A new Greens group established in the CoR!

In February 2020, members of the European Committee of the Regions (CoR) from Green parties and beyond, came together to form a new political group in the CoR. After decades of being involved in policy making on local and regional levels in many member states, the beginning of the CoR mandate 2020-2025 finally saw enough Greens in the CoR to establish our own group.

The group compromises of 20 members and alternates from 11 EU member states: Germany, Denmark, Slovenia, France, Belgium, Luxembourg, Finland, Czech Republic, the Netherlands, Sweden and Ireland. They hold vast collective experience as members and presidents of regional parliaments, members of city and municipality councils or city mayors. Familiar topics and policy fields include environmental protection, energy transition, sustainable agriculture, migrant integration, cross-border cooperation, trade, equality, development cooperation and conflict resolution, amongst others. Many are new members to the CoR, while others have already been members, belonging to one of the five other political groups existing already prior to the setup of the Greens.

The group’s inaugural meeting was held on Tuesday 11 February. Following the example of the Greens/EFA in the European Parliament and the European Green Party, the Greens in CoR decided on a co-chair system based on gender balance. Ms Satu Haapanen and Mr Bernd Voß were appointed as the group’s co-president. Besides chairing the Greens in the CoR, Ms Haapanen sits on the City Council and chairs the Education and Culture Board of Oulu, in Northern Finland. Mr Voß is a member of the Schleswig-Holstein State Parliament in Northern Germany.

Despite our small size, the Greens aim to play an active and visible role in the CoR, now being represented in all of the six CoR thematic commissions. We are hoping to bring new energy and enthusiasm to the CoR, particularly when it comes to environmental protection and the implementation of the European Green Deal.