A regional slant to EU policy is crucial and fair

“THE purpose of the European Committee of the Regions is to try to bring the EU a little closer to the ordinary citizens on the ground,” says Michael Collins, an Irish deputy director of CoR who is based in Brussels.

Speaking in Palma de Majorca Michael explains: “The European Committee of the Regions is the EU’s assembly of regional and local representatives from all 28 member states.

“It was set up in 1994 under the Maastricht Treaty to address a type of democratic deficiency as there was not enough representation in the decision making process at sub national level.”

And so the EU created an institutional body that would represent regions like Sligo and give them a voice, as Michael says: “All of the committee members are primarily based at home, they could be councillors or mayors. There are 350 members in total, Ireland has 9 full time members. They can also have alternate members who come out to meetings if a member can’t make it.”

The ultimate mission of CoR is to involve regional and local authorities in the EU’s decision- making process and to inform them about EU policies. The European Parliament, the Council and the European Commission consult the Committee in policy areas affecting regions. Michael adds: “The European Committee of the Regions has various sub committees such as the one here today - the Commission for natural resources, or ( NAT). They deal with issues that are relevant to local and regional authorities like CAP and sustaining coastal communities, and their input is then considered by the Parliament.”