​​The European Committee of the Regions (CoR) welcomes the new EU Strategy on Adaptation to Climate Change adopted by the European Commission on 24 February 2021. The CoR regrets, however, that even though it enables the move from planning to action it still lacks concrete climate adaptation targets. The new strategy sets out how the European Union (EU) can adapt to the impacts of climate change. From 1980 to 2016, the total economic losses caused by extreme weather in Europe amounted to over EUR 436 billion. The COVID-19 pandemic has only exacerbated the need to build a healthier and safer environment for all. The CoR called for a new EU climate adaptation strategy in an opinion adopted at the December 2020 plenary session.  

On 26 February, the European Committee of the Regions' (CoR) commission for territorial cohesion policy and EU budget (COTER) met for the first time this year. During the meeting, the members discussed how Europe's regional airports and a sustainable mobility strategy in the transportation sector can help achieve the European Green Deal objectives and greater connectivity between and within European cities. Members also discussed the experiences and lessons learned during the COVID-19 crisis. 

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. 

The European Union's new agenda for its partnership with its southern neighbours has won the support of local and regional politicians from across the Mediterranean region and the EU – but they have insisted that that the "cooperation benefits must reach beyond the capitals" and must reduce, not increase, the "existing huge territorial disparities within neighbouring countries". 

The call for proposals for EuroPCom 2021 is now open. The conference will be planned as a digital event taking place on 8-9 November 2021. Send your proposals or comments via email by 31 March! EuroPCom organisers are also looking for proposals from applicants who are interested in setting up participatory and interactive Ideas Labs sessions and from exhibitors who would be interested in showcasing their innovative communication projects at the EuroPCom Virtual Market Place. Submit your applications by 31 March! 

Erilda Krasi of 1001 Albanian Adventures, a tour operator based in the city of Berat, has won the third ARLEM Young Entrepreneurs Award, beating contenders from nearly two dozen other young, small businesses from around the Mediterranean. 

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. 

​​A call for action by Agnès Rampal for resilient agricultural practices, the promotion of the Mediterranean diet and support for food sovereignty in the Mediterranean 

Green Deal Information event for organisations and citizens in Ireland. 

​​Regions and cities are looking forward to the presentation of the Action Plan for the implementation of the European Pillar of Social Rights on 3 March. It should send a strong message to the Heads of State and Government gathering in Porto on 7-8 May to step up their ambitions and ensure just transitions after the Covid-19 pandemic, members of the European Committee of the Regions (CoR) stressed in a debate with the representative of the Portuguese Council presidency. 

Il-membri tal-Kummissjoni għaċ-Ċittadinanza, il-Governanza u l-Affarijiet Istituzzjonali u Esterni tal-KtR – CIVEX – iddiskutew dwar kif jista’ jissaħħaħ ir-rwol tal-KtR fis-sistema ta’ governanza tal-UE, b’mod partikolari għall-Konferenza dwar il-Ġejjieni tal-Ewropa fil-preżenza tal-MEP Domènec Ruiz Devesa (ES/S&D) u ta’ Sarah Meyer, riċerkatriċi assoċjata f’Danube-University Krems. Il-pedamenti demokratiċi tal-Unjoni Ewropea huma fost il-kwistjonijiet ewlenin li ser tindirizza l-Konferenza, u l-awtoritajiet lokali u reġjonali huma l-gwardjani tal-pedamenti demokratiċi tal-UE fuq bażi ta’ kuljum u dawk li l-aktar jipprattikaw id-demokrazija parteċipattiva. Mid-diskussjoni ħareġ li l-Konferenza hija opportunità biex jintwera u jiġi promoss ir-rwol tal-KtR bħala r-rappreżentant istituzzjonali tal-bliet u r-reġjuni fil-proċess tat-teħid tad-deċiżjonijiet tal-UE fil-qafas tat-Trattati eżistenti. F’perspettiva usa’, il-bidliet fit-Trattat lejn aktar setgħat leġiżlattivi għall-KtR jistgħu jiġu kkunsidrati sabiex tissaħħaħ id-dimensjoni demokratika tal-UE. 

Apply until the 12 March to join the 2021 YEP programme. The YEP programme offers an opportunity for young local and regional politicians to network and exchange best practices. 

