Several debates took place during the plenary session including:

•  one on Regions and Cities, Pillars of the EU'S Future
•  one on Regional Development Policy Beyond 2020
•  one on the Developments in the Interinstitutional negotiations on the Multiannual Financial Framework, and
• one on Digital and Ecological Transitions: How to ensure cohesion and solidarity for all?
  

Sixteen opinions were on the agenda of the plenary:

• Opinion on "Sustainable Europe by 2030, follow-up to the UN Sustainable Development Goals: ecological transition and the Paris Agreement on Climate Change​" by Sirpa HERTELL (FI/EPP)
• Opinion on "Implementing the Paris Agreement through innovative and sustainable energy transition at regional and local leve​l" by Witold STĘPIEŃ​ (PL/EPP)
  
• Opinion on "Implementing the Clean Energy Package: the INECPs as a tool for local and territorial governance approach to climate, active and passive energy​" by József RIBÁNYI (HU/EPP)
  
• Opinion on "Smart cities: new challenges for a just transition toward climate neutrality - how to implement the SDGs in real life?" by Andries GRYFFROY (BE/EA)
  
• Opinion on "The socio-economic transformation of Europe's coal regions​ " by Mark SPEICH (DE/EPP)
  
• Opinion on "Implementation report on public procurement" by Thomas HABERMANN (DE/EPP)
  
• Opinion on "Contribution from regions and cities towards a new EU policy framework for SMEs" by Tadeusz TRUSKOLASKI (PL/EA)
  
• Opinion on "Active and Healthy Ageing​" by Birgitta SACRÉDEUS (SE/EPP)
  
• Opinion on "Pastoralism" by Jacques BLANC (FR/EPP)
  
• Opinion on "African swine fever and the EU pork market" by Sławomir SOSNOWSKI (PL/EPP)
  
• Opinion on "Better regulation: taking stock and sustaining our commitment" Olgierd  GEBLEWICZ (PL/EPP)
• Opinion on "Research Infrastructures – the Future of the European Research Area (ERA) from a Regional and Cross-border Perspective​" by Eamon DOOLEY (IE/ALDE)
  
• Opinion on "Digital Europe for All: delivering smart and inclusive solutions on the ground" by Anne KARJALAINEN (FI/PES)
  
• Opinion on "Recommendations for the successful design of regional development strategies beyond 2020" by Adam STRUZIK (PL/EPP)
  
• Opinion on "Better Communication for Cohesion Policy" by Adrian Ovidiu TEBAN (RO/EPP)
  
• Opinion on "The CoR's contribution to the renewed Territorial Agenda with special emphasis on Community-Led Local Development​" by Radim SRŠEŇ (CZ/EPP)
  

Two resolutions were also on the agenda:

• Resolution on "the Developments in the Interinstitutio​nal negotiations on the Multiannual Financial Framework for 2021-2027"
•  Resolution on "the 2019 European Semester and in view of the 2020 Annual Growth Survey"

Associated press releases

Community-led local development: strengthening territorial cohesion

Press release | Territorial cohesion;

Regional and local leaders delivered theirproposals on how to strengthen territorialdimension in a wider range of policy fields and howto increase the involvement of local actors indelivering EU co-funded investment plan, during the136th European Committee of the Regions (CoR)Plenary that took place on 7-9 October in Brussels.In the opinion on "The CoR's contribution to the renewed Territorial Agenda, with specialemphasis on community-led local development(CLLD)", drafted by Radim Sršeň (CS/EPP), RegionalCouncillor of Olomouc, they call for more bottom-upterritorial visions and for increasing the share offunding for CLLD.  

The EU must put inclusiveness at the heart of the digital and ecological transition

Press release | Digital agenda;

​In a debate with Finland's Minister for European Affairs Tytti Tuppurainen, EU's local and regional representatives called on the EU to ensure all regions and their citizens benefit from the digital and ecological transitions that are shaping our societies. The European Committee of the Regions (CoR) adopted on 9 October two opinions requested by Finland's Presidency of the Council of the EU, which focus on tackling the digital divide and ensuring cohesion and solidarity for all Europeans. 

