​​International networks of Local Governments and Municipal Authorities (LGMA) Constituency have agreed to pursue common goals at the COP28 – 28th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) – which will take place from 30 November to 12 December 2023 in Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE). The position paper, which advocates for the recognition of the crucial role of subnational governments in limiting global temperature rise to 1.5°C, was presented today to the European audience at the meeting of the European Committee of the Regions' ENVE Commission in Málaga, Spain. 

Can Europe afford the Green Deal in the wake of a global pandemic and the ongoing war in Ukraine? What are the challenges ahead and how can local and regional politicians make a difference? In this interview, Joško Klisović (HR/PES), President of the Assembly of Zagreb, delves into the multifaceted field of the European Green Deal. As rapporteur for the CoR opinion "Towards a multilevel Green Deal governance: the revision of the Governance of the Energy Union and Climate Action regulation", Mr Klisović provides valuable perspectives on the transformative impact of the Green Deal on regions and cities, its relevance in changing global contexts, and the crucial role local and regional authorities play in its successful implementation. 

At the meeting held in Murcia, Spain, the President of the European Committee of the Regions (CoR) stressed the need for bold and transformative reform of Cohesion Policy to make it more agile, more transparent and more accessible to regions and cities. 

This is the latest edition of the Green Deal Funding Alert. It is a monthly newsletter that keeps you informed about funding opportunities and initiatives that support sustainable development and transition to climate neutrality. Read on to find out how your local government can benefit from these initiatives! 

Members of the CoR's Commission for Environment, Climate Change and Energy (ENVE) are gathering this week in Málaga, Spain. On Thursday, the first day of the meeting, members adopted two opinions on the governance of European Green Deal and on the European Hydrogen Bank, and had a discussion on the impact of the Green Deal in coastal areas. The two-day event is part of the official programme of the Spanish EU Council Presidency. 

A few days ahead of the informal meeting of EU ministers responsible for Cohesion Policy in Murcia (Spain), cities and regions put forward their first requests on how this crucial policy should look like in the future. A reformed Cohesion Policy must tackle emerging inequalities, be simpler and firmly rooted in EU territories. The current macroeconomic conditionality should be eliminated, and a new emergency mechanism for the use of funds should be created to give local administrators the flexibility to cope with unexpected crises. ​ 

Boosting cross-border cooperation, a more impactful Revision of the Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) and the future of Cohesion Policy post-2027 were amongst the main topics discussed during the meeting of the commission for Territorial cohesion policy and EU budget (COTER) of the European Committee of the Regions (CoR) on 26 September.  

A Comissão Europeia revelou hoje os vencedores da segunda edição dos Prémios Europeus de Produção Biológica, que promovem a excelência ao longo da cadeia de valor da agricultura biológica. Um júri composto por representantes do executivo da UE e do Comité das Regiões Europeu selecionou o município português de Idanha-a-Nova como o melhor distrito biológico da Europa. 

​The European Union's experiment in citizen-driven legislation, the Conference on the Future of Europe, needs to be followed through with "implementation, implementation, implementation" to show citizens that the proposals that emerged are being taken into account in the EU's future policies and institutional changes. 

Support for Ukraine dominated discussions of local and regional leaders from across the European Union when they met in the European Capital of Culture on 18-19 September, with strong calls for an increase in the EU's long-term funding for Ukraine to enable its reconstruction, strengthen its decentralisation process and support it along its path towards European accession.​​ 

Vasco Alves Cordeiro, presidente do Comité das Regiões Europeu, convida os responsáveis políticos eleitos a nível regional ou local nos Estados-Membros a aderirem à Rede Europeia de Conselheiros Regionais e Locais e a unirem esforços para aproximar a Europa das comunidades locais, tendo em vista as eleições europeias de 2024! 

​The reaction of the President of the European Committee of the Regions, Vasco Alves Cordeiro, to the State of the EU speech delivered by the President of the European Commission, Ursula Von der Leyen. "Ursula von der Leyen's State of the Union speech comes at a time, when people across many cities and regions in Europe need to cope with the consequences of rising costs, disasters and extreme weathers, and many more uncertainties. In Europe's cities and regions, people need to be offered perspectives with a visible, tangible support of the European Union.  

O Comité das Regiões Europeu, em conjunto com o Estado Livre da Saxónia, lançou hoje a Aliança Europeia das Regiões de Semicondutores - uma rede política de regiões empenhadas em reforçar a capacidade da Europa para produzir semicondutores e outros componentes, reduzindo a sua dependência de fornecimentos de países terceiros. A Aliança visa identificar e ajudar a eliminar os obstáculos ao desenvolvimento estratégico da indústria, melhorando o quadro jurídico, promovendo o investimento público e privado, apoiando a partilha de conhecimentos e o desenvolvimento de cadeias de valor fortes e resilientes. 

