EESC President

On 25 May President Röpke participated in the Committee of the Regions' Plenary sitting, where he presented the political priorities for his mandate and discussed synergies in the work of the European Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions.

Welcomed by the President of the Committee of the Regions, Vasco Cordeiro, President Röpke reiterated that the two Committees are essential blocks of the European project, as they represent the beating hearts of Europe – its citizens. It is thanks to the work of the Committees that the civil society, the local and regional authorities can speak up and have their voices heard in the EU.

Both Presidents affirmed their joint commitment for a social Europe that leaves no one behind and looked forward to joining their forces for a stronger and more meaningful cooperation between the two Committees, in particular in the area of citizens' participation, youth involvement and European elections. The Presidents will continue the discussion on social Europe in the context of the Porto Social Summit taking place in Portugal on 27 May.

Speech by President Röpke

Committee of the Regions (CoR) 155^th Plenary sitting

Press release by the CoR: A more resilient, more inclusive and more democratic Europe at the centre of a debate with Oliver Röpke, President of the European Economic and Social Committee