For summer 2015, our Just the Facts series will focus on the European Union’s institutions and agencies, starting with the Committee of the Regions.

Overview
Created in 1994, the Committee of the Regions (CoR) is made up of 353 regionally elected delegates from 28 Member States. As the EU’s assembly of regional and local representatives, its members are entitled to share their opinion on EU legislation from a regional government perspective.

The scope of the Committee of the Regions
The European Commission, Council of the EU and European Parliament must consult the CoR for an opinion when introducing EU legislation in the areas of health, education, employment, social policy, economic and social cohesion, transport, energy and climate change. The CoR acts as a forum for local leaders to discuss common obstacles at a regional, not national level.

Following the adoption of the Lisbon Treaty, if an institution fails to consult the CoR for an opinion on legislation relating to regions, the CoR has the power to bring action against that institution before the European Court of Justice (ECJ). The Committee may also bring a case before the ECJ if the EU fails to respect the principle of subsidiarity when drafting and implementing legislation. The principle of subsidiarity means EU decisions are to be taken at the closest possible level to the EU citizens; therefore the CoR plays a key role in ensuring this principle is respected. The CoR also has the ability to issue an opinion on its own initiative.

Make-up of the Committee
Each Member State nominates representatives who are appointed by the European Council for a renewable five year term and these representatives must be local or regional authority members. The number of representatives per Member State is a reflection of the size of that Member State’s population. Representatives may also elect to become affiliated with a European Parliament political group in the Committee. Five such political groups currently exist on the Committee:

• European People’s Party ( EPP);
• Party of European Socialists ( PES);
• Group of the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe ( ALDE);
• European Alliance Group ( EA);
• European Conservatives and Reformists Group (ECR).

Members may also choose to stay independent from a political group.

The CoR elects its own President to serve for a two and a half year term. Currently the Presidency is held by Markku Markkula, a Finnish delegate from EPP.

Irish Membership
The Irish government nominates nine delegates as full members of the CoR and nine members who serve as alternates and attend if any of the full members are unable to do so. The Irish delegates are all City or County Councillors:

• Councillor Maria Byrne (Fine Gael/EPP), Limerick City & County Council
• Councillor Rose Conway Walsh (Sinn Féin/Independent), Mayo County Council
• Councillor Kate Feeney (Fianna FáIl/ALDE), Dún Laoghaire Rathdown County Council
• Councillor Mary Freehill (Labour/PES), Dublin City Council
• Councillor Jerry Lundy (Fianna FáIl/ALDE), Sligo County Council
• Councillor Kieran McCarthy (Independent/EA), Cork City Council
• Councillor Hughie McGrath (Independent/EA), Tipperary County Council
• Councillor Neale Richmond (Fine Gael/EPP), Dún Laoghaire Rathdown County Council
• Councillor Enda Stenson (Independent/EA), Leitrim County Council

The Irish delegation receives secretariat support from the Irish Regions Office in Brussels and the East and Midlands Regional Assembly. The delegation Chairperson is Councillor Mary Freehill and Councillor Neale Richmond is the Vice Chairperson.

Conclusion
Since the Treaty of Lisbon, the Committee of the Regions has seen a steady increase in both budget and power. The CoR has been praised for its positive effort to bring EU decisions closer to the European public. As Member States vary hugely in political and cultural landscape, the Committee is a useful place for regional leaders from different places to discuss common problems.

For more jargon-free briefings, visit EM Ireland’s Just the Facts webpage.

– The Team at European Movement Ireland