01.03.2010 - Luc Van den Brande (BE/EPP) was elected chair of the CoR's Commission for Citizenship, Governance, Institutional and External Affairs (CIVEX) on 11 February. As chair, he will organise and steer the Committee's work on implementing the EU treaty, immigration policy, respect for fundamental rights and neighbourhood policy. These remits correspond to those of the CONST and RELEX Commissions under the previous term. Mr Van den Brande will work in the CIVEX Commission with 113 local and regional representatives from the 27 Member States. Together, their task will be to draft opinions and CoR resolutions on European Commission proposals which will then be submitted to the plenary assembly for adoption.
Why did you take on the challenge to become the chair of the CIVEX Commission of the Committee of the Regions? How does your work as a local or regional representative prepare you for this role?
This is a rather natural step from my Presidency of the Committee of the Regions over the last two years, where as a political assembly of regional and local representatives we have led the way forward on a variety of areas linked to CIVEX competences, from governance practices to foreign affairs. Having also led the region of Flanders, which holds legislative powers, I am particularly keen on taking forward the new vision of European governance, which must be based on a multi-level partnership if it is to succeed.
On the other hand, the recognition of the role of regional and local authorities in external relations is growing and we must be ready to have a say not only on the enlargement process but also on the whole European Neighbourhood Policy. This was my main driver as CoR president, and what I wish to continue working towards as CIVEX President.
What do you see as the three main priorities and/or challenges for your Commission, its members and regional and local authorities over the next few years, and how will you work to ensure that they are tackled effectively?
CIVEX holds the responsibility for the implementation of the new Treaty and will therefore be at the heart of actions and debates on the use of the right to challenge EU laws in court. I am convinced that this new possibility will deepen our relations with other EU institutions and national parliaments, and that the CoR will exercise this right with caution, but with great conviction in cases where we feel it is necessary to defend the subsidiarity principle in EU lawmaking.
On the other hand, CIVEX will need to pay particular attention to the implementation of the new Stockholm Programme, and will engage in the European Citizens' Initiative and continue to foster active citizenship. CIVEX will also have a charged agenda in what concerns neighbourhood policy and decentralised cooperation, areas where the CoR and regional and local authorities have recently gained in influence, notably through the creation of the Euro-Mediterranean Regional and Local Assembly (ARLEM) and the Annual Assises of Decentralised Cooperation. Such intensified modes of cooperation must be sought in other areas, such as the Eastern Partnership and the Northern Dimension.
How will you, together with the rapporteurs, lead your Commission in its relations with the other institutions, in view of the new powers and responsibilities given to the CoR by the Lisbon Treaty?
We have succeeded in granting a more solid role to local and regional authorities within the Treaty and, through a stronger CoR, within the EU decision making process. As President of CIVEX, I will ensure that we keep on building our relations with our institutional partners by involving them in our debates, hosting joint events, and making them accountable for the stance taken on CoR recommendations. We will also respect our commitment with the Fundamental Rights Agency, and will work with, among others, the Council of Europe and CALRE in areas of mutual interest. I intend to encourage CIVEX rapporteurs to increase ownership of their opinions and to follow-up on their recommendations.
More broadly, CIVEX will work to ensure that the political presence and specific added value of the CoR is further boosted within a modernised European Union political system. We are at the steps of a new era. Following on from the White Paper on Multi-Level Governance (MLG) and the resulting action plans, we are moving towards a European Charter on MLG, which will establish the foundation for inclusive governance procedures in Europe. Lets continue to build Europe in Partnership!
