As it stands, the legislative proposal on the future CAP (Common Agricultural Policy) is of concern to the European Committee of the Regions rapporteur Guillaume Cros (FR/Verts), as it tends to marginalise – or even undermine – the role and autonomy of the European regions in managing this EU policy, by simply charging them with implementing measures established at national level.

While countries across Europe are seeing a resurgence in COVID-19 cases, EU cities and regions are engaged in a continuous cooperation to keep the Green Deal at the heart of the recovery. Direct access to EU funds as to deliver the Green Deal and a just transition locally remain the top priority for local and regional authorities across the EU.

The European Committee of the Regions' NAT commission began its new term of office with a debate on Coronavirus and its impact on local communities with the World Health Organisation. At the meeting on 5 March, members also adopted an opinion on forestry and discussed on cross-border healthcare, sustainable tourism and food policy. Rural development, the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP), fisheries, forestry, food production and public health are amongst the key topics on the Commission for Natural Resources (NAT) agenda for this new mandate.