European Committee of the Regions

European Committee of the Regions

Created in 1992 by the Treaty of Maastricht and established in 1994, the Committee of the Regions (CoR) is the advisory body through which local and regional authorities can put forward their points of view on EU legislation.

The Committee of the Regions is consulted by the European Commission, the European Parliament, and the Council in areas that affect local or regional policy making. For example, the CoR draws up opinions on environment, economic and social cohesion, cross-border cooperation, (trans-European) transport, public health, employment, social policy, education, and culture. The Committee of the Regions may also draw up opinions on its own initiative.

The CoR is composed of 329 local and regional representatives, appointed by the Council for four years. Twelve Dutch members and twelve alternates reside in the Committee of the Regions, half of which is composed of provincial deputies, the other half is made up of local representatives.

There are six commissions in the Committee that representatives can serve on. The commissions prepare advice:

  • CIVEX – Commission for Citizenship, Governance, Institutional and External Affairs
  • COTER – Commission for Territorial Cohesion Policy and EU Budget
  • ECON – Commission for Economic Policy
  • ENVE – Commission for the Environment, Climate Change and Energy
  • NAT – Commission for Natural Resources
  • SEDEC – Commission for Social Policy, Education, Employment, Research and Culture

Dutch regional ministers in the Committee of Regions

The Dutch regional ministers and HNP-board members have been appointed as members of the European Committee of the Regions. They participate in all six commissions in the Committee.

Members:

  • Martijn van Gruijthuijsen (Province of Noord-Brabant), ECON-commission.
  • Arthur van Dijk (Province of Noord-Holland), SEDEC-commission.
  • Mariëtte van Leeuwen (Province of Zuid-Holland), NAT-commission.
  • Mirjam Sterk (Province of Utrecht), ENVE-commission.
  • Ans Mol (Province of Gelderland), ENVE-commission.
  • Friso Douwstra (Province of Friesland), SEDEC-commission.

Alternates

  • Jan Klopman (Province of Flevoland), COTER-commission.
  • Erwin Hoogland (Province of Overijssel), ECON-commission.
  • Egbert van Dijk (Province of Drenthe), NAT-commission.
  • Bram Schmaal (Province of Groningen), CIVEX-commission.
  • Wilfried Nielen (Province of Zeeland), COTER-commission.
  • Elianne Demollin-Schneiders (Province of Limburg), CIVEX-commission.

More information