The EU's support for a rural revival, delivering cohesion policy, the European Green Deal and the Conference on the Future of Europe will be central themes at the upcoming plenary of the European Committee of the Regions (CoR). The two-day plenary, which will be held remotely and streamed live, will be addressed by five European Commissioners and will see Henriette Reker, Mayor of Cologne, presented with the first Mayor Pawel Adamowicz Award. 

"On behalf of the European Committee of the Regions, I would like to extend my warmest congratulations to Roberta Metsola for her election as President of the European Parliament, becoming the youngest president in its history and the first female president in over twenty years." 

Henriette Reker, the Mayor of Cologne, was today named as the first winner of an award created in honour of Mayor Paweł Adamowicz of Gdańsk, who was murdered in January 2019 while fulfilling his public duties. 

Apostolos Tzitzikostas, President of the European Committee of the Regions, said on 11 January: I am deeply saddened by the sudden death of David Sassoli, President of the European Parliament. The European Union and Italy cry the passing away of a true European. 

A juicio del Comité Europeo de las Regiones (CDR), un proceso permanente de consulta con la ciudadanía, a través de sus representantes locales y regionales, supondría una mejora importante de la democracia europea. Justo cuando se celebra este fin de semana en Estrasburgo la última ronda de debates en el marco de la Conferencia sobre el Futuro de Europa, el CDR ha publicado un informe intermedio basado en las aportaciones de los ciudadanos durante diálogos locales dedicados a los nueve temas principales de la Conferencia. La contribución de cerca de 130 diálogos con ciudadanos de toda la UE muestra claramente que se considera a los dirigentes locales y regionales como agentes clave en este proceso de consulta. Las ideas recogidas durante estos diálogos se presentaron a la plataforma digital de la Conferencia y reflejarán la voz de la ciudadanía junto con los paneles europeos de ciudadanos enmarcados por la Conferencia. 

​On 17, 18 and 23 November, participants of the European Committee of the Regions' (CoR) programme Young Elected Politicians (YEP) gathered in a Forum to formulate their recommendations for the future of Europe, with a focus on digitalisation. Anne Karjalainen (FI/PES), Chair of the Commission for social policy, education, employment, research and culture (SEDEC) of the CoR, Member of the Commission for Economic Policy (ECON) and Chair of Kerava City Council, opened the workshop on digitalisation. 

Los miembros de esta Plataforma de Partes Interesadas anunciada en el Plan de Acción de la UE «Contaminación cero para el aire, el agua y el suelo» se han reunido hoy por primera vez para empezar a elaborar el programa de trabajo 2022-2024, destinado a apoyar la ejecución de dicho Plan de Acción. La Plataforma es una iniciativa conjunta de la Comisión Europea y del Comité Europeo de las Regiones. 

Post-pandemic sustainable economic growth agenda discussed at meeting of Turkish and EU local leaders to close a year of improvement in the tenor of EU-Turkey relations. 

EU's cities and regions are looking forward to strengthening further their cooperation with the European Commission in the fields of research and innovation, education and culture. Through the Joint Action Plan which enters its second year, regions and cities will play their part in the success of the European Year of Youth 2022, in strengthening democratic values through education, in the New European Bauhaus initiative, in delivering the EU Missions, in reinforcing the territorial dimension of the European Research Area (ERA) and the synergies between Horizon Europe and Structural Funds, as well as in developing a new pilot project of smart specialisation strategies for sustainability (S4). 

President Maia Sandu of Moldova has emphasised the empowerment of local authorities will be central to the success of reforms in her country, pledging to increase funding available to them. Speaking on the eve of a summit of the Eastern Partnership, she also urged local public administrations "to build partnerships, support each other and share good practices". 

​Members of the European Committee of the Regions were invited to represent the EU's regions and cities at the yearly European Education Summit organised by the European Commission on 9 December. This provided an opportunity to underline the essential contribution of local and regional authorities to developing high-quality digital education and skills, to reinforcing active European citizenship and to responding to future challenges in the field of education and training. This year's event was organised fully online. 

​​Members of the Commission for Territorial Cohesion Policy and EU Budget (COTER) adopted a draft opinion on the zero emission road transport policy and the deployment of alternative fuel infrastructure for all cities and regions in the EU. During their meeting on 10 December, local and regional leaders also debated on the conclusion of the European Year of Rail 2021 and the relations with the United Kingdom.  

