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".  

President of the European Committee of the Regions, Apostolos Tzitzikostas delivers speech on behalf of the 1 million regionally and locally elected politicians and the 300 regions and 90.000 municipalities of Europe. 

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. 

Id-delegazzjoni tal-Kumitat Ewropew tar-Reġjuni (KtR) għall-Konferenza dwar il-Futur tal-Ewropa ltaqgħet illum biex tħejji l-kontribut tagħha għal- laqgħa inawgurali tal-Plenarja tal-Konferenza dwar il-Futur tal-Ewropa li se ssir fid-19 ta’ Ġunju fi Strasburgu. Id-delegati jixtiequ jaħtfu l-opportunità ppreżentata mill-Konferenza biex tissaħħaħ id-dimensjoni demokratika tal-Unjoni Ewropea u biex terġa’ tinkiseb il-fiduċja taċ-ċittadini fil-proġett Ewropew. Il-KtR, bħala l-korp rappreżentattiv tal-UE tal-livell ta’ gvern li huwa l-eqreb taċ-ċittadini, jimpenja ruħu li jressaq quddiem il-Konferenza l-ilħna tal-awtoritajiet lokali u reġjonali. 

​​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.  

The European Committee of the Regions and the European Alliance for Apprenticeships are organising a joint high-level conference this week. At the opening session on 3 June, the Commissioner for Jobs and Social Rights Nicolas Schmit and the chair of the CoR's SEDEC Commission Anne Karjalainen highlighted the pivotal role of regions and cities in providing quality and effective apprenticeships for all. 

The European Committee of the Regions, the Yolda Initiative, the European association of mountain areas (Euromontana) and the Regional International Year of Rangelands and Pastoralists Support Group for Europe organised a joint online workshop on 14 June to underline the need to maintain pastoralists. 

​This year, the European Committee of the Regions has once again cooperated with the European Commission to make the EU Green Week a success. Seven members of the European Committee of the Regions took part in different panels of the EU Green Week, three of them co-organized by the CoR, to discuss how to achieve the target of zero pollution. A major highlight of the EU Green Week is the launch of the Zero Pollution Stakeholder Platform on 4 June which will help deliver the objectives of the Green Deal and help implement the EU Action Plan 'Towards Zero Pollution for Air, Water and Soil' on the ground. 

The Commission for the Environment, Climate change and Energy (ENVE) of the European Committee of the Regions debated on the Conference on the Future of Europe, the 2022 European Commission's Work Programme and the 'Fit for 55 package' whose purpose is to update the EU’s 2030 climate and energy laws to reflect the 55% net emissions reduction target that the EU set for 2030. Other topics included the development of a trans-European energy infrastructure, the new EU strategy on climate adaptation and the mainstreaming of gender equality under the European Green Deal. ​  

The European Commission and the European Committee of the Regions, in cooperation with the Polish newspaper, Dziennik Gazeta Prawna, invite you to two webinars devoted to discuss Polish urban policy, the European Green Deal and the EU's multiannual financial perspective for 2021-2027. 

The European Committee of the Regions (CoR) was represented at the 2021 EESC European Citizens Initiative Day by Karl-Heinz Lambertz (BE/PSE) and Vincent Chauvet (FR/ Renew Europe), both having been ECI organisers themselves. In line with the CoR's political priority of bringing Europe closer to its people, the CoR is committed to supporting ECIs which fall into its political remits and which are politically relevant for local and regional authorities. Being a representative of the level of government which is the closest to citizens, the CoR is a key partner to promoting ECIs as the EU's first transnational instrument of participatory democracy. 

Illum, il-Kummissjoni Ewropea u l-Kumitat Ewropew tar-Reġjuni nedew pjattaforma għall-partijiet ikkonċernati biex tgħin fl-implimentazzjoni tal- Pjan ta’ Azzjoni tal-UE: “Lejn Tniġġis Żero għall-Arja, għall-Ilma u għall-Ħamrija” . Il-Pjan ta’ Azzjoni – riżultat ewlieni tal- Patt Ekoloġiku Ewropew u s-suġġett ewlieni tal- Ġimgħa Ekoloġika ta’ din is-sena – ġie adottat fit-12 ta’ Mejju 2021. Il-Pjan jistabbilixxi viżjoni integrata għall-2050 biex it-tniġġis jitnaqqas għal livelli li ma jibqgħux ta’ ħsara għas-saħħa tal-bniedem u l-ekosistemi naturali, u jistabbilixxi wkoll miri intermedjarji għall-2030, kif ukoll azzjonijiet biex jintlaħqu l-objettivi. 

