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Regional and local leaders welcome granting of EU candidate status to Ukraine and the Republic of Moldova

European Committee of the Regions - 6/23/2022 8:35:00 AM


The European Committee of the Regions expresses its full and unequivocal support to the decision taken today by the EU Heads of State and Government to grant EU candidate status to Ukraine and to the Republic of Moldova. This important signal of political support will encourage our Ukrainian and Moldovan partners to advance on the way of democracy, the rule of law, and ability to provide a safe future for their citizens.

The European Committee of the Regions has been actively supporting Ukraine on its democratic path. Since 2015, it has been providing advice on the decentralisation reform, which proved to be one of the most successful endeavours, strengthening local democracy and the overall resilience of the local communities in Ukraine. Our members remain united in showing solidarity and quick to provide humanitarian aid to their Ukrainian partners. EU cities and regions, particularly those at the border with Ukraine, have welcomed and continue to welcome millions of displaced people. Together, we are now discussing the recovery and reconstruction of Ukraine.

In March 2022, the European Committee of the Regions gave Vitali Klitschko, Mayor of Kyiv and Head of the Association of Ukrainian Cities, honorary membership reflecting our support for Ukraine's EU candidature

Now we stand ready to support the new candidate countries on the path of reforms that lay ahead, particularly in areas of local democracy, good governance and resilience. We call on the international community to contribute to the recovery and reconstruction of Ukraine; together with EU associations and networks of cities and regions, we will provide targeted local expertise and advice, through the soon-to-be-launched "Ukraine Reconstruction Platform" led by the European Commission.

We welcome President Sandu's reforms which paved the way for the Republic of Moldova accession process and we stand ready to further cooperate with Moldova's local authorities.

We stand ready to set up Joint Consultative Committees with Ukraine and the Republic of Moldova

We are happy to welcome our Ukrainian and Moldovan partners in the European family!

European Committee of the Regions

The European Committee of the Regions is the voice of regions and cities in the European Union.


350 members - regional and locally elected representatives from the 28 EU countries.
6 commissions covering competences in the following policy areas based on the EU Treaties:
- Employment, vocational training, economic and social cohesion, social policy, health.
- Education and culture.
- Environment, climate change, energy.
- Transport and trans-European networks.
- Civil protection and services of general interests.

6 plenary sessions a year.
More than 50 opinions a year on EU legislation.
More than 40 stakeholders' consultations each year.
More than 300 events a year.

President
Apostolos Tzitzikostas

Apostolos Tzitzikostas was elected as President of the European Committee of the Regions (CoR) in febbruary 2020 after serving as President of the Greek delegation and Vice president of the Committee since july 2017. He is also Governor of the Region of Central Macedonia.

BIOGRAPHY

​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​Apostolos Tzitzikostas was born on September 2, 1978. He studied Government and International Relations at Georgetown University, in Washington DC. After graduating in 2000, he had his first working experience at the Office of the President of the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the United States Congress. In 2002 he obtained a Masters Degree on European Public Policy and Economics from the University College of London. Following his studies, he created his own company on the field of production, processing and standardization of dairy products, based on organic standards.

In 2007, he was elected Member of the Greek Parliament with the Nea Demokratia Party (EPP) in the First District of Thessaloniki. In the Regional Elections of November 2010 he was elected Vice-Governor of the Region of Central Macedonia and Head of the Metropolitan Area of Thessaloniki. On the Regional Elections of May 2014 he was elected Governor of the Region of Central Macedonia, and on the Regional Elections of May 2019 was re-elected Governor of the Region of Central Macedonia. On November 2019 he was elected President of the Association of Greek Regions.​​

Since 2015 he is a Member of the European Committee of the Regions. In July 2017, he was elected Head of the Greek Delegation and Vice-President of the European Committee of the Regions. He fluently speaks English and French and his articles are regularly being published in Greek and foreign newspapers and magazines.

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