The results of a survey carried out by the European Committee of the Regions (CoR) show a clear demand among local and regional authorities to extend the flexibility measures introduced last year to mobilise EU structural funds and state aid in the fight against COVID-19. Regions and cities need extraordinary rules to be maintained in order to secure the continuity of emergency investment and the deployment of crucial initiatives such as job retention schemes. This request is included in a letter co-signed by the CoR President Apostolos Tzitzikostas and the chair of the CoR's COTER commission Isabelle Boudineau, addressed to the President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen and the commissioners responsible for the relevant policies.  

Reaģējot uz Eiropas Komisijas tiesību aktu kopumu “Gatavi mērķrādītājam 55 %” , kura mērķis ir līdz 2030. gadam samazināt ES oglekļa emisijas par 55 %, Eiropas Reģionu komiteja (RK) aicina jaunajos un atjauninātajos noteikumos nodrošināt nozīmīgu lomu un tiešu finansējumu pilsētām un reģioniem, ņemot vērā to juridiskās pilnvaras un tuvumu iedzīvotājiem pārejā uz klimatneitralitāti. 

​​​Countries in the Western Balkans should use significant new financial support from the European Union to make their economies greener and more digital and to advance their case for EU membership, local and regional leaders heard at the Enlargement Day conference held by the European Committee of the Regions (CoR) on 13 July. The conference – which was addressed by the Slovenian presidency of the Council of the European Union and the European Commission's Acting Director-General for Neighbourhood Policy and Enlargement Negotiations – also identified the post-pandemic recovery as a major milestone in the history of regions' and cities' involvement in the EU accession process.  

Bringing cross-border cooperation back to the forefront of the EU’s policy agenda is one of the European Committee of the Region’s (CoR) top priorities. The Conference on the Future of Cross-Border Cooperation, organized together with the other founding partners of the European Cross-Border Citizens' Alliance, feeds into this objective. During the event, which took place on 5 July, participants reflected on the effects of the COVID-19 crisis, identified the ongoing and future challenges for cross-border regions, and held a debate on the vision for cross-border cooperation as part of the future of Europe. The event took place just a few days after CoR's plenary adopted a resolution on cross-border cooperation which will serve as a contribution to the Conference on the Future of Europe. 

The EU's regions and cities are looking forward to the Social Economy Action Plan, which the European Commission is expected to publish before the end of the year. The opinion adopted by the European Committee of the Regions (CoR) on Thursday underlines that it is essential to harness the full potential of social economy enterprises and organisations to ensure economic recovery, to promote collective entrepreneurship and to create high-quality jobs after the COVID-19 crisis. 

​Aviation has been one of the sectors worst affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. Smaller regional airports have recorded the greatest decline in direct flight connections, particularly in passenger flights. Treviso (Italy) lost 95% of its connections, Vaasa (Finland) 91%, Quimper (France) 87%, and Burgas (Bulgaria) 82%. 

While the climate emergency is still very much a pressing matter, the path towards carbon neutrality must take into account the challenges posed by the COVID-19 crisis and the specific features of each region. Against this backdrop, rapporteur and Mayor of Autun Vincent Chauvet presented an opinion in today's plenary session that sets out the European Committee of the Regions' positions and demands regarding climate change in view of COP26, the United Nations Conference on Climate Change, which will take place in November 2021 in Glasgow, Scotland. 

The work of the European Commission's Fit for Future Platform (F4F) has taken on speed and its subgroups and experts are about to carry out consultations on selected EU legislation in order to check whether it is futureproof and fit for purpose. 

Lai sekmīgi pārveidotu Eiropas transporta nozari un padarītu to ilgtspējīgāku, ES pilsētām un reģioniem lielāks uzsvars jāliek uz centieniem popularizēt bezemisiju mobilitāti, veicināt aktīvu mobilitāti un kopīgu transporta veidu izmantošanu, pārveidot mobilitāti pilsētās un labāk savienot lauku apvidus. Šie ieteikumi minēti atzinumā “Ilgtspējīgas un viedas mobilitātes stratēģija”, ko pieņēma Eiropas Reģionu komiteja (RK) un ar ko ziņotājs Roberts van Astens ( Robert van Asten ) (NL/RE) iepazīstināja trešdien, 30. jūnijā, notikušajā RK plenārsesijā. 

