European Committee of the Regions

Established in 1994, the European Committee of the Regions (CoR) participates in the EU’s legislative process by issuing opinions on affairs handled by the European Commission, Council and Parliament. The CoR brings the voice of local and regional authorities to EU decision-making. Its aim is to promote compliance with the principle of subsidiarity and strengthen territorial cohesion in EU Member States.

The CoR has 329 members and an equal number of alternates appointed for five-year terms of office. The current term started in February 2020.

The CoR’s Finnish delegation is composed of nine members and nine alternates. The CoR’s members are elected regional and local government representatives or politically accountable to an elected assembly. 
The CoR’s President is elected for a two-and-a-half-year term of office. The current President is Portugal´s  Mr Vasco Alves  Cordeiro. First Vice-President is Mr Apostopolos Tzitzikostas from Greece.

The Association of Finnish Local and Regional Authorities acts as the secretariat for the CoR’s Finnish delegation.

Constituent bodies of the European Committee of the Regions

The CoR's bodies are the Bureau, the Plenary Assembly and six commissions.

Bureau

The Bureau coordinates the CoR’s work, draws up the policy programme and decides on the preparation of draft opinions. The Bureau’s Finnish members are Mr Markku Markkula and Ms Anne Karjalainen.

Plenary Assembly

The Plenary Assembly meets five times a year and it is attended by all CoR members. 

Commissions

The CoR's work is organised in six commissions, which draw up draft opinions and organise conferences relating to their own area of responsibility.

Commission for Territorial Cohesion Policy and EU Budget (COTER):

The COTER commission’s Finnish members are Mr Bert Häggblom, Ms Sari Rautio and Ms Mirja Vehkaperä. 

Commission for Economic Policy (ECON):

The ECON commission’s Finnish members are Mr Mikko Aaltonen, Mr Ilpo Heltimoinen and Mr  Mikkel Näkkäläjärvi (alternate Mr Joonas Honkimaa).

Commission for Social Policy, Education, Employment, Research and Culture (SEDEC):

The SEDEC commission’s Finnish members are Ms Anne Karjalainen (Chair of the Commission), Mr Mikko Aaltonen and Mr Markku Markkula (alternate Mr Jari Andersson).

Commission for Citizenship, Governance, Institutional Affairs and External Relations (CIVEX):

The CIVEX commission’s Finnish members are Ms Satu Haapanen, Mr Mikkel Näkkäläjärvi and Ms Sari Rautio (alternate Ms Pauliina Haijanen).

Commission for Natural Resources (NAT):

The NAT commission’s Finnish members are Mr Bert Häggblom, Mr Ilpo Heltimoinen ans Ms Mirja Vehkaperä (alternate Mr Pekka Myllymäki).

Commission for Environment, Climate Change and Energy (ENVE):

The ENVE commission’s Finnish members are Ms Satu Haapanen (alternate Ms Niina Ratilainen), Ms Anne Karjalainen (alternate Ms Sanna Parkkinen) and Mr Markku Markkula.