Directorate C: Legislative Works
Commission for Territorial Cohesion Policy
and EU Budget
Brussels, 25 November 2015
COTER commission meeting of 11 December 2015
Agenda item 4: Organisation of future work
4.8 Follow-up to opinions
The EU's Assembly of Regional and Local Representatives
COR-2015-05431-00-01-TCD-TRA
(EN) 1/20 — Tel. +32 22822211 — Fax +32 22822325
Rue Belliard/Belliardstraat
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EN
COMMISSION FOR TERRITORIAL COHESION POLICY AND EU BUDGET
Follow-up of opinions – 6th term of office
Table of Contents
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14.
15.
16.
17.
18.
COTER-V-26: Airport package – Rapporteur: Roland Werner (DE/ALDE) ........................ 3
COTER-V-36: Fourth railway package – Rapporteur: Pascal Mangin (FR/EPP) ................. 4
COTER-V-41: Framework on the future EU ports' policy including legislative proposals –
Rapporteur: Alessandro Cosimi (IT/PES) .................................................................................. 5
COTER-V-046: Towards an Integrated Urban Agenda for the EU – Rapporteur:
Bas Verkerk (NL/ALDE) .............................................................................................................. 6
COTER-V-047: EU Strategy for the Adriatic and Ionian Region (EUSAIR) – Rapporteur:
Gian Mario Spacca (IT/ALDE) .................................................................................................... 8
COTER-V-048: Urban mobility package – Rapporteur: Councillor Sir Albert Bore
(UK/PES)........................................................................................................................................ 9
COTER-V-49: Mobility in demographically and geographically challenged regions –
Rapporteur: Gordon Keymer (UK/ECR) ................................................................................. 10
COTER-V-50: An alpine macro-regional strategy for the European Union – Rapporteur:
Herwig Van Staa (AT/EPP)........................................................................................................ 11
COTER-V-51: Multimodal travel information, planning and ticketing services –
Rapporteur: Petr Osvald (CZ/PES) .......................................................................................... 12
COTER-V-52: Sixth report on economic, social and territorial cohesion – Rapporteur:
Nicola Zingaretti (IT/PES) ......................................................................................................... 13
COTER-V-53: Guidelines on measures linking ESIF to sound economic governance –
Rapporteur: Bernard Soulage (FR/PES) .................................................................................. 14
COTER-VI-001: Outcome of the negotiations on the partnership agreements and
operational programmes – Rapporteur: Ivan Žagar (SI/EPP) ............................................... 14
COTER-VI-002: Improvements in the implementation of the Territorial Agenda of the
European Union 2020 – Rapporteur: Marek Woźniak (PL/EPP) .......................................... 15
COTER-VI-003: European Fund for Strategic Investments – Rapporteur: Claude Gewerc
(FR/PES) ...................................................................................................................................... 16
COTER-VI-004: Implementation of the White Paper on Transport – Rapporteur: Spyros
Spyridon (EL/EPP) ..................................................................................................................... 17
COTER-VI-005: Financial Instruments in Support of Territorial Development Rapporteur: Adam Struzik (PL/EPP) ....................................................................................... 18
COTER-VI-006: The Draft EU Budget for 2016 – Rapporteur: Uno Silberg (EE/EA) ....... 19
COTER-VI-007: Strengthening Cross-border Cooperation: the need for a better regulatory
framework? – Rapporteur: Nikola Dobroslavić (HR/EPP) .................................................... 20
COR-2015-05431-00-01-TCD-TRA (EN) 2/20
1.
COTER-V-26: Airport package – Rapporteur: Roland Werner (DE/ALDE)
Latest interinstitutional activities:
The European Commission withdrew the proposal for a Regulation on groundhandling services
(COM(2011) 824 final) on 7 March 2015, given that there was no foreseeable agreement in the
interinstitutional negotiations.
Noise-related operating restrictions at Union airports: The legislative process is finished.
Regulation (EU) No 598/2014 was published in the Official Journal on12 June 2014 (OJ L 173,
12.6.2014, p. 65-78). It will enter into force on 13. June 2016.
The inter-institutional procedure for the proposal for a Regulation on rules for allocating slots
(COM(2011) 827 final) continues.
Evolution and highlights:
The final Regulation (EU) No 598/2014 took the CoR recommendation to introduce a transition phase
of four years for the application of the limit value for marginally compliant aircraft fully on board
with slightly different wording and introduced in Article 2(4) such a transitional period with eight
EPNdB until 14 June 2020 (= four years after the entry into force of the Regulation). As requested by
the CoR, in the final regulation changes were introduced which preserve the discretionary power of
local authorities for the introduction of operating restrictions.
In line with the CoR request, the delegation of power to amend the definitions of "aircraft" and
"marginally compliant aircraft" has been deleted, and on the other issues, the purpose of the
delegation of power has been clarified ("to take into account changes to relevant international rules").
Moreover, the delegation of power is not conferred to the Commission for an indeterminate period, as
initially proposed by the EC, but only for a period of five years, with further extension for periods of
an identical duration, unless the European Parliament or the Council opposes such an extension. This
could also be considered as an improvement compared to the initial proposal.
Link to timeline:
http://cor.europa.eu/en/activities/opinions/Pages/opinion-factsheet.aspx?OpinionNumber=CDR
649/2012
COR-2015-05431-00-01-TCD-TRA (EN) 3/20
2.
COTER-V-36: Fourth railway package – Rapporteur: Pascal Mangin (FR/EPP)
Latest interinstitutional activities:

European Commission:
30 January 2013: Adoption of the legislative proposal.

European Parliament:
At the ninth trilogue meeting on 17 June 2015, the European Parliament and the Council reached a
provisional agreement on the technical pillar of the 4th railway package. The trilogue agreement was
approved in TRAN committee on 10 November 2015.

Council:
3 December 2014: General approach on the proposal to repeal the current regulation on normalisation
of accounts of railway undertakings.
30 June 2015: The trilogue agreement of 17 June 2015 on the technical pillar was approved in
Coreper.
8 October 2015: General approach in Council on the two proposals to liberalise domestic rail
passenger services and strengthen the governance of railway infrastructure.
Evolution and highlights:
On 17 June 2015 the European Parliament and the Council reached a trilogue agreement on the
technical pillar of the fourth railway package, which was approved in Coreper on 30 June 2015 and
in EP TRAN committee on 10 November 2015. The key element of the agreement is to set up a dual
system of vehicle authorisations and safety certifications, with the ERA acting as a one-stop-shop for
authorising vehicles intended for cross-border operations and for issuing safety certificates to railway
undertakings involved in cross-border traffic. For vehicles and railway undertakings involved in
national transport only, there will be a choice between submitting a request for authorisation or
certification to the Agency or to the national safety authority. This dual approach was also suggested
by the CoR opinion, which supported a stronger role for the European Railway Agency as a one-stop
shop for decisions on vehicles and safety certificates for railway companies, whilst allowing the
option of authorising vehicles that are only to be used within a country by national safety authorities.
However, in light of the ongoing discussion on the governance pillar, no formal approval of the
technical pillar is currently expected.
COR-2015-05431-00-01-TCD-TRA (EN) 4/20
Under the governance pillar of the fourth railway package, the Council reached, on 3 December
2014, a general approach on a proposal to repeal the current regulation on normalisation of accounts
of railway undertakings. On 13 March 2015 Ministers discussed the other two proposals of the
political pillar, which are aimed at improving rail services in the EU by means of market opening
and stronger governance. This discussion continued in the TTE Council on 11 June 2015, when the
Latvian Presidency presented a progress report on the matter. On 8 October 2015, the Council agreed
on a general approach on the two legislative proposals concerning the liberalisation of domestic
rail passenger services and the governance of railway infrastructure, which allows the Presidency
to start the negotiations with the European Parliament.
Link to timeline:
http://cor.europa.eu/en/activities/opinions/Pages/opinion-factsheet.aspx?OpinionNumber=CDR
27/2013
3.
COTER-V-41: Framework on the future EU ports' policy including legislative proposals
– Rapporteur: Alessandro Cosimi (IT/PES)
Latest interinstitutional activities:

European Commission:
Legislative proposal adopted on 23 May 2013.

European Parliament:
15 June 2015: Presentation of the draft report in the TRAN committee.
12 October 2015: Consideration of amendments to the draft report in TRAN committee.

Council:
8 October 2014: The Council adopted a general approach on a draft regulation on market access to
port services and financial transparency of ports.
Evolution and highlights:
An EC legislative proposal revising Directive 2000/59/EC on port reception facilities is expected.
Link to timeline:
http://cor.europa.eu/en/activities/opinions/Pages/opinion-factsheet.aspx?OpinionNumber=CDR
3610/2013
COR-2015-05431-00-01-TCD-TRA (EN) 5/20
4.
COTER-V-046: Towards an Integrated Urban Agenda for the EU – Rapporteur:
Bas Verkerk (NL/ALDE)
Latest interinstitutional activities:

European Commission:
On 22 May 2015, the European Commission published its Staff Working Document on Results of the
public consultation on the key features of an EU Urban Agenda – SWD(2015) 109 final, which was
also presented at the 2nd CITIES forum "An Urban Agenda for Europe" on 2 June 2015 in Brussels.
During this event the Commission also launched the Urban Innovative Actions, an EU initiative to
support innovative approaches to tackle future urban challenges in cities across Europe.

European Parliament:
Adoption of the resolution on The urban dimension of EU policies at the EP Plenary session on
9 September 2015.