Kā Eiropas Reģionu komiteja norādījusi 30. jūnijā, Eiropas Savienībai ir jāveido jauna demokrātiska infrastruktūra, kas nodrošinātu brīvas un godīgas vēlēšanas, uzlabotu mediju plurālismu un veicinātu pilsoņu iesaisti. Ieteikumos, kuru mērķis ir stiprināt demokrātiju, līdztiesību un cilvēktiesību ievērošanu, pašvaldību amatpersonas ir uzsvērušas, ka decentralizētās pārvaldes iestādes var būtiski palīdzēt uzlabot medijpratību, kritisko domāšanu un politisko kampaņu pārredzamību, kā arī veicināt pilsoņu iesaisti politikā. 

The European Union should make improving the health of the Mediterranean Sea one of the priorities of its cooperation with countries in its southern neighbourhood, the European Committee of the Regions (CoR) has said in recommendations that also praise the EU for making support for youth entrepreneurship central to its new strategy for the region.  

Eiropas vietējā un reģionālā līmeņa vadītāji aicina atjaunot Apvienoto Nāciju Organizācijas ilgtspējīgas attīstības mērķu (IAM) prioritāro vietu Eiropas Savienības darba kārtībā, aicinot ES iestādes un dalībvalstis nodrošināt to īstenošanu līdz 2030. gadam. Atzinumā , kas pieņemts šodienas plenārsesijā, Eiropas Reģionu komiteja (RK) uzsver, ka Covid-19 pandēmija ir parādījusi, cik svarīga ir ilgtspējīga attīstība, un ka IAM var palīdzēt virzīties uz saskaņotu un holistisku redzējumu Next Generation EU ietvaros. Tomēr nesen veiktā RK pētījumā norādīts, ka daudzos nacionālajos atveseļošanas un noturības plānos trūkst skaidras un pārredzamas atsauces uz ANO ilgtspējīgas attīstības mērķiem. 

In a bid to put cross-border cooperation back at the top of the EU's policy agenda, the European Committee of the Regions (CoR) has adopted a resolution today calling on the European Commission to present a proposal for maintaining cross-border cooperation and cross-border life in the event of future crises. The resolution contains multiple proposals to improve cross-border cooperation and calls on the European Commission to follow up on already existing legislation and treaties, whose implementation could often still be improved. The future of cross-border cooperation will be further discussed during an event organised by the CoR, together with other key European partners, on 5 July. 

The European Committee of the Regions (CoR) has adopted its proposals on climate adaptation in the opinion Forging a climate-resilient Europe - the new EU Strategy on Adaptation to Climate Change. The CoR calls for demand-based policies, market incentives, carbon footprints and handprints in public procurement criteria and to accelerate cooperation with academia and businesses to boost broad-scale innovation, sustainable products, services and nature-based solutions. Despite net greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in 2020 estimated to drop 35% below 1990 levels, the economic rebound from the COVID-19 risks bringing emissions back up. Around 40% of EU cities with more than 150 000 inhabitants have adopted climate adaptation plans.  

The European energy infrastructure update and expansion is a key enabler for the green energy transition and must be consistent with the Green Deal objective of achieving climate neutrality by 2050. Therefore, last December 2020 the European Commission adopted a proposal to revise the 2013 Trans-European Energy Infrastructure Regulation (TEN-E). In an opinion drafted by the rapporteur Robert Sorin Negoiță (RO/PES) and discussed today, the European Committee of the Regions (CoR) calls on the European Commission to ensure that the new regulation takes into account the needs and specificities of EU regions and that it stimulates sustainable energy security, market integration, fair competition, diversification of energy supply and affordable energy for all.  

As Europe's population is ageing, the need for care services is expected to increase significantly in the coming decades. In an opinion drafted by Heinrich Dorner (AT/PES), Member of the State Government of Burgenland, the European Committee of the Regions (CoR) calls on the European Commission to support cities and regions in addressing care worker shortages and highlights that family members – most often women – carrying out informal care work need adequate social rights and protection. 

