24 Regions to Europe: “Involve us in the Recovery Plan…”
EU heavyweights wrote to Brussels on Dec. 3 to “participate at the highest level in discussions” while respecting the principle of subsidiarity
“We ask all decision-makers to recognize the added value of the territory for the recovery agenda,” reads the text of a missive sent on December 3 to the highest institutions of the European Union by 24 local public bodies of the highest rank.
Italy, “A centralist approach to the Recovery Fund”.
The signatory regions are Germany’s Bavaria, Hesse and Baden-Württemberg, Italy’s Emilia-Romagna, Lazio plus the Autonomous Province of Bolzano-Alto Adige/Südtirol, Belgium’s Flanders and Wallonia, Spain’s Catalonia, Valencia, the Basque Country and the Balearic Islands, the Austrian Vorarlberg, Tyrol and Lower Austria, the French New Aquitaine and Occitania-Mediterranean Pyrenees, the Finnish Åland Islands, the Voivodeship of Greater Poland and five Croatian Counties, Bjelovar and Bilogora, Krapina and Zagorje, Koprivnica and Križevci, Međimurje and Varaždin.
The aim is to be actively involved in Recovery Plan plans and projects. “In line with the principle of subsidiarity, regions should participate in EU discussions on recovery at the highest level. We ask to be actively included in the design and implementation of the Recovery and the national plans adopted for the purpose. We ask the political leaders of the EU institutions and the Member States to intervene directly at the regional level”.
Addressees: from Ursula von der Leyen to David Sassoli
The recipients of the appeal, launched as part of the collaboration involving the network of 24 Regions, are the President of the EU Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, the President of the EU Council, Charles Michel, the President of the European Parliament, David Sassoli, and the heads of government of the three European rotating presidencies: the current one, Germany’s Angela Merkel, and the following ones with Antonio Costa, Portugal, and Slovenia’s Janez Jansa.
“The Regions are ready, willing and able to contribute to a sustainable EU recovery policy that addresses the common challenges we face together,” the communication further reads.
