The political groups in the European Committee of the Regions have collected many of the examples of the challenges faced by their members, and their responses, as well as ideas about how the EU could help them.

Brain drain and negative effects of demographic change have been key concerns for the SEDEC Commission of the European Committee of the Regions during the current mandate period, which is nearing its end. At its last meeting of the year on 27 November, SEDEC members adopted an opinion drafted by Emil Boc (RO/EPP), mayor of Cluj-Napoca, which urges to address the challenge of brain drain in coordination with all levels of government. Otherwise, "the phenomenon will have long-term and permanent effects on the future of the European Union", the draft opinion warns.

Tanya Hristova (BG/PPE), alcaldesa de Gabrovo, ha sido elegida como nueva presidenta de la Comisión SEDEC del Comité Europeo de las Regiones (CDR), la asamblea de ciudades y regiones de la UE. La Comisión SEDEC es una de las seis comisiones temáticas del CDR y se ocupa de la política social, el empleo, la investigación, la educación y la cultura.

Sustainable development and coherent, fair and transparent reform of human-resources management will need to be central concerns for Montenegro's mayors well beyond the country's possible accession to the European Union, local and regional leaders from the European Committee of the Regions (CoR) told their Montenegrin counterparts on 18 October. Demands made by the EU are not just pre-conditions, they said, but reflect a basic reality that local and regional authorities within the EU need constantly to adjust policies and procedures to serve local needs.