Activities at the CoR
The main activity of the European Committee of the Regions is to issue opinions on legislative projects or proposals submitted to it for analysis. The commissions appoint a rapporteur who consults with stakeholders and who, with the help of an expert, develops a draft opinion that can highlight approval of the proposed text and, if necessary, suggest changes to improve the document. The draft opinion is discussed and adopted in the commission, before being presented by the rapporteur at the Plenary session.
The draft text and possible amendments are debated by CoR members who adopt it by a majority vote. Once adopted, the opinion is sent to the relevant European institutions and published in the Official Journal of the European Union.
Since 2002, the members of the Luxembourg delegation have been rapporteurs of 9 opinions, which can be consulted below.
CoR members may submit amendments to the legislative proposals to be voted on in the commission meetings or during the Plenary session. Amendments are subject to conditions of content and form, and they must meet certain deadlines.
Thus, amendments must be submitted either by a political group or by at least six duly mandated and duly identified members or alternates. National delegations can also table amendments.
Amendments must be submitted electronically through the members' portal, no later than 15.00 p.m., 9 working days before the meeting if it is a commission meeting or 11 working days before the Plenary session.
The rapporteur will consider the tabled amendments. They can accept them as presented (rapporteur's amendments) or propose an alternative text only partially adopting the initial amendments (compromise amendments). Finally, they can also object to the amendments tabled and defend their initial point of view. All amendments are put to the vote of the members following the presentation of the draft opinion.
Apart from the opinions for which they are rapporteurs, Luxembourg members to the European Committee of the Regions regularly intervene and set out the delegation's position at internal meetings with:
- the Executive Bureau
- the President with the heads of national delegations meeting
- the President with the ambassadors meeting
They also regularly contribute to the European debate at events organised by the European Committee of the Regions, such as:
- the European Summit of Regions and Cities
- European Week of Regions and Cities (OPEN DAYS)
- various other conferences and seminars.
List of opinions presented by Luxembourg members
| 05/02/2021 |
Youth Employment Support: A Bridge to Jobs for the Next Generation Reinforcing the Youth Guarantee |
Romy Karier |
| 14/10/2020 | Roby Biwer | |
| 01/07/2020 | Stepping up EU Action to Protect and Restore the World’s Forests | Roby Biwer |
| 10/10/2018 | The contribution of EU cities and regions to the CBD COP14 and the post‑2020 EU Biodiversity Strategy | Roby Biwer |
| 04/12/2015 | Contribution to the fitness check on the EU Birds and Habitats Directives | Roby Biwer |
| 26/06/2014 | The Draft EU Budget for 2015 | Agny Durdu |
| 02/04/2014 | New Guidelines for State Aid for Energy | Gusty Graas |
| 31/01/2014 | European Long-term Investment Funds | Simone Beissel |
| 14/12/2011 | Common consolidated corporate tax base (CCCTB) | Gusty Graas |
| 27/01/2011 | Youth on the move | Marc Schaefer |
| 19/06/2008 | Telecommunications Reform Package | Marc Schaefer |
| 20/11/2002 | Proposal for a Decision of the European Parliament and of the Council adopting a multiannual programme for action in the field of energy: “Intelligent Energy for Europe” Programme (2003-2006) |
Agny Durdu |
External activities of the delegation
Europe Day
Each year, the Luxembourg delegation to the European Committee of the Regions participates in the Europe Day festivities organised since 1996 by the European Commission's representative in Luxembourg to celebrate the anniversary of Robert Schuman's declaration on May 9th, 1950.
The members of the Luxembourg delegation are present at a stand dedicated to the European Committee of the Regions throughout the day and go to meet passers-by to inform them about the role and functioning of the Committee.
Europe Day festivities are interspersed by a rich and varied musical and cultural programme, enriched by the presence of representatives of the European institutions and the Luxembourgish government.
Extraordinary meeting of the CoR Bureau in Luxembourg
On the occasion of the Luxembourg Presidency of the Council of the EU, the CoR Bureau met for an extraordinary session in Luxembourg on 1st and 2nd of September 2015. The meeting brought together more than 150 participants and experts on the theme “New Momentum for Cross-Border Cooperation”.
Secretary of State Camille Gira presented to the CoR members with the proposals of the Luxembourg Presidency for an evolution of the regulatory framework in order to facilitate the concrete implementation of cross-border cooperation projects, which was the subject of a CoR opinion.
Participants were able to visit the Belval site [former steelworks site], where the European Territorial Cooperation Group (EGTC) Alzette-Belval intends to facilitate and coordinate the development of the former industrial site on both sides of the border.