Municipalities in North Macedonia are showing significant interest in establishing direct partnerships with cities and regions in the European Union and the government of North Macedonia is committed to strengthening local finances, local and regional politicians were told on 2 June. 

​​​The most outstanding awareness-raising actions on waste reduction implemented during the 2020 European Week for Waste Reduction were announced on 1 June 2021 in an online ceremony, held as a pre-conference event of the European Green Week 2021. Six winners, out of a total of 10,696 actions in 33 countries, were awarded, one in each of the following categories: publication administration and organisation, business/industry, association/NGO, educational establishment, citizens, as well as a European Special Prize for the action that showcased the most marked European spirit. 

Highlight the need of a particular focus on the outermost regions in the EU's strategy to address the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and the recovery: this is the main objective of the Azores declaration, adopted today by the Bureau of the European Committee of the Regions (CoR), virtually gathered in the Autonomous Region of the Azores (Portugal). The document has been presented to representatives of the European Commission, which is currently updating its strategic partnership with outermost regions in light of the serious consequences of the pandemic. 

The European Committee of the Regions (CoR) and the Portuguese Presidency of the Council of the European Union have joined efforts to bring together local and regional authorities, Member States' permanent representations, the European Commission and the European Parliament to discuss how to ensure that the Renovation Wave accelerates the social and economic recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic while greening a sector that accounts for 40% of energy consumption and 36% of greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) in the EU. The third CoR multilevel climate and energy dialogue provided an open exchange platform between different levels of government to build bridges for the full involvement of local and regional authorities in the design and implementation of national resilience and recovery plans. ​  

The Spring trainees of 2021 are working on a Y-Factor project focused on the European Year of Rail (EYR). The trainees are producing a podcast series, Next Stop, exploring everything to do with the EYR. Next Stop plans on addressing pressing issues in the rail sector, advertise rail related initiatives and raising awareness on rail as a sustainable way of transport. Next Stop aims to being as inclusive as possible, inviting everyone from MEPs to YouTube bloggers and everyone in between, giving them the opportunity to share their experiences, while also providing helpful information on what is happening in the Rail sector today. 

The Young Elected Politicians programme of the European Committee of the Regions (CoR) and the Bratislava – Petržalka Youth Parliament organised a digital info session and debate on the opportunities associated with the European Green Deal – the EU's strategy to reach climate neutrality by 2050. The debate was the occasion to discuss the key priorities of the CoR's Green Deal Going Local initiative and the challenges and opportunities that the EU's transition towards climate neutrality brings for the city of Bratislava. 

Il-pandemija tal-COVID-19 qiegħda tħalli riperkussjonijiet sostanzjali fuq l-ekonomiji Ewropej. Il-Kummissjoni ECON tal-Kumitat Ewropew tar-Reġjuni qed tħejji bullettini ekonomiċi regolari dwar l-aħħar riċerka, artikli u diskussjonijiet reċenti dwar l-impatt soċjoekonomiku tal-pandemija fl-Ewropa u dwar il-miżuri differenti ta’ rispons ekonomiku mfassla u implimentati fil-livell tal-UE, nazzjonali, reġjonali u lokali. 

​The European Committee of the Regions' (CoR) commission for Natural Resources (NAT) met on 19 May to discuss the role of cities and regions in the resilience of critical entities. Through a draft opinion adopted by the commission, members stressed the need to consult local and regional authorities in this field and called on EU institutions to include the CoR in the new European Critical Entities Resilience Group. A draft opinion on the New Consumer Agenda was also adopted during the meeting. 

​In this interview, Gunārs Ansiņš (LV/Renew Europe) answers four questions on the transition towards a more sustainable and efficient EU energy system. The Vice-Mayor of the Latvian city of Liepāja is the rapporteur of the opinion on the EU Strategy for Energy System Integration, adopted during the 5-7 May CoR Plenary session, which calls on to the European Commission and Members States to put into place a systematic approach to involve local and regional authorities in the energy transition, in particular within the development of national energy and climate plans. Energy production and consumption account for 75% of the EU's greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. An integrated energy system is therefore crucial to delivering on the European Green Deal's objective of reaching climate neutrality by 2050.  

