), Pside of Eu Gener Council To de, t European Cmissi h tackled tensis in t Euro aa pu an ecic a metary poi of view. This approach should be csolided in futu by taking better accou of t si inequiti a ianc which have been affecting our fellow citizens bad. This is in any ca t thrust of t Cmissi s proposs a t we believe th ty a i going in t right dicti. T cclusis of t lt European Council meeting have nevertls prpted us to be our guard. In t opini t si dimensi of ecic a metary uni, European l a authoriti have had t opportunity to poi out th it is through governance a ecic policy coordini prs th this si dimensi should be cud. Although t Cmissi is tfo making significa progss by cmeing th a si scoboard be drawn up, t a two levels which this propos can be improved: T first ccerns t list of iicors to be lected. As it st, it is too stricte, a we propo to add to it. T co gards t u to be made of t scoboard. We believe th it must rve much mo than just a stistic tool a should provide a launch pad for policy acti. Th is why we a king t Cmissi to t si ert thsholds, h been de for debt a public deficits, but this time with a diffence: in t si dain, exceeding t thshold would not autic trigger sanctis, rr, a mechanism should be ud to encourage cvergence. Lt, t is t cur issue of ecic stabilirs, which t Cmissi outlin in sketchy terms. T a however specific tools th otr curncy a, such t United St, have developed a must tfo be looked caful. Th is why we a cling for a gen paper t subject. 18 t Es of a l p