Committee Of The Regions Research Articles

Multi-level empowerment strategies: Regionalist parties’ territory-oriented legislative initiative in the regional, statewide and European parliamentary arenas

In the European Union (EU), parties operate on the regional, the state, and the supranational level. Exploring how parties behave legislatively from a cross-level perspective, this paper evaluates the territory-oriented legislation introduced by three regionalist parties – Südtiroler Volkspartei, Femu a Corsica, and Plaid Cymru – in all parliaments they occupy (from 2018 to 2022). The parties initiate greater self-government, autonomy safeguards, and concrete region-oriented policies in the regional and statewide parliaments. Meanwhile, many specific, state-addressed proposals are generalised to all European regions in the Committee of the Regions and the European Parliament (as are all demands directed to the EU) and concern the protection of ethnic minorities, regional development, and regional involvement in EU policies. Drawing on novel parliamentary data, this three-level study reveals multi-level legislative strategies of a distinct party family aimed at territorial empowerment while exposing available legislative channels and routes of interaction across the levels of governance.

Ukraine’s post-war recovery program as a basis for the development of electric vehicles and electric infrastructure

The article is devoted to the determination of the development of domestic electric vehicle transport and electric vehicle infrastructure on the basis of such an economic and legal instrument as the post-war recovery program of Ukraine, taking into account EU approaches in the legal regulation of decarbonization of the transport sector. The European Commission adopted the Communiqué to the European Parliament, the European Council, the European Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions «Assistance and Reconstruction of Ukraine» on 18.05.2022, where the provision of funds for the post-war reconstruction of Ukraine is conditioned by our country’s compliance with current European policies and standards, one of which there is decarbonization. Therefore, Ukraine should carry out post-war reconstruction taking into account the experience and approaches outlined by the international acts of the EU. The National Council for the Recovery of Ukraine from the Consequences of the War, a consultative and advisory body under the President of Ukraine, proposed a draft Plan for the Recovery of Ukraine. Based on the analysis of the provisions of the project component of the Recovery Plan of Ukraine «Restoration and development of infrastructure». It was concluded that the project of the Recovery Plan of Ukraine and its component «Recovery and development of infrastructure» is an economic and legal instrument of a programmatic nature. It establishes a systematic approach to the more active use of electric vehicles and the development of electric charging stations. The plan defines short-term, medium-term and strategic tasks for the development of electric mobility infrastructure. The general program approaches defined in this act correspond to the directions established by the normative legal acts that were adopted to regulate the issues of environmentalization of the domestic transport sector before the war, as well as the general directions of the development of the charging infrastructure of electric vehicles, outlined by the international acts adopted in the EU. The disadvantage is that a complete transition to electric transport for the transportation of passengers on urban and suburban routes is foreseen in the medium term, which is an extremely limited period. In the Plan, it is expedient to use the objective indicators of the development of the system of electric filling stations, which are established in the domestic regulatory and technical acts. Also, the directions of the development of electric transport and the network of electric gas stations should be reflected in the programs of comprehensive restoration of the region, the territory of the territorial community.

THE COMMITTE OF THE REGIONS AND ITS ROLE IN EU COHESION POLICY DEVELOPMENT

Abstract. The Cohesion Policy and the Committee of the Regions as its institutional instrument are among the most effective components of the EU functioning. There are used the method of systemstructural analysis, descriptive, generalization and historical ones. The Committee of the Regions formation peculiarities are highlighted as an effective mechanism for the Cohesion Policy implementation, outlines the responsibility spheres of the institution and the commissions that allow them to be ensured. Attention is also paid to cross-border cooperation functioning aspects, which strengthens regional development and helps to solve some common problems, such as the transport infrastructure of neighboring states. After the russian-Ukrainian war started, the Committee focuses on supporting the affected regions of Ukraine, helping with their recovery. Another initiative of the Committee is the organization of summer camps for Ukrainian children for their psychological and emotional support. The activities of the Committee are effective and widely diversified.

