The CoR plenary session started today with a minute of silence for the victims of flooding in Spain, and with statements by the presidents of the regions of Valencia, Castilla-La Mancha, Andalusia and Catalonia that were most affected by the floods. Their interventions underlined the need to improve coordination between different levels of government and urged for more support from the EU to the affected people and territories, as well as to other regions and cities to boost their resilience against the deadly impacts of climate change.
The assembly of EU regions and cities adopted fresh recommendations for the renewal of the EU's climate policy. The opinion prepared by Markku Markkula (FI/EPP), President of Helsinki Region, endorses the European Commission's proposal to establish a 90% net emissions reduction target by 2040. It calls for the new European Commission to lead a systematic transformation where cities and regions have a leading role in accelerating innovation, engaging citizens for change and promoting sustainable production and consumption habits. It also underscores the necessity of establishing new mechanisms to develop robust innovation ecosystems, mobilize substantial private investment and enhance the effectiveness of EU’s cohesion and R&I funding in supporting climate initiatives for both mitigation and adaptation.
The rapporteur said during the meeting that “The imperative to achieve climate neutrality and resilience transcends environmental concerns; it is crucial for the vitality of the European Union, touching on every aspect of our future — from industrial strength and competitiveness to self-sufficiency, security, and societal well-being. This encompasses health, employment, and both urban and rural policies. What the EU requires now is not incremental change but a sweeping, Europe-wide systemic transformation. This shift must be underpinned by innovative, multi-level leadership that inspires every stakeholder to engage from their unique vantage point. This can only be achieved through robust public-private cooperation in research, development, and innovation, integrating technology-neutral and nature-based solutions.”
After the floods in Spain that claimed more than 200 human lives and other climate disasters that have caused significant damage across Europe in the recent months, local and regional leaders have highlighted the importance of cohesion policy funds for boosting resilience and developing adaptation measures at local level. Furthermore, with the negotiations at the COP29 climate conference reaching the crucial final days, the members of the European Committee of the Regions (CoR) urged for an ambitious outcome ensuring support for climate action locally and globally.
Carlos Mazón Guixot (ES/EPP), President of the Autonomous Region of Valencia told the CoR members that "The Valencia region has been victim of one of the worst natural disasters that Spain has known throughout its most recent history. There is no alternative to the solidarity that has been part of the European project since its beginning. The people of the province of Valencia cannot feel alone at this moment: they must start seeing the results of our decisions and actions as soon as possible. Above all, they must have the certainty and guarantee that Europe will not leave them to their fate."
Juan Manuel Moreno Bonilla (ES/EPP), President of Andalusia and member of the CoR delegation to the COP29 (intervening in direct from Baku) said that ”The emergencies arising from climate change are intense and frequent, and their effects tragic. It is necessary to strengthen the regions' capacity to act, their competences and their financial allocations, to provide them with more support and to make them more resilient against the risks. However, the commitment on mitigation must remain firm. More national governments need to involve their subnational governments in climate action plans ahead of next year's COP30 in Belém, Brazil.”
Gonzalo Capellán de Miguel, President of the Government of La Rioja, highlighted that "Climate change affects the primary sector in Europe in general, and the wine sector in particular. It’s crucial to support the wine sector, which plays a key role not only socially, historically, and culturally, but also in the primary economic activity of many rural municipalities. We urge the activation of all possible policies to offer greater support to the wine sector in addressing its current and future challenges."
Aires Pereira, Mayor of Póvoa de Varzim, said that "We need to think about what has been achieved in the last 29 COPs. I would like to challenge all here today to reflect upon the fact that Europe only emits 10% of Greenhouse Gases. Even if this value was 0 we still would not be able to change the route climate change is taking."
While Mirjam Sterk, Regional Minister of Utrecht, said that we need greater cooperation between municipalities in order to achieve the ambitious climate goals that we have set, Konstantinos Agorastos, Regional Councillor of Thessaly Region highlighted the need for rapid access to financial resources in order to fight the effects of the climate crisis, which have consequences that affect all aspects of our lives, economies and societies.
