CoR - Committee of the Regions

01/22/2025 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 01/22/2025 09:29

Vasco Cordeiro in Lisbon to exchange views on the conclusion of his mandate as President of the European Committee of the Regions

The President of the European Committee of the Regions (CoR), Vasco Alves Cordeiro, met with the President of the Republic of Portugal, Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, and the country's Prime Minister, Luís Montenegro, to exchange on the conclusion of Cordeiro's mandate at the helm of the CoR (2022-2025), as the first Portuguese to lead this European institution.

After the meetings, held on 21st January in Lisbon, Vasco Alves Cordeiro said:

"Being President of the European Committee of the Regions has been one of the honours of my life. As a political representative coming from the Azores, this presidency affirmed the idea of a European Union that is made by everyone, for everyone, for every town, city or region in Europe, no matter its size or its location.

"I would like to thank President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa and Prime Minister Luís Montenegro for their availability to meet. The mandate that is about to conclude has been a very challenging one, namely for promoting a new vision for a stronger cohesion policy with local and regional authorities at its centre, for strengthening our solidarity with Ukraine with the launch of the European Alliance of Cities and Regions for the Reconstruction, and for making the European Union fairer, carrying the voice of all territories, including rural areas and outermost regions.

"Looking at the current and future challenges that the European Union is facing, the vision of a European Union that puts regions and cities at its heart is more important than ever. In the past two years and a half, as President I worked on increasing the political profile of the European Committee of the Regions increased as the political assembly of local and regional authorities of the European Union, to strengthens the democratic legitimacy of the European project, rooting it on the ground. This will be the legacy I will leave to the next President when I hand over the role in a month time."

On this occasion, the President of the Republic decorated the President of the European Committee of the Regions with the insignia of Grand Officer of the Order of Prince Henry the Navigator.

To conclude his mission to Lisbon, President Cordeiro held an exchange of views with the leader of the Socialist Party (PS), Pedro Nuno Santos, and PS President Carlos César, at the party's headquarters, where they discussed the challenges facing the European Union and its regions, including the Azores.

President Cordeiro stressed: "The Socialist Party's roots are firmly anchored in the European project. My mandate as President of the European Committee of the Regions was part of this strong commitment. I am proud of having contributed to building a stronger and fairer Europe for all. Glad to exchange with Pedro Nuno Santos and Carlos César."

Note to editors:

The European Committee of the Regions will hold its next plenary session on 19-20 February 2025, when President Vasco Alves Cordeiro will hand over the mandate to his successor.