Newcomers in EU foreign policy: the Committee of the Regions as an EU para-diplomatic actor

ABSTRACT Has the Committee of the Regions (CoR) any role in the EU’s foreign policy? We conceptualize the CoR as an EU para-diplomatic actor, and we explore the evolving and multi-faceted role of the CoR in the European Neighbourhood Policy (ENP) by employing a two-fold approach: first, from an institutional perspective, we examine the role, capacity, and limits of the CoR’s engagement. Second, from a functional dimension, we investigate the added value of the CoR’s initiatives in the ENP and the EU foreign policy more generally. We show that the CoR has managed to expand its room for manoeuvre acting ‘below the radar’ by establishing communication channels and promoting subtle ways of mediation, especially in conflicts of high intensity whereby the EU and national authorities fail to deliver. Our findings contribute to the more comprehensive understanding of both the EU foreign policy and the CoR’s positioning in the EU institutional architecture.

Sustainable fashion with elements of the Bulgarian national garb–reducing, reusing and recycling through mulage method

A Communication from the European Commission in Brussels, dated 30 March 2022, to the European Parliament, the European Council, the Council, the European Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions, presents an EU Strategy for Sustainable and Circular Textiles as a standard. In line with the strategy, this paper is aimed at creating women’s clothing with elements of the Bulgarian national garb, bearing the characteristics of sustainable fashion. The design and manufacturing of the models is realized through the methods upcycling and mulage, looking for the effect of 3’R’s – Reduce, Reuse, Recycle. The models are segmented appropriately to combine several products in a common vision. The artistic design is realized trough image creation and processing software. The technology was developed with graphics software.

CONSULTATIVE DIMENSION IN THE EUROPEAN UNION'S MULTILEVEL GOVERNANCE PROCESS: A LEVER FOR REGULATORY AND INSTITUTIONAL RESILIENCE

This paper explores the environment of European bureaucracy starting from the research question regarding the role and place of consultative institutions (the European Economic and Social Committee and the European Committee of the Regions) in the European institutional system. The purpose of our investigation is to explain the nature and functionality of the institutions mentioned in the multilevel governance architecture of the European Union (EU). To achieve the proposed objective, we analyse the condition of advisory institutions as actors/agents of the European structure through the prism of the rationalist current and then we argue, through the grid of social constructivism, that the institutions in question serve, through their consultative attribute, also a role of legitimising supranational legislation with subnational applicability in the EU, against the background of the precariousness of legislative powers at regional and local level. Our research identifies the way in which the consultative institutions of the EU legitimise the community legislative process, a context in which the results obtained show the existence of a significant discordance between the need for legislation at the regional level and the much undersized legislative attribute at this level as a result of the constitutional limitations of the member states. The specified phenomenon feeds an imperfect subsidiarity and a deficient proximity within the EU, for the remedy of which the feasible solution consists in improving the administrative-legal cohesion in the EU through a potential reconsolidation of the Union treaties, which would generate a more homogeneous distribution of the administrative-territorial devolution.

Artificial intelligence and human rights: What is the EU’s approach?

Threats posed to human rights by the rapid development of artificial intelligence (AI) are considered, along with some potential legal mitigations. The active efforts of the EU in the field of AI regulation seem particularly relevant for research considering its approach centred on citizens’ rights. Thus, the present study aims to describe the key features of the EU approach to regulating AI in the context of human rights protection, as well as identifying both its achievements and deficiencies, and proposing improvements to existing provisions. The presented analysis of the proposed AI Act pays special attention to provisions that set out to eliminate or mitigate the main risks and dangers of AI. The currently intensive development of AI regulation in the EU (the Presidency Compromise Text presented by the Council of the EU, amendments of the European Committee of the Regions, opinions of interested parties and human rights organisations, etc.) makes this study especially timely due to its highlighting of problematic aspects. The analysis shows that, on closer examination, the proposed law leaves many sensitive and controversial issues unsettled. In the context of AI applications, the proposed solution is considered as an emergency measure in order to rapidly integrate purportedly trustworthy AI into human society. As a result of the analysis, the authors propose potential improvements to the AI Act, including the possibility to update the lists of all types of AI, clarify the concept of transparency and eliminate the self-assessment procedure. It is also necessary to consider the potential reclassification of some AI systems currently defined as presenting limited risk as systems presenting considerable risk or prohibited systems.