The European Committee of the Regions' (CoR) discussed the role of cities and regions in reinforcing the resilience of critical entities during its plenary session on 1 July. To ensure a comprehensive approach, each Member State should have a strategy prepared in cooperation with local and regional authorities, setting out objectives and policy measures based on an assessment of all natural and man-made risks that may affect the provision of essential services. 

Tā kā daudzām reģionālajām lidostām ir grūti atgūties no pandēmijas radītajām ekonomiskajām problēmām, Eiropas Reģionu komitejas locekļi 1. jūlijā pieņēma atzinumu, kurā Eiropas Komisija tiek aicināta izstrādāt elastīgākus un efektīvākus publiskā atbalsta noteikumus, kas ļautu dalībvalstīm sniegt finansiālu atbalstu reģionālajām lidostām. Atzinumā , ko sagatavojis Vladislavs Ortils ( Władysław Ortyl , PL/ECR), Reģionu komiteja ir arī uzsvērusi, ka finansiālais atbalsts ir jāiegulda lidostu ilgtspējas uzlabošanā, lai palīdzētu sasniegt Eiropas zaļajā kursā izvirzītos mērķus. 

Covid-19 krīze ir izcēlusi nepieciešamību Eiropas Savienības politikas veidošanu ar vietējo vēlēto politiķu starpniecību sasaistīt ar pašvaldību vajadzībām: to Eiropas Reģionu komitejas locekļi šodien pavēstīja Eiropas Komisijas priekšsēdētājas vietniekam Marošam Šefčovičam ( Maroš Šefčovič ). Plenārsesijas debašu laikā pašvaldību vadītāji atkārtoti apliecināja apņemšanos ar ieguldījumu platformā “Gatavi nākotnei” piedalīties ES tiesību aktu uzlabošanā. Rezolūcijā, kas ietver priekšlikumus Eiropas Komisijas 2022. gada darba programmai, RK locekļi aicina Eiropas Komisiju nodrošināt, lai pašvaldības būtu iesaistītas nacionālo atveseļošanas un noturības plānu īstenošanā un varētu efektīvi novērst pandēmijas sekas vietējos apstākļos. RK locekļi arī vēlas, lai tiktu pagarināti izšķiroši svarīgie elastības pasākumi, kas ir ieviesti ar mērķi Covid-19 krīzes laikā mobilizēt Eiropas strukturālos un investīciju fondus. 

Reģionālajiem un vietējiem ievēlētajiem politiķiem, kurus Eiropas Savienībā pārstāv RK, un Eiropas Parlamenta – vienīgās ES iestādes, kuras locekļus tieši ievēlē iedzīvotāji, – deputātiem konferencē par Eiropas nākotni būtu jāapvieno spēki. Viņu kopīgais mērķis būtu likt sadzirdēt pilsoņu aicinājumu izveidot iedzīvotājiem tuvāku Savienību, kurā tiktu ievērots subsidiaritātes princips un kas tālredzīgi reaģētu uz jauniem pasaules un vietēja līmeņa izaicinājumiem. Tāds ir RK locekļu vēstījums RK 145. plenārsesijā, , kurā piedalījās trīs Eiropas Parlamenta pārstāvji konferences valdē – Gijs Verhofstats, Manfrēds Vēbers un Irače Garsija Peresa. Visi trīs EP deputāti uzsvēra, ka RK locekļi ir spēcīgi sabiedrotie, lai rīkotu plašas, patiesi iekļaujošas, pārredzamas, ģeogrāfiski un politiski līdzsvarotas debates par Eiropas nākotni. 

The publication of the long-term vision for rural areas by the European Commission is a major success for the European Committee of the Regions (CoR), which has been asking for a rural agenda since 2016. Local leaders welcome the proposal of a Rural Pact and Action Plan setting objectives and reinforcing the political ownership for investment on sustainable rural developments. The CoR appreciates the long-term vision of rural areas in all their diversity and the effort to revitalise them in a way that goes beyond agriculture and considers every policy area through the rural lens. As foreseen in the Commission's proposal, the Committee is ready to promote the mobilisation of local communities in the implementation of the rural action plan and vision. At the same time, the CoR demands that EU's Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) is coordinated not only with cohesion policy but also with the Recovery and Resilience Facility. 

