The October Plenary Session coincides with OPEN DAYS, an annual, four-day event during which cities and regions showcase their capacity to create growth and jobs, implement European Union cohesion policy, and prove the importance of the local and regional level for good European governance. In addition to the EPP Group seminar on Cities of the Future, there will also be speeches from Corina Creƫu, Commissioner for Regional Policy, Markku Markkula, President of the European Committee of the Regions, Ramón Luis Valcárcel Siso, Vice-President of the European Parliament and Carlos Moedas, Commissioner for Research, Science and Innovation.

Just two weeks after the EPP Group hosted its seventh Study Visit for students, Günther H. Oettinger, European Commissioner for Digital Economy and Society will address the Plenary Session. He will not only witness the adoption of the CoR's official position on the Digital Single Market from Helma Kuhn-Theis, but also answer some of the questions posed by the study visit on ways to boost e-literacy and skills.

Local and regional authorities have been doing their best to manage the influx of migrants in the most humanitarian way possible. But, solidarity from the EU is urgently needed in order to provide a response that accommodates everyone's needs sustainably: this is the message that Federica Mogherini, High representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, is expected to deliver at the CoR Plenary Session on 13 October. Michael Schneider, President of the EPP Group, and Jesús Gamallo Aller, will respond on behalf of the EPP Group. To prepare for this debate on topics such as the sustainability of Schengen and Dublin III in contexts of humanitarian crisis, cultural and social integration of migrants and refugees and how to develop a credible, international role for the EU to avoid pull-factor effects in the countries of origin, Janis Emmanouilidis, Director of Studies at the European Policy Centre, will address the EPP Group meeting the day before.

In addition to the Commissioners mentioned above, Phil Hogan, European Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development will address the Plenary. Making life easier for farmers and administrators leads to a better Common Agricultural Policy. A simpler CAP means fewer errors, real delivery on policy goals such as greening, and more impact for the EU taxpayer." Mark Weinmeister, NAT coordinator and EPP Group shadow rapporteur on the simplification of the CAP, and Nikola Dobroslavić will respond on behalf of the Group. Miguel Arias Cañete, European Commissioner for Climate Action and Energy Debate, will also participate in the Plenary. The EPP Group will actively respond to the interventions and will be followed by short reactions from Pascal Mangin, CoR rapporteur on the Energy Union, Sirpa Hertell and Witold Stępień.

This time 8 EPP-led opinions are on the plenary session agenda: