Ahead of the plenary session held on 2-3 April 2025, the Renew Europe Group in the European Committee of the Regions (CoR) assumed two key leadership roles that will shape the institution’s communication and engagement with citizens, regional authorities and other institutions across the European Union until mid-2027.
François Decoster, Vice-President of the Hauts-de-France Regional Government and President of Renew Europe CoR, has been appointed as the CoR’s Special Representative for the EU Councillors Initiative. In this role, he will oversee the initiative’s implementation in cooperation with the European Commission and report directly to the CoR’s political leadership. A long-time advocate for strengthening the connection between the EU and local authorities, Decoster has championed this initiative since 2018, starting with the launch of the “Network of Europe Correspondents” in his own region. His efforts laid the foundation for what is now a broader, EU-wide effort to empower the voices of the 1.2 million elected representatives at subnational level across the EU.
“The mission that the European Committee of the Regions has undertaken is a crucial one. As a strong believer in Europe and this project, I am honored to take on this new challenge and help the CoR connect with local and regional politicians all over Europe – to bring Europe closer to the ground, where it matters most.”
In a parallel appointment, François-Xavier Priollaud, Vice-President of the Normandy Region and a former journalist, has been named Special Rapporteur for the CoR’s Communications Strategy. His role will focus on shaping and enhancing the institution’s outreach and visibility, working closely with the CoR’s leadership to ensure its messages resonate more clearly with EU citizens.
“I am passionate about communications, regional politics and the European Union, so I am excited to take on this new challenge and help the CoR achieve its full potential.”
Both appointments underscore the Renew Europe Group’s commitment to reinforcing the role of regional and local governance in the EU’s democratic fabric, while also boosting the institution’s ability to communicate and engage with citizens effectively.
CoR plenary session
The appointments came ahead of a plenary session of the European Committee of the Regions, where Samo Turel, Mayor of Nova Gorica and our member, took the floor alongside the Mayor of Gorizia to present their cities as the first-ever borderless European Capital of Culture (ECOC). The recognition marks a significant milestone for the Renew Europe Group, as we have long championed the initiative as a symbol of cross-border cooperation and cultural unity on the European level.
Watch the debate by clicking on the image below:
Other highlights included Executive Vice-President of the European Commission for Cohesion and Reforms Raffaele Fitto announcing the Commission’s new cohesion policy priorities and Mayor Ellen van Selm, our COTER (Cohesion Policy Commission) Coordinator, stressing in return the importance of ensuring that the push for EU security and defense does not come at the expense of regional development.
Renew Europe Group Meeting
Ahead of the plenary session, Renew Europe members convened for their Group Meeting, which featured a discussion with Georges-Louis Bouchez, President of Belgium’s liberal party MR (Mouvement Réformateur). Bouchez shared insights from the recent Democracy and Liberties Summit in Paris, highlighting the key themes that emerged and how they align with Renew Europe’s values. He also outlined the priorities of the incoming Belgian government, following his central role in coalition negotiations, and offered an update on the ongoing efforts to resolve the political deadlock in the Brussels Capital Region. The meeting also saw the Group adopt its political priorities for the 2025–2030 CoR mandate and finalize its internal leadership roles.
