The PES Group in the Committee of the Regions brings together social-democrats and socialists members in a multinational group, enabling them to cooperate and take common positions on political issues of vital importance to local and regional authorities.

Want to learn more about the Group? In this "rentrée" the Group organizes several meetings and you are welcome to attend the workshop "Growth at all costs: Putting the local back into the economy" during the Committee of the Regions Open Days (5-6 October):  

Growth at all costs: Putting the local back into the economy (6 October; 14h30-16h00)
Workshop of the PES Group in the Committee of the Regions, Open Days 2009

On the occasion of the Open Days 2009, the PES Group in the Committee of the Regions is organising a workshop on "Growth at all costs?: putting the local back into the economy".

Mercedes BRESSO, President of the PES Group in the Committee of the Regions and President of the Piedmont Region (Italy), Olivier DE SCHUTTER, UN Special Rapporteur on the right to food, and René SOUCHON, CoR rapporteur on Biodiversity and President of Auvergne Regional Council (France), will discuss how sustainable food production can boost local economies and restore growth in a socially and environmentally friendly manner.

More information on the PES Group website

This event is open to the public, click here to register

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Other meetings of the PES Group in the Committee of the Regions include:

The PES Group defines its priorities for the next term of office of the Committee of the Regions (2010-2014)
Extraordinary meeting of the PES Group in the Committee of the Regions, 23 September, Brussels

The PES Group in the CoR will hold an extraordinary meeting on 23 September (CoR Headquarters, Brussels) to exchange views on the priorities of regionally and locally elected PES members for the coming years, taking account of the changing landscape of the European institutions.

More information on the PES Group website

The contribution of local and regional authorities to Smart Green Growth and green job creation

The Group of the Party of European Socialists (PES) in the Committee of the Regions (CoR), is holding a high level meeting in Malmö, Sweden, on 23 October 2009 to discuss how local and regional authorities can promote Smart Green Growth and the creation of green jobs. The meeting, hosted by Ilmar REEPALU, Mayor of Malmö and PES Group Member, will be structured around three themes: Renewable energies for a carbon-free Europe, Green transport solutions and Energy efficiency in buildings.

Key speakers are: Poul Nyrup RASMUSSEN, President of the Party of European Socialists, Jo LEINEN MEP, President of the European Parliament's Committee for Environment, Public Health and Food Safety, Ritt BJERREGAARD, Lord Mayor of Copenhagen, Michel DELEBARRE, First Vice-President of the Committee of the Regions, Christian DUCHESNE, co-author of ETUC study on 'Climate Change and Employment: Impact on Employment in the European Union-25 of climate change and CO2 emission reduction measures by 2030', and Rita OTTERVIK, Mayor of Trondheim, Norway.

Malmö is a pioneer city in terms of sustainable development that has won several awards for its green projects. One of the most prestigious ones is the LivCom Award, endorsed by the United Nations Environment Programme and aimed at improving the quality of life of individual citizens through the creation of ‘liveable communities’.