Council:
Adoption of a Declaration of Ministers towards an EU Urban Agenda at the informal meeting of
ministers responsible for territorial cohesion and urban matters on 10 June 2015 in Riga.
On 30 September 2015, the upcoming Dutch Presidency requested that the European Committee of
the Regions draw up an opinion on the implementation of the EU Urban Agenda.
21 October 2015: Meeting of Directors-General responsible for Urban Policy: Joint proposal by the
European Commission and the Netherlands concerning the topics of the EU Urban Agenda and the
working method and governance of the partnerships.
Evolution and highlights:
On 10 June 2015, the informal meeting of ministers responsible for territorial cohesion and urban
matters in Riga adopted the Declaration of Ministers towards the EU Urban Agenda. This declaration
is the first official commitment of EU-ministers responsible for Urban Development to the
development of an EU Urban Agenda, which is an important milestone towards the establishment of
an EU Urban Agenda.
The declaration highlights a number of key concerns of the CoR, in particular the need for an
integrated and place-based approach, the need for effective coordination of EU polices with an urban
dimension, the recognition of the partnership principle as well as the principles of subsidiarity and
proportionality, and the fact that the EU Urban Agenda should apply to towns and cities of all sizes. It
COR-2015-05431-00-01-TCD-TRA (EN) 6/20
also expresses the commitment of ministers to support effective multilevel-governance and to involve
local and regional authorities in policy making, including the design, implementation and monitoring
of urban policies and policies with a clear urban impact, the commitment to facilitate adequate
capacity in local and regional authorities, as well as the call to the European Commission to enhance
ex-ante impact assessment of new EU initiatives and legislation with regards to their territorial
impacts and consequences for local authorities.
At its Plenary Session on 9 September 2015, the European Parliament adopted the resolution on The
Urban dimension of EU policies. The rapporteur for this dossier was Ms Kerstin Westphal (DE/S&D).
The EP resolution reflects, to a large extent, the CoR opinion following a prior exchange between the
two rapporteurs and the submission of a number of amendments to the EP rapporteur that she tabled
in REGI. Examples of synergies between the two reports are the following requests made in the EP
resolution:
 the Commission to introduce, as a general rule, a territorial impact assessment on the urban
dimension in order to ensure the practical feasibility of all relevant EU policy initiatives at
regional and local level, to be receptive to the input from decentralised levels of government
when drawing up impact assessments and new policies ("bottom-up approach") and to make sure
that all relevant sectorial EU policies adequately address the challenges that towns, cities and
functional urban areas face;
 the European Urban Agenda to be based on a new multilevel governance method, involving the
local level more closely at all stages of the policy cycle;
 consolidation and better coordination between urban platforms and networks (such as URBACT,
the Urban Development Network) allowing for knowledge sharing between actors;
 in order to be able to assess urban areas more accurately than just on the basis of the GDP
indicator, sufficient data must be made available; Eurostat should provide and compile more
detailed local data and that work should continue on the Urban Audit and similar surveys; the
Commission to work on instruments that could measure the progress and impact of an integrated
urban agenda at EU level;
 greater involvement of towns and cities in the Structural and Investment Funds' programmes; the
lessons drawn from this could feed into an important policy recommendation for the development
of cohesion policy after 2020;
 the Commission to designate a special EU urban coordinator;
 encourages Eurostat and the Commission to provide and compile more detailed data at local level.
The EP resolution also refers to the following facts that the CoR rapporteur brought up in the CoR
opinion:
 that the EU has a unique polycentric structure built around large, medium-sized and small towns
and cities;
 that 70% of European policies and legislation are implemented at local and regional level.
COR-2015-05431-00-01-TCD-TRA (EN) 7/20
At the joint REGI-COTER meeting on 13 October 2015, REGI and COTER members underlined the
need to closely cooperate with all actors towards the development of the EU Urban Agenda, and
agreed to issue a joint statement on the REGI-COTER cooperation towards the Pact of Amsterdam,
which will provide a basis to strengthen the future cooperation between REGI and COTER towards
the EU Urban Agenda and the envisaged Pact of Amsterdam.
At the meeting of Directors-General responsible for Urban policy on 21 October 2015 in
Luxembourg, the upcoming Dutch Presidency and the European Commission presented a joint
proposal for the topics of the EU Urban Agenda and the working method and governance of the
partnerships. The proposal suggests 12 priority themes in total, which shall form the basis for action
under the umbrella of the EU Urban Agenda and which shall be linked to the thematic partnerships
under the EU Urban Agenda. These thematic Partnerships are intended as the key delivery mechanism
of the EU Urban Agenda. In principle, the participants supported the 12 themes and the proposed
governance structure, as well as the proposal to start with three pilot projects, in order to test the
feasibility of the approach.
Link to timeline:
http://cor.europa.eu/en//activities/opinions/pages/opinion-factsheet.aspx?OpinionNumber=CDR
6902/2013
5.
COTER-V-047: EU Strategy for the Adriatic and Ionian Region (EUSAIR) –
Rapporteur: Gian Mario Spacca (IT/ALDE)
Latest interinstitutional activities:

European Commission:
A communication was published on 18 June 2014.

