The European Committee of the Regions (CoR) stressed within the opinion adopted by unanimity at the Plenary Meeting on the 2nd of December, that the European Commission's report on competition policy 2020 must be followed by bold acts. The EU should take the needs of SMEs into account to create a fair and level playing field for the benefit of all EU citizens, considering the implications of the pandemic and the consequences of substantially increased amounts of state aid. Therefore, any COVID-19-related aid should be granted only to businesses that are experiencing the immediate financial impact of the pandemic. 

​On 30 November 2021, the Anna Lindh Foundation organised, in the framework of celebrations for the Day of the Mediterranean on 28 November and on the margins of the UFM Regional Forum, the award ceremony of the EuroMed Capital for Dialogue Award 2021 – a new initiative by this institution to promote intercultural dialogue in the Euro-Mediterranean region. 

In het cohesiebeleid moet aandacht worden besteed aan gendergelijkheid en de arbeidsparticipatie van vrouwen, die van cruciaal belang zijn voor een grotere economische en sociale cohesie in Europa. Dit is de strekking van een advies dat op 2 december jl. is uitgebracht door het Europees Comité van de Regio’s (CvdR) en werd opgesteld door Donatella Porzi, lid van de regioraad van Umbrië (Italië). Volgens lokale en regionale bestuurders is het van essentieel belang dat het genderperspectief wordt meegenomen in de nationale herstel- en veerkrachtsplannen. 

Council of Europe leader calls for support for local media and emphasises the "major role" of local and regional authorities in tackling disinformation and hate. 

Organic farming, through its positive environmental and climate impact in terms of improved carbon sequestration and soil health, biodiversity conservation and animal welfare, contributes to the objectives of the European Green Deal and targets of the EU Farm to Fork and Biodiversity strategies. The European Committee of the Regions (CoR) adopted on 2 December the opinion on EU action plan for organic farming. 

The Climate Pact Ambassadors of the European Committee of the Regions and the Directorate General Climate Action of the European Commission debated on the first CoR Climate Ambassadors event on the possibilities offered by the initiative whose purpose is to get individuals, communities and organisations involved in climate actions and build a greener Europe. Climate Pact Ambassadors play a key role in the CoR's actions for the Climate Pact . 

Het economisch en sociaal herstel en de groene en digitale transitie hebben alleen kans van slagen als de lokale en regionale overheden rechtstreeks worden betrokken bij de voorbereiding en uitvoering van de nationale herstel- en veerkrachtplannen. Een nauw partnerschap tussen alle bestuursniveaus, de sociale partners en ngo’s is van het allergrootste belang om ervoor te zorgen dat de plannen afgestemd zijn op de territoriale behoeften en om overlappingen met andere EU-beleidsmaatregelen en -fondsen te voorkomen. Dat zijn de belangrijkste boodschappen die het Europees Comité van de Regio’s (CvdR) naar de nationale regeringen en EU-instellingen stuurt in een advies van rapporteur Rob Jonkman, wethouder van Opsterland, Nederland. De tekst is met eenparigheid van stemmen aangenomen tijdens de plenaire vergadering van het CvdR op 1 december. 

Regions and cities are calling on the European Commission to provide more support to all levels of government in the endeavour to end homelessness in Europe by 2030. In a debate with Nicolas Schmit, Commissioner for Jobs and Social Rights, members of the European Committee of the Regions (CoR) welcomed the establishment of the European Platform for Combating Homelessness. An opinion adopted by the plenary session today underlines the role of local and regional authorities in developing a housing-led approach and a right mix of prevention measures that address both structural and personal causes of homelessness. 

Europe's regions and cities have welcomed the proposal to designate 2022 as the European Year of Youth. The resolution adopted today by the European Committee of the Regions' plenary session underlines the key role of local and regional authorities in promoting youth participation in local democracy and urges to mainstream a youth perspective in all EU policy areas. Bearing in mind the impact of the Covid-19 crisis on young people and their education, employment, income and mental health, the Committee calls to strengthen efforts to tackle youth unemployment and precarious working conditions and to improve access to housing, education and training. 

De regio’s en steden van de EU benadrukken dat zij een essentiële rol spelen bij het stimuleren van investeringen in artificiële intelligentie (AI) en het vergroten van het vertrouwen in AI-oplossingen. Het Europees Comité van de Regio’s (CvdR) heeft een advies goedgekeurd waarin wordt opgeroepen tot meer transparantie en strengere informatievereisten, met name voor AI-systemen met een hoog risico. Het wijst ook op de grote risico’s en de implicaties voor de mensenrechten van sociale classificatie, een middel dat alleen voor specifieke doeleinden zou mogen worden gebruikt en altijd onder menselijk toezicht dient te staan om schendingen van het recht op waardigheid en non-discriminatie en van de waarden gelijkheid en rechtvaardigheid te voorkomen. 