The EU Single-Use Plastics Directive and its impact on tobacco products: A policy analysis

1. European Commission. Communication from the Commission to the European Parliament, the Council, the European Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions: A European Strategy for Plastics in a Circular Economy. COM/2018/028 final. January 16, 2018. Accessed September 4, 2022. https://eur-lex.europa.eu/lega... Google Scholar

Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cell Flow Field Configuration: Modelling and Experimental Verification

With climate change crisis the research community is forced to consider other alternatives for energy production. Therefore, renewable energy sources are today considered as the main replacement for fossil fuels in the future. Proton exchange membrane (PEM) fuel cells are gaining more attention as main power sources for powering various vehicles, such as cars, forklifts, golfcarts etc. [1, 2]. European Commission (EC) recognized the importance of the fuel cell and hydrogen technology and their inevitable role in reducing greenhouse gas emission by further encouraging hydrogen fuel cell integration in various vehicles in their hydrogen strategy for a climate-neutral Europe [3]. Beside water and heat management, one of the key elements of the PEM fuel cells are reactants flow field channels. Influence of flow direction, channel length and number of channels, cross-section shape, channel depth, channel to rib width ratio etc., on PEM fuel cell performances has been analysed in the literature. Improper design of flow field channels may lead to water stagnation and flooding and as a result poor fuel cell performance (polarization curve).The objective of this work is to find optimal flow field configuration – number of channels, channel width to rib ration and channel depth. To achieve this objective numerical modelling of PEMFC was done using Ansys 17.0, in which 3D geometry (via DesignModeler) was modelled and finite volumes mesh was generated. Developed model was simulated in Fluent, using computational fluid dynamic (CFD). Based on the simulation results, graphite bipolar plate with optimal channel design was machined, integrated into single PEM fuel cell unit with commercial MEA’s and tested. With the application of different geometrical parameters like the number of channels, channel width to rib ratio, channel depth, mass fraction of oxygen and heat transfer in the fuel cell can be optimized. Numerical modelling of PEMFC was done using Ansys 17.0, in which 3D geometry (via DesignModeler) was modelled and finite volumes mesh was generated. At last, PEMFC was simulated in Fluent, using computational fluid dynamic (CFD). After calibration of the based numerical model, simulations with improved flow field designs were created and compared to the based model. Flow field design which was configurated as 4 serpentines (counterflow mode) channels with the depth of 0.45 mm, resulted in the best improvement of performance comparing to the basic model. Obtained results were confirmed experimentally.References Tolj, I.; Lototskyy, M.V.; Davids, M.W.; Pasupathi, S.; Swart, G.; Pollet B.G. Fuel cell-battery hybrid powered light electric vehicle (golf cart): Influence of fuel cell on the driving performance. J. Hydrogen Energy 2013, 38, 10630-10639.Lototskyy, M.V.; Tolj, I. et al. Performance of electric forklift with low-temperature polymer exchange membrane fuel cell power module and metal hydride hydrogen storage extension tank. Power Sources 2016, 316, 239-250.Communication from the Commission to the European Parliament, the Council, the European Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions: A hydrogen strategy for a climate-neutral Europe, Brussels, 08.07.2020, https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/PDF/?uri=CELEX:52020DC0301&from=EN

Local and Regional Politics at the EU level: who is actually represented in the Committee of the Regions?

Abstract One of the main reasons for the establishment of the Committee of the Regions was to provide the subnational level with the representation within the institutional system of the European Union. As the body advising the EU institutions, the Committee can influence the decision-making process. Since it consists of members of the local and regional authorities, one may ask if it does offer the opportunity for the peculiar territorial self-government units to be represented at the EU level. And in the broader terms – what does the relation between the general and particular interests look like in that regard? The article tries to determine if the Committee of the Regions is a suitable place for the individual territorial self-government unit to promote its interests. The findings of the paper are based on the author’s own empirical research conducted among the Polish members of the Committee. The results entitle the author to state that the territorial self-government units are represented in the Committee of the Regions and they have some benefits from being represented within this body.

