The OECD chose the Plenary Session of the European Committee of the Regions to launch its 2016 edition of the Regions at a Glance publication, which shows high disparities in people's living conditions across regions and cities. Addressing the OECD Deputy Secretary-General Mari Kiviniemi on behalf of the EPP Group, Mieczysław Struk said "This study provides us with a clear overview of regional disparities and helps us to better understand what needs to be done to further improve the quality of life our citizens." Against the backdrop of economic recovery, he summed up the mood in the chamber: "we face a huge challenge: we need to do more with less."
Turning to the pressing issue of demographic challenges that EU regions and cities face, the study shows that the number of elderly people has increased more than five times as much as the rest of the population in the last 15 years. "The present EU response to demographic challenges is partial and poorly developed as well as being focused too much on ageing" Juan Vicente Herrera, the CoR's rapporteur on the subject, warned. "We should prioritise the creation of opportunities to help to attract and retain young people in all regions and to foster balanced growth between densely populated areas and areas experiencing population loss, focusing on the provision of high quality public services for all citizens" he added.
The EPP Group in the CoR will be holding a workshop at the European Week of Regions and Cities dedicated to turning demographic challenges into opportunities on 13 October.