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 role of EU Regions is crucial in designing the new industrial strategy for a greener Europe , the European Committee of the Regions (CoR) points out in an opinion drafted by Jeannette Baljeu (NL/RE) , Member of the Council of the Province of Zuid-Holland . The opinion calls for a reinforced place-based dimension in the new EU Industrial Strategy. This could allow regions and cities, as the governments closest to citizens and ecosystems, to take ownership of the twin green and digital transitions of their industry.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen will discuss the European Union's response to the coronavirus pandemic at the European Committee of the Regions on 12-13 October. The EU's assembly for local and regional politicians will also hold debates with the president and the vice-president of the European Investment Bank, Werner Hoyer and Lilyana Pavlova. Debates will also take place with four commissioners – Frans Timmermans, Executive Vice-President and Commissioner for the European Green Deal; Elisa Ferreira, Commissioner for Cohesion and Reform; Paolo Gentiloni, Commissioner for Economy; and Nicolas Schmit, Commissioner for Jobs and Social Rights.

​In this interview, Jeannette Baljeu (NL/RE), Member of the Council of the Province of South Holland, answers six questions on the role of local and regional governments in the new European Industrial strategy. Jeannette Baljeu underlines that a new place-based dimension is needed in order for regions and cities, as the governments closest to citizens and business ecosystems, to take ownership of the twin green and digital transitions of their industry. Jeannette Baljeu is the rapporteur of the opinion A new industrial strategy for Europe, to be adopted at the plenary session on 12-14 October.