RactiondeRamonLuisValcarcelSiso,prsidentduComitdesRgions,au projetdersolutionvisantlabolitionduCdR MrClaey'sandMsLePen'smotiontodismantletheCommitteeofthe Regionsseemstobebasedonthepremisethatitisorganisedexclusivelyalong politicalpartylines.Themotionignoresthefactthatmembersofthe Committeearepartofnationaldelegations,selectedbyMemberStatesandso representnationalintereststoo.Underthecurrentorganisation,byallowing memberstocombinebothpoliticalandnationalintereststheCommitteecan beconsideredasasortofaEUfederalsenatethatgivesqualityandlegitimacy totheEuropeanUnion'sdecisionmakingprocess. However,MrClaey'sandMsLePen'sproposalsdeservethehighestlevelof attention.Eventhoughtheyincludepopulistshortcutswithaclearobjectiveof dismantlingtheEU,italsoineffecthighlightsaconcerntheCommitteedeeply shares:thatthereisagrowinggapbetweencitizens'needsandEurope.And thisgapmustbereduced.

.Yettheapproachsetoutinthemotiontoresolve thisissueiscompletelyineffective.Ifwearetobridgethegap,iftheEUisto listenandreacttothecitizensthatitserves,theanswermustbetackledby involvingallstakeholderswithastrongermorebindingcommitment. TheCommitteeoftheRegionswascreated20yearsagoanditsmembers mayors,regionalpresidentsandlocallyelectedpoliticiansfromeverymember stateworkeverydaytobridgethegapbetweenBrusselsanditscitizens.We cannotforgetthatthreequartersofallEUlegislationisdeliveredbylocaland regionalauthorities.TheCommitteeensuresthatlocallyandregionallyelected leaderscanhelpshape,influenceandcontributetothepolicyprocess.The CommitteeensuresthatEUlegislationismoreeffective,thatcommunitiesare heard,andthatthedemocraticdeficitthathassparkedquestionsaboutthe legitimacyoftheEUisreduced. Wehaveandwillalwaysbecommittedtodeliveringvaluableproposals, offeringavoicetolocalandregionalcommunitieswithinthelegislative process.

RactiondeHenryMalosse,prsidentduComitEconomiqueetSocial Europen,auprojetdersolutionvisantlabolitionduCESE LesdputseuropensLePenetClaeys,respectivementFNetVlaamsBelang, auraientilstoutsimplementpeurdelasocitcivilequisexprime? Eneffet,endemandantlasuppressionduCESEdansunprojetdersolution, cesdeuxminentsparlementaires(noninscrits)fontunerfrenceexplicite mondplacementenIndele10marsdernierenrponselinvitationduDala Lama. LasocitcivileeuropennereprsenteparleCESEsebatpourlesvaleurs fondamentalesenEuropecommedanslemonde:libertdexpression, dmocratie,respectdelapersonnehumaine,cohsionsocialeetlibert syndicale.Desvaleursquisontlopposduspectredesvaleursdfenduespar lespartisextrmistes. C'estlademandedesautoritschinoisesqueleCESEs'estengagsurla questiontibtaine. Aujourd'hui,legouvernementcommunistedesChinoism'accused'interfrer dansleursaffairesintrieuresalorsquenoussoutenons"l'approchemoyenne" enfaveurd'unelargeautonomieduTibet,basesurledialogue. LacollusiondespositionsduparticommunistechinoisetdesdputsLePenet Claeysestplusquesurprenante. CettepositiondesdeuxparlementairesvisvisduCESEestdautantplus incohrentequejeviensdesignerunaccorddecooprationavecleParlement europenetleComitdesrgions.Cetaccordinstaureunecoopration politiqueetadministrativeentrenostroisinstitutionspourconstituerune coalitioncitoyennepermettant,entreautres,demieuxdfendrelesvaleurs europennes.Accordquiadailleurstapprouvlunanimitparlebureau duParlementeuropen