In this letter, Local Alliance members express their wish for relevant Members of the College of Commissioners - who hold key portfolios for creating enabling conditions for cities and regions- are tasked to engage with European cities and regions through structured permanent dialogues between the EU, national, regional and local level decision makers in their mission letters from the EC president. The letter puts forth concrete ideas for constructive dialogues and feedback loops:
- Commissioners who will be leading the EU’s economic and financial affairs, budget, single market and competitiveness agendas should work closely with European cities and regions, in addition to the key role of the Commissioner for cohesion and reforms, to recognise realities at the local level.
- Commissioners who will be leading the topics of skills and jobs, social rights and policies, as well as just transition should be encouraged to work with local and regional governments to ensure that citizens do not pay the price of the transition.
- An Executive Vice- President of your College of Commissioners should oversee the establishment and implementation of such structured dialogues with the local and regional level, across all the above mentioned topics and beyond, to ensure that these dialogues improve the implementation of the Green Deal on the ground and provide input in the upcoming legislative proposals.