Farm-to-Fork Strategy and other EU and WHO policies on sustainability

1. European Commission. COMMUNICATION FROM THE COMMISSION TO THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT, THE COUNCIL, THE EUROPEAN ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL COMMITTEE AND THE COMMITTEE OF THE REGIONS: A Farm to Fork Strategy for a fair, healthy and environmentally-friendly food system. Document 52020DC0381. May 20, 2020. Accessed Accessed April 28, 2022. https://eur-lex.europa.eu/reso... Google Scholar

The European Committee of the Regions (CoR) and the issue of minorities

The European Committee of the Regions (CoR) and the issue of minorities

АРКТИЧЕСКАЯ ПОЛИТИКА ЕС: ПРАВОВОЕ РЕГУЛИРОВАНИЕ НА СОВРЕМЕННОМ ЭТАПЕ

The article examines in detail current & fundamental document of the EU about the Arctic — Joint Communication of the Commission and High Representative to the European Parliament, the Council, the European Economic and Social Committee, and the Committee of the Regions № JOIN(2021) 27 final «A stronger EU engagement for a peaceful, sustainable and prosperous Arctic» (13.10.2021), which acts as new basic document of the EU’s Arctic policy, and defines it for the nearest 4-5 years. The context of document adoption, role & interests of the European Union in Arctic are considered. While sequentially analyzing the document, for each of its goals & sections author of the article examines relevant sources of law (treaties, EU acts), sets forth his legal assessment and proposes recommendations on the most disputable aspects (issues of oil & gas resources extraction and application of Svalbard treaty [1920]). Following the results of analysis, the progress advantages and omissions of the document are highlighted. Author of the article draws a conclusion, that such gaps are reserves for upgrading future EU documents on Arctic.

La proyección europea de Ceuta y Melilla en las instituciones, asociaciones y redes de regiones y ciudades europeas

THE EUROPEAN PROJECTION OF CEUTA AND MELILLA IN THE INSTITUTIONS, ASSOCIATIONS AND NETWORKS OF EUROPEAN REGIONS AND CITIES In this article we will carry out an analysis with proposals of the current situation and short- and medium-term needs of one of the ways to strengthen the European projection of Ceuta and Melilla, through the institutional framework of the European Union, the Council of Europe and other international organisations, as well as in the networks of local and regional entities at European level. After carrying out our analysis, we have found that Ceuta and Melilla participate in the decision-making processes in the Council and through the Spanish Parliament, but that this could be greater, and could include participation in decision-making in the Commission. We will also note that Ceuta and Melilla are not part of the Committee of the Regions, although this possibility has been raised. Likewise, there is participation of the autonomous cities in the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe. In terms of participation in networks and associations of local and regional authorities, Ceuta and Melilla’s participation is minimal.

Between Democracy and Technocracy: The Paradox of the functioning of the European Committee of the Regions

The aim of the present paper is to analyse the consequences of the construction of membership in the European Committee of the Regions. To be a member of this body, one must have a democratic mandate at a local or regional level. This should bring the citizens closer to the European Union and therefore, reduce the democratic deficit. However, it all depends on the actual model of the functioning of the European Committee of the Regions. In practice, it can be described as technocratic rather democratic, which is a great paradox. Such a conclusion has been drawn on the basis of the author’s own empirical research.

Value-Added Tax (VAT) and Sustainability in the European Union: A Radical Proposal Design Issues, Legal Aspects, and Policy Alternatives

This article aims to examine how the implementation of environmental taxes could build on the success of value-added tax (VAT) to become more efficient and consistent. This is not to increase the overall tax burden on citizens but to reorganize existing indirect taxation differently by better taking into account European Union (EU) environmental objectives, in particular regarding the circular economy. With its broad tax base, its systemic structure based on neutrality (which does not exclude differentiation), its wide acceptance among taxpayers, and its proven compliance process, the VAT has some features that could inspire environmental policymakers. It indeed impacts consumer choices at the broadest possible level while avoiding distortions. The authors begin by identifying the reasons for the success and robustness of VAT. A new concept of ‘green VAT’ will then be proposed based not on the classical instrument of reduced rates for specific transactions as is already done and advocated by EU institutions (European Commission, Communication from the Commission to the European Parliament, the Council, the European Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions, A new Circular Economy Action Plan. For a cleaner and more competitive Europe, COM(2020) 98 final (11 Mar. 2020). See also Opinion of the European Committee of the Regions – New Circular Economy Action Plan (2020/C 440/18), OJ C 440/107 (18 Dec. 2020), para. 23.) but on a coherent life cycle approach to all goods and services. This new approach identifies negative externalities by following the same value chain as the VAT. It aligns as much as possible with the administration and compliance methods already implemented by the VAT. Finally, a possible virtual use of the new green VAT concept will be presented. It does not require any legislative changes. It takes the form of a ‘virtual tax’ that appears on the price tag of every product without being effectively paid and may be used as an indicator for the actual environmental cost of production. VAT, EU harmonization, environmental taxation, sustainability, life-cycle assessment.