Eiropas Reģionu komiteja stiprina savu apņemšanos atbalstīt ES vērienīgo likumdošanas projektu, kura mērķis ir pastiprināt demokrātisko kontroli pār dominējošām interneta platformām un atjaunot līdzsvarotu tiešsaistes ekonomiku, kas darbojas arī MVU un individuālo patērētāju labā. Komitejas locekļi jūnija plenārsesijā pieņēma atzinumu , kurā izteikts atbalsts Eiropas Komisijas nodomam stingrāk regulēt digitālos tirgus un pakalpojumus. Atzinumā arī norādīts, ar kādām inovācijām pilsētas un reģioni var nākt klajā un kādas kompetences tie var izmantot, lai atbalstītu stabilu un efektīvu regulējumu. RK atzinums par digitālo pakalpojumu tiesību aktu kopumu ir iekļauts plašākā tādu iniciatīvu kopumā, kuru mērķis ir pastiprināti akcentēt Reģionu komitejas – kā nozīmīga ES virzītājspēka – lomu iekļaujošas digitālās pārveides procesā. 

Eiropas Reģionu komiteja un Eiropas Komisija izstrādās kopīgus projektus, kuru mērķis ir ar pašvaldību palīdzību un uz brīvprātības pamata veicināt ES vērtību apguvi skolās. Plenārsēdes debatēs ar Eiropas Komisijas priekšsēdētājas vietnieku Margariti Šinu ( Margaritis Schinas ), kura kompetencē ir mūsu eiropeiskās dzīvesziņas popularizēšana, reģionālā un vietējā līmeņa vadītāji uzsvēra, ka izglītības sistēmās būtu pilnībā jāievēro un jāveicina brīvība, vienlīdzība, tolerance un nediskriminācija. Viņi arī uzsvēra, ka zināšanas par Eiropas Savienību, tās vērtībām, kultūras mantojumu un daudzveidību ir ļoti svarīgas un ka tām ir jābūt pieejamām visās kopienās, visās vecuma grupās un ikvienam ES iedzīvotājam. 

​Presidents of regional parliaments with or without legislative powers, Presidents of Regions and other regional entities endorsed today a Declaration which is the starting point of an Alliance of Regions for European Democracy that aims at enhancing the regions' political impact on the European decision making process on matters with direct relevance to the work of local and regional authorities. The endorsement took place during the political event "The place of regions in the European Union architecture in the context of the Conference on the Future of Europe" organised by the European Committee of the Regions , the Conference of European Regional Legislative Assemblies (CALRE), and the Government of the Autonomous Region of the Azores. The Declaration also calls for the Conference on the Future of Europe to discuss the role of regions in the EU institutional architecture and to improve it to better address citizens' needs. 

When migrants move, it is overwhelmingly to cities that they come. Migrant integration happens in cities, and it is overseen by local governments. EUROCITIES recently published its fourth Integrating Cities Report which gives a direct insight into how cities are integrating migrants today. It is now available to read in full here. 

Eiropas Reģionu komiteja kopā ar Starptautisko Patvēruma pilsētu tīklu ( ICORN ) un Gdaņskas pilsētu izsludina kandidātu nominēšanu mēra Pavela Adamoviča balvai (2021) par drosmi un izcilību brīvības, solidaritātes un līdztiesības veicināšanā. 

A large number of citizens and experts took part on 23 June in "Towards a multimodal Adriatic-Ionian major line with multiple connections to the Tyrrhenian coast", an event staged by the Abruzzo Region in collaboration with the European Committee of the Regions (CoR) as part of the European Year of Rail 2021. Connecting from L'Aquila and Brussels, speakers included president of the Abruzzo Region and CoR member Marco Marsilio; Portugal's secretary of state for infrastructure, Jorge Delgado on the outlook for the Portuguese Council presidency; the director for Investment, Innovative & Sustainable Transport at the European Commission's Directorate-General for Mobility and Transport (DG MOVE), Herald Ruijters; and Italy's deputy minister for infrastructure and sustainable transport, Alessandro Morelli. 