The President of the European Committee of the Regions Apostolos Tzitzikostas intervened today at the informal meeting of Ministers responsible for cohesion policy. The debate focused on how to ensure synergies between cohesion policy and the Recovery and Resilience Facility (RRF), the EUR 672.5 billion instrument that is the cornerstone of the recovery instrument Next Generation EU, known also as the Recovery Plan for Europe. 

Populism, nationalism, disinformation, hate speech and conspiracy theories are widespread in the European public and political sphere, which is leading to polarisation and intolerance. The deterioration of fundamental rights in one Member State has a negative impact across the EU. Therefore, in the 8th meeting of the CIVEX Commission, members welcomed the European Commission's initiative on the European Democracy Action Plan (EDAP) and adopted an opinion that puts forward a set of proposals for tackling disinformation and hate speech, as well as for promoting media literacy and critical thinking, including the setting up of a European agency linked with the CoR. The members also pointed out that local and regional leaders can play an important role in strengthening citizenship, as they are the closest authorities to citizens and the ones that aremost trusted, according to the EU annual regional and local barometer published in October 2020 . 

The European Committee of the Regions (CoR) and the Organisation for Economic Co operation and Development (OECD) invite representatives of local and regional authorities across Europe to participate in a survey on the Sustainable Development Goals. The consultation is open until Friday 15 May 2021. 

​​The President of the European Committee of the Regions (CoR), Mr Apostolos Tzitzikostas, officially launched the Network of Former Members of the European Committee of the Regions, a new CoR initiative, at the 144th CoR Plenary in the presence of Portuguese Prime Minister António Costa, a former CoR member himself. 

The COVID-19 pandemic has dramatically affected our world and our way of living, with the loss of thousands of lives and unprecedented consequences for every aspect of our daily existence. The Commission for Social Policy, Education, Employment, Research and Culture (SEDEC) at the European Committee of the Regions produces regular bulletins on the policy fields within its remit, reflecting recent research, articles and discussions on the socio-economic impact of the pandemic in Europe and on the different actions and response measures being planned and implemented at EU, national, regional and local level. 

During the 4 March 2021 Plenary session of the European Commission's Fit for Future Platform (F4F), the Platform Chair and Vice-President of the European Commission, Maroš Šefčovič, requested the CoR's RegHub to present a special report on planning and permitting for infrastructure. 

L-ewwel Viċi President Vasco Cordeiro u l-President tal-Kummissjoni SEDEC Anne Karjalainen irrappreżentaw lill-Kumitat Ewropew tar-Reġjuni fis-Summit Soċjali tal-UE f’Porto fis-7 u t-8 ta’ Mejju. Huma laqgħu l-impenn tal-Kapijiet ta’ Stat u ta’ Gvern tal-UE biex isaħħu l-wegħda li jaħdmu lejn Ewropa Soċjali, biex isaħħu l-koeżjoni soċjali u biex jilħqu l-miri ewlenin ġodda tal-UE dwar l-impjiegi, il-ħiliet u t-tnaqqis tal-faqar. Madankollu, huma ddispjaċihom li d- Dikjarazzjoni finali tas-Summit ma tagħmilx referenza għar-rwol tal-gvernijiet reġjonali u lokali. 

On the occasion of the launch of the Conference on the Future of Europe on 9 May in Strasbourg, the European Committee of the Regions is organising, together with the French government and the main French territorial associations, a local dialogue which will give the floor to local and regional elected representatives from all over Europe and to European citizens. The debate will take place immediately before the official launch of the Conference with the aim of marking its territorial dimension and guaranteeing that it reaches out to people in regions, cities and villages across Europe. Participants will discuss how to best involve local elected politicians and local communities in the Conference and how to ensure a stronger role for local and regional authorities in the Europe of tomorrow. 

Representatives from EU institutions, territorial and youth associations and local and regional leaders discussed today how to strengthen the democratic legitimacy of the Conference on the future of Europe by engaging with citizens in the places where they live. The local dialogue was organised by the European Committee of the Regions together with the French government, the city of Strasbourg and the main French territorial associations - Régions de France, the Assembly of Départements de France and the association of French Mayors. Participants endorsed an open letter that calls on local and regional leaders to organise dialogues in their region, cities and villages as a contribution to the Conference and to appoint in their political assembly a councillor on European Affairs. ​ ​​​ 

The European Committee of the Regions' (CoR) has launched a mobile app that offers real-time notifications about news, events and opinions based on preferred topics. 

