President of the Government chosen as PES candidate for the Presidency of the Committee of the Regions
The President of the Government was chosen today, by absolute majority, as the candidate of the Group of the Party of European Socialists (PES) for the presidency of the Committee of the Regions, an advisory body to the European institutions made up of regional and local elected representatives from all the Member States of the European Union.
"The way I regard this candidacy has to do with the citizens of our regions. It is about how we, not only as regional and local elected representatives, but also as members of this EU body, can make a difference for the better in their lives," said Vasco Cordeiro at the presentation of his candidacy in Brussels.
Vasco Cordeiro, who submitted his candidacy as President of the Government, received 43 votes in favour, representing 61 percent of the votes cast, while Vincenzo Bianco, a member of Catania City Council in Italy, received 28 votes.
The Group of the Party of European Socialists is composed of more than a hundred socialists, social democrats and progressives elected at regional and local level throughout the European Union. It is the second largest political group of the Committee of the Regions, bringing together about 350 members.
The President of the Committee of the Regions, a position that can only be taken up by regionally and locally elected representatives, is primarily responsible for guiding the Committee's work, chairing plenary sessions and officially representing it with European institutions and other interregional cooperation bodies.
In his statement of candidacy, the President of the Government expressed his "strong belief" that the Committee of the Regions can make this difference in the lives of citizens, both in terms of the major challenges that regions face and in terms of their daily needs.
In this regard, Vasco Cordeiro pointed the need for institutions to create the conditions that will guarantee the sustainability of the European development process in its environmental, social and economic aspects.
"Basically, it is about being an increasingly fair and inclusive project. I am deeply convinced that the European Union and the Committee of the Regions can make this difference for the better in achieving these results," said Vasco Cordeiro. According to him, the strength of the European project lies precisely in the way that "the European Union can increasingly be anchored in this need of strengthening its connection with citizens.
This is the first time that a President of the Azorean Government has been appointed to be the candidate of his political group for the presidency of the Committee of the Regions, whose main task is to represent the voice and position of Europe's regional and local authorities.
This morning's decision will also be ratified by the PES Group at its inaugural meeting for the new 2020-2025 mandate on February 3, 2020, before being put to the final vote by all members of the Committee of the Regions in plenary session.
It should be recalled that the European Commission, the Council and the Parliament have to consult the Committee of the Regions when drafting legislation on issues where regional and local authorities have a say, such as employment, social policy, economic and social cohesion, transport, energy and climate change.
Vasco Cordeiro has been Vice-President of the Committee of the Regions, representing Portugal, since 2015.