Il-Kumitat Ewropew tar-Reġjuni (KtR) ippreżenta pjan direzzjonali tal-Patt Ekoloġiku għall-2021. Fir-4 laqgħa tal-Grupp ta’ Ħidma dwar il-Patt Ekoloġiku fil-Livell Lokali, il-mexxejja lokali qablu dwar l-objettivi u l-prijoritajiet politiċi biex titħaffef it-tranżizzjoni newtrali f’termini ta’ emissjonijiet tal-karbonju, filwaqt li l-bliet u r-reġjuni jitpoġġew fil-qalba tal-irkupru mill-pandemija tal-COVID-19. L-għanijiet ewlenin huma l-promozzjoni ta’ sussidjarjetà attiva, it-tisħiħ tal-kooperazzjoni istituzzjonali u l-iffaċilitar tal-aċċess dirett għall-fondi tal-UE. Ir-rinnovazzjoni tal-bini, l-ekoloġizzazzjoni taż-żoni urbani u d-dekarbonizzazzjoni tat-trasport huma oqsma ta’ prijorità. Waqt il-laqgħa kien hemm ukoll diskussjonijiet dwar l- Inizjattiva ta’ Sfida għal Bliet Intelliġenti u l- Mekkaniżmu għal Tranżizzjoni Ġusta . Iż-żewġ inizjattivi li huma għandhom rwol importanti fit-twettiq tal-aġenda tal-Patt Ekoloġiku. 

Preparations for the European Week of Regions and Cities, 11 to 14 October 2021 have already started!The two co-organisers, the European Committee of the Regions and the European Commission's Directorate-General for Regional and Urban Policy, launched their call for partners during the Kick-Off meeting on 28 January 2021 which gathered almost 600 potential partners participating online. 

The European Committee of the Regions and the European Commission's European Alliance of Apprenticeships (EAfA) organised on 26 January a joint online event, the second in a series of roadmap events leading to a high-level conference on apprenticeships. The event was supported by the German Delegation of the Committee of the Regions, the European Association of Regional & Local Authorities for Lifelong Learning (EARLALL) and the Basque Government. The live-streamed event explored emerging opportunities in relation to apprenticeships for regional and local authorities at a time when the green and digital transitions are accelerating across Europe. 

The RegHub Network has concluded its fifth consultation on the impact of three CAP Regulations on rural development, more concretely, on the extent to which they can support rural areas to address socio-economic challenges such as low growth, unemployment or poor generational renewal.  

The European Committee of the Regions has put forward an opinion on the 8th Environment Action Programme (EAP), the EU's common environmental strategy for 2030 that supports the European Green Deal. Europe's environment outlook in the coming decades is discouraging, says the 2020 European Environment Agency report.  

Il-membri tal-Kumitat Ewropew tar-Reġjuni (KtR) u Ana Paula Zacarias, Segretarja tal-Istat għall-Affarijiet Ewropej tal-Portugall, iddiskutew il-prijoritajiet politiċi tal-Presidenza tal-UE u l-impatt tagħhom fil-livell lokali u reġjonali. Id-dibattitu sar matul is-sessjoni plenarja tal-KtR ta’ Frar u enfasizza l-importanza tal-involviment tal-awtoritajiet lokali u reġjonali fl-implimentazzjoni tal-baġit tal-UE li jmiss u tal-pjani tal-UE għall-irkupru mill-kriżi tal-COVID-19. 

Ten years after the European Commission adopted its first Roma integration strategy, Europe's largest ethnic minority is still subject to severe and persistent racial discrimination across the EU. 

While COVID-19 has exacerbated Europe's food security vulnerabilities, current agriculture practices keep damaging the environment, provoking drastic biodiversity loss and emitting 10% of the EU's annual carbon emissions  

Ir-reġjuni u l-bliet qed jitolbu appoġġ koordinat mill-UE u l-Istati Membri biex jerġgħu jniedu s-setturi kulturali u kreattivi li huma fost dawk l-aktar milquta mill-kriżi tal-COVID-19 u l-lockdowns nazzjonali. F’dibattitu ma’ Mariya Gabriel, il-Kummissarju Ewropew għall-Innovazzjoni, ir-Riċerka, il-Kultura, l-Edukazzjoni u ż-Żgħażagħ, membri tal-Kumitat Ewropew tar-Reġjuni enfasizzaw il-kontribut qawwi tal-kultura u l-wirt kulturali għall-iżvilupp lokali u reġjonali u għall-valuri, l-identitajiet u ċ-ċittadinanza Ewropej. Huma argumentaw li l-arti u l-kultura għandu jkollhom rwol aktar prominenti fid-dibattitu dwar il-futur tal-UE. 

