The Committee of the Regions is the voice of regions and cities in the European Union. This is a consultative committee made up of representatives of local and regional authorities of the Union. It is a political assembly of holders of a regional or local electoral mandate serving the cause of European integration.

Successive Treaties have broadened the Committee of the Regions' role. Since the Lisbon Treaty's entry into force, the Committee of the Regions has to be consulted throughout the legislative process involving the European Parliament and the Council of the European Union in the following areas:

• economic and social cohesion,
• trans-European networks,
• health,
• education and culture,
• employment,
• social policy,
• the environment,
• vocational training,
• transport,
• civil protection,
• climate change,
• energy,
• services of general interest.

Source: Website of CoR