EA Newsletter: Local actions can be stepping stones for achieving worldwide goals

On the eve of the COP28 it is very clear that we can only achieve objectives set out at an EU level locally and regionally. To achieve these goals, local and regional governments need to be part of the decision-making process as our group representative in the CoR’s delegation Andries Gryffroy has mentioned. We wish them all the very best in their endeavours at COP28.

The local approach was also highlighted by the European Free Alliance when adopting their manifesto and selecting their spitzenkandidaten Raül Romeva and Maylis Roßberg for the elections. The EU cannot be a top-down process and must reflect local needs, local priorities and local languages and culture. This is also why I support Catalan, Basque and Galician becoming official EU languages. We have had the privilege of listening to those beautiful languages at the CoR Plenary, something which has not been possible in the European Parliament to date.

As the EU undertakes its mid-term evaluation of the MFF, it is time to insist that funding such as the #NextGenerationEU should be done at a regional level and not centrally in the Member States. The regions are best placed to have projects which will drive economic and social development.

Peace is something that we should not take for granted, the terrible loss of life in the war between Israel and Hamas shows that we need to do everything to achieve an enduring peace. The hostages need to be released to ensure that innocent civilians won’t become a human shield for terrorists. A humanitarian crisis is unfolding before our eyes and this needs to be addressed as a matter of urgency in the Security Council of the United Nations.

Finally, as this is the last newsletter before the holiday season, we wish all of you a very Merry Christmas and a Happy and Peaceful New Year