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.

The Ukrainian government and members of the CoR called on the European Union on 13 February to support cooperation between cities and regions as a means to help Ukraine's decentralisation, a reform process hailed by top EU officials as a major success. The head of the EU's Support Group for Ukraine suggested that the EU would particularly like to nurture municipal and regional partnerships focused on good governance.

The European Committee of the Regions has adopted an opinion on the ‘Proposal for a European Defence Fund’ lead by Rapporteur Dainis Turlais (LV/ALDE), member of the Riga City Council. The diversification of security threats – from armed conflicts to terrorism, illegal immigration and cyber-attacks- is forcing Europe to increase cross-border cooperation on defence. The new fund is to contribute to EU’s strategic autonomy and maximise the market potential of the defence industry. The lack of cooperation between Member States in the field of security and defence is estimated to cost between €25 billion and €100 billion annually (European Parliament, 2003). Adopted Friday 23 March, the opinion feeds into the ongoing inter-institutional negotiation, to continue next April with a final agreement foreseen in early May 2018.