Committee of the Regions (CoR)

Set up in 1994 under the Treaty on the European Union, the Committee of the Regions is an advisory political assembly representing local and regional authorities in the European Union.

On 9 February 2010, a new mandate of 24 elected representatives took up their work as members of the Committee of the Regions (CoR). Meeting in Brussels, local and regional representatives pledged to use their new powers gained under the Lisbon Treaty to bring Europe closer to its citizens. In addition to extended consultation requirements during the adoption of EU legislation, the CoR now has the right to bring legal actions before the European Court of Justice in order to protect the competences of Europe’s regions and local councils.

What are goals of the CoR?

The main goals of the Committee of the Regions are to:

Bring Europe closer to its citizens
Give a voice to regional and local representatives
Improve EU legislation using the expertise of regional and local representatives

Why is the CoR important?

The European Commission and the Council of Ministers must consult the Committee whenever new proposals are made in policy areas that affect local or regional government.

How do we fit into the CoR?

Northern Ireland has two full and two alternate seats in the Committee with delegates serving on four sectoral commissions. CoR members must hold a local or regional authority mandate or be accountable to an elected assembly.

The CoR Commissions

The Committee is organised into six Commissions, which are responsible for preparation of the draft opinions on the proposals of the European Commission, which are submitted to the plenary assembly for adoption. The Commissions are: