INTRODUCTORY REMARKS 11 OCTOBER, BRUSSELS. Dear Ms Hübner, Dear members and friends,

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1 INTRODUCTORY REMARKS REFLECTIONS ON THE EU PRESENT AND FUTURE WITH MEP HÜBNER 11 OCTOBER, BRUSSELS Dear Ms Hübner, Dear members and friends, Let me thank you for accepting our invitation to reflect today on the present and future of the European Union from a regional and local perspective. I can speak on behalf of all committed regional and local elected members of this EU assembly of 700 members and alternates, but also those who are elected in their local constituencies, answering every day the needs and wishes of our citizens. Moreover, back home, mayors and regional politicians talk also to many stakeholders: universities, start-ups, refugees' centres, SMEs, social services They have contact with a complete but also constantly evolving picture of the reality. In short they represent a valuable and rich source of inspiration for the European Union. While discussing with the citizens, I realize that Europe still represents to their eyes a good proposal. But the citizens are worried about concrete issues, not much about the institutions' power game. They are actually

2 worried about what is happening at their borders and within their borders and they are worried about the lack of jobs for the young people. Let me take one example: last week I was in Bulgaria in the City of Gabrovo to engage in an open dialogue with the citizens. I was told by one City representative how thousands of citizens had left the city as industries declined. Even more worrying, I was repeatedly asked by young people: "How can the EU help young Bulgarians who studied abroad to come back and invest their country's future?" So, on one hand, Europe is seen as a possible solution. But on the other hand our citizens perceive a complete absence of action and reaction of the whole political class, national as European on fundamental issues such as: protection of EU peace project; creating new sustainable jobs and boosting growth, but also protection at our borders; migration etc. The frustration remained often unchanged, elections after elections, reforms after reforms. This is valid in the UK, but some issues raised during the referendum are also shared by many citizens in other member states, and by us as well. We should not hide that, we must acknowledge it and look for solutions! Because, without courageous answers, the current state of play can only lead to an increased populism and extremism across the entire European Union!

3 It is our duty not only to fight against populism every day, but also to build solutions with our citizens and communities, and to constantly communicate our decisions in a human way, not via a bureaucratic propaganda. We must listen and understand the needs of the citizens, while trying to develop jointly solutions. And in doing so, we need to be brutally honest (to use President Tusk's words). Dear members, We understand that the Member States want "Brussels" to take more into account their views while building a "Loyal co-operation and communication of Member States and institutions". And we agree with this approach as we don t see it as a conflict between Member States and Brussels! But for the CoR, the word "Member States" must be understood following the subsidiarity principle at all levels of governments: central, regional, local. We should therefore think together how to build our modest contribution by European Committee of the Regions to better voice the views of regional and local authorities in the EU while rebuilding citizens' confidence. Because this is one of our tasks in Brussels, we should all acknowledge that we are today in a time of reflection. This means that we should not speak about more or less Europe, but about an inclusive, smarter, and safer Europe. We should channel

4 politically our citizens' critical assessment on the EU and its added value on the ground, but also their ideas for its better functioning and delivering. Let's do this in realistic terms and within our remits and resources. For instance, one way could be to listen more to our communities' concerns about Europe, for instance through citizens' dialogues or town hall debates. No doubt, this process should not be pushed from Brussels, but the CoR will stand ready to support you when/if needed. Such dialogues with the citizens should be initiated by you, our members as local and regional elected leaders of your communities, on topics arising from your own local needs and specificities. You are the best placed to engage on how policies impact citizens as regional and local elected politicians are well known by the citizens and speak the same language! We all have concrete topics to communicate about: investments and jobs; tackling the migrants' issue; putting forward projects for research and development while bypassing borders; developing rural and urban areas through smart specialization. But if we want all these policies to be effectively implemented with the EU's support, we need a stronger coordination at the top level (member states), coupled with solidarity and sound subsidiarity (at the local level). Otherwise these policies will fail. Dear Ms Hubner, dear members,

5 The title of our today' debate is Reflecting on Europe from a regional and local perspective. But I want to propose our members to do this kind of debate every year during the European Week of Regions and Cities. We could call this debate the State of the European Union's Territories: regions, cities and villages. I believe that we should try in this way to co-create a positive agenda for the EU, and reflect citizens' wishes when decisions are taken in Brussels. We are determined to rebuild our citizens' trust for the European project: "for and with the people". I would like to end by speech with the positive spirit of our last innovation camp and citizens dialogue in Bulgaria under the sign: "Gabrovo is the place that makes you smile"! I took this positive message to my heart and I want to share the same feeling with all of you today. I hope we can start together our reflection under this positive, bottom-up approach.