Sustainable Development Goals and public participation in focus at Cities and Regions for International Partnerships forum. 

The blue economy employs close to 4.5 million people and generates around €650 billion in turnover and €176 billion in gross value added in the EU. Aquaculture – fish farming - accounts for 20% of fish and shellfish supply in the EU. The sector is composed of 15,000 enterprises and employs 70,000 people. As part of the blue economy, fisheries and aquaculture are key to boosting the COVID-19 economic recovery, creating jobs and offering sustainable development opportunities to coastal and rural populations. Yet red tape and insufficient investments continue to hinder the full development of a European aquaculture sector. 

The EU needs a strategy that can help industry to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and reach climate-neutrality at the same time as helping to recover from the pressures of the COVID-19 pandemic. A set of concrete measures on how this can be achieved – including strengthening the role of SMEs and the territorial dimension of the EU's industrial strategy, pushing for place-based innovation policies, smart specialisation strategies and closer links between industrial and regional ecosystems – were adopted today by the European Committee of the Regions in its opinion 'Updating the 2020 New Industrial Strategy: Building a stronger Single Market for Europe's recovery'. 

Registration is now open for the 9th European Summit of Regions and Cities, scheduled to take place in Marseille (France) on 3-4 March 2022, in the context of the incoming French Presidency of the Council of the EU. 

De Conferentie over de toekomst van Europa is een uitgelezen kans om de EU dichter bij de burgers te brengen en hun gevoel van verbondenheid met het Europese project te versterken. Voorwaarde is wèl dat het Europees Comité van de Regio’s in de conclusies van de Conferentie namens de lokale en regionale overheden een coördinerende en communicerende rol krijgt in het toekomstige Europese besluitvormingsproces. Aldus luiden de bevindingen van Herman Van Rompuy, voormalig voorzitter van de Europese Raad en voorzitter van de CvdR-groep op hoog niveau inzake Europese democratie tijdens een debat over de toekomst van de democratie in Europa tijdens een zitting van het Europees Comité van de Regio’s. 

The European Union's debate on its future should result in deeper and more systematic collaboration with local and regional authorities, the European Committee of the Regions (CoR) said on 1 December in recommendations that likewise called for direct consultation with the public to become a greater part of the life of the Union. The CoR, which brings together governors, mayors and councillors from across the EU, underlined the need for a regional perspective to become standard by suggesting that, whenever the EU chooses not to make an assessment of the impact of legislation on regions, it should be obliged to provide a public explanation. 

French President Emmanuel Macron discussed European values and the renewal of democracy with members of the European Committee of the Regions during the plenary session on 1 December. The French President stressed "the representativeness and importance of the CoR" and the fundamental role of subsidiarity and cohesion.  

On 29 November 2021, ARLEM vice-president André Viola, member of the Member of the Departmental Council of Aude (France), addressed the co-presidency of the Union for the Mediterranean and ministers of foreign affairs at the UfM Sixth Regional Forum held in the framework of the celebrations of the Day of the Mediterranean of 28 of November. 

Co-organised by the CoR, East Poland House and Polish rail operator PKP, the conference brought together local and regional authorities, sectoral stakeholders and EU institutions. The importance of close cooperation between all levels of governance and sectoral stakeholders for the shift to rail objectives set out under the EU Green Deal and in the context of the European Year of Rail 2021 (EYR 2021) was underscored from the outset by Marie-Antoinette MAUPERTUIS (FR/EA), second Vice-President of the CoR's COTER Commission. The focus on regional rail was particularly welcomed in particular by Alberto Mazzola, Executive Director of the Community of European Railways (CER), who called for regional rail to be more prominently addressed at EU level, recalling that most passenger rail journeys in the EU are made at local and regional level.  

The chairman of the CoR's High-Level Group on European Democracy – Herman Van Rompuy, former President of the European Council – will lead a debate on 1 December on strengthening European democracy in the context of the Conference on the Future of Europe. 

​​​​Moving towards zero-pollution, making the EU Emission Trading System (ETS) and the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) work for EU cities and regions along with gender equality and climate change are three of the main topics discussed at the ENVE commission meeting on 23 and 24 November. The meeting hosted the award ceremony of the Transformative Action Awards 2021. The conclusions of the COP26 climate summit have been part of the discussions with members celebrating the Glasgow Climate Pact reference to 'the urgent need for multilevel and cooperative action' to tackle the climate crisis. 

