The Romanian Prime Minister, Nicolae Ciucă, the President of the European Committee of the Regions (CoR), Apostolos Tzitzikostas, and the Mayor of Cluj-Napoca, Emil Boc, exchanged views today with young people in Cluj-Napoca on Europe's future and on the role youth can play in the democratic process at EU, national and regional/local level. The local dialogue " Europe unfolds in Transylvania: Building on democracy, education and youth – What's next after the CoFE " took place as a follow up to the Conference on the Future of Europe and is the 4th EU-local dialogue hosted in Cluj-Napoca. 

​​​​​The European Committee of the Regions welcomes the European Union’s pledge today to help Ukraine rebuild its cities, villages and infrastructure. As the voice of regions and municipalities within the EU and given our long-standing cooperation with our Ukrainian partners, our Committee is ready to firmly engage in the reconstruction process. We consider that the direct involvement of EU and Ukrainian local authorities must be the building block of the reconstruction. We stand ready to launch an Alliance to provide Ukraine’s regional and local authorities with the practical support that they will need over the coming years to rebuild Ukraine in Europe. 

A Comissão anunciou hoje terem sido selecionadas 63 regiões, sete cidades e quatro Estados-Membros para o projeto-piloto de parcerias para a inovação regional, uma iniciativa desenvolvida em conjunto com o Comité das Regiões. Os participantes na ação-piloto estão abertos a partilhar boas práticas e a testar e desenvolver conjuntamente ferramentas para mobilizar múltiplas fontes de financiamento e políticas, bem como para conectar os programas regionais e nacionais às iniciativas da UE em prol das transformações ecológica e digital. Estas parcerias deverão contribuir para o novo Programa de Inovação para a Europa, em cujo âmbito a inovação impulsiona a transformação em prol da sustentabilidade, conectando estratégias locais a iniciativas a nível da UE. 

On 3-4 May a delegation of the European Committee of the Regions visited the scientific site of the Joint Research Centre of the European Commission based in Ispra, Italy. It was the first official visit of a delegation from a European institution to JRC Ispra after the Covid break. 

Upon the invitation of the Regional Hub of Alentejo, the European Committee of the Regions' Network of Regional Hubs (RegHub) organised its first external workshop, in the World Heritage City of Évora (Alentejo, Portugal) in the framework of the EU Smart Communities Summit. 

​Markku Markkula (FI/EPP), member of Espoo City Council and President of the Helsinki Region, has drafted the European Committee of the Regions' opinion on European missions. The opinion was adopted at the CoR plenary session on 27-28 April. In this interview, Markkula explains how the missions can contribute to the EU's efforts to accelerate the green and digital transitions and move towards climate neutralit 

At the occasion of the 5th United Nations' International Day of Living Together in Peace on 16 May 2022, the European Committee of the Regions would like to encourage you to watch the documentary film “All of Us” (Nous Tous by Pierre Pirard, 2021) and to sign the Universal Declaration of Living Together in Peace. 

Would you like to organise a side event of the #EURegionsWeek 2022? The side events are related to the thematic priorities of the #EURegionsWeek 2022 and they must be organised between 10 October and 10 November 2022 in a hybrid or digital format. 

Facilitating cities and regions’ access to finance and boost investment opportunities in sustainable energy and climate action is part of the joint Action Plan of the European Committee of the Regions and the European Investment Bank.  

​​Economic support and long-term financial programmes are needed to overcome ongoing raising energy prices and inflation across Europe caused by the war in Ukraine. Members of the Commission for Economic Policy of the European Committee of the Regions (CoR) underlined the urgency of further collaboration between local and regional authorities to become independent from Russian trade and energy supplies.  

​Local and regional authorities spearheading the implementation of Local Green Deals and civil society organisations advancing the sustainable urban transformation in Europe can now apply and win 10,000 EUR. 

