On 24 September, the members of the European Committee of the Regions (CoR) commission for territorial cohesion policy and EU budget (COTER) met online to adopt their recommendations for the role of cohesion policy against the backdrop of the coronavirus crisis, the implementation report on the partnership with the EU's outermost regions (OR) and public transport in cities and metropolitan regions. Members also discussed the REACT-EU package, Cross-border public services and the state of play of the MFF negotiations. 

On 17 September 2020, the European Commission launched this year’s European Semester cycle with the publication of the Annual Sustainable Growth Strategy 2021 (ASGS). Usually issued in November, this ASGS came unexpected early due to the Commission’s decision to “temporarily adapt the European Semester to the launch of the Recovery and Resilience Facility (RRF)” in order to avoid an overlap between both. This ASGS is also unusual in its content since it largely focuses on setting the strategic guidance for the implementation of the RRF. It was accompanied by two Staff Working Documents providing additional guidance and a template to support Member States in the preparation of their national and Recovery and Resilience plans (RRP). 

he COVID-19 pandemic has dramatically affected our world and our way of living with dire loses and substantial consequences on every aspect of our daily existence. The Commission for Territorial Cohesion Policy and the EU Budget (COTER) at the European Committee of the Regions will prepare regular bulletins on the policy fields within its remits reflecting recent research, articles and discussions on the socio-economic impact of the pandemic in Europe and on the different actions and response measures planned and implemented at EU, national, regional and local level.​ 

Two of our RegHub contact points will feature on a high-level panel with Commission Vice-President Maroš Šefčovič on 7 October 2020 from 11.30 – 13.00 during this year's edition of the European Week of Regions and Cities (#EURegionsWeek). 

Euroopa Regioonide Komitee kodakondsuse ning valitsemis-, institutsiooniliste ja välisasjade komisjoni (CIVEX) liikmed pidasid 22. septembril arutelu Valgevene poliitilise olukorra üle. Arutelul osales Petras Auštrevičius (LT/Renew Europe), kes on Euroopa Parlamendi raportöör Valgevenega suhete teemal. 

The first week (5-11 October) out of three of this year's #EURegionsWeek is dedicated to the thematic cluster Empowering Citizens. Check out the online programme and discover interesting working sessions on various topics. 

The third week (19 to 22 October) of this extended edition of the #EURegionsWeek will revolve around the theme Green Europe. The programme is fully dedicated to the Green Europe theme. Check out our programme and register in order to have the sessions added to your agenda! 

The second week (12 to 16 October) of this year's #EURegionsWeek is dedicated to the thematic cluster Cohesion and Cooperation. This week includes the highest number of working sessions, together with all the political highlights. Do not miss the speech "Annual Regional and Local Barometer - State of the Union from the regional and local perspective", to be given by CoR President Tzitzikostas and add other key moments to your agenda! 

Euroopa Regioonide Komitee on loonud Ühendkuningriigi kontaktrühma, mille eesmärk on säilitada suhted Euroopa Liidu kohalike ja piirkondlike omavalitsuste ning Ühendkuningriigi linnade, piirkondade ja detsentraliseeritud haldusasutuste vahel. Algatus on ajendatud Ühendkuningriigi EList lahkumisest 31. jaanuaril 2020. 

COVID-19 pandeemial on märkimisväärne mõju Euroopa majandusele. Euroopa Regioonide Komitee ECONi komisjon koostab korrapäraseid majandusülevaateid hiljutiste uuringute, artiklite ja arutelude kohta, milles käsitletakse pandeemia sotsiaal-majanduslikku mõju Euroopas ning ELi, riiklikul, piirkondlikul ja kohalikul tasandil kavandatud ja rakendatud erinevaid majanduslikke reageerimismeetmeid. 

The RegHub secretariat has recently carried out a complete evaluation of the RegHub pilot project.  

The European Union cannot succeed without regions and cities. It is local and regional authorities that are bringing the EU through the COVID-19 pandemic. It is cohesion between regions that is the heart of European solidarity. It is the engagement by regional and local politicians that will deliver the more ambitious targets for climate change announced yesterday. I am confident President Ursula von der Leyen will build an even stronger partnership with our Committee as it is the one million regional and local elected politicians who are Europe's safety net, who are key actors in managing the pandemic and who will be crucial actors in fostering our recovery. 

