The EPP Group of the Committee of the Regions accepted in all 18 amendments submitted by Mr. Csaba Borboly, member of CoR and president of Harghita County Council on the meeting organized in Brussels on 8th of October. These amendments were also voted to be accepted by the Plenary as well. President of Harghita County Council submitted amendments regarding the following draft opinions: Entrepreneurship 2020 Action Plan; Urban-Rural Partnership and Governance; Cars 2020: Action Plan for a competitive and sustainable automotive industry is Europe; Green Paper on the Long-Term Financing of the European Economy, as well as Local and Regional Authorities perspective on Shale\/Tight Gas and Oil (Unconventional Hydrocarbons). According to the amendments it has to be further encouraged the act of bringing in line the urban and rural policies on European level.\u00a0 It also calls the particular attention on motivating regional, county level and local governments and administrative structures of other territorial units to take part in developing and strengthening the urban-rural partnership system.<\/p>\n
The modified draft opinion points out the aging car fleet, mostly characteristic for the EU Eastern countries. The reasons lying behind these are the cheaperer, second-hand autovehicle trade, the connection between the price of a new car and the net average salary, respectively the tendency showing a decreased life standard. Consequently, Mr. Csaba Borboly considers relevant to rethink the scrappage programme launched in Romania, and to encourage other countries to have similar programmes, to elaborate a common framework of rules, and last but not least to find the adequate financing method for these.<\/p>\n
Besides, on the basis of the amendment, the Committee of the Regions adopts the view that the local and regional governments are able to launch such educational programmes, which can boost the youth\u2019s entrepreneurial skills and willingness within the fields peculiar for the given region. Hence, this could contribute to the economic development of the region as well.<\/p>\n
The county council president declared in his amendment that youth have to be encouraged mostly in those fields, which they face in their everyday life or even in their household. For this very reason, they have to be supported in order to call their attention on the possibilities residing in the every day\u2019s duties, to see and appreciate the value of their work. Accordingly, it is important that the youth to be aware of the entrepreneurial potential lying in the crafts and local traditions of rural population since the relearning of the older crafts can establish market.<\/p>\n
At the same time, it is also pointed out that the SMEs need financial investments for continuing the environment friendly activities, which in several regions represent a problem. In more economically undeveloped regions the technology necessary for having and conducting environment friendly activities is almost unreachable. Hereby the enterprises have to resolve all, based on their own sources, and that is why they need other external financial sources too.<\/p>\n
In the Green paper based on the county council president\u2019s proposals, in case of local investments, particularly regarding the environment and energetic sector, such investment constructions have to be developed, where the local and regional community may not play a role as mere consumer but as financer as well. Furthermore, in the document entitled\u00a0 \u2018Local and Regional Authorities perspective on Shale\/Tight Gas and Oil (Unconventional Hydrocarbons)\u2019, based on Mr. Csaba Borboly\u2019s amendment, the Committee of the Regions suggests also that the dissemination of activities related to unconventional hydrocarbons among the population have to be dealt by such a group of local and non-local specialists, which, by taking into account the local environmental and economic characteristics, can offer an objective perspective on all phases of exploitation, emphasizing its economic benefits as well as its social and environmental risks.<\/p>\n
Mr. Csaba Borboly motivates this by the fact that the local population is highly concerned in all phases of exploitation. For this very reason, it is indispensable to know the population\u2019s viewpoints. However, in order to be able to efficiently voice out their opinions, it is essential to be informed first by specialists who are aware of local characteristics and accordingly transmit them objective information regarding the benefits, risks and the processes of the method.<\/p>\n