Il-bliet u r-reġjuni jixtiequ jkunu involuti bis-sħiħ fil-governanza u l-implimentazzjoni tal-politiki Ewropej tar-riċerka u tal-innovazzjoni. B’mod partikolari, l-introduzzjoni taċ-ċentri taż-Żona Ewropea tar-Riċerka (ċentri taż-ŻER) tista’ tkun strument kruċjali biex jintlaħqu l-għanijiet tal-Unjoni Ewropea fil-qasam tat-tranżizzjoni ekoloġika, diġitali, soċjali u dik ekonomika, kif jenfasizza l-Kumitat Ewropew tar-Reġjuni (KtR), f’Opinjoni mħejjija minn Christophe Clergeau (FR/PSE), membru tal-Kunsill Reġjonali ta’ Pays-de-la-Loire. 

Matul il-142 sessjoni plenarja tal-KtR, il-mexxejja lokali u reġjonali stiednu għall-ewwel darba rappreżentanti minn żewġ Inizjattivi taċ-Ċittadini Ewropej, fil-preżenza tal-Viċi President tal-Parlament Ewropew responsabbli għad-Demokrazija Ewropea u l-Inizjattivi taċ-Ċittadini Ewropej, Pedro Silva Pereira, u l-President il-ġdida tal-Kumitat Ekonomiku u Soċjali Ewropew, Christa Schweng. Bis-saħħa ta’ din l-inizjattiva, il-KtR qed jagħti bidu għad-dibattitu tiegħu dwar id-demokrazija fid-dawl tal-Konferenza dwar il-Ġejjieni tal-Ewropa u juri l-impenn tiegħu li jappoġġja l-Inizjattivi taċ-Ċittadini Ewropej (IĊE) li huma fil-kompetenza politika tiegħu u li huma politikament rilevanti għall-awtoritajiet lokali u reġjonali. L-IĊE jiffaċilitaw u jirfdu l-prijorità politika tal-KtR li jqarreb l-Ewropa lejn il-poplu tagħha u l-KtR bħala rappreżentant tal-livell ta’ gvern li huwa l-eqreb taċ-ċittadini huwa msieħeb ewlieni biex jippromovihom. Li l-Kummissjoni tonqos milli tagħti segwitu leġiżlattiv kif dovut mhux biss jiffrustra miljuni ta’ ċittadini, iżda jirriskja wkoll li joħloq skuntentizza fil-konfront tal-istituzzjonijiet Ewropej. 

Il-Kumitat Ewropew tar-Reġjuni u l-Organizzazzjoni Dinjija tas-Saħħa (WHO) llum iffirmaw Pjan ta’ Azzjoni biex itejbu r-reżiljenza tas-sistemi tas-saħħa lokali u reġjonali permezz ta’ riċerka u tfassil ta’ politika konġunti. Il-Pjan ta’ Azzjoni, li jibni fuq il-kooperazzjoni dejjiema li tnediet f’Novembru 2016, iwieġeb ukoll għall-ħtieġa li jiġu indirizzati xi sfidi ewlenin tal-pandemija billi tittejjeb il-koordinazzjoni bejn il-livelli differenti tal-governanza tas-saħħa. Dan se jippermetti l-valutazzjoni konġunta tal-effettività tal-politiki tas-saħħa fuq il-post u jissuġġerixxi rimedji possibbli biex is-sistemi lokali u reġjonali jkunu aktar reattivi għall-isfidi tal-pandemija. 

Fl-4 ta’ Frar, il-mexxejja reġjonali u lokali u l-Kummissarju tal-UE għall-Koeżjoni u r-Riformi Elisa Ferreira ddiskutew kif jistgħu jaċċelleraw it-tnedija ta’ programmi ġodda tal-politika ta’ koeżjoni, jiżguraw l-implimentazzjoni f’waqtha tagħhom u jintegrawhom mal-pjani nazzjonali ta’ rkupru. 