The European Committee of the Regions' Commission for Natural Resources (NAT) met for the first time after the summer break to discuss sustainable tourism and the responses needed at EU level to face the challenges posed by the Coronavirus and its impact on local communities. At the meeting on 18 September, members also adopted opinions on the Farm to Fork strategy, on EU4Health, on rural revival and on the EU's civil-protection mechanism – all policies with the potential to help build resilient communities across the EU. Members of the commission also exchanged views on agro-ecology.  

On 16 September, the European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen will, in her first State of the Union speech, share her vision for a stronger Europe and a better world after the pandemic, get familiar with this key moment of democracy. 

Euroopa Regioonide Komitee juhatuse liikmed* arutasid 11. septembril COVID-19 kriisi mõju küladele, linnadele ja piirkondadele ning vajadust parandada Euroopa Liidu toimimist. Veebiüritusel osalesid ka Saksamaa Nordrhein-Westfaleni liidumaa peaminister Armin Laschet ja Euroopa Komisjoni asepresident Maroš Šefčovič. 

The 2020 edition of the European Natura 2000 Award includes 27 finalists. You can vote now for your favourite project to win the European Citizens’ Award. 

We, the members of the Bureau of the European Committee of the Regions (CoR), call on the Belarusian authorities to ensure the respect of fundamental values, human rights and freedoms, and we strongly condemn all violence, repression and arrests of peaceful protesters. 

During his video statement on the occassion of the meeting of the CoR Bureau on 11 September, Maroš Šefčovič, European Commission Vice-President for Interinstitutional Relations and Foresight, once again pointed to the important role the Network of Regional Hubs (RegHub) can play for linking the levels of policymaking and contribute to a more resilient society by providing evaluative evidence on EU policies. 

If you are interested in sharing your experiences, expectations and ideas on how DG TRADE could feed into national / regional level debates and vice versa, please take part in our on-line survey. The deadline for responses is 18 September.  

Arutelus ELi energiavoliniku Kadri Simsoniga keskenduti linnade ja piirkondade rollile COVID-19st taastumisel ning vajadusele muuta see rohepöörde kiirendamise peamiseks tõukejõuks. Euroopa Regioonide Komitee keskkonna, kliimamuutuste ja energeetika komisjoni liikmed kinnitasid, et kohalikud ja piirkondlikud omavalitsused tuleb kaasata prioriteetsete investeeringute, sealhulgas taasterahastu „NextGenerationEU“ ning ELi taaste ja vastupidavuse rahastamisvahendi määratlemisse ja rakendamisse. Päevakorras olid ka hoonete renoveerimise laine algatus, bioloogiline mitmekesisus, ringmajandus ja kliimamuutustega kohanemine. 

Euroopa Regioonide Komitee kutsub oma liikmeid ja noori valitud poliitikuid üles jagama oma parimaid tavasid, et koguda, tutvustada, edendada ja innustada läbi viima vähese CO2 heite projekte kogu ELis. Kas Teie linn või piirkond on kestlikkuse eestvedaja? Kas olete uhke projektide üle, mida rakendatakse Teie kogukonnas rohelise kokkuleppe prioriteetide elluviimiseks? Kui jah, siis on see üleskutse mõeldud Teile.  

This year the EURegionsWeek will be fully digital and will offer to participants more than 500 digital working sessions to discover over three consecutive weeks in October, from 5-22 October. The registration is open from 27 August to 27 September 2020. 

The COVID-19 pandemic has dramatically affected our world and our way of living with dire loses and substantial consequences on every aspect of our daily existence. The Commission for Territorial Cohesion Policy and the EU Budget (COTER) at the European Committee of the Regions will prepare regular bulletins on the policy fields within its remits reflecting recent research, articles and discussions on the socio-economic impact of the pandemic in Europe and on the different actions and response measures planned and implemented at EU, national, regional and local level.​ 

Selles intervjuus vastab Bettembourgi vallavolikogu liige Roby Biwer (LU/PES) viiele küsimusele bioloogilise mitmekesisuse tähtsuse kohta uue pandeemiapuhangu ennetamisel, kliimamuutustega võitlemisel ja suurema kestlikkuse saavutamisel ELi taastekava kaudu. Roby Biwer on arvamuse „Bioloogilise mitmekesisusega linnad ja piirkonnad pärast 2020. aastat“ raportöör ja see võetakse vastu järgmisel täiskogu istungjärgul oktoobris. Arvamuses esitatakse kohalike ja piirkondlike omavalitsuste panus ELi 2030. aasta bioloogilise mitmekesisuse strateegiasse , mille Euroopa Komisjon esitas 20. mail 2020 . Lisaks edendab komitee kohalike ja piirkondlike omavalitsuste keskset rolli elurikkuse kaitsmisel ÜRO bioloogilise mitmekesisuse konventsiooni osaliste konverentsi 15. kohtumisel , mis toimub 17.–30. mail 2021 Hiinas Kunmingis. 

