Med Gloria-stormen som uventet gæst kunne Den Regionale og Lokale Euro-Middelhavsforsamling (ARLEM) fejre sit 10-års jubilæum i samme by, hvor det første møde blev holdt: Barcelona. Den catalanske hovedstad modtog mere end 100 repræsentanter for de lokale og regionale myndigheder fra de tre Middelhavskyster, og klimaændringer stod øverst på dagsordenen. Regionen er i særlig grad sårbar over for den globale opvarmning. 

 

Den mekanisme og fond for retfærdig omstilling, som Kommissionen har fremsat forslag om i dag, imødekommer de europæiske regioners og byers efterspørgsel efter stedbaserede værktøjer til at håndtere omstillingen til klimaneutralitet. Men Europas lokale og regionale ledere advarer mod at kanalisere midlerne væk fra EU's regionale fonde – under samhørighedspolitikken – og centralisere forvaltningen af de nye fonde. 

The Secretary-General of the European Committee of the Regions invites the European Groupings of Territorial Cooperation to submit their applications for the 2020 edition of the award "Building Europe across borders" – Award for EGTCs.  

While national governments fall short in agreeing on carbon neutrality objectives, local and regional representatives shared their will to commit and deliver ambitious climate policies during the meeting of the European Committee of the Regions commission for Territorial Cohesion Policy. At the COTER Commission meeting that took place today at the European Committee of the Regions, local and regional leaders and representatives of the European Commission exchanged their views. 

The European Commission released its communication and timeline for the European Green Deal. Upgrading energy and climate targets along with new strategies and legislation for climate adaptation, air quality and biodiversity protection are amongst the measures ahead. While COP25 negotiations block on international carbon market rules, the EU's assembly of local and regional representatives calls on the Parties of the Paris agreement to foster cooperation with cities and regional governments as the only way to deliver effective climate action and reverse global warming.