Europe's regional and local representatives have asserted their strengthened position under the new Lisbon treaty rules at the constituent plenary session of the Committee of the Regions' 2010-2015 mandate. 344 regional presidents, parliamentarians, mayors and county councillors from across Europe have met in Brussels to elect their new leadership, debate the political priorities of regions and local authorities in Europe for the next five years, and in particular the future of regional policy.

Following the renewal of the European Parliament and the European Commission, a strengthened Committee of the Regions (CoR) is set to take up its new term of office. Based on an electoral mandate in their home town or region, and formally nominated by the EU Council of Ministers, the new CoR members will use the next five years to shape EU action in the interest of citizens. Thanks to Lisbon Treaty, iIn addition to extended consultation requirements during the adoption of European legislation, the CoR now also has the right to challenge new EU laws in court in order to protect local and regional competences.

At this constituent meeting, CoR members have elected their new President, First Vice-President and other top jobs for the next 2½ years. The official candidates for the posts of President and First Vice-President were Mercedes Bresso (IT/PES), President of the Piedmont Region, Flo Clucas (UK/ALDE), Member of Liverpool City Council, and Ramón Luis Valcárcel Siso (ES/EPP), President of the Autonomous Community of Murcia.

Finally, Mercedes Bresso, PES candidate, has been appointed as the new leader of the regional chamber of the EU. The new President, who will direct the work of the Committee and also be its external representative, will outline the political priorities for her time at the helm and debate them with a high-level representative from the Spanish EU Presidency. Ramón Varcárcel will relieve her in the charge in mid 2012. Juan Vicente Herrera, President of the Autonomius Community of Castilla y León, is the new Second Vice-president.

The Committee of the Regions (CoR) is an advisory body composed of 344 representatives of Europe’s regional and local authorities. The CoR has to be consulted before EU decisions are taken on matters such as regional policy, the environment, education and transport – all of which concern local and regional government.