Adapting food policy to increase the EU's self-sufficiency is essential in face of climate crisis and war in Ukraine. Russia's attempt to conquer Ukraine and the unfolding climate crisis should accelerate further far-reaching changes in the European Union's food-security policies, leading to changes in production, supply, and regulation, local and regional leaders agreed at a conference co-organised by the European Committee of the Regions (CoR) and the Polish region of Kujawsko-Pomorskie Region on 2 June.  

The European Committee of the Regions (CoR) and the European Commission jointly held the sixth meeting of the Broadband Platform on 25 May. Members learnt about the latest policy initiatives on digital transformation, such as the European Commission's proposal on Gigabit Infrastructure, the proposal on the Cyber Solidarity Act and discussed challenges and opportunities linked to connectivity, digital resilience and a digital maturity assessment for cities, villages and regions in Europe.  

​At a joint debate at the Committee of the Regions' Plenary sitting, the President of the European Committee of the Regions, Vasco Alves Cordeiro, and the newly elected President of the European Economic and Social Committee, Oliver Röpke, underlined their joint commitment for a social Europe that leaves no one behind, ahead of their participation in the Porto Social Forum on Saturday, 27 May, Portugal. 

Ukrainan, Sveitsin ja Yhdistyneen kuningaskunnan hallitukset, Euroopan kuntien ja alueiden allianssi Ukrainan jälleenrakennusta varten, Euroopan komissio ja OECD ovat yhtä mieltä siitä, että hallinnon hajauttaminen auttaa vahvistamaan Ukrainan elpymistä ja jälleenrakentamista ja edistämään maan tavoitetta liittyä EU:hun. 

With nearly 6 million Europeans who have been actively seeking employment for at least a year, long-term unemployment has a significant social impact. Its high cost to society would be offset by providing unemployed people with decent jobs at local level, the European Committee of the Regions underlines in an opinion drafted by Yonnec Polet (BE/PES), Deputy Mayor of Berchem-Sainte-Agathe. The opinion, which was adopted at the plenary session on 25 May, calls for the European Commission to take stock of the success of the Youth Guarantee, to earmark some ESF+ funds for local "zero long-term unemployment" initiatives and to set up ad hoc fund to combat long-term unemployment. 

Local and regional leaders call on the European Commission to publish the legislative framework for sustainable food systems as planned, later this year. The framework law should create coherence between different food-related policies, promote access to more healthy food, and recognise the crucial role of local and regional authorities by setting up an inclusive governance model.