The European Committee of the Regions this week held its 157th Plenary session in Brussels, coinciding with the opening of the European Week of Regions and Cities. 

From 9-11 October, members debated the State of Regions and Cities, a health union for Europe, priorities of the Spanish Presidency of the Council of the EU and local authorities’ support to Ukraine. 

Speaking during the opening debate on Monday, Renew Europe CoR President François Decoster, Mayor of Saint-Omer, France, highlighted the European Committee of the Regions’ EU Councillors Network initiative and the need to uphold European values, while fostering a European citizenship. 

“European citizens are and must be at the heart of the European project. They want to feel and be at the core of taking European action,” said President Decoster. 

Ouverture de la Semaine des Régions et des Villes: @EU_CoR porte la voix des autorités #locales au plan #européen.

Au nom du groupe @RenewEuropeCoR, j’ai rappelé notre attachement aux #valeurs européennes, socle du projet européen, et à l’ambition d’une #souveraineté 🇪🇺. pic.twitter.com/Pnq5Xpdyho

— François DECOSTER (@fdecoster) October 9, 2023

Renew Europe CoR’s First Vice-President Jasna Gabrič from Trbovlje, Slovenia, highlighted the effects that climate change has on our infrastructure and society. 

“The extreme climate events of this summer in Slovenian municipalities show that every investment in the green transition will have to be climate proof and resilient,” she added. 

On Tuesday, President Decoster opened Plenary with a clear condemnation of the Hamas attacks in Israel. 

#CoRPlenary - @fdecoster condamne les actions du Hamas: "Nous affirmons clairement que les actions du Hamas n'ont aucune justification, aucune légitimité et qu'elles doivent être universellement condamnées. Rien, jamais, ne justifie le terrorisme"
➡ https://t.co/ju7rye85H2 pic.twitter.com/YIijYpGwqv

— Renew Europe CoR (@RenewEuropeCoR) October 10, 2023

"We state clearly that the actions of Hamas have no justification, no legitimacy and must be universally condemned. Nothing, ever, justifies terrorism,” said President Decoster. 

“We all recognise the legitimate aspirations of the Palestinian people and support equal measures of justice and freedom for Israelis and Palestinians. In the days ahead, we will remain united and coordinated, as allies and friends of the State of Israel, to ensure that Israel is able to defend itself and to create the conditions for a peaceful and integrated Middle East." 

Plenary also voted to approve two reports from Renew Europe CoR’s French members Anne Rudisuhli on “Mentoring: a powerful and meaningful tool for the Europe of tomorrow” and from Magali Altounian on “European Cross-Border Mechanism 2.0”. 

Fière de voir mon avis sur le mécanisme 🇪🇺 transfrontalier voté à l’unanimité au @EU_CoR à #Bruxelles.

Simplifier les procédures administratives et juridiques est essentiel pour améliorer le quotidien des 130 millions de citoyens européens frontaliers.

C’est l’🇪🇺 du terrain ! pic.twitter.com/Q9Q4rX6Zkz

— Magali Altounian (@MagaliAltounian) October 10, 2023

Watch Vice-President Gabrič’s speech below or on YouTube.