Eight months before the European elections, Vasco Cordeiro affirms that “More cohesion and a stronger role for local and regional authorities are the necessary antidote to the growing discontent in Europe”.
The president of the Committee of the Regions, in his annual speech on the state of the regions and cities of the European Union, which coincides with the publication of the EU Annual Report 2023 on the state of the regions and cities, stated that “2023 is already a record year – for the worst reasons – with the hottest summer ever recorded. With the extreme heat came forest fires, heat waves, extreme droughts, but also storms and floods”.
The climate crisis “it takes lives, ruins our economy and threatens our future” highlighted, and “It also reinforces inequalities. The consequences and impacts that are already being felt on the climate, the economy and infrastructure can also affect political and democratic institutions.”explained the former president of the regional government of the Azores. “Without the involvement and mobilization of regions and municipalities, it is not possible to translate global commitments into local actions”highlighted the president of the Committee of the Regions.
Regarding the reconstruction of Ukraine and the support of municipalities and regions, he added: “The European Committee of the Regions will play its role in ensuring that the local and regional dimension is taken into account and that key policies, such as cohesion policy, remain a central instrument for long-term investment in all territories. We must be prepared “For this historic step in our common European project and we must be aware that, whatever the cost, it would be much more expensive to close the doors of Europe to those who want to be part of this incredible political journey.”
As presented in the report, social inequalities are increasing across Europe: “More than 32 million Europeans will not be able to afford adequate food and 40 million will not be able to keep their homes warm in 2022”. For Vasco Cordeiro, “social cohesion in all our territories must continue to be a common objective. Local and regional authorities are the first to face the challenges and are the first to respond, despite the costs”, also demanding “European solutions , but based on local responses, such as energy and food production or personalized support for people, especially the most vulnerable.”
Source: TSF
