First meeting of the Czech National Delegation to the European Committee of the Regions in Brussels

The members of the new delegation:

MEMBERS Roman Línek (chairman of the delegation), Richard Vereš (vice-chairman of the delegation), Pavel Branda, Kamila Bláhová, Zdeněk Hřib, Petra Pecková, Martin Půta, Radim Sršeň, Šárka Šimoňáková, Dagmar Škodová Parmová, Rudolf Špoták, Jan Zámečník

ALTERNATES Iva Dvořáková, Jan Chabr, Tomáš Chmela, Martin Příborský, Jiří Růžička, Josef Suchánek, Jaroslav Zámečník, Robert Zeman

The discussion with the Secretary General of the ERC, Petr Blížkovský, was one of the key moments of the first meeting of the national delegation. Petr Blížkovský welcomed the members of the delegation to the inaugural plenary session and summarized several recommendations that could increase the efficiency and impact of the members' work in the ERC. In particular, he appealed to the members of the delegation to be innovative and concrete in promoting the interests of Czech regions and cities at the European level. He stressed, for example, the importance of drafting opinions in the pre-legislative phase, which makes it possible to influence the legislative process at an early stage.

The key topic of the delegation and the plenary session in the coming months will of course be the draft legislation on the new multiannual financial framework and the regional dimension within cohesion policy. Cooperation in areas such as energy, affordable housing and a strong defence industry will also be essential.