Council:
Council conclusions were adopted at the General Affairs Council (GAC) on 29 September 2014 and
endorsed at the European Council on 24 October 2014.

European Parliament:
EP rapporteur Ivan Jakovčić (HR/ALDE) addressed the CoR interregional group on 4 December and
is confirmed for the first meeting of the CoR interregional group in the new term of office on
17 April.
COR-2015-05431-00-01-TCD-TRA (EN) 8/20
Evolution and highlights:
On 22-23 January 2015, the CoR rapporteur participated in the EUSAIR governing board held in
Ancona, Italy, where among other things the rules of procedure for the four steering groups of the four
EUSAIR pillars (blue growth, connecting the region (transport and energy), environmental quality
and sustainable tourism) were discussed.
On 18 November 2014 Mr Spacca participated in the EUSAIR kick-off event in Brussels organised by
the Italian presidency in cooperation with the EC and the Adriatic Ionian Initiative and Marche
Region (as presidency of the CoR Adriatic-Ionian Interregional group).
The Council conclusions raised a number of points which were also included in our opinion which are
reflected in the CoR Impact Assessment Report 2014. The call to develop the new macro-regional
strategies in cooperation with all interested stakeholders has been taken into account in the case of
EUSAIR (see the European Commission communication on the EU strategy for the Adriatic and
Ionian Region – 18 June 2014), where a structured dialogue among relevant actors and a detailed
stakeholders 'consultation by the European Commission have been run. The same path will be
followed in the implementation phase of the Action Plan.
Link to timeline:
http://cor.europa.eu/en//activities/opinions/pages/opinion-factsheet.aspx?OpinionNumber=CDR
23/2014
6.
COTER-V-048: Urban mobility package – Rapporteur: Councillor Sir Albert Bore
(UK/PES)
Latest interinstitutional activities:

European Commission:
17 December 2013: the EC published the Urban mobility package.

European Parliament:
The TRAN committee adopted the draft own-initiative report on Sustainable urban mobility (by
rapporteur Ms Karima Delli (FR/Greens-EFA) on 10 November 2015. The vote in EP plenary session
is scheduled for 2 December 2015.

Council:
14 March 2014: the TTE Council held a policy debate on the issue.
COR-2015-05431-00-01-TCD-TRA (EN) 9/20
Evolution and highlights:
28 November 2014: Sir Albert Bore, the rapporteur, participated as speaker in the annual conference
of the POLIS network of Cities and Regions working for sustainable urban mobility solutions.
On 13 May 2015, the COTER commission held a conference on Integrated solutions for mobility and
urban development in functional urban areas in Riga (Latvia). The rapporteur participated as a
speaker in the first session Integrated mobility planning in functional urban areas, which was focused
on integrated approaches to urban mobility planning that aim at creating a sustainable urban transport
system by comprehensively addressing all modes and forms of transport in the entire functional area
of a city or urban agglomeration and embedding mobility planning into the broader concept of spatial
planning and urban development.
Mr Cattaneo, the COTER chair participated in the UITP World congress and exhibition on 9 June
2015 in Milan where he spoke about the challenges of urban mobility and made reference to this
opinion.
The EP TRAN committee adopted its own-initiative report on Sustainable urban mobility on
10 November 2015.
Link to timeline:
http://cor.europa.eu/en//activities/opinions/pages/opinion-factsheet.aspx?OpinionNumber=CDR
0090/2014
7.
COTER-V-49: Mobility in demographically and geographically challenged regions –
Rapporteur: Gordon Keymer (UK/ECR)
Latest interinstitutional activities: N/A
Evolution and highlights:
On 18 May 2015, the rapporteur sent a letter to the COTER chair, in which he outlined the activities
that he and his expert had undertaken to promote the opinion to decision makers in Brussels and
elsewhere. These follow-up activities entailed inter alia the promotion of the opinion on Sustainable
Urban Transport and on the Implementation of the 2011 White Paper on Transport, to the EP
rapporteurs, the European Commission, and other stakeholders.
Link to timeline:
http://cor.europa.eu/en//activities/opinions/pages/opinion-factsheet.aspx?OpinionNumber=CDR
1691/2014
COR-2015-05431-00-01-TCD-TRA (EN) 10/20
8.
COTER-V-50: An alpine macro-regional strategy for the European Union –
Rapporteur: Herwig Van Staa (AT/EPP)
Latest interinstitutional activities:

European Commission:
On 28 July 2015, the European Commission published the Communication and Action Plan for the
EU Strategy for the Alpine Region (EUSALP) (COM(2015) 366 final and SWD(2015) 147 final).

