Local and regional leaders held today a debate with Dubravka Šuica, European Commission Vice-President for Democracy and Demography. The members of the European Committee of the Regions' (CoR) praised the role the Commission is playing in making sure that the voice of regions, cities and villages are represented in an adequate manner within the Conference. They reiterated their call to ensure that the debate on Europe's future reaches citizens through local and regional authorities, responding to their demands. 

I dtuairim a glacadh ag an seisiún iomlánach inniu, chuir Coiste Eorpach na Réigiún (CnaR) in iúl gur díol sásaimh dó Straitéis an Aontais um Chomhionannas LGBTIQ ach tugann sé le fios go bhfuilimid ag dul ar gcúl san am céanna maidir le luachanna an Aontais, agus údaráis áirithe ag baint úsáid as reitric fhrith - LGBTIQ ar bhonn leanúnach agus beartais agus reachtaíocht idirdhealaitheach á nglacadh acu fiú. Áitíonn tionól réigiúin agus chathracha an Aontais nár cheart cistí ón Eoraip a dheonú do na rialtais sin a chuireann sásraí idirdhealaithe struchtúracha chun cinn in aghaidh daoine LGBTIQ agus molann sé níos mó tacaíochta airgeadais a chur ar fáil do chláir chomhionannais agus éagsúlachta ar an leibhéal áitiúil. 

Members of the European Parliament and the European Committee of the Regions (CoR) discussed with Commissioner for Cohesion and Reforms Elisa Ferreira the new programming period 2021-27 and the territorial aspects of the Recovery and Resilience Facility (RRF). They asked the European Commission to ensure the full respect of the partnership principle and the multilevel governance, and to provide recommendations to Member States and relevant managing authorities to improve partnership processes. They also called on Member States to guarantee a broader territorial implementation of the RRF, and on the European Commission to guarantee that the National Recovery Plans will be built in full respect of articles 175 and 174 TFEU and prioritise less developed and transition regions, as well as the Regions most impacted by the socio-economic repercussions of the COVID-19 crisis. 

At the event "Cities fostering democracy in the European Union: Urban perspectives for the Conference on the Future of Europe", co-organised by the European Committee of the Regions, Eurocities and the Council of European Municipalities and Regions (CEMR), local and regional leaders set out their expectations for the Conference on the Future of Europe, and shared their experiences on strengthening local democracy. Examples of innovative participative exercises, green projects, digital services to citizens or integration of communities were discussed. The event led to the adoption of conclusions which will feed the Conference on the future of Europe. 

Following the model applied for food geographical indications, the new system would help fight counterfeiting, protect jobs and products which are part of Europe's cultural heritage A new EU-wide system for protecting Industrial and Craft Geographical Indications (ICGIs), built on the successful model used for agricultural products and food, would be beneficial for both craftsmen and local economies. The new system would strengthen the legal protection of products of excellence, help combat counterfeiting and create and maintain jobs. The proposal is included in an opinion drafted by Martine Pinville, Member of the Regional Council of Nouvelle-Aquitaine, adopted by unanimity on Wednesday 13 October by the Plenary of the European Committee of the Regions (CoR). 

Janez Janša, Prime Minister of Slovenia, currently holding the Presidency of the EU Council, remotely attended the Plenary of the European Committee of the Regions (CoR), discussing with regional and local authorities how to address local communities' needs. He told local and regional politicians that the top priority of his country's presidency of the Council of the European Union is to stop the pandemic and support the EU's economic recovery. Prime Minister Janša also thanked the European Committee of the Regions for excellent cooperation during the first half of the Presidency and for a great discussion in June already when State Secretary Gašper Dovžan presented the Presidency priorities to the Bureau, as well as congratulating the Committee members on their flagship "European Week of Regions and Cities" event.