The European Committee of the Regions and European Commission held the 4th meeting of the Broadband Platform on 6 May, focusing on ways to improve the digital infrastructure in the European Union by adding the concept of digital cohesion to the ones of social, economic and territorial cohesion recognised by the Treaties. 

​The European Committee of the Regions, Régions de France and the Grand Est region discussed on 9 May with 200 young people their expectations of the Conference on the future of Europe and how to encourage the participation of young people in public debate 

A invasão brutal da Ucrânia fez-nos recordar que os 27 Estados-Membros da UE, apesar das suas diferenças, estão vinculados por um compromisso para com a paz, os valores fundamentais comuns, a democracia e a solidariedade. No entanto, a confiança dos cidadãos na UE permanece reduzida: os recentes resultados das eleições presidenciais francesas, com 41% dos votos a favor da extrema‑direita, são motivo de alívio, não de regozijo. Hoje, no Dia da Europa, após um ano de debates realizados no âmbito da Conferência sobre o Futuro da Europa, chegou o momento de refletir honestamente sobre a forma de reformar o funcionamento da UE para que esta se torne mais eficaz e mais reativa e se aproxime mais das pessoas que serve. 

The Publications Office of the EU has created a visual booklet in all EU languages to help Ukrainian and English speakers overcome the first communication barriers. It is proving very popular in classrooms around Europe. 

On 29 and 30 April, the Conference on the Future of Europe Plenary session met for the last time and agreed to a set of 49 proposals which include more than 300 measures on how to achieve them, across 9 topics - from European democracy to climate change via economic growth and jobs,- based on 178 recommendations from the European Citizens' Panels, input from the National Panels and events, and 43 734 contributions on 16 274 ideas recorded on the multilingual digital platform.  

The European Parliament has established a new award scheme, the European Democracy Sites, run by the House of European History. For 2022, the goal is to nominate one site per member state of the European Union. The scheme will support the visibility of a historical site and its efforts to connect with other historical sites and educational institutions.  

A 27 e 28 de abril de 2022, o Comité das Regiões Europeu (CR) acolheu sete novos membros portugueses, que tiveram oportunidade de participar na sua primeira sessão plenária. A invasão da Ucrânia pela Rússia e a crise energética atual estiveram no centro da ordem de trabalhos. 

While the EU is focusing on reducing its energy dependence from Russian fossil fuels through REPowerEU,cities and regions remain crucial to speed up the deployment of renewable energies and improve energy efficiency while ensuring citizens' engagement and support through open participatory processes. In an event organised by the European Committee of the Regions (CoR) and the European Commission (EC), local and regional leaders have shared their experiences in delivering the European Green Deal locally – including through EU flagship initiatives such as the Covenant of Mayors and the European Climate Pact . The meeting also included a presentation of Green Deal Going Local , the CoR campaign to place cities and regions at the heart of the EU's transition towards climate-neutrality.  

On 9 May, we mark the anniversary of the historic Schuman Declaration, which laid the foundation for what is now the European Union. Given Russia's unprovoked and unjustified military aggression against Ukraine, Europe Day 2022 is an even more important moment to reaffirm our attachment to peace, showcase our unity and solidarity with Ukraine and the Ukrainian people and stand up for universal values, like freedom and democracy in a rules-based global order. 

The European Committee of the Regions has called for the European Union to create a "vulnerability scoreboard" as part of efforts to increase the resilience of regions. Recent crises demonstrate that health is not only an internal policy but an important element of Europe's geopolitical security. Achieving strategic autonomy in health means being able to protect its citizens against all types of disasters, to foresight and analyse threats and to act swiftly when a crisis arises. 

The energy crisis and Russia's invasion of Ukraine highlight the importance of alternative energy sources and rapid decarbonisation in the EU in order to ensure greater environmental justice in cities and municipalities, and to avoid inequalities caused by energy crises. By adopting an opinion at the CoR plenary session on 28 April calling for the Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) and the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) to be adapted to the needs of EU cities and regions, the members of the European Committee of the Regions (CoR) sent a clear signal. ​ 

APlataforma das Partes Interessadas na Poluição Zero, uma iniciativa conjunta do Comité das Regiões Europeu (CR) e da Comissão Europeia (Comissão), realizou a sua segunda reunião em 25 de abril, centrando-se na saúde e noPlano de Ação para a Poluição Zeroenquanto impulsionador essencial da redução da poluição atmosférica, da água e do solo e das desigualdades de saúde na UE. 

