The European Committee of the Regions (CoR) has urged the European Union to focus more sharply on the local and regional level of government in the Western Balkans as the prospects of countries in the region becoming members of the EU rise.
This year's Enlargement Day faces a changed political reality with a major war and huge geopolitical shifts in Europe. The Russian invasion of Ukraine, and the ensuing EU membership applications of Ukraine, Georgia and Moldova have changed the landscape of the enlargement policy. For the first time, delegates from those countries will attend the event.
The European Committee of the Regions (CoR) on 29 June welcomed the increasing attention paid to local and regional government in the European Union's enlargement process, but added that the European Commission should now go further by focusing on encouraging national governments to cooperate more with regional and local governments. The recommendations are contained in the Committee's response to the European Commission's 2021 reports on reforms made by countries wishing to join the European Union.
Joint Consultative Committee between the European Committee of the Regions and Montenegro held its 16th meeting on 3 November 2021, in Brussels-based hybrid format, under the joint leadership of its two Co-Chairs, Roberto Ciambetti (IT/ECR), President of the Regional Council of Veneto, and Aleksandar Kašćelan, Mayor of Cetinje.
On 13 July 2021, the CoR, in cooperation with the Slovenian Presidency of the Council of the EU, will hold the Enlargement Day. After June's meetings of the CoR's Working Groups and Joint Consultative Committees with candidate countries and potential candidates, this unique annual event, organized online this year, will discuss the role of regions and cities in the EU accession process and sustainable recovery pathways in the region.
The European Committee of the Regions is in frequent exchange with partners in candidate countries and potential candidates for EU enlargement, Eastern Partnership countries, Mediterranean partner countries and beyond. Worldwide, regional and local leaders are at the forefront of the fight against the pandemic.
Roberto Ciambetti (IT/ECR), President of the Regional Council of Veneto, and Aleksandar Kašćelan, Mayor of the Old Royal Capital City of Cetinje, Montenegro, the Co-Chairs of the Joint Consultative Committee of the European Committee of the Regions (CoR) and Montenegro (JCC Montenegro), held a video meeting on Friday, 8 May 2020. The talks demonstrated how CoR members are constantly engaged in cooperation with local and regional authorities in the EU candidate countries, such as Montenegro.
The Enlargement Day is the European Committee of the Regions' annual flagship event on EU enlargement policy.
Sustainable development and coherent, fair and transparent reform of human-resources management will need to be central concerns for Montenegro's mayors well beyond the country's possible accession to the European Union, local and regional leaders from the European Committee of the Regions (CoR) told their Montenegrin counterparts on 18 October. Demands made by the EU are not just pre-conditions, they said, but reflect a basic reality that local and regional authorities within the EU need constantly to adjust policies and procedures to serve local needs.
In meeting with the European Committee of the Regions, Montenegro's mayors focus on efforts to spread benefits of economic growth and to prepare for EU membership.
