​ On 3-4 May a delegation of the European Committee of the Regions visited the scientific site of the Joint Research Centre of the European Commission based in Ispra, Italy. It was the first official visit of a delegation from a European institution to JRC Ispra after the Covid break.

The study visit at the Ispra site of the JRC included presentations on several issues related to the European Green Deal and sustainability, as well as visits to some of the most relevant research infrastructures like the European Laboratory for Structural Assessment, the Atmospheric Observatory Tower, the European Interoperability Centre for Electric Vehicles and Smart Grids, and the Crisis Management Laboratory.

A series of CoR’s Commissions took part in the visit, including members from SEDEC, CIVEX, ECON, ENVE, NAT and COTER. The Mayor of Varese Davide Galimberti welcomed the delegation at the Estensi Gardens, the iconic location of the town which is known as “La città giardino”.

The visit marks the close relations between the JRC and the European Committee of the Regions. The 2022 phase of the joint initiative “Science meets Regions” , which promotes a culture of evidence-informed policymaking at regional and local level, includes events and innovation camps in 14 regions throughout the EU.

In her welcome speech, Sabine Henzler, Director for Strategy, Work Programme and Resources at JRC, referred to the synergies of the institutional role of both partners: “As the science and knowledge service of the European Commission, the JRC supports EU policies with independent evidence throughout the whole policy cycle. EU policies are ultimately implemented on the ground in regions and cities. A culture of evidence-informed policymaking can only thrive if it is also embraced at national and local level, which is why we find it crucial to interact with Member States, regions and cities as well."