European Parliament:
23 May 2013: The EP adopted a Resolution on a macro-regional strategy for the Alps.

Council:
The adoption of the draft Council conclusions on the EUSALP is expected at Coreper on 19
November 2015 and in Council on 27 November 2015. It will then be endorsed by the European
Council on 17-18 December 2015.
Evolution and highlights:
On 1 December 2014 a Stakeholder Conference in Milan (Italy) took place. It was co-organised by the
Italian Presidency of the Council, the European Commission and the Lombardy region, aiming to
debate the findings of the public consultations launched by the Commission between July and October
2014.
On 28 July 2015, the European Commission published its Communication and Action Plan on the EU
Strategy for the Alpine Region. The EUSALP focuses on three thematic policy areas: (1) economic
growth and innovation, (2) mobility and connectivity, (3) environment and energy, and a cross-cutting
policy area: (4) governance, including institutional capacity. The Action Plan identifies the objectives
for the three thematic policy areas and formulates actions, including examples for possible projects
and indicators/targets to measure progress and achievements.
It is expected that the strategy will be endorsed by the European Council later this year.
On 13 October 2015, a letter signed by the COTER chair, Mr Raffaele Cattaneo, the CoR rapporteur,
Mr Herwig Van Staa, and the Chair of the CoR interregional group on the Alpine macroregion,
Mr Bernard Soulage was handed over to the European Commissioner for Regional Policy, Ms Corina
Creţu. The letter highlighted the CoR policy recommendations that have not been considered in the
Communication and Action Plan on the EUSALP, and asked to duly take into account these
recommendations within the further development of the governance and management arrangements of
the EUALP.
COR-2015-05431-00-01-TCD-TRA (EN) 11/20
Link to timeline:
http://cor.europa.eu/en//activities/opinions/pages/opinion-factsheet.aspx?OpinionNumber=CDR
2994/2014
9.
COTER-V-51: Multimodal travel information, planning and ticketing services –
Rapporteur: Petr Osvald (CZ/PES)
Latest interinstitutional activities:

European Commission:
The Commission published its staff working document Towards a roadmap for delivering EU-wide
multimodal travel information, planning and ticketing services (SWD(2014) 194 final) on 13 June
2014.

European Parliament:
7 July 2015: The European Parliament adopted its resolution on Delivering multimodal integrated
ticketing in Europe at its Plenary Session. The rapporteur for this dossier was Mr Dieter-Lebrecht
Koch (DE/EPP)
Evolution and highlights:
Mr Cattaneo, the COTER chair participated in the UITP World congress and exhibition on 9 June
2015 in Milan where he spoke about the challenges of urban mobility and made reference to this
opinion.
On 7 July 2015 the European Parliament adopted its resolution on Delivering multimodal integrated
ticketing in Europe. In its resolution, the European Parliament called on the Commission to take the
necessary measures to create a clear framework with regard to multimodal integrated ticketing
services. It also urged that a platform for dialogue be established, involving all the representatives of
the transport sector and competent authorities at local, regional, national and European level, to
develop feasible arrangements for the phased EU-wide introduction of interoperable electronic
ticketing systems taking account of the entire journey cycle from planning to the purchasing of
tickets. The resolution also highlighted the active role and the responsibility of local and regional
authorities with regard to the "first and last mile" of journeys; considers it essential that they be
involved in implementing individual measures, in supervising their operation and in ensuring that the
system as a whole functions effectively, which was one of the key policy recommendation of the CoR
opinion.
COR-2015-05431-00-01-TCD-TRA (EN) 12/20
Link to timeline:
http://cor.europa.eu/en//activities/opinions/pages/opinion-factsheet.aspx?OpinionNumber=CDR
4895/2014
10.
COTER-V-52: Sixth report on economic, social and territorial cohesion – Rapporteur:
Nicola Zingaretti (IT/PES)
Latest interinstitutional activities:

European Commission:
The Commission published the Sixth report on economic, social and territorial cohesion (Investment
for jobs and growth, promoting development and good governance in EU regions and cities) on
23 July 2014.

European Parliament:
27 July 2014: Internal referral to the EP Committee on Regional Development (REGI). The Draft
report was voted on in the REGI committee on 5 May 2015 and subsequently tabled, on 27 May 2015,
for plenary, where it will be presented on 7 September 2015.