Hundred European cities were selected on Thursday by the European Commission to participate in the Climate Neutral and Smart Cities Mission, with the aim of achieving climate neutrality by 2030 through the development of smart solutions. In addition to EUR 360 million of Horizon Europe funding for 2022 and 2023, the cities involved will benefit from tailor-made advice and assistance, as well as opportunities to participate in large innovation actions and pilot projects. The European Committee of the Regions' rapporteur Markku Markkula, Member of Espoo City Council, considers this as a huge opportunity for these cities. 

Os órgãos de poder local e regional da UE são o nível de governo mais próximo dos cidadãos, motivo pelo qual são fundamentais para promover os valores europeus e para incentivar os cidadãos a participarem nos processos democráticos. Os dirigentes locais e regionais concordam que é urgente fomentar a democracia europeia através da educação, indo ao encontro das recomendações feitas pelos cidadãos no âmbito daConferência sobre o Futuro da Europa. Foi esta a mensagem principal do debate sobre o tema «Promover os valores democráticos europeus através da educação para fomentar a cidadania europeia», realizado durante a reunião plenária doComité das Regiões Europeu(CR) em 28 de abril. Na mesma data, os membros do CR adotaram o Parecer – Reforço da democracia e da integridade eleitoral, que salienta a necessidade de uma participação aberta, equitativa, pluralista e democrática a nível local e regional. 

Maroš Šefčovič, vice-presidente da Comissão Europeia, congratulou-se com a ambição do Comité das Regiões e dos seus membros de cooperar com o Reino Unido a nível local e regional, dentro dos limites do tipo de Brexit escolhido pelo Governo do Reino Unido. 

Os presidentes de município e de região europeus estão a colaborar com os seus homólogos ucranianos para organizar o transporte e a estadia de crianças provenientes das comunidades locais ucranianas mais afetadas pela guerra. O projeto foi apresentado na reunião plenária do Comité das Regiões Europeu (CR), a assembleia da UE dos órgãos de poder local e regional. 

The New European Bauhaus initiative, which connects the European Green Deal to our daily lives and living spaces, is as a key opportunity to harness the creative potential of regions and municipalities, provide jobs locally and create accepted and sustainable solutions, the European Committee of the Regions believes. The opinion drafted by Cork City Councillor Kieran McCarthy (IE/EA) points out, however, that this requires strong local and regional engagement, which is why the European Commission must ensure that cities and regions are at the centre of the initiative and receive technical assistance and appropriate funding. In this regard, the Commission has confirmed it is developing a voucher scheme as proposed in McCarthy's opinion. 

The European Committee of the Regions (CoR) has underlined the major flaws of the current European economic governance and said that it is imperative to avoid new austerity policies in the aftermath of the COVID-19 crisis and the war in Ukraine. In recommendations adopted at the plenary session, local and regional leaders called for the establishment of a "golden co-financing rule" for structural funds and welcomed the steps made so far towards a fairer tax system, including a proposal for a global minimum level of taxation for multinational groups in the Union. They expressed concern, however, that the new rules could increase red tape for businesses.  

In an opinion drafted by Emil Boc (RO/EPP), Mayor of Cluj-Napoca, the European Committee of the Regions (CoR) underlines the importance of anchoring the European strategy for universities at local level. It points out that universities have a crucial role in addressing global challenges: by generating new research knowledge and promoting new innovation, they support the green and digital transitions and the EU's other key policy goals. Universities can also provide solutions and tools for tackling some of the major problems facing the EU, such as brain drain and rural exodus. 

