As bolstering sustainable economic development remains one of the three priorities of ARLEM, the Assembly continues to be invested in supporting young entrepreneurs. After what is now the third successful edition of the ARLEM Award – Young local entrepreneurship in the Mediterranean, the 2022 edition just opened for applications. Once more, we encourage young entrepreneurs (up to 35 years old) from the Mediterranean region to showcase their successful cooperation with their local and regional authorities. 

​​The European Committee of the Regions (CoR) delegation to the Conference on the Future of Europe met today to prepare its contribution to the inaugural meeting of the Plenary of the Conference on the Future of Europe to take place on 19 June in Strasbourg. The delegates wish to seize the opportunity presented by the Conference to strengthen the democratic dimension of the European Union and to restore citizens' trust in the European project. The CoR, as representative EU body of the level of government that is closest to citizens, is committed to bringing to the Conference the voices of local and regional authorities. 

The second 2021 Broadband Platform meeting brought together members of the European Committee of the Regions (CoR) with European Commission experts and a Portuguese Presidency of the Council representative – giving them the occasion to exchange on the latest developments concerning key European initiatives in the field and to discuss critical challenges around the empirical measurement of digitalisation progress. The Broadband Platform's main objective is to accelerate the deployment of high-speed broadband across all European regions, including rural and sparsely populated areas where there is not enough market-driven infrastructure development.  

The European Committee of the Regions and the European Alliance for Apprenticeships are organising a joint high-level conference this week. At the opening session on 3 June, the Commissioner for Jobs and Social Rights Nicolas Schmit and the chair of the CoR's SEDEC Commission Anne Karjalainen highlighted the pivotal role of regions and cities in providing quality and effective apprenticeships for all. 

The European Committee of the Regions, the Yolda Initiative, the European association of mountain areas (Euromontana) and the Regional International Year of Rangelands and Pastoralists Support Group for Europe organised a joint online workshop on 14 June to underline the need to maintain pastoralists. 

​This year, the European Committee of the Regions has once again cooperated with the European Commission to make the EU Green Week a success. Seven members of the European Committee of the Regions took part in different panels of the EU Green Week, three of them co-organized by the CoR, to discuss how to achieve the target of zero pollution. A major highlight of the EU Green Week is the launch of the Zero Pollution Stakeholder Platform on 4 June which will help deliver the objectives of the Green Deal and help implement the EU Action Plan 'Towards Zero Pollution for Air, Water and Soil' on the ground. 

The Commission for the Environment, Climate change and Energy (ENVE) of the European Committee of the Regions debated on the Conference on the Future of Europe, the 2022 European Commission's Work Programme and the 'Fit for 55 package' whose purpose is to update the EU’s 2030 climate and energy laws to reflect the 55% net emissions reduction target that the EU set for 2030. Other topics included the development of a trans-European energy infrastructure, the new EU strategy on climate adaptation and the mainstreaming of gender equality under the European Green Deal. ​  

The European Commission and the European Committee of the Regions, in cooperation with the Polish newspaper, Dziennik Gazeta Prawna, invite you to two webinars devoted to discuss Polish urban policy, the European Green Deal and the EU's multiannual financial perspective for 2021-2027. 

The European Committee of the Regions (CoR) was represented at the 2021 EESC European Citizens Initiative Day by Karl-Heinz Lambertz (BE/PSE) and Vincent Chauvet (FR/ Renew Europe), both having been ECI organisers themselves. In line with the CoR's political priority of bringing Europe closer to its people, the CoR is committed to supporting ECIs which fall into its political remits and which are politically relevant for local and regional authorities. Being a representative of the level of government which is the closest to citizens, the CoR is a key partner to promoting ECIs as the EU's first transnational instrument of participatory democracy. 

Evropská komise a Evropský výbor regionů dnes spustily platformu zúčastněných stran, která má pomoci s prováděním akčního plánu EU: „Vstříc nulovému znečištění ovzduší, vod a půdy“ . Akční plán – klíčový výstup Zelené dohody pro Evropu a hlavní téma letošního Zeleného týdne EU – byl přijat 12. května 2021. Předkládá integrovanou vizi, pokud jde o snížení znečištění do roku 2050 na úroveň, která již nebude škodlivá pro zdraví lidí a přírodní ekosystémy, a také o průběžné cíle do roku 2030 a opatření k jejich dosažení. 

Municipalities in North Macedonia are showing significant interest in establishing direct partnerships with cities and regions in the European Union and the government of North Macedonia is committed to strengthening local finances, local and regional politicians were told on 2 June. 