Three vice-presidents of the European Commission will address the European Committee of the Regions on 30 June, discussing efforts to strengthen and deepen democracy, build inclusive societies, and improve EU legislation. Vice-President Věra Jourová will present the European Democracy Action Plan to empower citizens and build more resilient democracies, Vice-President Margaritis Schinas will highlight the role of education and culture in protecting the European way of life, while Vice-President Maroš Šefčovič will set out the European Commission's work programme as well as the Commission's efforts to embed strategic foresight into its work. Members of the CoR will also discuss the Conference on the Future of Europe with the three MEPs leading the work of the European Parliament in the EU-wide consultation. 

​​​​​​​The webinar looked at the state of digital transformation in European regions, taking stock of the latest research showing an increasing digital divide across European regions and urban-rural communities. Invited speakers shared their views on how public authorities at all levels can facilitate the digital transition of small and medium enterprises (SMEs), showcasing some best practices and collaboration initiatives from the European Entrepreneurial Regions. 

On 13 July 2021, the CoR, in cooperation with the Slovenian Presidency of the Council of the EU, will hold the Enlargement Day.  

​​​Local communities' needs will weigh more in the future Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) investment decisions and regions will be among leading actors in shaping, implementing and assessing the national CAP strategic plans. This crucial result was achieved thanks to the work of the CoR, its intense cooperation with the European Parliament and – more recently - with the EU Commission. Regional and local leaders are ready to use the new CAP to deliver the Green Deal on the ground but urge Member States to set adequate rules to make this happen.  

Laikā, kad Briselē tiekas ES valstu un valdību vadītāji, lai aplūkotu pašreizējo stāvokli ekonomikas atveseļošanā, Eiropas Reģionu komitejas (RK) pasūtītā jaunā pētījuma rezultāti liecina, ka nacionālo atveseļošanas un noturības plānu (NANP) sagatavošanā un īstenošanā netiek iesaistītas pašvaldības. Pētījums tika prezentēts RK Ekonomikas politikas komisijas ( ECON ) sanāksmē. ECON locekļi pauda dziļas bažas arī par to, ka plānos pienācīga uzmanība nav veltīta teritoriālajām atšķirībām un tie nav pietiekami koordinēti ar kohēzijas politikas mērķiem, radot fondu pārklāšanās risku. 

The President of the European Committee of the Regions, Apostolos Tzitzikostas, has received the International Medal of the Community of Madrid in recognition of his "unconditional support" to the region, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. 

​​Jari Andersson, member of Sastamala City Council (FI/EPP) has drafted an opinion for the European Committee of the Regions on the EU strategy on the rights of the child and the European Child Guarantee. Mr Andersson's opinion was adopted on Wednesday at the meeting of the Commission for Social Policy, Education, Employment, Research and Culture (SEDEC) of the CoR. 

There are early signs that changes aimed at making the process of accession to the European Union more dynamic and predictable are yielding results, with local and regional leaders, Serbia's EU ambassador and the European Commission detecting a "new momentum" in the past year.  

Regional leaders from Turkey and the European Union have expressed some optimism that the strains in the relationship between Turkey and the European Union may ease and that a more productive period of contacts and collaboration is possible, with economic sustainability a central theme. 

Albanian municipalities are increasingly focused on improving their capacity to absorb European Union money and implement EU-related reforms, political leaders and government officials said as a meeting with the European Committee of the Regions on 17 June. There were, however, warnings about a continuing imbalance between the level of responsibility they have been given by central government and the funding available to them. 

Montenegro must overcome a period of political tension and administrative disruption and "do its homework" on issues related to the rule of law if it is to maintain the pace of its bid to join the European Union, local and regional leaders from Montenegro were told at a meeting and the European Committee of the Regions on 10 June. 

