Successful political launch of the Network of Regional Hubs at the 8th European Summit of Regions and Cities in Bucharest on 15 March 2019, attended by CoR president Karl-Heinz Lambertz and CoR first vice-president Markku Markkula as well as political representatives of the hubs.

The European Parliament's plenary vote on the Common Provision Regulation – setting common rules for all EU funds managed in partnership with national actors – endorsed key demands by the European Committee of the Regions (CoR), aiming at securing the role of local actors and the effectiveness of EU cohesion policy.

To reduce disparities and deliver more opportunities for all European citizens, the European Committee of the Regions (CoR) wants cohesion policy to be easier, more flexible and not used as a sanction or incentive to achieve other goals, other than sustainable development. Improvements and legislative amendments to the European Commission proposals for cohesion policy 2021-2027 are included in four different opinions adopted by local and regional leaders during the CoR plenary session on 5 December.

On 6 December from 11am Michel Barnier, the European Union's Chief Negotiator for the United Kingdom's withdrawal from the Union, will discuss Brexit and its impact on regions and cities with local leaders from all the EU's member states. His visit to the European Committee of the Regions in Brussels comes on the eve of UK parliaments crucial vote on the agreed Withdrawal Agreement