The European Committee of the Regions (CoR) is drafting an opinion on "Experiences and lessons learned by regions and cities during the COVID-19 crisis". It highlights the crucial role of local and regional authorities in the response to the crisis and in the recovery and aims to bring forward recommendations to the EU level based on evidence from the ground.  

The European Committee of the Regions is in the process of elaborating its position on the recently published European Commission Communication "A Union of Equality: EU anti-racism action plan 2020-2025". An exchange of views on the basis of a Working Document by the Rapporteur, Ms Yoomi Renström (SE-PES), is scheduled on 25 November 2020, within the framework of the meeting of the CoR Commission for Social Policy, Education, Employment, Research and Culture (SEDEC).  

The European Committee of the Regions (CoR) is in the process of elaborating its position on the recently published European Commission's Migration and Asylum Pact. An exchange of views is scheduled on 4 December, within the framework of the meeting of the CoR Commission for Citizenship, Governance, Institutional and External Affairs (CIVEX). 

We live in a time of multiple and multi-dimensional transitions. The green and digital transitions, the demographic change and the COVID-19 pandemic are reshaping our way of life and work. These changes highlight the need for a paradigm-shift on skills. A novel European skills agenda will drive the twin transition and ensure recovery from the social-economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. 

On 11 September 2020, the European Committee of the Regions' Bureau approved the proposal by the SEDEC commission to draft an own-initiative opinion on the Restart of Cultural and Creative Sectors. The SEDEC commission will adopt the draft opinion on the Restart of Cultural and Creative Sectors, with Giuseppe VARACALLI (IT/Renew Europe) as rapporteur, at its meeting on 25 November 2020. 

The German Presidency has requested that the European Committee of the Regions provides insight into how cohesion policy could help overcoming the economic crisis resulting from the ongoing pandemic, and promote growth through innovation and economic change. By means of this written consultation, the CoR rapporteur for this opinion, Mr Michiel Rijsberman, would like to consult relevant stakeholders and gather their input in order to draft the opinion.  

​The topic of public transport is extremely important for local and regional authorities (LRAs) as it is within their core competencies to provide public service to their citizens. Therefore, the European Committee of the Regions has decided to issue an own-initiative opinion on the "Challenges for public transport in metropolitan regions", to be drafted by Adam STRUZIK (PL/EPP), Marshal of the Mazovian Voivodeship. 

Around 70% of EU policies are implemented at the local and regional level. At the same time, EU policies affect people's daily lives in ways that policy makers cannot always foresee. This, combined with the lack of information on the EU and outright disinformation campaigns sometimes leads to a perception of the EU as distant from the people.  

The European Committee of the Regions is currently drafting an opinion on the Farm to Fork Strategy to bring forward a local and regional dimension. The rapporteur, Guido Milana (PES/IT), would like to have your views on this topic. 

The European Commission Communication "A Strong Social Europe for Just Transitions", adopted in January 2020, seeks to launch a broad debate about the implementation of the European Pillar of Social Rights so far. At the same time, the Communication is a roadmap for key actions announced by the Commission in the course of 2020-2021. The Commission will elaborate an Action Plan in 2021 on the basis of stakeholder contributions by December 2020, expressing their views on the need for further new policy action, accompanied (or not) by legal initiatives at European level. 

On 5 March 2020 the European Commission presented its strategy for equality between women and men in Europe. The Strategy aims to achieve a gender-equal Europe where gender-based violence, sex discrimination and structural inequality between women and men are a thing of the past. The Strategy also notes that this year marks the 25th anniversary of the adoption of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action, and also mentions the Sustainable Development Goals, SDG 5 in particular. The SEDEC Commission will adopt the draft opinion on A Union of Equality: Gender Equality Strategy 2020-2025, with Concepción Andreu Rodríguez (ES/PES) as rapporteur, at its meeting on 9 July 2020. 

The EU's Single Market was created over 25 years ago and has been a cornerstone of the EU's economic development ever since. It is considered one of the EU's greatest achievements and it is at the core of the EU's economic and political integration.