Council:
19 November 2014: Council (General Affairs) adopted conclusions on the Sixth Cohesion Report.
Evolution and highlights:
In 2014 Mr Zingaretti participated in the Sixth Cohesion Forum and the informal ministerial meeting
on cohesion policy. He met with different interinstitutional partners including Commissioner
Johannes Hahn. President Lebrun participated in the informal ministerial meeting on cohesion in
Milan on 10 October 2014. On 4 February 2015, the rapporteur participated in the Second EU
Cohesion Policy Conference: Challenges for the New Cohesion Policy in 2014-2020: An Academic
and Policy Debate (Riga, Latvia). He also intervened during the REGI committee meeting discussion
on the 6th Cohesion Report on 26 February 2015. The EP draft report was voted in REGI on 5 May
2015 and was adopted at the EP first / single reading on 9 September 2015.
Link to timeline:
http://cor.europa.eu/en//activities/opinions/pages/opinion-factsheet.aspx?OpinionNumber=CDR
4896/2014
COR-2015-05431-00-01-TCD-TRA (EN) 13/20
11.
COTER-V-53: Guidelines on measures linking ESIF to sound economic governance –
Rapporteur: Bernard Soulage (FR/PES)
Latest interinstitutional activities:

European Commission:
The EC adopted the communication on 30 July 2014.

European Parliament:
The EP REGI committee started its discussions on 26 March 2015, the adoption of the report in the
REGI committee is scheduled for 17 September 2015, the adoption in the EP plenary is expected on
26 October 2015 at the first / single reading.
Evolution and highlights:
This opinion was adopted in the CoR February plenary session. The discussion on the dossier was rescheduled by the EP. REGI started discussions on 26 March 2015. Mr Soulage participated in the
exchange of views in the REGI meeting on 4-5 May where his intervention stressed the four most
important points of the opinion. The discussion in the REGI and the rapporteur's intervention received
media attention (context, Institut J. Delors, Europolitics, localtis, acteurs publics).
Link to timeline:
http://cor.europa.eu/en//activities/opinions/pages/opinion-factsheet.aspx?OpinionNumber=CDR
6247/2014
12.
COTER-VI-001: Outcome of the negotiations on the partnership agreements and
operational programmes – Rapporteur: Ivan Žagar (SI/EPP)
Latest interinstitutional activities:

European Commission:
The Commission announced its intention to present a report on the outcome of negotiations on the
partnership agreements and operational programmes by the end of 2015.
Evolution and highlights:
This opinion was adopted at the CoR plenary on 9 July 2015. The opinion analysed the outcome of
the negotiations on the Partnership Agreements and Operational Programmes from a LRA point of
view. Moreover, the opinion has a wider strategic relevance as it covers essential aspects of the
COR-2015-05431-00-01-TCD-TRA (EN) 14/20
current state of play in the implementation of cohesion policy. In this respect, a survey on the topics
of the opinion was opened by the CoR from 2 February to 6 March 2015
(http://portal.cor.europa.eu/europe2020/news/Pages/CoR-online-consultation-on-the-outcome-of-thenegotiations-on-the-Partnership-Agreements-and-Operational-Programmes-.aspx). The rapporteur
presented this opinion to the EP REGI committee on 15 October 2015. Moreover, specific messages
of the opinion were taken up by EP rapporteurs in their draft report (REGI) and opinion (EMPL) on
New territorial development tools in Cohesion policy 2014-202: Integrated Territorial Investment
(ITI) and Community-Led Local Development (CLLD) following bilateral meetings between the CoR
rapporteur and the European Parliament's rapporteurs. A bilateral meeting with the head of cabinet of
Commissioner Cretu is scheduled for 20 November 2015.Key messages of the draft opinion have
been presented by the CoR Secretary-General to the meetings of Director Generals (30.03.2015).
Moreover, the CoR President presented key messages of the opinion to Ministers responsible for
Cohesion Policy (09.06.2015). On 12/06/2015 the council adopted conclusions on the implementation
challenges of the cohesion policy 2014-2020, which took the CoR position into account. The joint
REGI-COTER meeting on 13 October 2015 has discussed the topics of this opinion and key messages
of the opinion were reiterated.
Link to timeline:
http://cor.europa.eu/en//activities/opinions/pages/opinion-factsheet.aspx?OpinionNumber=CDR
6248/2014
13.
COTER-VI-002: Improvements in the implementation of the Territorial Agenda of the
European Union 2020 – Rapporteur: Marek Woźniak (PL/EPP)
Latest interinstitutional activities:

European Commission:
Study on the Territorial Agenda commissioned for February 2015.

Council:
Review of the state of the art of the Territorial Agenda 2020 during the Latvian and Luxembourgish
presidency.
Evolution and highlights:
The opinion is a referral from the Latvian presidency. It was distributed to all participants and
presented by the secretary-general at the directors-general meeting for Territorial Cohesion and Urban
Matters on 6 May in Riga. This meeting prepared the informal ministerial meeting on cohesion policy
scheduled for 9-10 June providing the CoR with the unique opportunity to showcase its work which is
COR-2015-05431-00-01-TCD-TRA (EN) 15/20
intended to be presented by President Markkula. Moreover, on13 February 2015 the rapporteur met
with the Latvian presidency representative to discuss the opinion.
Link to timeline:
http://cor.europa.eu/en//activities/opinions/pages/opinion-factsheet.aspx?OpinionNumber=CDR
487/2015
14.
COTER-VI-003: European
Claude Gewerc (FR/PES)
Fund
for
Strategic
Investments
–
Rapporteur:
Latest interinstitutional activities:

European Commission:
The EC adopted its communication on the subject on 26 November 2014 and the draft regulation on
13 January 2015.

