EU cities and regions request to extend water reuse to all EU Members States and to enlarge the scope of the proposed regulation from agriculture irrigation to urban green spaces. A third of EU's land suffers from water stress and water scarcity is a concern in many Member States. While climate change results in unpredictable weather patterns, it is expected that water reuse will have to palliate increasing droughts and shortfalls in the quantity and quality of freshwater resources. 

​Local authority leaders have adopted an opinion on the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP), calling for it to be fair, sustainable, solidarity-based and for the benefit of farmers, regions, consumers and the public. In its current form, the legislative proposal on the future CAP jeopardises European regions' autonomy in managing the CAP. Moreover, the proposed 28% cut in funding for rural development runs counter to the EU's objective of territorial cohesion. The new CAP must address Europe's environmental and climate challenges and enable farmers to have a fair income. The budget cuts and instruments proposed by the European Commission will make this difficult. 

Local and regional authorities are key actors when it comes to bringing Europe closer to its energy and climate objectives. Energy production at the local level is crucial to foster renewable energy production, spread energy democracy and decrease energy poverty rates. Today, around 50 million households in Europe are struggling to warmth adequately (EPOV). Around €180 billion of additional investments are needed annually to achieve the EU's 2030 targets agreed in Paris, including a 40% cut in greenhouse gas emissions (from 1990 levels).  

The European Union should earmark €500 million for collaboration with cities and regions across the globe after 2021, the European Committee of the Regions said on 6 December in a set of recommendations that argue that the EU's external policy should pay fuller, more explicit attention to local and regional authorities. 

Moving towards a low-carbon economy and achieving a carbon neutral Europe by 2050 is a massive investment opportunity that will generate growth and jobs. Through the adoption of an opinion on Financing Sustainable Growth at the 5-6 December plenary session, EU' assembly of cities and regions has put forward a set of recommendations to create the conditions for financial markets to invest sustainably. The EU's assembly of cities and regions proposes a new European indicator, similar to the existing Regional Social Progress Index, to cover and track a range of development related aspects including sustainability.  

The European Committee of the Regions on 6 December welcomed the European Commission's "renewed commitment" to expansion of the European Union in the Western Balkans and called for central governments in Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo*1, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Montenegro and Serbia to step up their collaboration with local and regional governments.