​​On 10 December the members of the European Commission's Fit for Future (F4F) Platform adopted eight opinions that aim at simplifying EU laws, and reducing unnecessary costs. Since local and regional authorities are implementing 70% of EU legislation, it is of great importance to have feedback from local and regional representatives in the F4F platform. The European Committee of the Regions' (CoR) was represented by its members Mark Speich (DE/EPP), Anne Karjalainen (FI/PES) and Ulrika Landergren (SE/RE), who presented opinions respectively on public procurement, environmental reporting and patients' rights in cross-border healthcare.  

​​​"The unprecedented volume of investments that is about to be allocated requires unprecedented cooperation between Brussels, Rome and the regions," President Apostolos Tzitzikostas told Italian regional and local leaders during a visit to Rome on 9 December in which he also underlined the particular importance that Italy will play in the European Union's economic recovery from the pandemic. 

The 8th meeting of the Green Deal Going Local working group focused on an assessment of Glasgow's COP26 climate conclusions and the prospects for enhanced cooperation with the United Nations in view of the next COP27 summit, due to take place in Egypt in 2022. Members exchanged on the 2022 European Commission Work Programme, and explored synergies with the European Commission's "Next Generation EU" campaign, which also aims at raising awareness on the Green Deal and mobilising youth to take climate action. During the meeting, members raised concerns about energy prices, which risks delaying the much-needed social, economic and green recovery from the Covid-19 pandemic across the EU.  

El régimen de comercio de derechos de emisión (RCDE) no debe dañar la cohesión territorial ni poner en riesgo a los ciudadanos más vulnerables. Este ha sido uno de los principales mensajes del 4.º diálogo multinivel sobre clima y energía , una iniciativa del Comité Europeo de las Regiones para impulsar la interlocución entre la UE y los gobiernos nacionales, regionales y locales con el fin de mejorar la gobernanza energética de la Unión. El acto se organizó conjuntamente con la Presidencia eslovena del Consejo de la UE y contó con la presencia de catorce Estados miembros. 

The European Committee of the Regions (CoR) stressed within the opinion adopted by unanimity at the Plenary Meeting on the 2nd of December, that the European Commission's report on competition policy 2020 must be followed by bold acts. The EU should take the needs of SMEs into account to create a fair and level playing field for the benefit of all EU citizens, considering the implications of the pandemic and the consequences of substantially increased amounts of state aid. Therefore, any COVID-19-related aid should be granted only to businesses that are experiencing the immediate financial impact of the pandemic. 

​On 30 November 2021, the Anna Lindh Foundation organised, in the framework of celebrations for the Day of the Mediterranean on 28 November and on the margins of the UFM Regional Forum, the award ceremony of the EuroMed Capital for Dialogue Award 2021 – a new initiative by this institution to promote intercultural dialogue in the Euro-Mediterranean region. 

La política de cohesión debe abordar la igualdad de género y la participación de las mujeres en el mercado laboral, dos cuestiones cruciales para aspirar a una mayor cohesión económica y social en Europa. Es lo que se pide en el Dictamen elaborado por Donatella Porzi, miembro de la Asamblea Regional de Umbría (Italia), que se aprobó en el pleno del Comité Europeo de las Regiones (CDR) celebrado el 2 de diciembre. Los dirigentes locales y regionales consideran de vital importancia que la perspectiva de género también se incorpore a los planes nacionales de recuperación y resiliencia. 

Council of Europe leader calls for support for local media and emphasises the "major role" of local and regional authorities in tackling disinformation and hate. 

La agricultura ecológica, gracias a su impacto positivo en el medio ambiente y el clima desde el punto de vista de la mejora de la captura de carbono y la salud del suelo, la conservación de la biodiversidad y el bienestar animal, contribuye a los objetivos tanto del Pacto Verde Europeo como de las estrategias de la UE «de la granja a la mesa» y sobre la biodiversidad. El Comité Europeo de las Regiones (CDR) aprobó el 2 de diciembre su Dictamen sobre el Plan de acción de la UE para la agricultura ecológica . 

The Climate Pact Ambassadors of the European Committee of the Regions and the Directorate General Climate Action of the European Commission debated on the first CoR Climate Ambassadors event on the possibilities offered by the initiative whose purpose is to get individuals, communities and organisations involved in climate actions and build a greener Europe. Climate Pact Ambassadors play a key role in the CoR's actions for the Climate Pact . 