European Parliament:
EFSI regulation is dealt with in a joint committee procedure in the ECON and BUDG committee,
according to Rule 55 EP RoP.
20 April 2015, EP ECON-BUDG Draft Report on European Fund for Strategic Investment was
adopted and the compromise text from the Trilogue was adopted at the EP plenary on 24 June 2015.

Council:
12 February 2015: the progress report was presented by the presidency.
10 March 2015: the Council agreed its negotiating stance on the EFSI regulation proposal, enabling
negotiations with the European Parliament to start rapidly.
25 June 2015: adoption of the regulation by the Council in a written procedure
1 July 2015: publication of the Regulation (EU) 2015/1017 of the European Parliament and of the
Council of 25 June 2015 on the European Fund for Strategic Investments, the European Investment
Advisory Hub and the European Investment Project Portal and amending Regulations (EU) No
1291/2013 and (EU) No 1316/2013 — the European Fund for Strategic Investments in the Official
Journal: OJ L 169, 1.7.2015, p. 1-38.
4 July 2015: entry into force of the Regulation
COR-2015-05431-00-01-TCD-TRA (EN) 16/20
Evolution and highlights:
In order to have any effect on the legislative proposal of the Commission, this CoR opinion was
adopted in the April plenary session. EP ECON-BUDG committees adopted their Draft Report on
EFSI on 20 April 2015, in which a lot of CoR/LRA sensitive amendments have been introduced in the
legislative part.
On 20 April 2015, President Markkula intervened at the opening session of the 7th European
Economic Forum in Katowice by presenting the CoR position on the Investment Plan.
Trilogues which took place in April and May reached an agreement on the ESIF. The EP report on
this issue was put to the vote at the EP's mini plenary session on 24 June. The next day, the Council
adopted the compromise text in a written procedure and on 1 July, the final text of the regulation was
published in the Official Journal, entering into force on 4 July 2015.
On 1 September, within the external Bureau meeting in Luxembourg, the CoR organised, a high-level
discussion with representatives of the EIB to tackle open issues related to the implementation of the
new EFSI, European Investment Advisory Hub and European Investment Project Portal. The
discussions will feed into future cooperation with the EIB on the matter, mainly in the field of
complementarity of the EFSI and ESIF and in the monitoring of the new fund.
Link to timeline:
http://cor.europa.eu/en//activities/opinions/pages/opinion-factsheet.aspx?OpinionNumber=CDR
943/2015
15.
COTER-VI-004: Implementation of the White Paper on Transport – Rapporteur:
Spyros Spyridon (EL/EPP)
Latest interinstitutional activities:

European Commission: The Commission is currently taking stock of the state of play of the
implementation of the 2011 White Paper on Transport. A public consultation on the Mid-term
Review of the 2011 White Paper on Transport was carried out from 10 March 2015 until 2 June
2015.

European Parliament: The own-initiative report on the Implementation of the 2011 White Paper
on Transport: taking stock and the way forward towards sustainable mobility (rapporteur:
Mr Wim van de Camp (NL/EPP) was presented in the EP TRAN committee on 13 April 2015,
and voted on 14 July 2015. The vote in Plenary Session took place on 9 September 2015.
COR-2015-05431-00-01-TCD-TRA (EN) 17/20
Evolution and highlights:
In view of the EP's timing and in order to be able to influence the latter effectively, this opinion was
adopted in the April plenary session through the urgency procedure.
The European Parliament resolution on the Implementation of the 2011 White Paper on Transport was
adopted at the Plenary Session of 9 September 2015.
Link to timeline:
http://cor.europa.eu/en//activities/opinions/pages/opinion-factsheet.aspx?OpinionNumber=CDR
1426/2015
16.
COTER-VI-005: Financial Instruments in Support of Territorial Development Rapporteur: Adam Struzik (PL/EPP)
Evolution and highlights:
Raising awareness of difficulties and obstacles when setting up and using financial instruments.




