Statement of the President of the European Committee of the Regions, Apostolos Tzitzikostas, on the measures proposed by the European Commission on 02/04/2020 

​An exchange platform will help sharing needs and solutions, will enhance mutual support and act as a feedback mechanism to enable a reality check of the EU measures from the local and regional angle. The CoR will provide local communities with regular and practical information about EU actions. 

Every day across Europe, thousands local and regional leaders are leading the battle to limit the spread of the virus and manage its impact on the ground. As President of the European Committee of the Regions, and as Governor of the Region of Central Macedonia, I can see the professionalism, the dedication and the courage of all those who are leading the battle against COVID-19. We are mobilising our communities to protect the weakest citizens and ensure as much continuity as possible to our economies. ​ 

Following the measures introduced in many EU countries in relation to the Covid-19 epidemic outbreak, the secretariat of the European Entrepreneurial Region secretariat has decided to extend the deadline for applications for the EER 2021 award to 15 April by midnight. 

After careful deliberation, I have decided to postpone the European Committee of the Regions’ plenary session planned on 25-26 March, as a contribution to the efforts to prevent and control the further spread of the Coronavirus pandemic. This course of action reflects measures already put in place by many local, regional, national and EU authorities. This decision has already been communicated to all of our Committee’s Members, to the staff and to the other EU institutions and partners, with whom we are in close contact. 

The President of the European Committee of the Regions has called on the EU to set out a 5-year action plan to ensure all regions and cities are supported in achieving climate neutrality. President Apostolos Tzitzikostas said that monitoring, investment and support in the short-term at regional level were necessary to ensure Europe is on track to deliver its Climate Law, just unveiled by the European Commission, which would legally commit the EU to being climate-neutral by 2050.