​​2021 marks the fifth anniversary of the Transformative Action Award, which recognises ongoing or concluded Transformative Actions - inspired by the 15 pathways outlined in the Basque Declaration - that accelerate the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals and the Paris Climate Agreement, in addition to spearheading the socio-cultural, socio-economic and technological transformation of societies. The Transformative Action Award is organised by ICLEI Europe, the Basque Country and the City of Aalborg with the support of the European Committee of the Regions (CoR) and the European Investment Bank. 

The European Committee of the Regions' Commission for Natural Resources (NAT) met on 22 November to discuss and adopt a draft opinion on the EU Long-term vision for rural areas, which should take into account the specific needs of European territories and the differences among them. During the meeting, members also presented their expectations and hope for tourism in the next decade and exchanged views on the future EU State aid rules for agriculture, rural areas and forestry; on the Health Emergency Response Authority ​and on the new EU Forest Strategy for 2030. 

The transfer of more powers and funds to local government – coupled with specific efforts to improve efficiency, transparency, and accountability – have boosted public trust and made possible significant increases in investment in public services in Ukraine, leaders of local-government associations and city mayors told the European Committee of the Regions on 18 November. 

We are pleased to share the third edition of the COP26 Glasgow Chronicles series, bringing you a summary of the activities - and updates on the negotiations, that the members of the European Committee of the Regions delivered during the second week of COP26, the 26th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) that was hosted by the UK in Glasgow from 31 October to 13 November 2021. On the closing day, the CoR published a COP26 political declaration endorsed by several partners. The COP26 conclusions are gathered in the Glasgow Climate Pact. Following the end of Glasgow climate talks, the LGMA constituency, gathering subnational governments in the UNFCCC system, published that 'Multilevel action is the beacon of hope to keep the 1.5 degree goal alive'. Already in July 2017, the CoR published that 'Cities and regions can bridge the emissions gap'. 

Het Europees Comité van de Regio’s (CvdR) heeft de inschrijving geopend voor de editie 2023 van de onderscheiding voor de meest ondernemende regio van Europa, die in het teken staat van “Ondernemerschap en veerkrachtige gemeenschappen”. Regio’s, steden en andere gemeenten met een strategie om kleine en middelgrote ondernemingen de komende twee jaar te ondersteunen kunnen naar de onderscheiding meedingen. Inzenden is mogelijk t/m 29 maart 2022. 

De toekomst van de Europese democratie vereist een permanente dialoog tussen de burgers en hun verkozen vertegenwoordigers en een duidelijk besef van de noodzaak van een grotere betrokkenheid bij het Europese project op elk bestuursniveau. Dit is een van de belangrijkste conclusies van de werkzaamheden van de CvdR-groep op hoog niveau inzake Europese democratie, voorgezeten door Herman Van Rompuy, voormalig voorzitter van de Europese Raad, en die vandaag werden gepresenteerd in de commissie Burgerschap, Governance, Institutionele en Externe Aangelegenheden (CIVEX) van het CvdR. 

This year's edition of the ESPAS Annual Conference, co-hosted by the EP and the EC, will see a high-level contribution by former CoR President Markku Markkula (FI/EPP). The ESPAS 2021 Conference will be held online on 18-19 November, under the headline 'Shaping Europe's future: Global trends and strategic choices.' 

​After two weeks of negotiations, the latest COP26 conclusions highlight the urgent need for multilevel and cooperative action. The reference was deleted in previous drafts, but reinserted after the European Committee of the Regions (CoR), speaking on behalf of the Local Governments and Municipal Authorities Constituency, called for it to be included during the COP26 stocktaking plenary session on 11 November, the cities and regions day at COP26. The latest draft also urges Parties to further integrate adaptation into local, national and regional planning and recognise the important role of non-Party stakeholders in contributing to the goals of the Paris Agreement. Looking ahead to the COP27, a coalition of international networks – led by the CoR and representing cities and regions worldwide – today adopted a political declaration in support of further strengthening multilevel collaboration as a prerequisite to limit temperature rise to 1.5°C by the end of the century. 

​The event took place on 12 November 2021 in fully remote format, co-organised by CEI and the Union of Municipalities of Montenegro (UOM). Roberto Ciambetti (IT/ECR), President of the Regional Council of Veneto and Co-Chair of the Joint Consultative Committee between the CoR and Montenegro, represented the Committee of the Regions. 