The COVID-19 pandemic has dramatically affected our world and our way of living, with the loss of thousands of lives and unprecedented consequences for every aspect of our daily existence. The Commission for Social Policy, Education, Employment, Research and Culture (SEDEC) at the European Committee of the Regions is preparing regular bulletins on the policy fields within its remits, reflecting recent research, articles and discussions on the socio-economic impact of the pandemic in Europe and on the different actions and response measures being planned and implemented at EU, national, regional and local level. 

Käesolevas intervjuus vastab Drenthe provintsi regionaalminister Tjisse Stelpstra (NL/ECR) kuuele küsimusele uue ringmajanduse tegevuskava kohta. See tegevuskava on ELi ettepanekute kogum, mille eesmärk on lahutada majanduskasv ressursikasutusest vastupidavate, korduskasutatavate ja parandatavate toodete tootmise ja tarbimise kaudu. Pärast seda, kui Euroopa Komisjon avaldas 11. märtsil 2020 uue ringmajanduse tegevuskava, võtab Euroopa Regioonide Komitee 12.–14. oktoobril 2020 toimuval täiskogu istungjärgul vastu arvamuse , mille raportöör on Tjisse Stelpstra. Ringmajandus on ELi rohelise kokkuleppe – st ELi kasvustrateegia kliimaneutraalsuse saavutamiseks 2050. aastaks – üks alustala. 

Euroopa tippkohtumise järeldusi kommenteerides ütles Euroopa Regioonide Komitee president Apostolos Tzitzikostas: „ELi liikmesriikide kokkulepitud meetmed on ajalooline näide solidaarsusest ja võitlusest enneolematu ohu vastu. ELi eelarve ja taastekava tuleb nüüd kiiresti ellu viia, et tuua kasu kõigile inimestele piirkondades, linnades ja külades üle kogu Euroopa. Väga oluline on investeerida ELi vahendeid sinna, kus neid vajatakse, ja kasutada iga eurot parimal võimalikul viisil.“ 

COVID-19 pandeemiast alguse saanud kriis õõnestab Euroopa majanduslikku, territoriaalset ja sotsiaalset ühtekuuluvust ning võimet tagada rohelisem, kaasavam ja arukam üleminek kestlikumale tulevikule. Seepärast innustab ühtekuuluvuspoliitika allianss #CohesionAlliance – kogu ELis rohkem kui 12 000 mõttekaaslast hõlmav koalitsioon – ELi liikmesriike toetama tugevat mitmeaastast finantsraamistikku (2021–2027) ja taastekavasid. Mitmeaastane finantsraamistik ja taastekavad peavad tugevdama ühtekuuluvust, mis on Euroopa Liidu põhiväärtus ning liidu kõigi poliitikameetmete ja investeeringute põhieesmärk. Selliseid nõudmisi sisaldav deklaratsioon edastati ELi ühtekuuluvuspoliitika volinikule Elisa Ferreirale ja parlamendi regionaalarengukomisjoni esimehele Younous Omarjeele 14. juulil toimunud videokonverentsil kolm päeva enne Euroopa Ülemkogu kohtumist Brüsselis. 

Intervjuus vastas Rijeka linnapea ja õiglase ülemineku fondi arvamuse raportöör Vojko Obersnel (HR/PES) viiele küsimusele ELi algatuse kohta, mille eesmärk on toetada piirkondi, keda vähese CO 2 heitega majandusele üleminek kõige rohkem mõjutab. COVID-19 kontekstis on õiglase ülemineku fondi kavandatav eelarve suurenenud 7,5 miljardilt eurolt 40 miljardile eurole. Euroopa Regioonide Komitee võttis oma arvamuse Õiglase ülemineku fondi kohta vastu 2020. aasta juuli täiskogu istungjärgul, rõhutades heameelt ELi toetuse üle sotsiaalselt ausale ja kestlikule rohelisele majandusele üleminekule. 

The network of regional hubs has concluded its third consultation on the first and only EU Directive on the rights of patients in cross-border healthcare. Reaching out to more than 140 local and regional stakeholders active in the area of healthcare provision, this consultation has again been extensive and is providing unique data, based on stakeholders' "user experience" of this EU policy. 