​​​The most outstanding awareness-raising actions on waste reduction implemented during the 2020 European Week for Waste Reduction were announced on 1 June 2021 in an online ceremony, held as a pre-conference event of the European Green Week 2021. Six winners, out of a total of 10,696 actions in 33 countries, were awarded, one in each of the following categories: publication administration and organisation, business/industry, association/NGO, educational establishment, citizens, as well as a European Special Prize for the action that showcased the most marked European spirit. 

Highlight the need of a particular focus on the outermost regions in the EU's strategy to address the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and the recovery: this is the main objective of the Azores declaration, adopted today by the Bureau of the European Committee of the Regions (CoR), virtually gathered in the Autonomous Region of the Azores (Portugal). The document has been presented to representatives of the European Commission, which is currently updating its strategic partnership with outermost regions in light of the serious consequences of the pandemic. 

The European Committee of the Regions (CoR) and the Portuguese Presidency of the Council of the European Union have joined efforts to bring together local and regional authorities, Member States' permanent representations, the European Commission and the European Parliament to discuss how to ensure that the Renovation Wave accelerates the social and economic recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic while greening a sector that accounts for 40% of energy consumption and 36% of greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) in the EU. The third CoR multilevel climate and energy dialogue provided an open exchange platform between different levels of government to build bridges for the full involvement of local and regional authorities in the design and implementation of national resilience and recovery plans. ​  

The Spring trainees of 2021 are working on a Y-Factor project focused on the European Year of Rail (EYR). The trainees are producing a podcast series, Next Stop, exploring everything to do with the EYR. Next Stop plans on addressing pressing issues in the rail sector, advertise rail related initiatives and raising awareness on rail as a sustainable way of transport. Next Stop aims to being as inclusive as possible, inviting everyone from MEPs to YouTube bloggers and everyone in between, giving them the opportunity to share their experiences, while also providing helpful information on what is happening in the Rail sector today. 

The Young Elected Politicians programme of the European Committee of the Regions (CoR) and the Bratislava – Petržalka Youth Parliament organised a digital info session and debate on the opportunities associated with the European Green Deal – the EU's strategy to reach climate neutrality by 2050. The debate was the occasion to discuss the key priorities of the CoR's Green Deal Going Local initiative and the challenges and opportunities that the EU's transition towards climate neutrality brings for the city of Bratislava. 

Pandemie COVID-19 má zásadní dopad na evropské ekonomiky. Komise ECON Evropského výboru regionů vypracovává pravidelné ekonomické bulletiny o nejnovějším výzkumu, článcích a diskusích o socioekonomickém dopadu pandemie v Evropě a o různých hospodářských opatřeních, kterými se čelí jejím důsledkům a která jsou plánována a prováděna na unijní, celostátní, regionální a místní úrovni. 

​The European Committee of the Regions' (CoR) commission for Natural Resources (NAT) met on 19 May to discuss the role of cities and regions in the resilience of critical entities. Through a draft opinion adopted by the commission, members stressed the need to consult local and regional authorities in this field and called on EU institutions to include the CoR in the new European Critical Entities Resilience Group. A draft opinion on the New Consumer Agenda was also adopted during the meeting. 

​In this interview, Gunārs Ansiņš (LV/Renew Europe) answers four questions on the transition towards a more sustainable and efficient EU energy system. The Vice-Mayor of the Latvian city of Liepāja is the rapporteur of the opinion on the EU Strategy for Energy System Integration, adopted during the 5-7 May CoR Plenary session, which calls on to the European Commission and Members States to put into place a systematic approach to involve local and regional authorities in the energy transition, in particular within the development of national energy and climate plans. Energy production and consumption account for 75% of the EU's greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. An integrated energy system is therefore crucial to delivering on the European Green Deal's objective of reaching climate neutrality by 2050.  

The President of the European Committee of the Regions Apostolos Tzitzikostas intervened today at the informal meeting of Ministers responsible for cohesion policy. The debate focused on how to ensure synergies between cohesion policy and the Recovery and Resilience Facility (RRF), the EUR 672.5 billion instrument that is the cornerstone of the recovery instrument Next Generation EU, known also as the Recovery Plan for Europe. 

