At the Renew Europe Group Meeting held on 19 February 2025 in Brussels, Belgium ahead of the inaugural European Committee of the Regions’ plenary session of the new 2025-2030 mandate, members elected the new Group Presidency, Bureau and Commission Coordinators, setting the course for the years ahead.
At the Renew Europe Group Meeting held on 19 February 2025 ahead of the inaugural European Committee of the Regions’ plenary session of the new 2025 – 2030 mandate, the following members were elected to the Group Presidency:
- President: François DECOSTER, Mayor of St Omer & Vice-President of the Hauts de France regional government, France
- 1st Vice – President: Karīna MIĶELSONE, Mayor of Adazi Municipality, Latvia
- 2nd Vice-President: Willy BORSUS, President of the Parliament of Wallonia, Belgium
- 3rd Vice-President: Mirja VEHKAPERÄ, Mayor of Oulu, Finland
The following members were elected to the Group Bureau:
- Ivan GULAM (Mayor of Pirovac, Croatia)
- Gillian COUGHLAN (Cork County Councillor, Ireland)
- Arthur VAN DIJK (King’s Commissioner of North Holland, the Netherlands)
- Magali ALTOUNIAN (Deputy Mayor of Nice, France)
- Luciano CAVERI (Regional Minister of the Vallée d’Aosta Region, Italy)
The following members were elected as Renew Europe Coordinators:
- Coordinator CIVEX (Commission for Citizenship, Governance, Institutional & External Affairs): Jean-Luc VANRAES (Alderman in Uccle, Belgium)
- Coordinator COTER (Territorial Cohesion Policy and EU Budget): Ellen VAN SELM (Mayor of Purmerend and Vice-Chair of the Members Assembly of the Amsterdam Metropolitan Area, the Netherlands)
- Coordinator ENVE (Environment, Climate Change and Energy Commission): Clare COLLERAN-MOLLOY (Mayor of Ennis, Ireland)
- Coordinator SEDEC (Social Policy, Education, Employment, Research and Culture Commission): Anne RUDISUHLI (Department Councillor in Bouches-du-Rhône, France)
- Coordinator ECON (Economic Policy Commission): Martijn VAN GRUIJTHUIJSEN (Regional Minister of the Province of Noord-Brabant, the Netherlands)
- Coordinator NAT (Natural Resources Commission): Luciano CAVERI (Regional Minister of the Vallée d’Aosta Region, Italy)
The election of new leadership within the Group will strengthen the commitment to advancing security, democracy, and prosperity across Europe. Their role will be crucial in ensuring that cities and regions build an even stronger presence in EU policy-making. More details on the composition of the Bureau can be found here, and the list of Commission Coordinators and Deputies is available here.
The Group Meeting was also an opportunity to engage with EU Commissioner Michael McGrath on shared priorities, particularly within his portfolio of democracy, justice, the rule of law, and consumer protection. His participation reinforced the growing partnership between subnational authorities and EU institutions. The meeting was held ahead of the inaugural CoR plenary session, where Kata Tüttő and Juan Manuel Moreno Bonilla were elected as the new President and Vice-President of the European Committee of the Regions.
In addition to these elections, the first CoR Commission meetings of the mandate also saw the election of new chairs. Magali Altounian, Deputy Mayor of Nice, France, was elected as Chair of the CIVEX Commission (Citizenship, Governance, Institutional and External Affairs). Her strong leadership will be critical as the EU navigates a shifting geopolitical landscape marked by the ongoing war in Ukraine, evolving transatlantic relations, and rising global uncertainties. Gunārs Ansiņš, Mayor of Liepāja, Latvia, was elected 1st Vice-Chair of the ENVE Commission (Commission for the Environment, Climate change and Energy). He will play an important role in ensuring that all local and regional authorities advance climate action and strengthen resilience to global environmental challenges.
