On 15 February 2019 a delegation of 10 CIVEX members visited Saint-Omer, in France, at the invitation of Mr François Decoster (FR/ALDE), Mayor of Saint-Omer and Vice-president of the Hauts de France Region. The aim of the visit was to present the network of Europe Correspondents that was launched in May 2018 in the Urban Conglomeration of Saint Omer's area (CAPSO).

Local and regional leaders today voiced mounting concern about the prospect of the United Kingdom leaving the European Union without an agreement and the subsequent impact it would have on their communities. Referring to findings presented in Brussels today by a research consortium led by the University of Birmingham, the European Committee of the Regions (CoR) – the EU's assembly of local and regional leaders – warned of the dire economic and political fallout a no-deal Brexit would cause to local economies.

The European Committee of the Regions (CoR) has welcomed the European Commission's intention to strengthen the involvement of local and regional authorities in the EU's policy-making. The CoR supports the proposals announced in the Commission's communication which the CoR believes will improve the quality and effectiveness of EU policy by giving a greater say to cities and regions.

Dans le cadre du prochain budget à long terme de l'UE pour la période 2021-2027, la Commission européenne a proposé un nouveau programme destiné à renforcer et à défendre les droits et les valeurs de l'UE. Par la voix de son rapporteur François Decoster (FR/ADLE), Vice-président des Hauts-de-France, le Comité européen des régions (CdR) salue l'initiative mais insiste sur la nécessité d'inclure des actions spécifiques à destination des élus locaux et régionaux. Les collectivités territoriales restent le niveau de pouvoir le plus proche des citoyens et représentent un relais direct et efficace entre l'UE et les citoyens pour promouvoir l'engagement des citoyens sur les questions européennes.