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The European Union must give social innovation
the strategic importance it deserves,
to improve lives of citizens, and to relaunch
the capacity to growth and innovate of our continent.
The ageing society, social housing or activating youth,
these are some of the challenges
the EU is facing the upcoming decade.
The Forum on Social Innovation, organized by the CoR
on 10 May brought local and regional representatives
together in Brussels to reflect on how to create
an innovation union and build up a platform against poverty.
Through workshops local and regional representatives
got the opportunity to learn all there is to know
in the field of social innovation and to get an insight
on how to create and implement it in their social policy.
The May Plenary had the pleasure to welcome
the president of the European Council, Mr Herman Van Rompuy,
to discuss with the CoR members the developments
in the implementation of the Europe 2020 Strategy
as well as to address the questions on migration in the South Mediterranean region.
"What is happening right across the Mediterranean
has a huge impact on Europe.
Even if you are in a city council or a regional parliament
events in Tunis or Benghazi are of concern".
This 90th plenary session was the opportunity to adopt
three opinions on the reform of one of Europe's most important policies:
the Common Agricultural Policy.
The commission's proposal for a new CAP after 2013
as well as Mr Souchon's draft opinion
on the role played by quality products to boost Europe's agriculture,
and Rapporteur Emilia Müller's proposed reform of milk market regulations
were on this plenary's agenda.
Henk Kool , member of the Executive Council of The Hague,
got the floor to propose a more efficient
European procurement market.
This in addition to Commissioner Almunia's contribution
on reform of the provision of basic public services to EU citizens.
From overfishing to chemical pollution,
the Adriatic and Ionian region face many challenges
that can only be solved if all neighbouring countries join
in a European strategy for the entire Adriatic-Ionian macroregion .
To discuss these new cooperation lines
CoR president Bresso invited the annual Adriatic and Ionian Initiative
ministerial council to the CoR's headquarter in Brussels.
All ministers agreed that a European strategy
was beneficial not only for the whole region,
as well as to convince the candidate countries that also their future lies in the EU.