TWO senior East Lancashire politicians have been appointed to a powerful European Union body.

Pendle borough’s Tory boss Joe Cooney and former leader of the Liberal Democrat group on Burnley Council Margaret Lishman will now have an input on Brussels decisions affecting the UK’s regions.

MORE TOP STORIES:

They are among 48 politicians from across England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland appointed to the European Committee of the Regions, the EU’s political assembly of local and regional authorities.

The delegation – proposed formally approved by the Council of the EU yesterday – will sit on the committee representing the interests of the UK’s local authorities.

They will join national delegations from all EU member states.

Leader of the UK delegation and Sunderland City Council leader Paul Watson said, “We want to shape EU initiatives to help regenerate our local economies and strengthen our communities.

The committee has existed since 1994 following the signing of the Maastricht Treaty.