The European Union must reduce its dependence on producers outside its borders by encouraging the return of production of critical medicines and of protective equipment to European soil, members of the European Committee of the Regions said on 7 May. The call for "strategic autonomy" is one of the recommendations contained in an opinion on experiences and lessons learned by regions and cities during the COVID-19 crisis.

Local and regional leaders have given their support to a greater role for the European Union in health issues and to EU plans to safeguard the stability and security of supplies of critical medicine and equipment. However, in a series of recommendations adopted at a plenary session of the European Committee of the Regions on 7-9 May, they also argue that the EU's plans to withstand health crises is undermined by too little attention to the importance of local and regional authorities, which are a cornerstone of health systems in two-thirds of European countries.

António Costa, Prime Minister of Portugal, and European Parliament President, David Sassoli, will attend on 5 May the CoR Plenary session to discuss social Europe and the upcoming Conference on the future of Europe. On 6 May regional and local leaders will discuss with Commissioner Helena Dalli how to strengthen a Europe of equality. On 7 May a debate on the recovery in the hotel and catering sector will take place with Jens Zimmer Christensen, President of the HOTREC Association, the umbrella association of hotels, restaurants and cafés in Europe. On 7 May Herman Van Rompuy, former President of the European Council, will discuss with regional and local authorities the CoR contribution to the Conference on the Future of Europe, in his capacity as chairman of the High-Level Group on European Democracy recently created by the CoR.

On 26 February, the European Committee of the Regions' (CoR) commission for territorial cohesion policy and EU budget (COTER) met for the first time this year. During the meeting, the members discussed how Europe's regional airports and a sustainable mobility strategy in the transportation sector can help achieve the European Green Deal objectives and greater connectivity between and within European cities. Members also discussed the experiences and lessons learned during the COVID-19 crisis.