Il-mexxejja lokali u reġjonali adottaw Riżoluzzjoni dwar il-Konferenza dwar il-Futur tal-Ewropa (il-Konferenza) waqt il-144 sessjoni plenarja tal-KtR u ddiskutew ma’ Herman Van Rompuy, eks President tal-Kunsill Ewropew u President tal-Grupp ta’ Livell Għoli li għadu kif ġie stabbilit dwar id-Demokrazija Ewropea, dwar il-perspettiva tal-KtR għall-Futur tal-Ewropa u l-parteċipazzjoni tal-KtR fil-Konferenza. Il-Grupp ta’ Livell Għoli – korp konsultattiv indipendenti li l-missjoni tiegħu hija li jappoġġja lill-KtR – ser jipprovdi analiżi politika strateġika, li tiffoka fuq l-isfidi għall-awtoritajiet lokali u reġjonali. Huwa ser jaħdem mill-qrib mal-membri tal-KtR, b’mod partikolari mal-Konferenza tal-Presidenti u mal-membri tad-delegazzjoni tal-KtR għall-Konferenza. 

Il-Kumitat Ewropew tar-Reġjuni (KtR) ippreżenta għadd ta’ proposti biex jipproteġi l-ambjent tal-baħar u jirrestawra l-ekosistemi tal-oċeani. Il-KtR jappella għal liġi ġdida tal-UE dwar l-oċeani li tiddefinixxi direzzjoni fit-tul b’miri li jistgħu jitkejlu u skadenzi biex jiġu żgurati l-protezzjoni u r-restawr tal-ekosistemi tal-baħar. Il-mexxejja lokali u reġjonali jipproponu fond għall-oċeani għad-dekarbonizzazzjoni tat-trasport marittimu u jappellaw għat-tneħħija tal-eżenzjoni għall-fjuwil użat fis-sajd fid-Direttiva dwar it-Tassazzjoni fuq l-Enerġija. Il-KtR jistieden ukoll lill-Kummissjoni tipproponi regoli ġodda innovattivi dwar l-obbligi tal-kwoti għan-nitroġenu u l-fosforu riċiklati fis-suq tal-UE bħala parti mill-isforzi tagħha biex tnaqqas it-tnixxija ta’ nutrijenti fl-ibħra tal-UE, twaqqaf il-proliferazzjoni tal-algi u t-tixrid ta’ qigħan mejta. 

Il-plenarja tal-Kumitat Ewropew tar-Reġjuni (KtR) approvat b’unanimità riżoluzzjoni promossa mill-gruppi politiċi kollha li tilqa’ l-proposta tal-Kummissjoni Ewropea biex jinħoloq Ċertifikat Aħdar Diġitali ġdid. Madankollu, il-mexxejja reġjonali u lokali jissuġġerixxu li, għal raġunijiet ta’ ċarezza, id-dokument għandu jingħata l-isem ġdid ta’ Ċertifikat COVID-19 tal-UE, kif propost mill-Parlament Ewropew. Huma jinsistu li dan m’għandux ikun dokument tal-ivvjaġġar u jenfasizzaw il-prinċipju tan-nondiskriminazzjoni, b’mod partikolari fir-rigward ta’ persuni mhux imlaqqma. Barra minn hekk, matul dibattitu dwar l-irkupru tas-setturi tat-turiżmu, tal-lukandi u tal-catering, il-membri tal-KtR impenjaw ruħhom li jibdlu l-kriżi tal-COVID-19 f’opportunità u jersqu minn turiżmu eċċessiv lejn mudelli ġodda li huma sikuri, sostenibbli, reżiljenti u konformi mal-għanijiet tal-Patt Ekoloġiku Ewropew. 

L-Unjoni Ewropea għandha tnaqqas id-dipendenza tagħha mill-produtturi barra mill-fruntieri tagħha billi tinkoraġġixxi r-ritorn tal-produzzjoni ta’ mediċini kritiċi u ta’ tagħmir protettiv lejn l-Ewropa, qalu l-membri tal-Kumitat Ewropew tar-Reġjuni fis-7 ta’ Mejju. It-talba għal “awtonomja strateġika” hija waħda mir-rakkomandazzjonijiet f’Opinjoni dwar “ L-esperjenzi u t-tagħlimiet miksuba mir-reġjuni u l-bliet matul il-kriżi tal-COVID-19 ”. 

The Union of Equality builds on local communities' work on the ground: this is the key message that members of the European Committee of the Regions (CoR) stressed today in a debate with European Commissioner for Equality Helena Dalli. Local and regional politicians from across Europe welcomed the inclusion of an equality perspective into all EU policies, legislation and funding programmes. 

