EPP-CoR members lead debate with European Commission Vice-President Frans Timmermans.
Direct funding for cities and regions to implement the EU Green Deal and engagement of local and regional authorities were the main issued discussed by EPP-CoR members during a debate on the Eu Green Deal with European Commission Vice-President Frans Timmermans responsible for the European Green Deal.
Opening the debate Apostolos Tzitzikostas Governor of the region of Central Macedonia and President of the European Committee of the Regions said that the 55% 2030 EU climate target: is not only feasible but necessary. He added "the EU budget and the Next Generation EU will put the wind in our sails. But, it is our regions, cities and villages that are the engines that will propel us forward towards climate neutrality."
Addressing the 140th plenary sessions, Timmermans invited the members of the European Committee of the Regions to become ambassadors of the European Green Deal insisting that cities and regions will make the difference in achieving the Green Deal.
Juan Manuel Moreno Bonilla, President of Andalucia and Rapporteur on the Climate Law said that the European climate law is one of the pillars of the European Green Deal and that it will be key for the European economy in the next decade. However, he pointed out that regions and citied need properly calibrated direct funds to implement projects. His appeal was supported by Rafal Trzaskowski, Mayor of Warsaw and CoR Rapporteur on the Climate Pact. He said that local governments have been hit hard by the pandemic and thus it had become even harder to implement sustainable projects. He said "We call on the European Commission to grant cities and regions direct funds for the green transition." Hanna Zdanowska, Mayor of Łódź also raised the matter. "Cities and regions need direct funding otherwise it will be difficult to implement the European Green Deal." She added that due to the pandemic there has been a huge increase in packaging material. "We should think about how to manage this waste or produce eco-friendly packaging."
Reacting to the various appeals Timmermans said "we need to find ways to work more directly with cities and regions, but we also need to convince national authorities. Party political considerations should not hamper our green deal ambitions."
Markku Markkula, Chair of the Board of Helsinki Region welcomed the statement of European Commission Vice-President encouraging CoR members to serve as the European Green Deal channel to cities and regions. He said "We are ready to showcase what does it mean that sustainability is the “new normal” for all communities, businesses and individuals." Franck Proust insisted that cities and regions cannot fight climate change alone and that Europe had to strengthen its relationship with international partners.
"Regions and cities must be at the helm of the ship, and not just the crew who simply follow the orders of the national government." said Rastislav Trnka, Chairman of Košice Self Governing Region while Arno Kompatscher, Governor of South Tyrol, underlined that we need to focus on local circular economy in order to support local farmers and producers.