During the 137th European Committee of the Regions (CoR) Plenary, that took place on 4-5 December in Brussels, regional and local leaders delivered their recommendations for the preparation of the next generation of cohesion programmes, which set the basis for cohesion policy implementation for the 2021-2027 period. In the opinion on "The challenges of metropolitan regions and their position in the future Cohesion Policy post 2020" , drafted by Juraj Droba (SK/ECR) , Chairman of Bratislava Self-Governing Region, the CoR called for increased recognition of the contribution of metropolitan regions (MRs) to the objectives of cohesion policy. The CoR also stresses that although MRS are seen as engines of Member States' economies, they have to address economic, fiscal and territorial challenges, while at the same coping with an expanding demand for quality public services and limited financial resources. 

Members of the European Committee of the Regions debated the Conference on the Future of Europe on 9 December, voicing support for a process of active listening to citizens and arguing that the conference should be accompanied by a broad shift towards a more transparent and open way of governance. They also called for cities and regions to be involved in the Conference, an argument supported by MEP Daniel Freund, coordinator of the Greens/EFA Group in the European Parliament's Committee on Constitutional Affairs (AFCO), who said that the involvement of regions and cities would be critical to the success of the Conference. 

The European Committee of the Regions (CoR) has set out its demands for the European Green Deal, which it believes must be met to reach climate neutrality by 2050. From energy to mobility, agriculture, biodiversity, digitalisation and the circular economy, the Committee argues that the Green Deal needs a clear action plan with measurable objectives, targeted actions, and appropriate funding, prepared together with local and regional authorities – if Europe is to respond to the climate emergency.  

The members of the European Committee of theRegions (CoR) discussed the European Commission'sannual Competition Policy Report during theirDecember plenary session in Brussels. The opinion drafted by Dominique Lévêque (FR/PES) calls for future legislation to account for themore complex state activity needed to unlockregions' full economic potential in the green anddigital transformation.  

W sprawozdaniu przyjętym 5 grudnia Europejski Komitet Regionów stwierdza, że Unia Europejska powinna pilnie włączyć władz lokalne i regionalne w przeciwdziałanie dezinformacji. Unijne zgromadzenie przedstawicieli samorządów lokalnych i regionalnych wezwało również UE do wywarcia większej presji na platformy mediów społecznościowych, by szybciej, skuteczniej i bardziej adekwatnie reagowały na dezinformację. 

W najbliższym dziesięcioleciu należy przeznaczyć znacznie więcej pieniędzy na partnerstwo Unii Europejskiej z sześcioma państwami leżącymi na jej wschodniej granicy, w tym z Ukrainą, stwierdził 5 grudnia Europejski Komitet Regionów. Sformułował on szereg zaleceń, w których wezwał UE do podjęcia większych starań, by korzyści płynące ze współpracy odczuwane były nie tylko w stolicach krajów partnerskich. Padło wiele konkretnych propozycji – zaapelowano między innymi o utworzenie akademii szkolącej urzędników samorządu lokalnego i regionalnego oraz o zwiększenie wsparcia dla lokalnych projektów transgranicznych.