Cities and regions deem it necessary to establish a coherent and simplified legal framework for the chemicals sector to make the industry greener and more effective. The European Committee of the Regions' (CoR) opinion on Safe and sustainable chemicals for a toxic-free environment in Europe's cities and regions recognises the importance of the new chemicals strategy presented by the European Commission and welcomes the steps leading to its implementation. 

In a bid to make the European education system more digital and resilient, local and regional politicians are calling on Member States to utilise a larger proportion of EU funds to improve digital education and to help close the digital gap between rural and urban areas. The suggestions are part of an opinion on the Digital Education Action Plan 2021-2027 which was drafted by Gillian Coughlan (IE/Renew Europe), Member of the Cork County Council, and discussed by the members of the European Committee of the Regions (CoR) on 6 May. 

Il-mexxejja lokali u reġjonali taw l-appoġġ tagħhom għal rwol akbar għall-Unjoni Ewropea fi kwistjonijiet tas-saħħa u għall-pjani tal-UE li jissalvagwardjaw l-istabbiltà u s-sigurtà tal-provvisti ta’ mediċini u tagħmir kritiċi. Madankollu, f’sensiela ta’ rakkomandazzjonijiet adottati fis-sessjoni plenarja tal-Kumitat Ewropew tar-Reġjuni bejn is-7 u d-9 ta’ Mejju, huma jargumentaw ukoll li l-pjani tal-UE biex tilqa’ għall-kriżijiet tas-saħħa huma mminati minn ftit wisq attenzjoni għall-importanza tal-awtoritajiet lokali u reġjonali, li huma pedament tas-sistemi tas-saħħa f’żewġ terzi tal-pajjiżi tal-UE. 

Iċ-ċaqliq aċċellerat lejn kanali ta’ distribuzzjoni diġitali, il-bidla fid-drawwiet tal-konsumaturi u t-tnaqqis fl-introjtu mir-reklamar jipperikolaw il-mudell ekonomiku u l-indipendenza tal-midja lokali. Il-Kumitat Ewropew tar-Reġjuni (KtR) jilqa’ l- Pjan ta’ Azzjoni propost mill-Kummissjoni Ewropea iżda jenfasizza l-importanza li titqies is-sitwazzjoni finanzjarja partikolarment allarmanti tal-midja lokali u reġjonali. F’sistema politika f’diversi livelli bħad-demokrazija Ewropea, mezzi iżgħar tal-midja li jisimgħu direttament it-tħassib taċ-ċittadini huma kruċjali biex jiġu żgurati l-kontroll demokratiku u l-leġittimità. Dan turih l-Opinjoni abbozzata mir-relatur Jan Trei (EE/PPE), Membru tal-Kunsill Muniċipali Rurali ta’ Viimsi, li ġiet ippreżentata fis-sessjoni plenarja tal-KtR f’Mejju. 

The accelerated move to digital distribution channels, changed consumer habits and falling advertising revenues jeopardize local media's business cases and independence. The European Committee of the Regions (CoR) welcomes the Action Plan proposed by the European Commission but highlights the importance of taking into account the particularly alarming financial situation of local and regional media. In a multilevel political system like the European democracy, smaller media outlets directly in touch with citizens' concerns are critical to securing democratic control and legitimacy, argues the opinion drafted by rapporteur Jan Trei (EE/EPP), Member of Viimsi Rural Municipality Council, which was presented at the CoR's May plenary session. 

Il-Kumitat Ewropew tar-Reġjuni appella lill-Unjoni Ewropea biex teżenta temporanjament il-privattivi għall-vaċċini kontra l-virus COVID-19, sabiex jitrażżan it-tixrid rapidu tal-pandemija. Ħeġġeġ ukoll biex tiżdied il-produzzjoni fl-Ewropa u biex titħaffef il-kampanja ta’ tilqim fl-Ewropa. 

​The Social Summit in Porto must affirm a strong commitment to the European Pillar of Social Rights and its headline targets, involving all levels of government 

European Parliament's Vice-President for Information policy, Press and Citizens Relations, Othmar Karas, and Vice-President for Relations with the European Committee of the Regions (CoR), Klára Dobrev, joined the members of the Bureau of the CoR to debate how to better communicate the EU action and achievements to people in regions, cities and villages across Europe. They also discussed how to contribute to the Conference on the future of EU and scale up the cooperation between the only two EU institutions gathering elected officials.