The EU's recovery efforts after the Covid-19 pandemic must have a strong social dimension in order to maintain social security networks, safeguard workers' jobs and avoid wrongful dismissals, members of local and regional governments highlighted in a debate with Nicolas Schmit, Commissioner for Social Rights and Jobs. An opinion discussed at the European Committee of the Regions' SEDEC commission on Thursday points out the close link between the EU's social agenda, the Green Deal and the digital transition and calls for more investment in youth, education and life-long learning. 

The European assembly of local and regional politicians adopted their recommendations for the Just Transition Fund, which aims at supporting regions to meet the challenges of the green transition. Rapporteur Vojko Obersnel (HR/PES), mayor of Rijeka, calls for an ambitious EU support so that no one and no place is left behind in the transition to a revived and green economy. 

To uger forud for et afgørende europæisk topmøde opfordrer Det Europæiske Regionsudvalg – EU's forsamling af regionale og lokale myndigheder – medlemsstaterne til en rettidig og retfærdig aftale om den flerårige finansielle ramme (FFR) og planen Next Generation EU. I en resolution og en debat med EU's kommissær med ansvar for budget og administration, Johannes Hahn, opfordrede regioner og byer, at samhørighed bliver et kompas for alle EU-politikker, og at gennemførelsen af EU-programmer baseres på fælles ansvar og partnerskab. 

The European Committee of the Regions (CoR) adopted a resolution on 2 July setting out its three priorities for the next five years. The political assembly aims to make the European Union more resilient, sustainable and cohesive, by strengthening the involvement of involving regions and cities in EU policy-making and implementation. 

På sin plenarforsamling i juli vedtog Det Europæiske Regionsudvalg så godt som enstemmigt en udtalelse udarbejdet af Roby Biwer med titlen "Intensivering af EU's indsats for at beskytte og genoprette verdens skove" . Ordføreren for RU's udtalelse opfordrer til, at der indføres en stærk EU-certificeringsordning og et informationssystem, der sikrer bæredygtige skovprodukter og gennemsigtige forsyningskæder fra lande uden for EU. 

The European Committee of the Regions (CoR) adopted at the July plenary session the opinion The Future of EU Clean Air policy in the framework of the zero-pollution ambition drafted by János Ádám Karácsony (HU/EPP), member of the Local Government of Tahitótfalu. In the context of the COVID-19, the rapporteur of the CoR opinion stresses the possible link between pollution and the gravity of infection’s consequences. Therefore, fighting air pollution must be among the top priorities of the recovery plan. Pollution reduction during lockdown showed the importance of a healthier environment. Local leaders encourage Member States to deliver and update their National Air Pollution Control Programmes as a matter of urgency and to take LRAs' contributions on board.