COMMITTEE OF THE REGIONS: MICHEL DELEBARRE ELECTED PRESIDENT FOR TWO YEARS.

• Position: Political leadership - Brief Article

In his acceptance speech, Mr Delebarre identified two "strategic priorities" for his mandate: enhancing the CoR's profile as a political assembly and increasing its influence. The desire to establish the Committee's credentials as a political institution has been a common feature of the CoR since its creation in 1994. It is precisely in order to mirror a political institution like the European Parliament that the Committee of the Regions operates through plenary sessions, committees and political groups, and has always refused any comparison with the European Economic and Social Committee, despite the fact that the Treaty places both bodies on an equal footing. Michel Delebarre says as much when he insists on the "status of local regional elected representatives which lies at the heart of the institution's legitimacy and the role it can play in the EU decision-making process".

The second challenge is the CoR's influence. The new President aims to make the CoR more visible for...