Opinion Factsheet  

Experiences and lessons learned by regions and cities during the COVID-19 crisis

BGCSDADEELENESETFIFRGAHRHUITLTLVMTNLPLPTROSKSLSV
Opinion Number: CDR 4155/2020
Rapporteur: SCHAUVLIEGE Joke
Commission: NAT
Status: Adopted
Date: 07/05/2021
 
The objective of this opinion is to gather the experience of the cities and regions affected by the first waves of the COVID-19 virus and highlight their strategies to cope, as well as their expectations from the national and Europeean level.

These voices will shape the CoR response to the request of the European Commission's Secretary General who asked the Committee in its letter of 2 July to come forward with the dedicated opinion providing insights into the local and regional responses to corona virus.
THE EUROPEAN COMMITTEE OF THE REGIONS



 is convinced that the question of EU competences in the field of health should be discussed during the debate on the future of Europe;

 calls on the European institutions and national governments to involve local and regional authorities in the preparation of the national and EU-level Recovery and Resilience plans;

 is convinced that the EU must address medicine shortages and reduce its dependency on third countries by bringing back the production of certain medicines, critical substances, including vaccines, and protective equipment to European soil;

 calls for further measures to increase the flexibility of the EU budget, State Aid framework as well as de minimis regime;

 warns of the risk of "digital divide" and calls for policies and funding that support high digital connectivity especially in rural areas;

 asks for development of sustainable mobility linkages between rural, intermediate and urban areas;

 asks for local and regional authorities to be involved in setting up the new EU instruments, such as the Next Generation EU recovery plans and the food crisis response mechanism proposed by the Commission in the Farm to Fork Strategy.

Importance

High
Medium
Low
 

COTER Commission Meeting

Debate on the NAT opinion on Experiences and lessons learned by regions and cities during the COVID-19 crisis within the CIVEX Commission meeting with a presentation of draft opinion by NAT Rapporteur Joke Schauvliege

 
26 Feb
 

SEDEC Commission meeting

Debate on the NAT opinion on Experiences and lessons learned by regions and cities during the COVID-19 crisis within the SEDEC Commission meeting with a presentation of draft opinion by NAT Rapporteur Joke Schauvliege​

 
17 Feb
 

ENVE Commission Meeting

Debate on the NAT opinion on Experiences and lessons learned by regions and cities during the COVID-19 crisis within the ENVE Commission meeting with a presentation of draft opinion by NAT Rapporteur Joke Schauvliege

 
01 Feb
 

ECON Commission Meeting

Debate on the NAT opinion on Experiences and lessons learned by regions and cities during the COVID-19 crisis within the ECON Commission meeting with a presentation of draft opinion by NAT Rapporteur Joke Schauvliege

 
22 Jan
 

Stakeholder consultation

On 15 December 2020, the rapporteur and her expert hosted an online stakeholder consultation on experiences and lessons learned from COVID-19. Over 20 participants representing regions and local authorities, European associations and other relevant organisations shared their experiences and views during the interactive meeting which will provide input to the opinion.

 
15 Dec
 

CIVEX Commission Meeting

Debate on the NAT opinion on Experiences and lessons learned by regions and cities during the COVID-19 crisis within the CIVEX Commission meeting with a presentation of draft opinion by NAT Rapporteur Joke Schauvliege
​

 
04 Dec