Populism, nationalism, disinformation, hate speech and conspiracy theories are widespread in the European public and political sphere, which is leading to polarisation and intolerance. The deterioration of fundamental rights in one Member State has a negative impact across the EU. Therefore, in the 8th meeting of the CIVEX Commission, members welcomed the European Commission's initiative on the European Democracy Action Plan (EDAP) and adopted an opinion that puts forward a set of proposals for tackling disinformation and hate speech, as well as for promoting media literacy and critical thinking, including the setting up of a European agency linked with the CoR. The members also pointed out that local and regional leaders can play an important role in strengthening citizenship, as they are the closest authorities to citizens and the ones that aremost trusted, according to the EU annual regional and local barometer published in October 2020 . 

The European Committee of the Regions (CoR) and the Organisation for Economic Co operation and Development (OECD) invite representatives of local and regional authorities across Europe to participate in a survey on the Sustainable Development Goals. The consultation is open until Friday 15 May 2021. 

​​The President of the European Committee of the Regions (CoR), Mr Apostolos Tzitzikostas, officially launched the Network of Former Members of the European Committee of the Regions, a new CoR initiative, at the 144th CoR Plenary in the presence of Portuguese Prime Minister António Costa, a former CoR member himself. 

The COVID-19 pandemic has dramatically affected our world and our way of living, with the loss of thousands of lives and unprecedented consequences for every aspect of our daily existence. The Commission for Social Policy, Education, Employment, Research and Culture (SEDEC) at the European Committee of the Regions produces regular bulletins on the policy fields within its remit, reflecting recent research, articles and discussions on the socio-economic impact of the pandemic in Europe and on the different actions and response measures being planned and implemented at EU, national, regional and local level. 

During the 4 March 2021 Plenary session of the European Commission's Fit for Future Platform (F4F), the Platform Chair and Vice-President of the European Commission, Maroš Šefčovič, requested the CoR's RegHub to present a special report on planning and permitting for infrastructure. 

Evropský výbor regionů na sociálním summitu EU, který se konal ve dnech 7. a 8. května v Portu, reprezentovali jeho první místopředseda Vasco Cordeiro a předsedkyně komise SEDEC Anne Karjalainen. Vasco Cordeiro a Anne Karjalainen uvítali závazek hlav států a předsedů vlád EU zvýšit úsilí o budování sociální Evropy, posílit sociální soudržnost a dosáhnout nových hlavních cílů EU v oblasti zaměstnanosti, dovedností a snižování chudoby. Vyjádřili však politování nad tím, že v závěrečném prohlášení ze summitu chybí zmínka o úloze regionálních a místních orgánů. 

On the occasion of the launch of the Conference on the Future of Europe on 9 May in Strasbourg, the European Committee of the Regions is organising, together with the French government and the main French territorial associations, a local dialogue which will give the floor to local and regional elected representatives from all over Europe and to European citizens. The debate will take place immediately before the official launch of the Conference with the aim of marking its territorial dimension and guaranteeing that it reaches out to people in regions, cities and villages across Europe. Participants will discuss how to best involve local elected politicians and local communities in the Conference and how to ensure a stronger role for local and regional authorities in the Europe of tomorrow. 

Representatives from EU institutions, territorial and youth associations and local and regional leaders discussed today how to strengthen the democratic legitimacy of the Conference on the future of Europe by engaging with citizens in the places where they live. The local dialogue was organised by the European Committee of the Regions together with the French government, the city of Strasbourg and the main French territorial associations - Régions de France, the Assembly of Départements de France and the association of French Mayors. Participants endorsed an open letter that calls on local and regional leaders to organise dialogues in their region, cities and villages as a contribution to the Conference and to appoint in their political assembly a councillor on European Affairs. ​ ​​​ 

The European Committee of the Regions' (CoR) has launched a mobile app that offers real-time notifications about news, events and opinions based on preferred topics. 

Místní a regionální představitelé přijali na 144. plenárním zasedání VR usnesení o konferenci o budoucnosti Evropy (dále jen „konference“) a diskutovali s bývalým předsedou Evropské rady a předsedou nově zřízené skupiny na vysoké úrovni pro evropskou demokracii Hermanem Van Rompuyem o pohledu VR na budoucnost Evropy a o účasti VR na konferenci. Skupina na vysoké úrovni, která je nezávislým poradním orgánem, jehož posláním je poskytovat podporu VR, bude zajišťovat strategickou politickou analýzu, přičemž se zaměří na výzvy, jimž čelí místní a regionální orgány. Bude úzce spolupracovat se členy VR, zejména s Konferencí předsedů a se členy delegace VR na konferenci. 

