Brussels – A seminar on “Italy’s participation in the Committee of the Regions” was held today (April 17) at the headquarters of the European Economic and Social Committee. It is an event aimed at bringing to light the proximity of European institutions to the citizens through close cooperation with local authorities: regions, provinces, and municipalities. Alberto Cirio, head of delegation to the Committee of the Regions and president of Piedmont, chaired the meeting. Several institutions were present, including Marco Marsilio, President of the Abruzzo region, Luca Menesini, President of the Province of Lucca, and Arianna Censi, Councillor for Mobility for the municipality of Milan.
All guests at the seminar agreed that political differences must be overcome and ironed out to advance Italian demands in the EU. The purpose of the Committee of the Regions can be summed up in President Cirio’s maxim: “To speak to the European Union with one voice, which is the Italian voice, even if this is composed of different local souls.”
During the seminar, the importance of working to promote three policy priorities was stressed: first, ensuring the resilience of territories and local communities, including through the use of cohesion funds, which cannot diminish. Another point is the continuation of the ecological transition, which must be just and must ensure economic growth and the competitiveness of European businesses. Finally, the EU must simplify its rules and administrative processes, including through digitization and artificial intelligence.
In 2023-24, 18 of the 76 opinions approved by the Committee of the Regions (over 23 percent) had a member of the Italian delegation as rapporteur. These dealt with issues of the utmost importance and topicality: from responses to the crisis in the agricultural world to European food policy. Particular attention was paid to the need to defend the Mediterranean diet and the wine supply chain, little understood by some northern countries according to the Committee of the Regions.
President Cirio is satisfied with the work done, but “There is a need for the EU to listen more to local authorities,” adding, “Cohesion policy can be
good to the European institutions if they know how to grasp the instances of the territories.” Milan City Councilor Arianna Censi also agreed: “We have shown that we know how to collaborate regardless of political colour for the good of Italy, and this is undoubtedly positive.” Abruzzo President Marsilio was of the same opinion, and, on the subject of the green transition, said to be “convinced that to work it must put the economic development of our territories first, we cannot risk that doing business becomes more disadvantageous in Europe than in other parts of the world.”
English version by the Translation Service of Withub
