The European Committee of the Regions (CoR), at the initiative of member of Dalarna County Council Birgitta Sacrédeus (SE/EPP), has adopted an opinion on Active and Healthy Ageing at its October plenary session. Europe is growing older and so the CoR stresses the need for preventive action and the crucial role that new technologies play in ensuring the active and healthy ageing of EU citizens. "Physical and mental balance as well as the silver economy will make it easier to meet this challenge, in the face of a demographic imbalance," said rapporteur Birgitta Sacrédeus.

Members of the Commission for Natural Resources (NAT) of the European Committee of the Regions met in Brussels for the 24rd NAT Commission meeting. The CoR expressed its view that ageing is a hidden opportunity, African swine fever (ASF) is a threat and a challenge at local, regional, national and European level and that maintaining pastoralism is crucial for agriculture throughout the EU. Ossi Martikainen (FI/ALDE), the Chair of the NAT Commission, led the meeting.

The European Committee of the Regions (CoR) considers that recognising the role of regional ecosystems and innovation hubs is essential to boost research and innovation in Europe. In an opinion presented by Birgitta Sacrédeus (SE/EPP), Member of Dalarna County Council, the CoR highlights the need to better coordinate EU's cohesion policy with research and innovation policy and warns against growing inequalities between more and less developed regions.

On 6 February, local and regional politicians from all over the EU will welcome Vasilica Viorica Dăncilă, Prime Minister of Romania and representative of the Romanian EU Presidency, at the European Committee of the Regions' (CoR) plenary session. The priorities of the EU Presidency, preservation of cohesion as a common European value, and the EU's future after Brexit will be among the main topics for debate.