Over 80 young local and regional young elected politicians (YEPs) from 21 European countries participated in an info session organized by the European Committee of the Regions (CoR) on the implementation of the Renovation Wave at the local level . They engaged in a debate with the CoR member Rafal Trzaskowski, representatives of the Commission for the Environment, Climate Change and Energy (ENVE) from the CoR, the Covenant of Mayors Initiative, the European Investment Bank, the European Infrastructure and Environment Executive Agency (CINEA) and the European City Facility Initiative, who provided them with the key information, tools and financial support opportunities to reduce energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions.  

A joint survey of the European Committee of the Regions and the OECD  

The EU’s pilot initiative “Smart Specialisation Strategies for Sustainability" (S4) was launched in Seville today by the President of the European Committee of the Regions (CoR), Apostolos Tzitzikostas, and the Director for Growth and Innovation of the European Commission's Joint Research Centre (JRC), Mikel Landabaso. The initiative represents a voluntary update to the Smart Specialisation Strategies, with a stronger focus on sustainability. The JRC and CoR will cooperate on the piloting of S4 methodology in more than ten regions in Europe. 

The full respect of the "partnership principle" and its implementation under the new instruments financed by Next Generation EU, such as the Just Transition Fund and the Recovery and Resilience Facility, are among the main requests included in the opinion adopted today by the members of the European Committee of the Region’s (CoR) Commission for Territorial Cohesion Policy and EU Budget (COTER). Members were also briefed on the progress of the European Year of Rail and exchanged views on an opinion about the gender dimension of structural and cohesion funds 2021-2027. 

The European Committee of the Regions (CoR) endorsed today the official launch of the European Platform on Combatting Homelessness and signed the Lisbon Declaration, which sets the target of eradicating homelessness in Europe by 2030. The SEDEC Commission Chair Anne Karjalainen, who represented the CoR in the high-level conference and official signing, highlighted the importance of successful regional and local approaches to tackle the phenomenon which currently affects an estimated 700 000 people in Europe.  

The Green Deal Going Local working group of the European Committee of the Regions (CoR) held its sixth meeting today with the green recovery as its top priority. Members discussed the importance of involving local and regional authorities in the implementation phase of the national recovery and resilience plans (NRRPs) which will support the European green transition in the next years. The meeting took place while the President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen continues her tour through the EU capitals to hand over the endorsement of NRRPs to European leaders, and "make" the recovery "real".  

 

Baseline survey on how cities, towns and rural areas across Europe approach digital innovation launched today 

As bolstering sustainable economic development remains one of the three priorities of ARLEM, the Assembly continues to be invested in supporting young entrepreneurs. After what is now the third successful edition of the ARLEM Award – Young local entrepreneurship in the Mediterranean, the 2022 edition just opened for applications. Once more, we encourage young entrepreneurs (up to 35 years old) from the Mediterranean region to showcase their successful cooperation with their local and regional authorities. 

Eiropas Reģionu komitejas (RK) delegācija, kas darbosies konferencē par Eiropas nākotni, šodien tikās, lai sagatavotu savu ieguldījumu konferences par Eiropas nākotni konstitutīvajai plenārsēdei , kas paredzēta 19. jūnijā Strasbūrā. Delegāti vēlas izmantot konferences sniegto iespēju stiprināt Eiropas Savienības demokrātisko dimensiju un atjaunot iedzīvotāju uzticēšanos Eiropas projektam. RK, būdama ES iestāde, kas pārstāv iedzīvotājiem vistuvāko pārvaldības līmeni, ir apņēmusies konferencē paust pašvaldību viedokli. 

​​On 14 June 2021, ARLEM member and CoR rapporteur Vincenzo Bianco (IT/PES) participated at the third UfM Ministerial Conference on Energy.  

The second 2021 Broadband Platform meeting brought together members of the European Committee of the Regions (CoR) with European Commission experts and a Portuguese Presidency of the Council representative – giving them the occasion to exchange on the latest developments concerning key European initiatives in the field and to discuss critical challenges around the empirical measurement of digitalisation progress. The Broadband Platform's main objective is to accelerate the deployment of high-speed broadband across all European regions, including rural and sparsely populated areas where there is not enough market-driven infrastructure development.