The Romanian Prime Minister, Nicolae Ciucă, the President of the European Committee of the Regions (CoR), Apostolos Tzitzikostas, and the Mayor of Cluj-Napoca, Emil Boc, exchanged views today with young people in Cluj-Napoca on Europe's future and on the role youth can play in the democratic process at EU, national and regional/local level. The local dialogue " Europe unfolds in Transylvania: Building on democracy, education and youth – What's next after the CoFE " took place as a follow up to the Conference on the Future of Europe and is the 4th EU-local dialogue hosted in Cluj-Napoca. 

​​​​​The European Committee of the Regions welcomes the European Union’s pledge today to help Ukraine rebuild its cities, villages and infrastructure. As the voice of regions and municipalities within the EU and given our long-standing cooperation with our Ukrainian partners, our Committee is ready to firmly engage in the reconstruction process. We consider that the direct involvement of EU and Ukrainian local authorities must be the building block of the reconstruction. We stand ready to launch an Alliance to provide Ukraine’s regional and local authorities with the practical support that they will need over the coming years to rebuild Ukraine in Europe. 

Kommissionen bekendtgjorde i dag de 63 regioner, syv byer og fire medlemsstater, der er udvalgt i pilotprojektet for partnerskaber for regional innovation, som er et initiativ, der er udviklet i samarbejde med Regionsudvalget. Deltagerne i pilotprojektet er åbne over for at udveksle god praksis og for i fællesskab at udvikle og afprøve værktøjer til mobilisering af mange forskellige finansieringskilder og politikker og forbinde regionale og nationale programmer med EU-initiativer for den grønne og den digitale omstilling. Partnerskaberne vil indgå i Europas nye innovationsdagsorden, hvor innovation fremmer omstillingen til bæredygtighed og sammenkobler lokale strategier med initiativer på EU-plan. 

Facilitating cities and regions’ access to finance and boost investment opportunities in sustainable energy and climate action is part of the joint Action Plan of the European Committee of the Regions and the European Investment Bank.  

The energy crisis and Russia's invasion of Ukraine highlight the importance of alternative energy sources and rapid decarbonisation in the EU in order to ensure greater environmental justice in cities and municipalities, and to avoid inequalities caused by energy crises. By adopting an opinion at the CoR plenary session on 28 April calling for the Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) and the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) to be adapted to the needs of EU cities and regions, the members of the European Committee of the Regions (CoR) sent a clear signal. ​ 

Hundred European cities were selected on Thursday by the European Commission to participate in the Climate Neutral and Smart Cities Mission, with the aim of achieving climate neutrality by 2030 through the development of smart solutions. In addition to EUR 360 million of Horizon Europe funding for 2022 and 2023, the cities involved will benefit from tailor-made advice and assistance, as well as opportunities to participate in large innovation actions and pilot projects. The European Committee of the Regions' rapporteur Markku Markkula, Member of Espoo City Council, considers this as a huge opportunity for these cities.