already during the drafting process of this opinion the feedback received on this opinion was very
good. Both the European Commission (DG REGIO) and the European Parliament (REGI)
stressed the importance of receiving feedback from local and regional authorities on the use of
financial instruments. It is envisaged that this opinion will be presented at a forthcoming EP
REGI committee meeting.
key messages of the draft opinion have been presented to the meetings of Director Generals
(30.03.2015) by the CoR Secretary-General and to Ministers responsible for Cohesion Policy
(09.06.2015) by the CoR President.
On 12/06/2015 the council adopted conclusions on the implementation challenges of the
cohesion policy 2014-2020, which include a chapter on the use of financial instruments. The
Council conclusion took the CoR position into consideration and all points in the Council
Conclusions are in line with the draft CoR opinion.
Following the adoption of the opinion on 13 October 2015 the Council secretariat decided to
register the CoR opinion and send it to all national delegations for information.
Strengthened ties with the European Investment Bank
 This opinion involved the European Investment Bank from an early stage. It gave a practical
dimension to increased cooperation between the two institutions. The EIB participated twice in
COTER commission meetings, gave detailed comments on the working document and draft
opinion and expressed strong interest in increasing cooperation on this matter in future.
COR-2015-05431-00-01-TCD-TRA (EN) 18/20
Link to the timeline
http://cor.europa.eu/en/activities/opinions/pages/opinion-factsheet.aspx?OpinionNumber=CDR
1772/2015
17.
COTER-VI-006: The Draft EU Budget for 2016 – Rapporteur: Uno Silberg (EE/EA)
Latest interinstitutional activities:

European Commission:
The EC presented the Draft EU Budget for 2016, including Working Documents, Parts I-XI, on
26 May 2015. The Draft EU Budget for 2016 was adopted by the Commission on 24 June 2015.

Council:
8 July 2015: The Council (COREPER) adopted the figures at its 1st reading.
4 September 2015: The Council adopts its position by unanimity.
29 October 2015: start of the three-week conciliation period
14 November 2015: the Council and the European Parliament reached an agreement on the EU budget
for 2016. The Council and the Parliament further need to formally adopt the compromise. The
Council is due to proceed to this final step on 24 November and the Parliament on 25 November.

European Parliament:
28-30 September 2015: Vote on the budgetary amendments in BUDG committee
28 October 2015: Adoption of the European Parliament's reading
29 October 2015: start of the three-week conciliation period
14 November 2015: the Council and the European Parliament reached an agreement on the EU budget
for 2016. The Council and the Parliament further need to formally adopt the compromise. The
Council is due to proceed to this final step on 24 November and the Parliament on 25 November.
Link to timeline:
http://cor.europa.eu/en/activities/opinions/pages/opinion-factsheet.aspx?OpinionNumber=CDR
3219/2015
COR-2015-05431-00-01-TCD-TRA (EN) 19/20
18.
COTER-VI-007: Strengthening Cross-border Cooperation: the need for a better
regulatory framework? – Rapporteur: Nikola Dobroslavić (HR/EPP)
Latest interinstitutional activities:

Council:
On 26 November 2015, at their informal meeting in Luxembourg, ministers responsible for Territorial
Cohesion will discuss a tool for the attribution and application of specific provisions for the
improvement of cross-border cooperation (Luxembourg suggestion to create a "Regulation on a
European Cross-border Convention on specific provisions in cross-border regions"). The CoR
President is invited to present the CoR opinion on the matter.
Evolution and highlights:
The opinion is a referral from the Luxembourg Presidency of the Council sent to the CoR on 29 June
2015. As part of the preparation for its Presidency, the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg held a seminar,
in May 2015, devoted to the obstacles of cross-border cooperation and the tools and policies
envisaged to remove these obstacles. The Mission Opérationnelle Transfrontalière was commissioned
to provide support in the preparation of this seminar by producing a survey on legal obstacles of
cross-border cooperation and recommendations on a European legal tool to remove these obstacles.
A first outline of a legal tool for the attribution and application of specific provisions in cross-border
regions was presented in an Input Paper for the NTCCP1 meeting on 9 September 2015. The
Presidency suggested creating a "Regulation on a European Cross-border Convention on specific
provisions in cross-border regions", allowing Member States to agree on a common legal framework
applicable to a specific cross-border project, or a group of projects. These specific provisions would
be subject to "European Cross-border Conventions on specific provisions in cross-border regions"
(ECBC) that the local authorities as providers of services of general economic interest may conclude.
In view of the timing of the Informal meeting of the ministers responsible for Territorial Cohesion and
in order to be able to present its opinion at this meeting, this opinion was adopted in the October
plenary session through the rapporteurship-general procedure.
Link to timeline:
http://cor.europa.eu/en/activities/opinions/Pages/opinion-factsheet.aspx?OpinionNumber=CDR
4286/2015
_____________
1
The Network of Territorial Cohesion Contact Points (NTCCP) was created in 2007, to provide technical support for the
cooperation of the Ministers responsible for spatial development in the implementation of the Territorial Agenda 2020. It is made
up of representatives of the MS, candidate countries and guest countries (Iceland, Norway and Switzerland), the EU institutions
and the relevant territorial stakeholders.
COR-2015-05431-00-01-TCD-TRA (EN) 20/20