The EURegionsWeek side events have started on the 9th of September and will continue until the 9th of November 2023. Take a look and explore the more than 70 events about regional and urban policy.  

Eastern Partnership viewed as a cornerstone of EU relations with the region at a moment when war, pandemic, and economic transitions are testing cities' and regions' resilience and decentralisation processes. Local and regional governments in the Black Sea region and Caucasus need additional support as they try to cope with war and instability across the region, local and regional leaders said on 7 September at the annual meeting of the Conference of Regional and Local Authorities for the Eastern Partnership (CORLEAP).  

This is the latest edition of the Green Deal Funding Alert. It's a monthly newsletter that keeps you informed about funding opportunities and initiatives that support sustainable development and transition to climate neutrality. This edition focuses on climate adaptation. Read on to find out how your local government can benefit from these initiatives! 

European Committee of the Regions and National Conference of State Legislatures unite to strengthen subnational governments' role in the transatlantic agenda. The European Committee of the Regions (CoR) and the National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL) today marked their commitment to bolstering cooperation between subnational authorities in the European Union and the United States of America in the context of the Transatlantic Agenda. 

The monthly Green Deal Funding Alert gives you an overview of funding opportunities and initiatives that may be of interest to your city or region. This edition focuses on the LIFE Clean Energy Transition calls. 

The 21st edition of the EURegionsWeek under the motto New Challenges for Europe’s cohesion is ready to take off. Register now before the 30th of September. We'll see you in Brussels on 9-12 October 2023! 

The European Commission and the European Economic and Social Committee have launched the call for expression of interest to participate in the 8th meeting of the European Migration Forum, which will take place on 4 - 5 December 2023 in Brussels. 

Ahead of the participation on the UN High Level Political Forum on sustainable development, in New York, on 19 July, the European Commissioner for International Partnerships, Jutta Urpilainen and the President of the European Committee of the Regions, Vasco Alves Cordeiro, have addressed a joint letter to all members of the European Committee of the Regions inviting them to increase efforts at local and regional level in implementing the global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). 

The debate on the future of cohesion policy is already gathering momentum. EU funding has a major impact on the development at both regional and local level in Sweden. In light of this, SveReg – a Brussels based network made up of representatives from the Swedish city and regional offices – organised a conference. The aim was to share perspectives between local, regional and EU level on the key issues for the next programming period and how Swedish regions and municipalities want to contribute to shape the future of cohesion policy post-2027. 

My main concern is the potential detachment of Cohesion Policy from the citizens, losing the close link between EU support and the beneficiaries. We are observing a shift towards top-down EU or national policies that bypass regional authorities, contradicting the EU's multi-level governance and the subsidiarity principle. This trend makes Cohesion Policy disconnected from the citizens. Cohesion Policy is the only direct policy that brings the EU closer to its citizens, making it tangible and enhancing its legitimacy. 

More attention to local democracy and deeper rule-of-law reforms are needed. The European Committee of the Regions (CoR) has endorsed the European Commission's mixed assessment of reform progress in the western Balkans and Türkiye in 2022, adding requests for the EU to continue to sharpen its attention to the workings of local and regional authorities in countries seeking to join the EU. The CoR adopted the recommendations on 6 July at a plenary session addressed by the European commissioner in charge of enlargement policy, Olivér Várhelyi. 

Leading regional and local politicians from Ukraine told the European Alliance of Cities and Regions for the Reconstruction of Ukraine on 6 July that they are increasingly able to focus on recovery and reconstruction efforts rather than emergency humanitarian needs, and identified a range of areas – from de-mining to urban re-development and economic cooperation – where they are seeking international partners. 

Num debate realizado na sessão plenária, a 5 de julho, com o Comissário Europeu responsável pelo Orçamento e Administração, Johannes Hahn os membros do Comité das Regiões Europeu (CR) debateram a proposta de revisão intercalar do atual Quadro Financeiro Plurianual da União Europeia (QFP),. 

The EU's climate objectives will require an almost completely decarbonised electricity system by 2035, which is why regions and cities are urging the co-legislators to agree on an ambitious EU electricity market design. The European Committee of the Regions (CoR) points out that energy transition requires flexible, decentralised solutions, which must be supported by local and regional authorities. The opinion drafted by Josef Frey (DE/The Greens), Member of Baden-Württemberg State Parliament, was adopted at the CoR plenary session on 5 July. 