La recuperación económica y social, así como las transiciones ecológica y digital, solo pueden tener éxito si los entes locales y regionales participan directamente en la elaboración y la aplicación de los planes nacionales de recuperación y resiliencia. Una estrecha colaboración entre todos los niveles de gobernanza, los interlocutores sociales y las ONG es de vital importancia para garantizar que los planes nacionales se ajusten a las necesidades territoriales y eviten solapamientos con otras políticas y fondos de la UE. Estos son los principales mensajes que el Comité Europeo de las Regiones (CDR) ha transmitido a los gobiernos nacionales y a las instituciones de la UE a través de un Dictamen redactado por Rob Jonkman, concejal de Opsterland (Países Bajos). El Dictamen fue aprobado por el Pleno del CDR el día 1 de diciembre. 

Regions and cities are calling on the European Commission to provide more support to all levels of government in the endeavour to end homelessness in Europe by 2030. In a debate with Nicolas Schmit, Commissioner for Jobs and Social Rights, members of the European Committee of the Regions (CoR) welcomed the establishment of the European Platform for Combating Homelessness. An opinion adopted by the plenary session today underlines the role of local and regional authorities in developing a housing-led approach and a right mix of prevention measures that address both structural and personal causes of homelessness. 

Europe's regions and cities have welcomed the proposal to designate 2022 as the European Year of Youth. The resolution adopted today by the European Committee of the Regions' plenary session underlines the key role of local and regional authorities in promoting youth participation in local democracy and urges to mainstream a youth perspective in all EU policy areas. Bearing in mind the impact of the Covid-19 crisis on young people and their education, employment, income and mental health, the Committee calls to strengthen efforts to tackle youth unemployment and precarious working conditions and to improve access to housing, education and training. 

The EU's regions and cities have underlined their essential role in boosting investment in artificial intelligence (AI) and fostering trust in AI solutions. The European Committee of the Regions (CoR) has adopted an opinion calling for more transparency and stricter information requirements, especially what comes to high-risk AI systems. It also points out the major human rights risks and implications associated with the use of social classification, which should only be allowed only for specific purposes and always with human oversight to avoid any violations to the right to dignity and non-discrimination and to the values of equality and justice. 

Sustainable Development Goals and public participation in focus at Cities and Regions for International Partnerships forum. 

La economía azul da empleo a cerca de 4,5 millones de personas y genera alrededor de 650 000 millones EUR en volumen de negocios y 176 000 millones EUR en valor añadido bruto en la UE. La acuicultura y la piscicultura representan el 20 % del suministro de pescado y marisco en la UE. El sector cuenta con 15 000 empresas y emplea a 70 000 personas. Como parte integrante de la economía azul, la pesca y la acuicultura son clave para impulsar la recuperación económica tras la COVID-19, crear puestos de trabajo y ofrecer oportunidades de desarrollo sostenible a las poblaciones costeras y rurales. La burocracia y la falta de inversiones siguen siendo actualmente los principales obstáculos al pleno desarrollo de una acuicultura europea. Se necesita urgentemente un cambio radical que permita reducir la actividad humana en los mares y proteger los océanos, ya que representan más del 90 % del espacio habitable y absorben cada año el 26 % de las emisiones de dióxido de carbono. 

The EU needs a strategy that can help industry to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and reach climate-neutrality at the same time as helping to recover from the pressures of the COVID-19 pandemic. A set of concrete measures on how this can be achieved – including strengthening the role of SMEs and the territorial dimension of the EU's industrial strategy, pushing for place-based innovation policies, smart specialisation strategies and closer links between industrial and regional ecosystems – were adopted today by the European Committee of the Regions in its opinion 'Updating the 2020 New Industrial Strategy: Building a stronger Single Market for Europe's recovery'. 

Registration is now open for the 9th European Summit of Regions and Cities, scheduled to take place in Marseille (France) on 3-4 March 2022, in the context of the incoming French Presidency of the Council of the EU. 

La Conferencia sobre el Futuro de Europa constituye una oportunidad de acercar Europa a sus ciudadanas y ciudadanos y reforzar su sentido de pertenencia al proyecto europeo. Siempre y cuando en sus conclusiones se atribuya al Comité Europeo de las Regiones un papel de coordinación y comunicación en el futuro proceso decisorio europeo en nombre de los entes locales y regionales. Así lo corroboraron el antiguo presidente del Consejo Europeo y presidente del Grupo de Alto Nivel sobre la Democracia Europea del CDR, Herman Van Rompuy, y Renaud Muselier, presidente de la Región de Provenza-Alpes-Costa Azul y vicepresidente de la Asociación de Regiones de Francia, en un debate sobre el futuro de la democracia en Europa que se celebró en el pleno del Comité Europeo de las Regiones. 

