30 Years of the European Committee of the Regions: a call for greater collaboration Karl Vanlouwe

During the 30th-anniversary plenary of the European Committee of the Regions (CoR), European Alliance President Karl Vanlouwe reflected on the committee’s achievements while urging stronger integration of regional voices in EU policymaking. Welcoming European Parliament President Roberta Metsola for her continued engagement, he expressed hope for more active collaboration from European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, highlighting the need for regional perspectives to shape policies effectively.

Vanlouwe emphasized that the principles of subsidiarity and multi-level governance are not consistently upheld, with member states often sidelining regional authorities. He pointed to regions’ vital role in addressing crises, such as aiding Ukraine during the war and responding to recent climate disasters in Spain and Portugal. He also called for an EU Blue Deal to combat flooding and droughts, stressing the importance of flexible funding for disaster relief.

Our president concluded by advocating for an open dialogue between EU institutions and regional representatives, ensuring the voices of Europe’s 1.2 million elected politicians are heard. Emphasizing the strength of Europe’s linguistic and cultural diversity, he reaffirmed the CoR’s commitment to delivering meaningful results for citizens in the years to come.