The Role of the Committee of the Regions in the European Union

The Role of the Committee of the Regions in the European Union

Bölgelerin ve Ayrılıkçılığın Avrupası

This study focuses on regions and approaches to regionalism in Europe, which has a long history and heritage. It was anticipated that the regions would be represented more strongly at the European level when the European Common Market was completed. Indeed, after joining the European Union, many European countries have guaranteed to govern their regions in accordance with the principles of subsidiarity and subordination. But some autonomous regions, such as Catalonia, emerged with "radical" demands such as independence rather than broad autonomy. The study tackled the issue from a current and historical point of view by carrying out some debates on the major regions of Europe. In the first part, regions that have evolved into separatism in Europe from time to time were discussed by focusing on the autonomous regions in Spain and the United Kingdom. In the second part, the regions in Italy were discussed, and the issues of identity, ethno-linguistic belonging, internal colonization and economic backwardness were elaborated. Finally, the establishment of the Committee of the Regions, a European Union institution, for the institutional solution of regional problems within the European Union and the criticisms faced by the Committee were evaluated. Thus, the way of ensuring the regional governance of the European Union institutions and their perspectives on regional differences were also revealed.

THE ADMINISTRATIVE POSITIONS IN THE EUROPEAN UNION

The civil servants of the European Union represent the people who have been appointed to work in the permanent department of an institution of the European Union, according to a written document issued by an authority invested by the respective institution with such powers. Their juridic regime understood as the sum of all the rights and obligations they have in what concerns their relationship with the European Union and its institutions has been established by the European Community Civil Service Status adopted on February 29th, 19681, being amended several times. Therefore, the Regulations adopted by the European Union Council of March 22nd, 2004, at the proposal of the European Commission set forth even a new career system for the European public servants. The provisions of the status also apply for the people appointed by the community institutions, people that have been generically called ”agents”, which means that institutions such as: The European Economic and Social Committee; the European Committee of the Regions; the European Union Mediator or the European Data Protection Supervisor are assimilated, from this point of view, into the institutions of the European Union. The state forbids any sort of discrimination whatsoever, such as the discrimination based on sex, race, colour, social or ethnic origin, genetic characteristics, language, religion, political opinion or beliefs or any other opinion, affiliation to a national minority, wealth, birth, disability, age or sexual orientation. Another new aspect related to the enforcement of the status is that the non-marital partnership is regarded and treated in the same way marriage is. An extremely important significance for the activity and moral status of the European Union public servants is rendered to the European Code of good Administrative Behaviour. This document was proposed by the Eurpean Mediator and was approved of on September 6th, 2001, by means of a resolution of the European Parliament; it consists of a set of behaviour rules which the community institutions, the administrations as well as the public servants have to comply with, in what concerns their relationship with the public.

European networks, domestic governance and the second-order effects of Brexit

This article explores the meaning of European network membership for state, sub-state and non-state actors in the UK. We adopt a comparative research approach to investigate how different UK-based actors use European structures to advance their domestic agendas, taking the Employment Committee, the Committee of the Regions and the European Women’s Lobby’s Observatory on Violence Against Women as case studies. We analyse new empirical data from interviews with policy actors to identity and explore resource dependencies between network actors. Our findings reveal a range of resource dependencies acting to bind actors within European networks, with the nature and significance of these dependencies varying across network/actor types. We argue that European network membership has notable implications for domestic governance which highlights a range of considerations for domestic governance in the UK post-Brexit.