L-aċċess aħjar għas-servizzi pubbliċi għaċ-ċittadini li jgħixu fir-reġjuni tal-fruntiera tal-UE huwa l-fokus ewlieni tal- Opinjoni mħejjija minn Pavel Branda (KRE/CZ), viċi sindku ta’ Radlo, li ġiet diskussa mill-membri tal-Kumitat Ewropew tar-Reġjuni matul is-sessjoni plenarja tagħhom ta’ Frar. Fl-Opinjoni huwa jenfasizza l-vantaġġi li jiġu pprovduti servizzi pubbliċi minn naħa għal oħra tal-fruntieri u jħeġġeġ favur qafas legali aktar b’saħħtu, strutturi permanenti bħal punti ta’ kuntatt transfruntiera kif ukoll appoġġ finanzjarju permezz tal-inizjattiva REACT-EU. 

On Thursday afternoon, members of the CoR commission for Natural resources and their counterparts from the Parliament’s Agriculture committee discussed ways to boost recovery in Europe's rural areas and to enable regions to continue to play their role in the preparation and management of future Common Agricultural Policy. MEPs and local leaders agreed that the EU’s future rural development policy must be more ambitious and contain a concrete policy framework that will be monitored and evaluated. 

L-awtoritajiet lokali u reġjonali jħeġġu lill-istituzzjonijiet tal-UE u lil dawk nazzjonali biex jipproteġu d-drittijiet taż-żgħażagħ Ewropej għax-xogħol, ir-remunerazzjoni ġusta u l-aċċess għall-protezzjoni soċjali bħala parti mill-irkupru. Il-pandemija kkawżat żieda qawwija fil-qgħad fost iż-żgħażagħ fl-Unjoni Ewropea kollha. Għalhekk, ir-reġjuni u l-bliet jitolbu li fil-pjani nazzjonali ta’ rkupru jiġu inklużi miżuri għall-impjieg taż-żgħażagħ. Dawn huma fost il-messaġġi ewlenin li jirriżultaw mill-Opinjoni abbozzata minn Romy Karier (LU/PPE) u diskussa mill-Plenarja tal-Kumitat Ewropew tar-Reġjuni. 

The European Committee of the Regions (CoR) argues that the new European Skills Agenda should take better into account the major role cities and regions play in supporting and developing skills-related policies and infrastructure in most Member States. Rapporteur Csaba Borboly (RO/EPP), President of Hargita County Council, presented the CoR opinion at the plenary session on Wednesday.  

This OECD and CoR's lunch-time webinar emphasised that developing entrepreneurial societies is a key factor to build long-term resilience across EU regions. Multiple aspects for action and consideration at local, regional and European level were explored to that end.  

F’din l-intervista, Csaba Borboly (RO/PPE) iwieġeb sitt mistoqsijiet dwar l- Aġenda Ewropea għall-Ħiliet għall-kompetittività sostenibbli, il-ġustizzja soċjali u r-reżiljenza . Il-President tal-Kunsill tal-Kontea ta’ Harghita huwa r-relatur ta’ abbozz ta’ Opinjoni li jistieden lill-Kummissjoni tirrevedi l-approċċ stabbilit fil- Komunikazzjoni reċenti tagħha u tqis ir-rwol ewlieni li l-bliet u r-reġjuni jaqdu fl-appoġġ u l-iżvilupp ta’ infrastruttura b’rabta mal-ħiliet fil-parti l-kbira tal-Istati Membri. L-abbozz ta’ Opinjoni se jitressaq għall-votazzjoni fis- sessjoni plenarja ta’ din il-ġimgħa, fit-3-5 ta’ Frar. 

Illum il- Kummissjoni ENVE tal-Kumitat Ewropew tar-Reġjuni ppreżentat il- programm ta’ ħidma għall-2021 tagħha. Il-prijorità ewlenija tal-mexxejja lokali u reġjonali hija li jiġi żgurat li l-irkupru mill-COVID-19 jissarraf fi proġetti konkreti li jaċċelleraw it-tranżizzjoni lejn in-newtralità klimatika filwaqt li joħolqu l-impjiegi u l-inklużività soċjali f’kull territorju. L-ambizzjoni klimatika, ir-rinnovazzjoni tal-istokk tal-bini tal-UE, il-bijodiversità u t-8 Programm ta’ Azzjoni Ambjentali kienu fost is-suġġetti diskussi f’laqgħa li tat merħba lil Florika Fink-Hooijer , id-Direttur Ġenerali l-ġdid tad-DĠ Ambjent tal-Kummissjoni Ewropea. Il-membri skambjaw l-esperjenzi u t-tagħlimiet tagħhom matul il-COVID-19. Il- KtR se jorganizza sessjoni plenarja fit-3-5 ta’ Frar 2021 . 