Evropský výbor regionů (VR) předložil soubor návrhů na ochranu mořského prostředí a obnovu ekosystémů oceánů. VR vyzývá k přijetí nového právního předpisu EU o oceánech, který by definoval dlouhodobé směřování s měřitelnými cíli a lhůtami pro zajištění ochrany a obnovy mořských ekosystémů. Místní a regionální představitelé navrhují vytvoření fondu na podporu oceánů s cílem dekarbonizovat námořní dopravu a vyzývají ke zrušení výjimky stanovené pro paliva používaná při rybolovu ve směrnici o zdanění energie. VR rovněž vyzývá Komisi, aby v rámci úsilí o snížení úniku živin do moří EU, zastavení růstu řas a šíření mrtvého dna navrhla nová, průlomová pravidla týkající se povinných podílů recyklovaného dusíku a fosforu na trhu EU. 

Plenární zasedání Evropského výboru regionů (VR) jednomyslně schválilo usnesení prosazované všemi politickými skupinami, které vítá návrh Evropské komise na vytvoření nového digitálního zeleného certifikátu. Regionální a místní představitelé však navrhují, aby byl tento dokument v zájmu jasnosti přejmenován na certifikát EU týkající se onemocnění COVID-19, jak navrhuje Evropský parlament. Požadují, aby se nejednalo o cestovní doklad, a zdůrazňují zásadu nepřípustnosti diskriminace, zejména ve vztahu k neočkovaným osobám. Členové VR se dále během diskuse o oživení cestovního ruchu, hotelnictví a pohostinství zavázali proměnit krizi COVID-19 v příležitost a přejít od nadměrného cestovního ruchu k novým modelům, které jsou bezpečné, udržitelné, odolné a v souladu s cíli Zelené dohody pro Evropu. 

Evropská unie musí snížit svou závislost na výrobcích ze třetích zemí tím, že bude pobízet k přemístění výroby životně důležitých léčivých přípravků a ochranných prostředků zpět do Evropy, prohlásili 7. května členové Evropského výboru regionů. Tato výzva k zajištění „strategické autonomie“ je jedním z doporučení uvedených ve stanovisku Zkušenosti a poznatky regionů a měst z krize COVID-19 . 

The Union of Equality builds on local communities' work on the ground: this is the key message that members of the European Committee of the Regions (CoR) stressed today in a debate with European Commissioner for Equality Helena Dalli. Local and regional politicians from across Europe welcomed the inclusion of an equality perspective into all EU policies, legislation and funding programmes. 

Cities and regions deem it necessary to establish a coherent and simplified legal framework for the chemicals sector to make the industry greener and more effective. The European Committee of the Regions' (CoR) opinion on Safe and sustainable chemicals for a toxic-free environment in Europe's cities and regions recognises the importance of the new chemicals strategy presented by the European Commission and welcomes the steps leading to its implementation. 

In a bid to make the European education system more digital and resilient, local and regional politicians are calling on Member States to utilise a larger proportion of EU funds to improve digital education and to help close the digital gap between rural and urban areas. The suggestions are part of an opinion on the Digital Education Action Plan 2021-2027 which was drafted by Gillian Coughlan (IE/Renew Europe), Member of the Cork County Council, and discussed by the members of the European Committee of the Regions (CoR) on 6 May. 

Místní a regionální představitelé podpořili návrh, aby Evropská unie hrála v oblasti zdraví důležitější úlohu, a souhlasí také s plány EU na zajištění stability a bezpečnosti dodávek životně důležitých léčivých přípravků a vybavení. V řadě doporučení, která přijali na plenárním zasedání Evropského výboru regionů ve dnech 7. až 9. května, však zároveň upozorňují na trhlinu v plánech EU, jak řešit zdravotní krize: není podle nich věnována dostatečná pozornost významu místních a regionálních orgánů, které jsou ve dvou třetinách zemí EU pilířem systémů zdravotní péče. 

Urychlení přechodu k digitálním distribučním kanálům, změna spotřebitelských návyků a klesající příjmy z reklamy ohrožují ekonomické opodstatnění a nezávislost místních sdělovacích prostředků. Evropský výbor regionů (VR) vítá akční plán navržený Evropskou komisí, zdůrazňuje však, že je důležité zohlednit obzvláště znepokojivou finanční situaci médií s místní a regionální působností. Ve víceúrovňovém politickém systému, jakým je evropská demokracie, mají menší média, která přímo reflektují obavy občanů, klíčový význam pro zajištění demokratické kontroly a legitimity. Uvádí se to ve stanovisku , jež bylo předloženo na květnovém plenárním zasedání VR a které vypracoval zpravodaj Jan Trei (EE/ELS), člen rady obce Viimsi. 