The EU will not reach 2050 climate neutrality without raising its energy and climate targets

Press release | Environment policy;Climate change policy;Energy efficiency, market and technology;

As climate change and decarbonisation become the priority of the new European Commission under the 'Green Deal', the European Committee of the Regions has adopted a set of opinions related to Europe's climate agenda. Amongst them are recommendations to address the clean energy transition in coal regions and the involvement of local and regional authorities in the 2030 National Energy and Climate Plans (NCPS). In a plenary session stamped by the future of cohesion policy, members support a separate fund for coal regions yet involving local and regional governments in investment decisions. EU cities and regions want to move forward the localisation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and recall that Europe will not reach climate neutrality by 2050 without upgrading the current climate and energy targets.  

SMEs need more EU support to compete on global markets

Press release | SME policy;

Small businesses need broader and longer-term action from the European Union to help them scale up their operations, gain access to public tenders, and benefit more from the single market, the European Committee of the Regions argues in a set of recommendations intended to feed into a strategy planned by the incoming president of the European Commission.  

Local leaders, MEPs and EU Commissioner warn Member States: Europe cannot afford more delays and cuts to future EU budget

Press release | Investment policy;

European citizens want to live in a greener more inclusive and smarter continent and demand the EU play its part by providing sufficient investment. This is why, during the European Committee of the Regions' plenary session (CoR) held in Brussels today, local and regional leaders, the EU's budget Commissioner and leading members of the European Parliament urged national governments to drop any tactical positioning and agree a timely and forward looking agreement on the EU budget 2021-2027.  

Next European Commission should avoid introducing new public-procurement legislation

Press release | REFIT and better law-making;Public administration;Public procurement;

The European Committee of the Regions has called for a halt to the revision of EU rules for public procurement, on the grounds that the latest reforms the EU are still young and are falling short in significant ways. In recommendations adopted on 8 October, the EU's assembly for local and regional authorities said that, without imposing new rules, the EU could address important problems by easing access for medium-sized companies and encouraging harmonisation through, for instance, labelling schemes. 

Regions and cities can make the EU's 'new way of working' better

Press release | REFIT and better law-making;Public administration;

The European Commission should consider giving financial support to a feedback mechanism pioneered by the European Committee of the Regions, local and regional leaders said on 9 October, in a set of recommendations aimed at ensuring that the regional and local perspectives are reflected at every stage of the European Union's policy process, from conception to evaluation.  

Local leaders call for fresh start in communication on EU funds

Press release | Cohesion policy reform;EU communication policy;

With 60% of Europeans not aware of EU-funded projects in their regions, raising awareness about the EU's commitment to local communities is a key priority when it comes to relaunching the European project. The Committee demands stable funding, better coordination of actors, messages and strategies, as well as more attention being paid to citizens' engagement.​​ 

MEPs and local leaders will fight for adequate rules and funds for a stronger cohesion policy

Press release | Cohesion policy reform;

Members of the European Parliament and European Committee of the Regions all stated that they will fight for adequate rules and funds to make cohesion policy 2021-2027 stronger. They urged Member States to have a clear ambition for more cohesion and a real budget for the EU.​​ 

#EUregionsweek: EU and local leaders call for a cohesive, sustainable, inclusive future of Europe

Press release | Cohesion policy reform;Future of Europe;

Solidarity, sustainability and a Europe closer to its citizens were the three leading themes during the opening of the European Week of Regions and Cities 2019. In the presence of over 600 local, regional and EU politicians, experts and scholars, Karl-Heinz Lambertz, President of the European Committee of the Regions, Vice-President Klára Dobrev MEP, EU Commissioner Elżbieta Bieńkowska, and five young elected politicians called for more European solidarity and stronger regional investment to deliver a better future for all its citizens.  

Over 600 politicians join #EURegionsWeek to debate future of Europe and regional policy

Press release | Future of Europe;Cohesion policy reform;

On 7 October, the European Week of Regions and Cities will kick off its 17th edition in Brussels to discuss how cohesion policy can help to make Europe greener, more inclusive and smarter. Opened by a high-level debate on the future of Europe, the Week will hold 200 events including a high-level conference on the transformation of coal regions. On 8-9 October, the European Committee of the Regions (CoR) will also hold its #CoRplenary session with its members debating the future of EU cohesion policy with the European Parliament's Regional Development Chair Younous Omarjee, the future long-term EU budget with Commissioner Oettinger, and the ecological and digital transition with Finland's Minister for European Affairs, Tytti Tuppurainen.