Young Elected Politicians, EU councillors and members of the Renew Europe group in the European Committee of the Regions (CoR) met in Brussels, Belgium on 4 December 2024 for the last Group Meeting of the year and current CoR mandate. The event focused on shaping priorities for the next five years and featured discussions with MEP Dan Barna, Renew Europe Vice-President responsible for relations with the CoR.
In the face of political instability, security threats, and socio-economic crises, liberals and democrats reaffirmed their readiness to tackle the European Union’s pressing challenges during the Renew Europe Group meeting held on December 4 in the European Committee of the Regions (CoR). Renew Europe Vice-President MEP Dan Barna joined the session to outline his responsibilities in fostering cooperation between the group’s delegations in the European Parliament (EP) and CoR. Barna briefed attendees on the Renew Europe Group’s composition in the EP, the new College of Commissioners—five of whom belong to our political family—and his priorities in the Foreign Affairs (AFET) Committee and the EP delegation to the US Congress. Members engaged in a broad discussion, with our SEDEC Coordinator Anne Rudisuhli emphasizing the need to protect unaccompanied migrant minors arriving in Europe. Dovydas Kaminskas, Mayor of Tauragė, Lithuania – a city bordering Kaliningrad – expressed concerns over security threats stemming from Russia’s aggression near Europe’s borders. Andres Jaadla of Rakvere, Estonia, presented ideas from his CoR Opinion on making housing not only affordable but also smart and sustainable. Urmas Klaas, Mayor of Tartu, Estonia, and Gunars Ansins, Mayor of Liepāja, Latvia, shared experiences as city hosts of the European Capital of Culture initiative. Dan Barna also addressed Romania’s recent presidential election, noting its unprecedented use of TikTok in bringing extremist leaders to power—a development with significant implications for Europe. The meeting underlined Renew Europe’s commitment to proactive solutions and stronger cross-institutional collaboration as the EU navigates complex challenges.
“Information is easily accessible these days, but receiving it from the local level is extremely important for the Parliament to legislate and essential to gauge effects on the ground. We must make use of existing networks, such as the COR’s EU Councillors Network.” – MEP Dan Barna, Renew Europe Vice-President.
The Renew Europe Group Meeting was also an opportunity for the participants to share transformative local initiatives as EU councillors and Young Elected Politicians from across Europe explained their successes in community development. Anikó Paróczai, Deputy Mayor of Budapest’s 19th District, showcased a youth engagement simulation game that allows local students to propose ideas for youth policies. Remarkably, many of these proposed projects have been successfully implemented by the district council, bridging the gap between youth and policymaking. Luis Javier Casas Biedma, a local councillor from Guriezo, Spain, presented an initiative enabling residents in small rural municipalities to co-create and lead social, cultural, and recreational activities. The approach has proven to foster community cohesion, bolsters public trust, and engage the citizens while reinforcing transparent governance. Gerdien Knikker, a councillor in Haarlemmermeer, the Netherlands, introduced “Entrepreneur in the Classroom,” a program connecting local entrepreneurs with primary school students through guest lectures. This initiative, launched in 2018, inspires younger generations to explore entrepreneurship and strengthens ties between schools and the business community. These innovative projects exemplify the power of local leadership in shaping participatory democracies across Europe.
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