Members of the #CohesionAlliance – the EU-wide coalition of 12,000 signatories advocating for a stronger Cohesion Policy – react to the conclusions on Cohesion Policy adopted today by the General Affairs Council of the EU.  

​The implementation of Just Transition Plans must be fast-tracked in all Member States 

To successfully face the phasing out from combustion engine and digitalisation, Europe's automotive regions demand a new EU supporting mechanism with dedicated funds, an adequate territorial impact assessment of the new regulations and measures for the reskilling and upskilling of the workforce. At the first political meeting of the Automotive Regions Alliance (ARA) on 17 November in Leipzig, members adopted a short- and medium-term strategy and discussed with Nicolas Schmit, European Commissioner for Jobs and Social Rights, the support needed by regions with a strong automotive industry. 

Cities and regions worldwide are taking over political leadership at COP27 climate talks as national governments are failing to reach any meaningful agreement. As echoed in the latest IPCC report, local and regional governments have a growing role in delivering climate action. However, subnational governments – unified under the Local Governments and Municipal Authorities (LGMA) Constituency to the United Nations – still lack a formal role in global climate negotiations and in the implementation of the Paris agreement. Reinforcing multi-level cooperation, direct funds and technical assistance for subnational governments and a global system to collect and monitor cities’ and regions’ carbon emission reductions are amongst the key claims subnational governments are fighting for at COP27. ​​ 

EU local and regional representatives pave the way for a new chapter of European democracy, where decisions are taken the closest to citizens, building on the momentum of the Conference on the Future of Europe 

Manar Ramadan of Banlastic Egypt, an environmental conservation company based in the city of Alexandria, has won the ARLEM Award for young entrepreneurs, beating contenders from over 50 other new small businesses from around the Mediterranean.​