​On 28 December 2020 the Research and Education Building Urban Institutions for Local Development (REBUILD) project was signed and processed by its European partners together with Libyan co-applying municipalities.  

The European Committee of the Regions' Commission for Natural Resources (NAT) met on 29 January, for the first time in 2021, to discuss about health and the experiences and lessons learned by regions and cities during the COVID-19 crisis. At the meeting, members also adopted an opinion on the Atlantic maritime strategy.  

At its first plenary of 2021, the European Committee of the Regions will discuss with Dr Hans Henri P. Kluge​​, Regional Director for Europe of the World Health Organization, the progress and challenges of the vaccination campaign against Covid-19 and the potential role that regions and cities should play. At the same occasion, Ana Paula Zacarias, Secretary of State for European Affairs of the Portuguese Republic, will present her country's priorities for its six-month presidency of the Council of the European Union. Local leaders will also discuss with European Commissioner Elisa Ferreira the priorities of the new cohesion policy and the economic recovery plans. The presence of European Commissioner Mariya Gabriel will offer the opportunity to discuss the importance and challenges of recovery of the cultural and creative sectors. Pedro Silva Pereira, Vice-President of the European Parliament, and Christa Schweng, President of the European Economic and Social Committee, will discuss the European Citizens' Initiative.  

The kick-Off meeting of the 19th European Week of Regions and Cities will take place on Thursday 28 January at 10:00 (via Zoom). 

Ir-rinnovazzjoni tal-istokk tal-bini tal-UE hija essenzjali biex tintlaħaq in-newtralità klimatika sal-2050 u biex tingħata spinta lill-impjieg fl-irkupru ta’ wara l-COVID-19. Minkejja li 75% tal-bini eżistenti fl-UE huwa meqjus bħala ineffiċjenti fl-enerġija, bħalissa 1% biss jgħaddi minn rinnovazzjoni kull sena. Il-bini jirrappreżenta 40% tal-konsum tal-enerġija tal-Ewropa u 36% tal-emissjonijiet tal-gassijiet b’effett ta’ serra. Huwa stmat li l-Mewġa ta’ Rinnovazzjoni tista’ toħloq 160 000 impjieg addizzjonali fis-settur tal-kostruzzjoni sal-2030. Il-kriżi tas-saħħa tal-COVID-19 amplifikat il-ħtieġa li ntejbu l-bini tagħna u neqirdu l-faqar enerġetiku, li għadu jolqot madwar 40 miljun ċittadin fl-UE. 

The European Committee of the Regions (CoR) and EIB Group have renewed and reinforced their long-standing cooperation today with the adoption of a new joint Action Plan for cooperation in 2021 . 

Ir-riżultati tal-konsultazzjoni konġunta ġew ippreżentati matul il-laqgħa tal-Kummissjoni għall-Politika Ekonomika (ECON) tal-Kumitat Ewropew tar-Reġjuni (KtR). Il-membri tal-ECON adottaw ukoll b’unanimità l-abbozz ta’ Opinjoni dwar il-Pjan ta’ Azzjoni għall-Materja Prima Kritika, imħejji minn Isolde Ries (DE/PSE), l-Ewwel Viċi President tal-Parlament Reġjonali ta’ Saarland. 

F’din l-intervista, Guillaume Cros (FR/Ħodor) , relatur tal- Abbozz ta’ opinjoni dwar l-agroekoloġija li mistenni jiġi adottat fit-3 ta’ Frar 2021 matul is- sessjoni plenarja tal-Kumitat Ewropew tar-Reġjuni , iwieġeb erba’ mistoqsijiet dwar dan l-approċċ ambjentali u soċjali mmirat lejn agrikoltura fin-natura pjuttost milli kontra n-natura. Fil-kuntest tal-Politika Agrikola Komuni (PAK) li jmiss, il-Viċi President tal-Kunsill Reġjonali ta’ Occitanie Pyrénées-Méditerrané jirrakkomanda, fost affarijiet oħra, li jiġu stabbiliti objettivi ambjentali Ewropej kwantifikati u vinkolanti għall-Istati Membri u li tal-anqas 30% tal-pakkett finanzjajru nazzjonali jiġi allokat għal skemi ekoloġiċi. 

​The 2021 Broadband Platform kick-off meeting underlined that digitalisation and digital connectivity must be a top priority for local communities in their recovery from the pandemic.  

