Following his appointment today President Marsilio will soon start work on drawing up a Committee of the Regions opinion on "A Just Transition for all EU regions" with the objective to influence the new European Commission and Parliament.

"The transition of our European industries must be done in a way that ensures competitive conditions for our companies and prosperity for our citizens. Many regions are dependent on energy intensive industries like the automotive sector, and need guarantees for a socially just and fair transition that does not compromise economic and territorial development, nor jeopardise jobs" stressed the President of Abruzzo following his appointment.

The opinion will look into lessons learnt, consequences and needs related to an expansion of the current EU Just Transition policy framework for coal regions to other industrialised territories. "Of utmost importance is that we are guided by the principle of technological neutrality in order to reduce the dangerously increasing dependency on components and products imported from Asia, which diminishes the EU's trade surplus", added President Marsilio.

The opinion will also be an opportunity to call for dedicated funding for European automotive regions and further investigate how different funds falling under cohesion policy can work in synergy and complementarity.

The draft opinion is scheduled to be adopted in the July COTER Commission meeting before being put to vote in the CoR October plenary session.