The 129th Plenary Session of the European Committee of the Regions will be kicked off on Wednesday 16 May with a thematic debate on culture. Participants scheduled include Tibor Navracsics, Commissioner for Education, Culture, Youth and Sport and Audrey Azoulay, Director-general of UNESCO. The following day, CoR members will exchange views on the MMF with Günther Oettinger, Commissioner for Budget & Human Resources. Two EPP Group MEPs have been invited to join the Plenary: Elisabetta Gardini (IT/EPP), Member of the European Parliament will make a statement on the review of the EU Civil Protection Mechanism and Lambertz van Nistelrooij (NL/EPP), Member of the REGI committee of the European Parliament and Rapporteur on 7th Cohesion report, who will speak about strengthening innovation in Europe's Regions. The 4 EPP-led opinions up for adoption are:

• Quality of water intended for human consumption from Mark Weinmeister (DE/EPP), Secretary of State for European Affairs, Land of Hesse Rules for the internal market in natural gas from Mauro D'Attis (IT/EPP), Member of Roccafiorita Municipal Council (Messina) The European Maritime and Fisheries Fund (EMFF) beyond 2020 from Alberto Nuñez Feijoo (ES/EPP), President of Galicia Strengthening European Identity through Education and Culture from Tanya Hristova (BG/EPP), Mayor of Gabrovo Municipality

Read the newsletter As usual, the Plenary Session will be preceded by meetings of the EPP-CoR Bureau and the EPP-CoR Group. 129th Plenary Session of the European Committee of the Regions documents

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15 May:

• 14:30-16:00 – EPP Group Bureau meeting (JDE70)
• 17:30-21:00 – Meeting of the Bureau of the CoR(JDE52)

16 May:

• 10:30-13:00 – EPP Group meeting (JDE62)
• 15:00-21:00 – 129th Plenary Session of the Committee of the Regions (GASP, Charlemage building – European Commission)

17 May:

• 09:00-13:00 - 129th Plenary Session of the Committee of the Regions (GASP, Charlemage building – European Commission)