Joint Consultative Committee between the European Committee of the Regions and Montenegro held its 16th meeting on 3 November 2021, in Brussels-based hybrid format, under the joint leadership of its two Co-Chairs, Roberto Ciambetti (IT/ECR), President of the Regional Council of Veneto, and Aleksandar Kašćelan, Mayor of Cetinje. 

Apostolos Tzitzikostas, President of the European Committee of the Regions and Governor of the region of Central Macedonia, spoke on 9 November at the Berlin Conference organised every year by the Stiftung Zukunft Berlin to mark the anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989. The theme of this year's conference is "Europe Bottom Up!". 

​We are pleased to share the first of the COP26 Glasgow Chronicles series, intended to bring you updates on the activities and key messages that the members of the European Committee of the Regions are delivering at COP26, be that remotely or from Glasgow. Please click here to download the CoR official delegation and key messages to COP26. Here is our dedicated COP26 web portal. 

We are pleased to share the second of the COP26 Glasgow Chronicles series, bringing you updates on the activities and key messages that the members of the European Committee of the Regions are delivering at COP26. This second issue includes major COP26 developments and new pledges and additional press coverage. 

The European Committee of the Regions (CoR) and the European Commission jointly held the third meeting of the Broadband Platform on 27 October. Members learnt about the latest policy initiatives on digital transformation, such as the Digital Policy Programme, the Digital Principles, the European Green Deal and digitalization, the National Recovery and Resilience Plans funding connectivity, the security dimension of 5G and the EDIH network. CoR Members directly informed Commission's experts about the digital challenges they experience at local and regional level.  

​​The Councillor of the French Finistère Departmental Council, Nathalie Sarrabezolles (FR/PES), was elected new chair of the Commission for Territorial Cohesion Policy and EU Budget (COTER) of the European Committee of the Regions (CoR). During the meeting, members of the COTER adopted an opinion on the gender dimension of cohesion policy drafted by Donatella Porzi (IT/PES), and debated on cohesion as an overall value of the EU within the framework of the Conference on the Future of Europe.  

The development of innovation ecosystems and the management of changes to the tourism industry will be critical to the long-term recovery of Mediterranean economies from the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, according to local and regional politicians as well as representatives from the United Nations, the Union for the Mediterranean, and the European Union. 

Tijdens de plenaire zitting van de Conferentie over de toekomst van Europa , die dit weekend in het Europees Parlement in Straatsburg werd gehouden, werd de stem van meer dan een miljoen lokale en regionale gekozen politici dankzij een uitgebreide delegatie duidelijker dan ooit gehoord. In totaal woonden 30 regionale en lokale afgevaardigden de tweede plenaire vergadering van de Conferentie over de toekomst van Europa bij. 

CIVEX secretariat is delighted to report on the commission's contribution to this year's edition of the European Week of Regions and Cities - the largest European event dedicated to our regions and cities and their optimal development. #EURegionsWeek took place from the 11 October to the 14 October 2021 and featured three events organised by the CIVEX commission.  

Take part in the public consultation for more responsible short-term accommodation rental services The ECON commission warmly encourages you to participate in the European Commission's ongoing public consultation on short-term accommodation rentals to get your voice heard. 

Efforts by the European Union to involve regions and cities in counter-terrorism efforts over the past five years have been welcomed by the European Committee of the Regions in a set of recommendations that, as well as calling for a continued deepening of cooperation, urge extra support for law-enforcement efforts at the EU level and the extension of support for the victims of terrorism. 

De lokale en regionale leiders debatteerden vandaag met Dubravka Šuica, vicevoorzitter van de Europese Commissie voor Democratie en Demografie. De leden van het Europees Comité van de Regio’s (CvdR) prezen de Commissie, die zich ervoor inzet dat de regio’s, steden en dorpen tijdens de Conferentie voldoende inspraak krijgen. Ook wezen zij er ten overvloede op dat het debat over de toekomst van Europa via de lokale en regionale overheden ook de burgers moet bereiken en dat moet worden ingespeeld op hun verwachtingen. 

In an opinion adopted by the plenary session today, the European Committee of the Regions (CoR) welcomes the EU LGBTIQ Equality Strategy but warns that we are at the same time experiencing regression in respect of EU values, with some authorities continuously using anti-LGBTIQ rhetoric and even adopting discriminatory policies and legislation. The assembly of EU's regions and cities argues that European funds should not be granted to governments promoting structural discrimination mechanisms against LGBTIQ people and suggests providing more financial support to equality and diversity programmes at local level. 