Na União Europeia, uma em cada oito mortes está associada à poluição do meio ambiente: só a poluição atmosférica é responsável todos os anos por quase 300 000 mortes prematuras na Europa. Num debate com o comissário Virginijus Sinkevičius, as regiões e os municípios da UE sublinharam o papel fundamental que desempenham na aplicação da legislação, das políticas e dos programas pertinentes em matéria de poluição e salientaram que os custos de uma política ambiciosa são largamente compensados pelos benefícios para a economia, a natureza, o clima e, em particular, a saúde. 

Num passo importante para o reforço da cooperação transatlântica a nível subnacional, o presidente da Conferência Nacional das Assembleias Legislativas Estaduais (NCSL) dos EUA discursou pela primeira vez numa reunião plenária do Comité das Regiões Europeu (CR). 

Delivering an inclusive digital and green transition of Europe’s industry is crucial for EU’s cohesion and climate ambitions. The EU’s policy to reduce reliance on imports of critical raw materials and increasing the manufacturing of net-zero industry technologies has an enormous impact on regions and cities. Specific challenges of regional and local economies and communities need to be taken into account to strengthen Europe’s competitiveness and productivity and at the same time avoid growing territorial disparities. These are the main messages of two opinions on the Critical Raw Materials Package and on the Net-Zero Industry Act adopted during the plenary session of the European Committee of the Regions (CoR) on 5-6 July. 

A significant workshop focusing on the Coexistence of Livestock Farming and Large Carnivores in Europe was jointly organized by the NAT and ENVE Commissions together with the Intergroup on Biodiversity, Hunting, Countryside of the European Parliament. This event aimed to address the growing challenges faced by shepherds and rural communities due to the increasing number of carnivores in EU Regions. By exploring potential solutions and best practices, the event sought to strike a balance between the protection of EU animal species and the resolution of conflicts at various levels. 

As pequenas e médias empresas (PME) europeias enfrentam desafios cada vez maiores resultantes das transições ecológica e digital em curso, bem como da guerra na Ucrânia. A sua competitividade e resiliência são, mais do que nunca, vitais para uma recuperação europeia mais inclusiva e sustentável. Através do prémioRegião Empreendedora Europeia(EER), o CR distinguiu, na edição de 2024, três regiões e municípios europeus pelas suas estratégias de empreendedorismo orientadas para as PME e a indústria que promovem o crescimento sustentável. 

There is currently a wide range of EU initiatives that provide opportunities for cities and regions to accelerate the green transition and facilitate the implementation of the European Green Deal. A new opinion adopted at the European Committee of the Regions' plenary session on 6 July suggests that their impact on the ground could be increased by improving synergies and coordination between the initiatives, embedding them into the national frameworks while providing more targeted support to local and regional authorities. 

Numa reunião bilateral realizada hoje (5 de julho), o Presidente do Comité das Regiões Europeu, Vasco Alves Cordeiro, e a Presidente da Comissão Europeia, Ursula von der Leyen, falaram sobre o papel que a Política de Coesão desempenha para as regiões e municípios e sobre o futuro do financiamento desta política, enquanto principal política de investimento de longo prazo da UE. O apoio do Comité das Regiões Europeu à reconstrução sustentável das regiões e cidades da Ucrânia foi também debatido pelos dois presidentes. 

One year ahead of the next European elections, local and regional representatives have stressed the risk posed by disinformation to our democratic societies. As the level of government closest to citizens, regional and local authorities have a crucial role to play in the European Union's efforts to defend democracy, Committee of the Regions President Vasco Alves Cordeiro (PT/PES) stressed during a debate with European Commission Vice-President for Values and Transparency Věra Jourova and with Raphaël Glucksmann, Chair of the European Parliament's Special Committee on foreign interference in democratic processes. Immediately after the debate, the assembly of local elected politicians adopted the opinion on the role of local and regional authorities in combating disinformation and foreign information, manipulation and interferenceby Gustaw Marek Brzezin(PL/EPP),President of Warmińsko-Mazurskie Region. 

Committee of Regions in exchange with top level of European Commission, discussing policy priorities and implications for regions and cities one year ahead of European elections.​​ The President of the European Committee of the Regions, Vasco Alves Cordeiro, will meet the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, on 5 July to discuss the future of cohesion, the review of the EU's long-term budget, and next year's elections to the European Parliament. 

