The sharp deterioration in relations between Turkey an​d the European Union's member states and institutions has underscored the importance of maintaining lines of communication between local and regional authorities in the EU and Turkey, EU and Turkish politicians and officials said on 16 December.

Michael Murphy was elected chair of the European Committee of the Regions' Commission for Economic Policy (ECON) at the Committee´s constitutive meeting on 13 February. Mr Murphy, member of the Tipperary County Council, will chair the ECON commission's work during the first 2,5 years of the new five-year mandate.

Regional and local leaders deliver their proposals to tap the potential of macro-regional strategies (MRS) over the programming phase 2021-2027. Innovation of small and medium enterprises, digital and low carbon economy are the most promising cooperation fields identified in the opinion drawn up by Dainis Turlais, (LV/ Renew Europe), and approved during the 26 June plenary session of the European Committee of the Regions (CoR).

Macroregional strategies are proving able to deliver growth and improve cohesion of neighbouring regions from both EU and non-EU countries, faced by common challenges. Adopting a draft opinion on the Danube strategy, members of the Territorial Cohesion Policy and EU Budget (COTER) of the European Committee of the Regions (CoR) kicked off a preparatory debate on how to ensure close cooperation with UK local authorities, including via a North Sea macroregional strategy, in the event that the UK withdraws from the EU.