Members of the European Parliament and the European Committee of the Regions (CoR) discussed with Commissioner for Cohesion and Reforms Elisa Ferreira the new programming period 2021-27 and the territorial aspects of the Recovery and Resilience Facility (RRF). They asked the European Commission to ensure the full respect of the partnership principle and the multilevel governance, and to provide recommendations to Member States and relevant managing authorities to improve partnership processes. They also called on Member States to guarantee a broader territorial implementation of the RRF, and on the European Commission to guarantee that the National Recovery Plans will be built in full respect of articles 175 and 174 TFEU and prioritise less developed and transition regions, as well as the Regions most impacted by the socio-economic repercussions of the COVID-19 crisis. 

At the event "Cities fostering democracy in the European Union: Urban perspectives for the Conference on the Future of Europe", co-organised by the European Committee of the Regions, Eurocities and the Council of European Municipalities and Regions (CEMR), local and regional leaders set out their expectations for the Conference on the Future of Europe, and shared their experiences on strengthening local democracy. Examples of innovative participative exercises, green projects, digital services to citizens or integration of communities were discussed. The event led to the adoption of conclusions which will feed the Conference on the future of Europe. 

Een nieuw EU-systeem voor de bescherming van geografische aanduidingen voor industriële en ambachtelijke producten, dat gebaseerd is op het succesvolle model van geografische aanduidingen voor landbouwproducten en levensmiddelen, zal zowel de ambachtslieden als de lokale economieën ten goede komen. Het nieuwe systeem zal de rechtsbescherming van uitmuntende producten versterken, namaak helpen bestrijden en banen creëren en behouden. Het voorstel staat in een advies van Martine Pinville, lid van de regioraad van Nouvelle-Aquitaine, dat op woensdag 13 oktober met algemene stemmen is goedgekeurd door de voltallige vergadering van het Europees Comité van de Regio’s (CvdR). 

Janez Janša, Prime Minister of Slovenia, currently holding the Presidency of the EU Council, remotely attended the Plenary of the European Committee of the Regions (CoR), discussing with regional and local authorities how to address local communities' needs. He told local and regional politicians that the top priority of his country's presidency of the Council of the European Union is to stop the pandemic and support the EU's economic recovery. Prime Minister Janša also thanked the European Committee of the Regions for excellent cooperation during the first half of the Presidency and for a great discussion in June already when State Secretary Gašper Dovžan presented the Presidency priorities to the Bureau, as well as congratulating the Committee members on their flagship "European Week of Regions and Cities" event. 

Jari Andersson, chair of Sastamala City Council (FI/EPP), has drafted an opinion urging the EU Member States to accelerate implementation of the EU strategy on the rights of the child and the European Child Guarantee. Mr Andersson's opinion was adopted at the plenary session of the Committee of the Regions (CoR) on Tuesday 12 October. The opinion underlines that regions and municipalities play an important role in combating child poverty and exploitation and preventing exclusion. 

Het Europees Comité van de Regio’s heeft een resolutie over de COP26 aangenomen waarin het zijn klimaateisen uiteenzet, twee weken vóór de VN-klimaatonderhandelingen in Glasgow. Nu de wereld oog in oog staat met ongekende hittegolven, overstromingen, orkanen en een stijgende zeespiegel roepen de lokale leiders van de EU de VN en de nationale regeringen op om de terugdringing van de uitstoot van broeikasgassen (BKG) door steden, lokale regeringen en regio’s wereldwijd officieel te erkennen, te monitoren en aan te moedigen. Een hogere klimaatambitie, transparantie en verantwoordingsplicht bij het terugdringen van de uitstoot van BKG en klimaatfinanciering voor de meest kwetsbaren zijn de drie belangrijkste aspecten die in Glasgow aan de orde komen . 

Op de Internationale Dag voor rampenrisicovermindering heeft het Europees Comité van de Regio’s (CvdR) tijdens een debat met Mami Mizutori , speciaal vertegenwoordiger van de secretaris-generaal van de VN voor rampenrisicovermindering, en Janez Lenarčič , Europees commissaris voor Crisisbeheersing, besproken hoe de weerbaarheid bij rampen kan worden opgevoerd. Leiders op verschillende niveaus wisselden persoonlijke ervaringen uit over de gevolgen van recente rampen en de respons daarop, en wezen op het belang van een gecoördineerde aanpak om risico’s te beperken. Lokale en regionale leiders riepen de VN en de EU op om samen met het CvdR de paraatheid van regio’s en steden te monitoren, te evalueren en te versterken. Het opbouwen van lokale, regionale en nationale veerkracht via robuuste structuren voor risicobeheer, ondersteund door technische en financiële maatregelen, is essentieel om de gevolgen van rampen binnen de perken te houden.