F’din l-intervista, Dimitrios Karnavos (EL/PPE) iwieġeb ħames mistoqsijiet dwar it- Tmien Programm ta’ Azzjoni Ambjentali (EAP) . Is-Sindku ta’ Kallithea huwa r-relatur tal- abbozz ta’ Opinjoni li jappella għal riżorsi adegwati għall-awtoritajiet lokali u reġjonali biex jimplimentaw politiki ambjentali fil-prattika. L-abbozz ta’ Opinjoni se jitressaq għall-votazzjoni fis-sessjoni plenarja li jmiss li se ssir mit-3 sal-5 ta’ Frar, wara dibattitu esploratorju ġenerali fil-laqgħa tal-Kummissjoni ENVE li se ssir fl-1 ta’ Frar. Għalkemm il-politiki ambjentali tal-UE wasslu għal benefiċċji sostanzjali f’dawn l-aħħar deċennji, l-Ewropa għadha qed tiffaċċja sfidi bla preċedent fl-oqsma tal-ambjent, tal-klima u tas-sostenibbiltà. Dawn jinkludu t-telf tal-bijodiversità, it-tibdil fil-klima, l-użu tar-riżorsi u t-tniġġis. It-8 EAP huwa kruċjali biex jiġu indirizzati dawn l-isfidi fl-era ta’ wara l-COVID-19 

​The worldwide COVID-19 pandemic has required a large-scale and comprehensive response in various areas in our society. As the levels of governance closest to the citizens, local and regional authorities across Europe have been in the front line in the response to the crisis. 

The European Committee of the Regions is currently working on a legislative opinion analysing the impact of two legislative proposals of the European Commission on EU's regions and cross-border links. 

F’din l-intervista, Juan Espadas (ES/PSE) , Sindku ta’ Sevilja u President tal- Kummissjoni ENVE tal-KtR u l- Grupp ta’ Ħidma dwar il-Patt Ekoloġiku fil-Livell Lokali iwieġeb erba’ mistoqsijiet dwar il- Karta ta’ Leipzig il-Ġdida , sensiela ta’ prinċipji biex il-bliet Ewropej jiġu xprunati lejn aktar sostenibbiltà, reżiljenza akbar u inklużività usa’. L- Opinjoni tal-KtR dwar it-tiġdid tal-Karta ta’ Leipzig ġiet adottata matul is-sessjoni plenarja ta’ Ottubru 2020. Illum, il-Karta ta’ Leipzig il-Ġdida tibqa’ ta’ rilevanza kbira, b’mod partikolari għat-trawwim tas-sostenibbiltà urbana wara l-pandemija tal-COVID-19. 

Brussels, Belgium – The living-in.eu platform was launched during the CITYxCITY Festival and creates the conditions to upscale digital solutions based on iconic projects. living-in.eu is a bottom-up movement which has the ambition to have a positive impact on the quality of life of at least 300 million European citizens by 2025. The initiative is a cooperation of Eurocities, Open & Agile Smart Cities (OASC), European Network of Living Labs (ENoLL) and is supported by the European Commission and the European Committee of the Regions. 

Local and regional politicians from the European Union voiced short-term relief mixed with long-term caution and concern at their first meeting with UK counterparts since the EU-UK Trade and Cooperation Agreement was settled on 24 December. Politicians from both the EU and the United Kingdom emphasised a wish to develop new ties in the wake of an agreement that ended most region-to-region programmes and envisages no role for regions in overseeing and developing the deal. 

The European Union has secured so far 2 billion doses of potential vaccines, more than enough for protecting us all. In cooperation with other EU institutions, we are sharing useful information on how vaccines work, and how extraordinary their rapid development has and continues to be. 

The President of the Committee of the Regions has just send out the confirmation letters to the new members and observers of the RegHub network. 

The French monthly Régions Magazine has produced in collaboration with the European Committee of the Regions (CoR) a supplement on the topic "How do regions benefit from Europe?". You will find interviews with the President of the CoR Apostolos Tzitzikostas, the President of the Régions of France Renaud Muselier and the French Secretary of State for European Affairs Clément Beaune on their perception of the role of the CoR in the EU institutional concert. The CoR's annual regional and local barometer, which analyzes how EU regions have been affected by the coronavirus crisis, is presented with a focus on France. In addition, 14 French members of the CoR give a statement about their role and show flagship projects in their region which have been implemented thanks to EU funding.