The accelerated move to digital distribution channels, changed consumer habits and falling advertising revenues jeopardize local media's business cases and independence. The European Committee of the Regions (CoR) welcomes the Action Plan proposed by the European Commission but highlights the importance of taking into account the particularly alarming financial situation of local and regional media. In a multilevel political system like the European democracy, smaller media outlets directly in touch with citizens' concerns are critical to securing democratic control and legitimacy, argues the opinion drafted by rapporteur Jan Trei (EE/EPP), Member of Viimsi Rural Municipality Council, which was presented at the CoR's May plenary session. 

Evropský výbor regionů vyzval Evropskou unii, aby dočasně pozastavila platnost patentů na očkovací látky proti onemocnění COVID-19 s cílem omezit rychlé šíření pandemie. Vyzval též k navýšení výroby v Evropě a ke zrychlení očkovací kampaně v celé Evropě. 

​The Social Summit in Porto must affirm a strong commitment to the European Pillar of Social Rights and its headline targets, involving all levels of government 

European Parliament's Vice-President for Information policy, Press and Citizens Relations, Othmar Karas, and Vice-President for Relations with the European Committee of the Regions (CoR), Klára Dobrev, joined the members of the Bureau of the CoR to debate how to better communicate the EU action and achievements to people in regions, cities and villages across Europe. They also discussed how to contribute to the Conference on the future of EU and scale up the cooperation between the only two EU institutions gathering elected officials. 

Jen několik dní před zahájením konference o budoucnosti Evropy dnes předseda Evropského parlamentu David Sassoli vystoupil na plenárním zasedání Evropského výboru regionů (VR), kde se s místními a regionálními představiteli shodl na tom, že je naprosto nezbytné, aby tato konference vedla v praxi, daleko od orgánů EU i hlavních měst, ke konkrétním výsledkům. 

For Europe Day (9 May) this year, the EU institutions are throwing open their ‘virtual’ doors so that citizens across Member States can find out more about the European Union and what it does despite the pandemic. The European Committee of the Regions (CoR) will publish animated video about its premises, role and functioning. An 'all EU-institution' Europe Day portal presents the various bodies and activities.  

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. 

The European Commission has published a new Communication on its better regulation agenda . Building on the existing cooperation with the CoR's RegHub network, the European Commission has put forward a number of opportunities to enhance the role of regional and local authorities to provide input in a shared effort to update and simplify existing EU laws. 

The new European Commission (EC) communication on Better regulation: Joining forces to make better laws sets the scene for better law-making in the European Union and enhances the EC's commitment to make its policymaking processes more transparent, inclusive and efficient. The European Committee of the Regions (CoR) welcomes that the Commission commits to involve local and regional authorities more effectively along the entire policy-cycle, and that it acknowledges the need to develop a territorially sensitive approach to legislation.  

Fostering political engagement and increasing citizens' awareness of the benefits of the transition towards climate-neutrality are two key priorities of the European Committee of the Regions' (CoR) Green Deal Going Local working group. The CoR calls on local and regional leaders to join the new network of Climate Pact Ambassadors and take part in a structured system to collect cities' and regions' climate commitments ahead of the UN's COP26 climate talks in Glasgow and the UN's COP15 biodiversity summit in Kunming, China. New actions complement ongoing efforts to accelerate the rollout of the European Green Deal in every territory as Member States are submitting their COVID-19 recovery plans.  

​​In this interview, Emma Nohrén (SE/Greens) answers five questions on the role of local and regional authorities in protecting the marine environment. The Vice Mayor of the Swedish Municipality of Lysekil is the rapporteur of a draft opinion which calls for a new EU law on oceans with clear targets and milestones to reduce marine pollution and restore marine ecosystems. With the right support, local and regional authorities can set up new measures and projects that contribute to saving the oceans, while providing employment and boosting the economy. Between 4.8 and 12.7 million tonnes of plastic enter the ocean every year. Plastic accounts for 75% of marine litter in the world’s seas. 

On 14 April 2021, the two Co-Chairs of the Joint Consultative Committee between the CoR and Montenegro (JCC Montenegro), Roberto Ciambetti (IT/ECR) and Aleksandar Kašćelan, Mayor of Cetinje, had a bilateral videoconference meeting. Representatives of the European Conservatives and Reformers (ECR) political group in the CoR, CIVEX Secretariat, and the Union of Municipalities of Montenegro (UOM).