​Presidents of regional parliaments with or without legislative powers, Presidents of Regions and other regional entities endorsed today a Declaration which is the starting point of an Alliance of Regions for European Democracy that aims at enhancing the regions' political impact on the European decision making process on matters with direct relevance to the work of local and regional authorities. The endorsement took place during the political event "The place of regions in the European Union architecture in the context of the Conference on the Future of Europe" organised by the European Committee of the Regions , the Conference of European Regional Legislative Assemblies (CALRE), and the Government of the Autonomous Region of the Azores. The Declaration also calls for the Conference on the Future of Europe to discuss the role of regions in the EU institutional architecture and to improve it to better address citizens' needs.

Joint statement by the European Committee of the Regions' Conference of Presidents As mayors, presidents of regions and local and regional councilors we are on the front-line in the fight against the Coronavirus. The unprecedented nature of the COVID-19 shock requires immediate measures and a bold social and economic recovery plan for the European Union, built on solidarity, sustainability, resilience and social justice, in line with the European Green Deal and digital transition agenda. Together with all levels of government across Europe, we commit to join efforts to fight the pandemic, protect our people and contribute to the economic, social and financial recovery.

​An exchange platform will help sharing needs and solutions, will enhance mutual support and act as a feedback mechanism to enable a reality check of the EU measures from the local and regional angle. The CoR will provide local communities with regular and practical information about EU actions.

Greece's Apostolos Tzitzikostas (EPP) was elected President of the European Committee of the Regions today. The Governor of Central Macedonia in Greece will lead the EU's assembly of local and regional elected politicians for the next two and a half years. During the Committee's first sitting of the new five-year mandate, its members also elected Vasco Ilídio Alves Cordeiro - President of the Regional Government of the Azores, Portugal – as their First-Vice President.