El debate de la Unión Europea sobre su futuro debería dar lugar a una colaboración más profunda y sistemática con los entes locales y regionales, según el Comité Europeo de las Regiones (CDR), que el 1 de diciembre publicó unas recomendaciones en las que también se pedía que la consulta directa con la ciudadanía adquiera más importancia en la vida de la Unión. El CDR, que reúne a gobernadores, alcaldes y concejales de toda la UE, subrayó la necesidad de que aplicar una perspectiva regional se convierta en la norma al proponer que, en caso de que la UE decida no llevar a cabo una evaluación del impacto de la legislación en las regiones, esté obligada a facilitar una explicación pública. 

Apostolos Tzitzikostas, presidente del Comité Europeo de las Regiones (CDR), dio la bienvenida al presidente de la República Francesa, Emmanuel Macron, en el pleno del Comité Europeo de las Regiones (# CoRplenary) para participar en un debate sobre la renovación de la democracia y los valores europeos. El presidente francés confirmó el papel primordial que desempeñan los entes locales y regionales en la defensa de los valores europeos y la renovación democrática y expresó su voluntad de incluir al CDR en los trabajos de la Presidencia francesa del Consejo de la Unión Europea (vea el debate grabado aquí ). 

On 29 November 2021, ARLEM vice-president André Viola, member of the Member of the Departmental Council of Aude (France), addressed the co-presidency of the Union for the Mediterranean and ministers of foreign affairs at the UfM Sixth Regional Forum held in the framework of the celebrations of the Day of the Mediterranean of 28 of November. 

Co-organised by the CoR, East Poland House and Polish rail operator PKP, the conference brought together local and regional authorities, sectoral stakeholders and EU institutions. The importance of close cooperation between all levels of governance and sectoral stakeholders for the shift to rail objectives set out under the EU Green Deal and in the context of the European Year of Rail 2021 (EYR 2021) was underscored from the outset by Marie-Antoinette MAUPERTUIS (FR/EA), second Vice-President of the CoR's COTER Commission. The focus on regional rail was particularly welcomed in particular by Alberto Mazzola, Executive Director of the Community of European Railways (CER), who called for regional rail to be more prominently addressed at EU level, recalling that most passenger rail journeys in the EU are made at local and regional level.  

The chairman of the CoR's High-Level Group on European Democracy – Herman Van Rompuy, former President of the European Council – will lead a debate on 1 December on strengthening European democracy in the context of the Conference on the Future of Europe. 

​​​​Moving towards zero-pollution, making the EU Emission Trading System (ETS) and the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) work for EU cities and regions along with gender equality and climate change are three of the main topics discussed at the ENVE commission meeting on 23 and 24 November. The meeting hosted the award ceremony of the Transformative Action Awards 2021. The conclusions of the COP26 climate summit have been part of the discussions with members celebrating the Glasgow Climate Pact reference to 'the urgent need for multilevel and cooperative action' to tackle the climate crisis. 

​​2021 marks the fifth anniversary of the Transformative Action Award, which recognises ongoing or concluded Transformative Actions - inspired by the 15 pathways outlined in the Basque Declaration - that accelerate the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals and the Paris Climate Agreement, in addition to spearheading the socio-cultural, socio-economic and technological transformation of societies. The Transformative Action Award is organised by ICLEI Europe, the Basque Country and the City of Aalborg with the support of the European Committee of the Regions (CoR) and the European Investment Bank. 

The European Committee of the Regions' Commission for Natural Resources (NAT) met on 22 November to discuss and adopt a draft opinion on the EU Long-term vision for rural areas, which should take into account the specific needs of European territories and the differences among them. During the meeting, members also presented their expectations and hope for tourism in the next decade and exchanged views on the future EU State aid rules for agriculture, rural areas and forestry; on the Health Emergency Response Authority ​and on the new EU Forest Strategy for 2030. 

The transfer of more powers and funds to local government – coupled with specific efforts to improve efficiency, transparency, and accountability – have boosted public trust and made possible significant increases in investment in public services in Ukraine, leaders of local-government associations and city mayors told the European Committee of the Regions on 18 November. 

