Committee of the Regions (CoR)

Contact (German)

Activity range

In 1992, the Maastricht Treaty set up the Committee of the Regions (CoR) as a consultative body for the (then) Treaty establishing the European Community. Together with the Economic and Social Committee, the CoR supports the European Parliament (EP), the Council and the European Commission (EC) in the legislative process of the European Union as an advisory body.

The CoR is heard on a mandatory basis by these three institutions in the cases provided for in the Treaties (obligatory consultation or mandatory referral in currently eleven policy areas) or whenever one of the EU bodies considers this appropriate (non-mandatory consultation or discretionary referral). It may also submit opinions on its own initiative.

With the amendments to the EU Treaties - Amsterdam, Nice, Lisbon -, the role of the CoR was duly enlarged and strengthened. Inter alia, it was granted the right to bring action before the European courts of justice. On the one hand, this is to defend its own prerogatives, which in particular equal the consultation rights provided for in the Treaties; on the other hand, this is triggered by infringements of the principle of subsidiarity by a legislative act.

The CoR has 350 members and as many alternate members, all of whom are elected local or regional representatives. Austria deploys twelve members and twelve alternate members. The members are not subject to any form of instruction and exercise their mandate in total independence in the general interest of the EU.

Objectives

It is the task of the CoR to involve regional and local authorities in the decision-making process of the European Union. For this purpose, it submits political recommendations regarding the strategies of the European Union and also assumes a consultative role in the development of EU legislation, mainly with regard to the enactment of regulations and directives. With increasing frequency, the CoR tries to contribute the experience and expertise of regional and local authorities at the earliest possible moment of the legislative process. In this, it aims to serve as a link between citizens and EU and to promote the idea of multi-level governance. EU legislation must often be implemented directly on-site in towns and cities, municipalities and regions. The earlier these authorities participate in the legislative process, the easier will the practical application of these provisions prove to be.

Working methods

The CoR adopts its opinions in the context of six plenary sessions per year. Preparatory discussions take place in specialised thematic committees called "Commissions". The CoR has six Commissions, which meet five times annually:

• COTER: charged with economic, social and territorial cohesion, Structural Funds, urban policy, transport policy and territorial co-operation
• NAT: charged with consumer protection, fisheries, public health, civil protection, rural development and tourism
• ECON: charged with the internal market, industrial policy, economic and monetary policy and competition
• SEDEC: charged with social policy, education and training, employment, research and culture
• CIVEX: charged with governance, external relations and neighbourhood policy, enlargement and the area of freedom, security and justice (immigration, asylum and security)
• ENVE: charged with climate change, energy, environment, space policy and Trans-European networks in the energy sector

Each Commission appoints a rapporteur for every CoR opinion. Supported by experts, this rapporteur is responsible for formulating a draft.

The President serves as the political steering authority, co-ordinates the work of the Commissions and plenary sessions and defines the political work programme. Moreover, the CoR has appointed a Commission for Financial and Administrative Affairs (CAFA). Its main task lies in developing a budget and monitoring its management.

All work is supported by a Secretariat-General with a staff of approximately 500 employees domiciled in Brussels.

Participation of Vienna

Mayor Michael Häupl is Vienna's political representatives in the CoR.

Executive City Councillor Renate Brauner and City Council member Peter Florianschütz are alternate members. Vienna holds one each of the four Austrian seats in the COTER and SEDEC Commissions. All members as well as, respectively, all alternate members duly authorised by a member are entitled to participate in plenary sessions.

At the administrative level, all co-ordination within the context of the Vienna City Administration is handled by Municipal Department 27 - European Affairs (MA 27).

Importance for Vienna

Participation in the CoR ensures the institutional involvement of cities, regions and municipalities in the EU. At the same time, the CoR also acts as a platform for the exchange of information and for networking. Constant and intensive encounters with representatives of cities, regions and municipalities of the 28 EU Member States result in a steady flow of novel ideas that inspire day-to-day work at home. In this way, Vienna has succeeded time and again in generating support for its core interests - services of general interest and preservation of ample leeway for cities to render services on behalf of the population - also at the European level.

Successful examples

In 2006, Mayor Michael Häupl served as the rapporteur on "Cohesion Policy and Cities: The Urban Contribution to Growth and Jobs in the Regions". The same year, City Council member Andreas Schieder prepared the CoR opinion on the "European Agenda for Integration". In 2012, City Council member Elisabeth Vitouch authored the CoR opinion on the "Proposal for a Decision of the European Parliament and of the Council Establishing a Union Action for the European Capitals of Culture for the Years 2020 to 2033". Many suggestions from these and other CoR opinions were incorporated into the final texts adopted by the Council and the European Parliament.