​Recognising formally the role of subnational governments in global climate negotiations, accelerating and scaling up climate action by working across all levels of governance and sectors, and providing direct EU financing and technical assistance to cities and regions are key demands of the European Committee of the Regions' draft opinion "UNFCCC COP28: the role of subnational authorities in keeping climate ambition on track", which was adopted at the Commission for Environment, Climate Change and Energy (ENVE) on 29 June after an exchange of views with MEPs Lídia Pereira and Maria Spyraki. 

The monthly Green Deal Funding Alert gives you an overview of funding opportunities and initiatives that may be of interest to your city or region. In this edition, we have highlighted three programmes that offer financial support, guidance and project assistance to European cities and regions as well as companies. Read on to find out how you can benefit from these initiatives! 

On 22 June, the European Commission awarded 15 local initiatives across Europe with the New European Bauhaus prize. Tanya Hristova (BG/EPP), Mayor of Gabrovo and Chair of the Commission for Social Policy, Employment, Education, Research and Culture (SEDEC), represented the CoR at the New European Bauhaus in Regions and Cities event where she participated in a high-level panel discussion alongside Elisa Ferreira, Commissioner for Regional Policy. 

Ukraine's local and regional governments should emerge stronger and more effective from Ukraine's recovery and reconstruction process, a representative of the European Union's cities and regions has said at the start of a landmark international conference intended to mobilise support and funding for Ukraine's recovery and reconstruction. 

Fostering mentoring and creating a European Mentoring Label, stopping gender-based violence, promoting children’s rights and developing a European sports model were among the key topics discussed at the meeting of the Commission for Social Policy, Education, Employment, Research and Culture (SEDEC) on June 21. 

Patrick Molinoz, vice-president of Bourgogne-Franche-Comté in charge of European policies and international actions, was on 20 June elected president of the citizenship, governance, institutional and external affairs commission (CIVEX) of the European Committee of the Regions.  

Upon the invitation of West Pomerania (Poland), the Network of Regional Hubs held its second external workshop, in the city of Szczecin on 13 and 14 June 2023. 

The thematic seminar of the Knowledge Exchange Platform (KEP 2.0) 'Open Science for higher quality, more efficient and impactful research – opportunities for Regions and Cities' was held on June 15, with the aim to highlight how providing open access to research results and data can deliver solutions to major societal challenges and support regional development. 

​The external seminar of the CoR's Commission for Environment, Climate Change and Energy (ENVE) was held in Tallinn on 6 June. The event was organized in cooperation with the City of Tallinn, European Green Capital 2023, and the OECD. CoR members joined the 5th OECD Roundtable on the circular economy in cities and regions, and had the opportunity to share and learn from relevant initiatives at local and regional level towards the implementation of circular economy solutions. At this occasion, an OECD report of Tallinn's circular economy was published, showing the current situation, indicating the challenges and suggesting recommendations for the transition to a circular economy in Tallinn.  

"Status quo is not an option: beware that the danger of pro-cyclical policies is still very real", rapporteur Elio Di Rupo says ahead of meeting of ministers for economic and financial affairs. Cities and regions representatives have called for European fiscal rules to be more effective and have greater democratic legitimacy. Members of the commission for economic policy on 7 June voiced support for the more country-specific approach of the recent European Commission proposal but insisted that the involvement of local and regional authorities in the definition of the new national mid-term fiscal plans must be mandatory.  

The impact on regions and cities of the EU's policy to reduce reliance on imports of critical raw materials, reducing dependency on net-zero industry technologies and the achievement of a just transition in the automotive industry were amongst the main topics discussed during the meeting of the commission for Economic Policy (ECON) on 7 June.  

Adapting food policy to increase the EU's self-sufficiency is essential in face of climate crisis and war in Ukraine. Russia's attempt to conquer Ukraine and the unfolding climate crisis should accelerate further far-reaching changes in the European Union's food-security policies, leading to changes in production, supply, and regulation, local and regional leaders agreed at a conference co-organised by the European Committee of the Regions (CoR) and the Polish region of Kujawsko-Pomorskie Region on 2 June.  

The conference “Partnerships for Regional Innovation: From Pilot to Practice" held on 30-31 May brought together participants in the Partnerships for Regional Innovation (PRI) pilot and beyond to discuss further joint work, exchange good practices, co-shape the revised PRI Playbook and engage with interested stakeholders on the green and digital transitions. 

The Green Deal Going Local Working Group in the European Committee of the Regions (CoR) held its 13th meeting on Tuesday 30 May, with the focus on the multilevel governance of the Green Deal. Participants underlined the need to recognise the engagement of all levels of government in international conventions on climate and biodiversity and to give sub-national authorities a designated role in negotiations and decision-making, as ambitious targets can only be reached through effective action at local and regional level.