Regional and local authorities should have the right to bring actions
before the European Court of Justice, in the event of EU institutions
infringing their prerogatives. The future EU Constitution should also
recognise the principle of local and regional self-government, and the
Committee of the Regions (CoR) should be granted the status of
institution.

These are some of the main recommendations of the Committee of the
Regions to the Convention, laid down in the CoR opinion drawn up by the
UK Liberal Democrat Lord TOPE. This week, on Friday morning 7 February a
plenary debate in the Convention will be dedicated to the role of
regional and local authorities in European integration. The Party of
European Liberal Democrats emphasised two weeks ago once more in their
contribution to the Convention the important role of local and regional
authorities in European integration. It called in particular for direct
access to the Court of Justice for local and regional authorities.

In January the European Parliament adopted the "Napolitano" report on
the role of regions and local authorities in European integration,
taking up several proposals from the CoR report. However, the EP, by
adopting amendments tabled by the Christian-Democrat/Conservative EPP
group weakened the proposals made by the CoR on significant points, in
particular the right of regions and local authorities to bring actions
before the Court of Justice.

The Committee of the Regions now looks forward to the debate in the
Convention. European integration will fail without grassroots support.
Local and regional authorities too must help shape Europe and establish
the principles and objectives. Involving local and regional government
therefore will not only improve the quality of EU legislation, but it
lends additional democratic legitimacy to EU policies.

The Committee of the Regions is an EU advisory body, representing local
and regional government, established by the Treaty of Maastricht. Its
222 members are elected politicians from local and regional authorities
across the EU. The Council, the Commission and the European Parliament
consult the CoR, compulsorily in some areas, voluntarily in others.
There are four political groups in the CoR: PES (Social-Democrats, 90
members), EPP (Christian-Democrats and Conservatives, 85 members), ELDR
(Liberal Democrats, 29 members) and the European Alliance (regionalists,
11 members).

More information?

http://www.cor.eu.int http://www.cor.eu.int/eldr.htm
http://register.consilium.eu.int/pdf/en/03/cv00/cv00518en03.pdf

Daniel Tanahatoe ELDR group in the Committee of the Regions Former LYMEC
President