A gestão sustentável e eficiente da agricultura e da silvicultura é crucial para preservar e proteger a paisagem, manter as economias rurais vivas, travar o despovoamento e, assim, combater as disparidades de desenvolvimento. Os dirigentes locais e regionais apelam à União Europeia para que apoie as PME e as microempresas nas zonas rurais, nomeadamente através de procedimentos simplificados para as regras em matéria de auxílios estatais. 

A crise energética causada pela invasão da Ucrânia por Putin exacerbou a necessidade de a UE eliminar progressivamente a sua dependência do petróleo, do gás e do carvão. Tendo em conta a situação geopolítica atual e as suas consequências nos mercados da energia, o Comité das Regiões Europeu – a assembleia da UE dos dirigentes locais e regionais eleitos – adotou uma resolução sobre o plano REPowerEU, enquanto contributo para a estratégia energética da Comissão Europeia que visa alcançar a independência em relação à importação de energia russa até 2030. As ameaças atuais à segurança e ao aprovisionamento energéticos da Europa não podem desviá-la da transição rumo à neutralidade climática, salientam os dirigentes locais. 

At its Plenary Session of 27 April, the CoR adopted an opinion on Strengthening the EU-UK relationship at subnational level and remedying the territorial impact of the UK's withdrawal from the EU, presented by rapporteur Michael Murphy (IE/EPP), Councillor, Tipperary County Council, Mayor of Clonmel Borough District. 

Karl-Heinz Lambertz, coordinator of the Subsidiarity Steering Group at the European Committee of the Regions, addressed the Interparliamentary Committee Meeting with National Parliaments on "The EU Subsidiarity Mechanism", which the European Parliament's JURI Committee held in Brussels on 25 April 2022. 

Durante um debate com os dirigentes regionais e locais ucranianos, a 27 de abril, o Comité das Regiões Europeu (CR) defendeu «sanções severas contra a Rússia», exigiu a «libertação imediata dos autarcas e funcionários públicos ucranianos sequestrados pelas forças de ocupação russas» e colocou os conhecimentos especializados das regiões e municípios da UE à disposição dos órgãos de poder local e regional da Ucrânia, para os apoiar nos seus esforços de reconstrução. Esta mensagem foi mais tarde transmitida pelo Presidente do CR, Apostolos Tzitzikostas, ao Presidente da Ucrânia, Volodymyr Zelensky, no Congresso dos Poderes Locais e Regionais da Ucrânia. 

Ukrainian local leaders will address the European Committee of the Regions' plenary on 27 April from 1:30pm-4pm (CET). From Ukraine, the mayors of Kyiv, Lviv, Mariupol and Melitopol, as well the leader of Kharkiv District Council will join the EU's local and regional leaders to explain the current situation facing their cities and how the EU, its regions and cities can best help in providing humanitarian support and protecting Ukrainian refugees. The European Commissioners for regional policy, Elisa Ferreira, and crisis management, Janez Lenarčič, as well as the Mayor of Rome, will also join the debate, which will be streamed live. The Committee will then adopt a resolution calling for the immediate release of kidnapped Ukrainian mayors and tools to be put at the disposal of local authorities to help them to shelter refugees. 

In times when the resilience of our common European project is put to the test by several crises, the need to act to defend and promote our European values is now more pressing than ever before. The CoR has launched an online map of activities and experiences constituting a first concrete step towards a community of best practices at local and regional level to promote European values through education and culture.  

​In the aftermath of the Russian aggression to Ukraine, on 25 February the Commission launched the first version of the webpage 'EU solidarity with Ukraine', with immediate, strong messages on the measures adopted by the EU in reaction to the aggression, and to express the EU support to Ukraine and its people. The page now continues to provide up-to-date information in all languages to citizens, international partners and the media, adding content and resources around-the-clock. 

The Team Europe Partnerships Portal (TEPP) is a new platform that will support partner countries in finding innovative and effective tools to achieve their Sustainable Development Goals, and build inclusive and sustainable societies among all Team Europe Actors. 