​Catalan Health System makes https://stopcovid19.cat/en/ available altruistically for the International community. A free access cooperative platform to help prevent the global expansion of SARS Cov-2. The main objective is to share the work done with the maximum number of institutions, governments and International organizations. ​ 

The members of the European Committee of the Region's commission for Territorial Cohesion Policy and EU Budget (COTER) discussed and adopted opinions on "Equivalent standards of living" and the "European Year of Rail 2021". At the meeting on 10 July, members also exchanged their views on the challenges for public transport in cities and metropolitan regions. 

​As a continuation of our successful webinars, we are inviting you to our 5th edition of the "Digital Masterclasses" series. Join us for a talk on inclusivity in online communication. This time, the webinar will introduce both academic and practical perspectives on effective strategies of connecting with diverse audiences online. 

The EU's recovery efforts after the Covid-19 pandemic must have a strong social dimension in order to maintain social security networks, safeguard workers' jobs and avoid wrongful dismissals, members of local and regional governments highlighted in a debate with Nicolas Schmit, Commissioner for Social Rights and Jobs. An opinion discussed at the European Committee of the Regions' SEDEC commission on Thursday points out the close link between the EU's social agenda, the Green Deal and the digital transition and calls for more investment in youth, education and life-long learning. 

Selles intervjuus räägib La Rioja autonoomse piirkonna valitsuse juht Concha Andreu Rodríguez (ES/PES) ELi soolise võrdõiguslikkuse strateegiast ja COVID-19 pandeemia mõjust naistele. Concha Andreu on Euroopa Regioonide Komitee sotsiaalpoliitika, haridus-, tööhõive-, teadus- ja kultuurikomisjoni (SEDEC) sel nädalal vastu võetud arvamuse raportöör. Vastuvõtmine täiskogu istungjärgul on kavas oktoobris. 

The European Commission recently published its report: “Annual report 2019 on the application of the principles of subsidiarity and proportionality and on relations with national parliaments“. In the report, the RegHub network is mentioned several times in connection with the COM's efforts to better integrate the experiences of the regional and local level in the future legislative procedure. For the RegHub network it is a further proof of the appreciation of its work by the European Commission. 

Side events must relate to the thematic priorities of the #EURegionsWeek 2020 and must be organised digitally between 5-9 October 2020, 12-16 October 2020 or 19‑22 October 2020. The application must be submitted by 2 September 2020 at the latest. 

COVID-19 pandeemial on märkimisväärne mõju Euroopa majandusele. Euroopa Regioonide Komitee ECONi komisjon koostab korrapäraseid majandusülevaateid hiljutiste uuringute, artiklite ja arutelude kohta, milles käsitletakse pandeemia sotsiaal-majanduslikku mõju Euroopas ning ELi, riiklikul, piirkondlikul ja kohalikul tasandil kavandatud ja rakendatud erinevaid majanduslikke reageerimismeetmeid. 

This year, the European Week of Regions and Cities will spread over three consecutive weeks in October (5-22/10/2020). Due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the related health and safety measures, the majority of the 500 sessions will be in fully digital format. Registration for the 18th European Week of Regions and Cities will open on 27 August 2020. To view the recording of the meeting and the slides presented, check the event website Partners' page! 

The European assembly of local and regional politicians adopted their recommendations for the Just Transition Fund, which aims at supporting regions to meet the challenges of the green transition. Rapporteur Vojko Obersnel (HR/PES), mayor of Rijeka, calls for an ambitious EU support so that no one and no place is left behind in the transition to a revived and green economy. 

Kaks nädalat enne olulist Euroopa tippkohtumist kutsub Euroopa Regioonide Komitee – ELi kohalike ja piirkondlike omavalitsuste kogu – liikmesriike üles jõudma õigeaegselt ja õiglaselt kokkuleppele mitmeaastase finantsraamistiku ja ELi taasterahastu „NextGenerationEU“ suhtes. Oma resolutsioonis ning arutelus ELi eelarve ja halduse voliniku Johannes Hahniga nõudsid piirkonnad ja linnad, et ühtekuuluvus muutuks kõigi ELi poliitikavaldkondade suunanäitajaks ning et ELi programmide rakendamine põhineks jagatud vastutusel ja partnerlusel. 

Euroopa Regioonide Komitee võttis 2. juulil vastu resolutsiooni , milles määrati kindlaks komitee järgmise viie aasta kolm prioriteeti. Poliitilise assamblee eesmärk on muuta Euroopa Liit vastupanuvõimelisemaks, jätkusuutlikumaks ja sidusamaks, suurendades piirkondade ja linnade kaasamist ELi poliitika kujundamisse ja rakendamisse. 