We are pleased to share the third edition of the COP26 Glasgow Chronicles series, bringing you a summary of the activities - and updates on the negotiations, that the members of the European Committee of the Regions delivered during the second week of COP26, the 26th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) that was hosted by the UK in Glasgow from 31 October to 13 November 2021. On the closing day, the CoR published a COP26 political declaration endorsed by several partners. The COP26 conclusions are gathered in the Glasgow Climate Pact. Following the end of Glasgow climate talks, the LGMA constituency, gathering subnational governments in the UNFCCC system, published that 'Multilevel action is the beacon of hope to keep the 1.5 degree goal alive'. Already in July 2017, the CoR published that 'Cities and regions can bridge the emissions gap'. 

El Comité Europeo de las Regiones (CDR) abre el período de presentación de candidaturas para la edición 2023 del Premio Región Emprendedora Europea (REE). Bajo el tema general «Espíritu empresarial y comunidades resilientes», las ciudades, regiones y municipios pueden presentar estrategias sobre el modo en que tienen previsto apoyar a las pymes en los próximos dos años. El plazo de presentación de candidaturas es el 29 de marzo de 2022. 

El futuro de la democracia europea requiere un diálogo permanente entre la ciudadanía y sus representantes políticos y una comprensión clara de la necesidad de que todos los niveles de gobierno participen en mayor medida en el proyecto europeo. Esta es una de las principales conclusiones del trabajo del Grupo de Alto Nivel sobre la Democracia Europea del CDR —presidido por Herman Van Rompuy, antiguo presidente del Consejo Europeo— que se presentaron hoy en la reunión de la Comisión de Ciudadanía, Gobernanza y Asuntos Institucionales y Exteriores (CIVEX) del CDR. 

This year's edition of the ESPAS Annual Conference, co-hosted by the EP and the EC, will see a high-level contribution by former CoR President Markku Markkula (FI/EPP). The ESPAS 2021 Conference will be held online on 18-19 November, under the headline 'Shaping Europe's future: Global trends and strategic choices.' 

​After two weeks of negotiations, the latest COP26 conclusions highlight the urgent need for multilevel and cooperative action. The reference was deleted in previous drafts, but reinserted after the European Committee of the Regions (CoR), speaking on behalf of the Local Governments and Municipal Authorities Constituency, called for it to be included during the COP26 stocktaking plenary session on 11 November, the cities and regions day at COP26. The latest draft also urges Parties to further integrate adaptation into local, national and regional planning and recognise the important role of non-Party stakeholders in contributing to the goals of the Paris Agreement. Looking ahead to the COP27, a coalition of international networks – led by the CoR and representing cities and regions worldwide – today adopted a political declaration in support of further strengthening multilevel collaboration as a prerequisite to limit temperature rise to 1.5°C by the end of the century. 

​The event took place on 12 November 2021 in fully remote format, co-organised by CEI and the Union of Municipalities of Montenegro (UOM). Roberto Ciambetti (IT/ECR), President of the Regional Council of Veneto and Co-Chair of the Joint Consultative Committee between the CoR and Montenegro, represented the Committee of the Regions. 

Joint Consultative Committee between the European Committee of the Regions and Montenegro held its 16th meeting on 3 November 2021, in Brussels-based hybrid format, under the joint leadership of its two Co-Chairs, Roberto Ciambetti (IT/ECR), President of the Regional Council of Veneto, and Aleksandar Kašćelan, Mayor of Cetinje. 

Apostolos Tzitzikostas, President of the European Committee of the Regions and Governor of the region of Central Macedonia, spoke on 9 November at the Berlin Conference organised every year by the Stiftung Zukunft Berlin to mark the anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989. The theme of this year's conference is "Europe Bottom Up!". 

​We are pleased to share the first of the COP26 Glasgow Chronicles series, intended to bring you updates on the activities and key messages that the members of the European Committee of the Regions are delivering at COP26, be that remotely or from Glasgow. Please click here to download the CoR official delegation and key messages to COP26. Here is our dedicated COP26 web portal. 

We are pleased to share the second of the COP26 Glasgow Chronicles series, bringing you updates on the activities and key messages that the members of the European Committee of the Regions are delivering at COP26. This second issue includes major COP26 developments and new pledges and additional press coverage.