The SEDEC Commission of the European Committee of the Regions and the European Commission's Directorate-General for Education, Youth, Sport and Culture (DG EAC) are inviting local and regional authorities to share their experiences on digital education and skills through this survey​. The deadline for submitting your answers is 23 May 2022. 

​The 12th edition of the Week of Innovative Regions in Europe (WIRE) will be held at Université Paris-Saclay under the French Presidency of the Council of the European Union on 11, 12 & 13 May 2022. The theme of this year's edition is: "Towards a leading Europe in breakthrough innovation: unleashing the potential of regions". 

Members of the European Committee of the Regions express satisfaction with the Conference on the Future of Europe as recommendations take shape. European citizens' call for “more transparency, inclusiveness, and participation" can be partially answered by involving local and regional politicians more in the work of the European Union, the president of the European Committee of the Regions (CoR) said on 8 April. 

​​​​We call for immediate release of all Ukrainian mayors and local leaders who are protecting their communities from Russian army's atrocities. Abductions and violences against them show that our democracy and core values are under attack. We must stand united in solidarity!  

A strong European initiative is needed to make fresh money and concrete means available to provide long-term support for regions and cities who are welcoming Ukrainian refugees fleeing the war. The request came up during a debate between local leaders and representatives from the European Commission, at the meeting of the Commission for Territorial Cohesion Policy and EU Budget ( COTER ). CoR members welcomed the initiatives taken so far by the EU institutions to cope with the emergency, and in particular the simplified procedures allowing regions and cities to redirect cohesion funds towards initiatives for refugees. However, several members, in particular from Polish regions, underlined the need for fresh money as the cohesion resources for the 2014-20 period have already been all allocated or spent. 

Common rules and fast-tracked access are needed to maximize the impact of €17 billion EU support package on the ground: this is the message delivered by leaders of the six political groups in the European Committee of the Regions at an emergency meeting near Poland's border with Ukraine on 6 April attended by Apostolos Tzitzikostas, President of the European Committee of the Regions, Elisa Ferreira, European Commissioner for Cohesion and Reforms, Younous Omarjee, chairman of the European Parliament's committee on regional development, and Tetiana Yehorova-Lutsenko, chairwoman of the Kharkiv District Council. The meeting was hosted by the president of the Podkarpackie Region, Władysław Ortyl, and the mayor of Rzeszów, Konrad Fijołek. 

Os dirigentes locais e regionais dos territórios insulares europeus salientaram a necessidade de prestar mais atenção às ilhas nos debates da Conferência sobre o Futuro da Europa, bem como a inexistência de uma estratégia a longo prazo para estes territórios da UE, a fim de diminuir as disparidades regionais. 

The need for assistance and support to all people displaced by the conflict in the Ukraine and giving them access to the labour market, housing and other social services was the main message during a debate in the meeting of the Commission for Social Policy, Education, Employment, Research and Culture (SEDEC) of the European Committee of the Regions (CoR) on 1 April. CoR members highlighted their support for Ukrainian refugees and underlined the need for a properly managed social support. 

The European Union has turned to its regions and cities to help support the millions of Ukrainian refugees fleeing war. Following the adoption of a 10-point strategy that aims to protect refugees, the EU is putting in place practical, logistical and advocacy support. To help the humanitarian efforts, the European Committee of the Regions launched an Info-Support Hub to support regions and cities welcoming displaced people  

Up to ten million Ukrainians have been displaced by the war, the United Nations said on 23 March, of which 3.5 million have fled the country. More than half the country’s children have now been forced to find new homes – 2.5 million within Ukraine and another 1.8 million outside Ukraine. The strain on the social services provided by local and regional authorities in Ukraine, in neighbouring countries and – increasingly – across the EU is colossal. 

On 23 September 2022 the European Committee of the Regions will award prizes for the best organic region, best organic city, and best bio-district on EU Organic Day.