Juuli täiskogu istungjärgul võttis Euroopa Regioonide Komitee peaaegu ühehäälselt vastu Roby Biweri koostatud arvamuse „Ulatuslikumad ELi meetmed maailma metsade kaitseks ja taastamiseks“ . Komitee arvamuse raportöör kutsub üles looma tugeva ELi sertifitseerimis- ja teabesüsteemi, mis tagaks kestlikud metsandustooted ja läbipaistvad tarneahelad kolmandatest riikidest. 

The European Committee of the Regions (CoR) adopted at the July plenary session the opinion The Future of EU Clean Air policy in the framework of the zero-pollution ambition drafted by János Ádám Karácsony (HU/EPP), member of the Local Government of Tahitótfalu. In the context of the COVID-19, the rapporteur of the CoR opinion stresses the possible link between pollution and the gravity of infection’s consequences. Therefore, fighting air pollution must be among the top priorities of the recovery plan. Pollution reduction during lockdown showed the importance of a healthier environment. Local leaders encourage Member States to deliver and update their National Air Pollution Control Programmes as a matter of urgency and to take LRAs' contributions on board. 

The European Committee of the Regions (CoR) has adopted the opinion "European Climate Law: enshrining the 2050 climate neutrality objective​" by rapporteur Juanma Moreno (ES/EPP), President of Andalusia. The European Climate Law, as the legal pillar of the Green Deal, needs to fully engage cities and regions in the design of the trajectory towards 2050. Members request local and regional climate inventories and objectives and call for a permanent Multilevel Energy Dialogue Platform and a European climate neutrality observatory. Data for monitoring progress should be collected at regional, rather than national level. Renewables rather than nuclear energy should power the path towards climate-neutrality. 

In a debate with the European Commissioner for Internal market, Thierry Breton, CoR members highlighted the success of the online Exchange Platform created by the CoR to enable local and regional governments share the best practises in responding the COVID-19 pandemic. Based on this successful example, CoR members proposed Commissioner Breton to jointly promote the digitalisation and the innovative use of digital platforms to support the European Commission's work in strategic fields as transport, tourism, social and education services.The assembly of EU regions and cities, also asked for a stronger support to relaunch the tourism industry, highlighting in particular the vital role of regional airport and of the airlines that connect them. Regional and local leaders stressed that the pandemic boosted the adoption of digital and innovative solutions but, at the same time, made visible persisting massive digital gaps. 

The Chair of the CoR's Working Group on the Western Balkans, Mr Nikola Dobroslavić welcomes the end of the Mostar conflict which will lead to the first local elections in Mostar since 2008. The agreement reached between the party leaders to divide political power in the city of Bosnia-Herzegovina is a historic one.  

The European Committee of the Regions is to adopt an opinion on the 'Fitness Check of the Water Framework Directive and the Floods Directive' by rapporteur Piotr Całbecki (PL/EPP), president of the Kujawsko-Pomorskie Region. In the context of the COVID-19 and unabated global warming, Piotr Całbecki calls for a paradigm shift that places circularity and sustainability at the centre of water management policies. The opinion was discussed during the plenary session alongside a high-level debate on the European Green Deal. Read here an interview with rapporteur Piotr Całbecki on the next steps to improve water quality and sustainability. 

Arutelus Euroopa Komisjoni demokraatia- ja demograafiaküsimuste asepresidendi Dubravka Šuicaga kutsusid Euroopa kohalikud ja piirkondlikud juhid ELi institutsioone üles tegema tihedat koostööd kohalike omavalitsustega, et võidelda demograafiliste muutuste territoriaalsete ja sotsiaal-majanduslike tagajärgedega. Kuna rahvaarv väheneb enam kui 40%-s ELi piirkondadest, kutsub Euroopa Regioonide Komitee üles integreerima demograafilise mõõtme kõigisse ELi poliitikavaldkondadesse ja Euroopa tulevikku käsitlevasse arutellu. 

The European Committee of the Regions has adopted the opinion 'Towards a Roadmap for Clean Hydrogen – the contribution of local and regional authorities to a climate-neutral Europe'. The rapporteur is Birgit Honé (DE/PES), Minister for Federal and European Affairs and Regional Development of Lower Saxony. The opinion sets out a wide range of specific legislative and non-legislative measures for the development of a green hydrogen economy as a crucial building block of decarbonisation, in particular in the industry and certain transport sectors. Hydrogen currently accounts for less than 1% of Europe’s energy consumption and most of it is not produced through renewable energy sources.