As bolstering sustainable economic development remains one of the three priorities of ARLEM, the Assembly continues to be invested in supporting young entrepreneurs. After what is now the third successful edition of the ARLEM Award – Young local entrepreneurship in the Mediterranean, the 2022 edition just opened for applications. Once more, we encourage young entrepreneurs (up to 35 years old) from the Mediterranean region to showcase their successful cooperation with their local and regional authorities. 

​​The European Committee of the Regions (CoR) delegation to the Conference on the Future of Europe met today to prepare its contribution to the inaugural meeting of the Plenary of the Conference on the Future of Europe to take place on 19 June in Strasbourg. The delegates wish to seize the opportunity presented by the Conference to strengthen the democratic dimension of the European Union and to restore citizens' trust in the European project. The CoR, as representative EU body of the level of government that is closest to citizens, is committed to bringing to the Conference the voices of local and regional authorities. 

​​On 14 June 2021, ARLEM member and CoR rapporteur Vincenzo Bianco (IT/PES) participated at the third UfM Ministerial Conference on Energy.  

The second 2021 Broadband Platform meeting brought together members of the European Committee of the Regions (CoR) with European Commission experts and a Portuguese Presidency of the Council representative – giving them the occasion to exchange on the latest developments concerning key European initiatives in the field and to discuss critical challenges around the empirical measurement of digitalisation progress. The Broadband Platform's main objective is to accelerate the deployment of high-speed broadband across all European regions, including rural and sparsely populated areas where there is not enough market-driven infrastructure development.  

The European Committee of the Regions and the European Alliance for Apprenticeships are organising a joint high-level conference this week. At the opening session on 3 June, the Commissioner for Jobs and Social Rights Nicolas Schmit and the chair of the CoR's SEDEC Commission Anne Karjalainen highlighted the pivotal role of regions and cities in providing quality and effective apprenticeships for all. 

O Comité das Regiões Europeu, a iniciativa Yolda , a Associação Europeia de Zonas Montanhosas (Euromontana) e o Grupo de Apoio Regional para a Europa do Ano Internacional das Pastagens Naturais e dos Pastores organizaram um seminário conjunto em linha, em 14 de junho, para sublinhar a necessidade de manter a pastorícia. 

​This year, the European Committee of the Regions has once again cooperated with the European Commission to make the EU Green Week a success. Seven members of the European Committee of the Regions took part in different panels of the EU Green Week, three of them co-organized by the CoR, to discuss how to achieve the target of zero pollution. A major highlight of the EU Green Week is the launch of the Zero Pollution Stakeholder Platform on 4 June which will help deliver the objectives of the Green Deal and help implement the EU Action Plan 'Towards Zero Pollution for Air, Water and Soil' on the ground. 

The Commission for the Environment, Climate change and Energy (ENVE) of the European Committee of the Regions debated on the Conference on the Future of Europe, the 2022 European Commission's Work Programme and the 'Fit for 55 package' whose purpose is to update the EU’s 2030 climate and energy laws to reflect the 55% net emissions reduction target that the EU set for 2030. Other topics included the development of a trans-European energy infrastructure, the new EU strategy on climate adaptation and the mainstreaming of gender equality under the European Green Deal. ​  

The European Commission and the European Committee of the Regions, in cooperation with the Polish newspaper, Dziennik Gazeta Prawna, invite you to two webinars devoted to discuss Polish urban policy, the European Green Deal and the EU's multiannual financial perspective for 2021-2027. 

The European Committee of the Regions (CoR) was represented at the 2021 EESC European Citizens Initiative Day by Karl-Heinz Lambertz (BE/PSE) and Vincent Chauvet (FR/ Renew Europe), both having been ECI organisers themselves. In line with the CoR's political priority of bringing Europe closer to its people, the CoR is committed to supporting ECIs which fall into its political remits and which are politically relevant for local and regional authorities. Being a representative of the level of government which is the closest to citizens, the CoR is a key partner to promoting ECIs as the EU's first transnational instrument of participatory democracy. 

A Comissão Europeia e o Comité das Regiões Europeu lançaram, hoje, uma plataforma das partes interessadas destinada a contribuir para a aplicação do Plano de Ação da UE – Rumo à poluição zero na água, no ar e no solo . O plano de ação – um dos principais resultados do Pacto Ecológico Europeu e o principal tema da Semana Verde da UE deste ano – foi adotado em 12 de maio de 2021, estabelecendo uma visão integrada para 2050 no sentido de diminuir a poluição para níveis que não sejam prejudiciais para a saúde humana e para os ecossistemas naturais, bem como metas intercalares para 2030 e ações para alcançar os objetivos. 

Municipalities in North Macedonia are showing significant interest in establishing direct partnerships with cities and regions in the European Union and the government of North Macedonia is committed to strengthening local finances, local and regional politicians were told on 2 June. 

​​​The most outstanding awareness-raising actions on waste reduction implemented during the 2020 European Week for Waste Reduction were announced on 1 June 2021 in an online ceremony, held as a pre-conference event of the European Green Week 2021. Six winners, out of a total of 10,696 actions in 33 countries, were awarded, one in each of the following categories: publication administration and organisation, business/industry, association/NGO, educational establishment, citizens, as well as a European Special Prize for the action that showcased the most marked European spirit. 

Salientar a necessidade de dar especial atenção às regiões ultraperiféricas na estratégia da UE para fazer face ao impacto da pandemia de COVID-19 e encetar a recuperação – eis o principal objetivo da Declaração dos Açores, adotada hoje pela Mesa do Comité das Regiões Europeu (CR), que se reuniu virtualmente na Região Autónoma dos Açores. O documento foi apresentado aos representantes da Comissão Europeia, que está presentemente a atualizar a sua parceria estratégica com as regiões ultraperiféricas à luz das graves consequências da pandemia. 

The European Committee of the Regions (CoR) and the Portuguese Presidency of the Council of the European Union have joined efforts to bring together local and regional authorities, Member States' permanent representations, the European Commission and the European Parliament to discuss how to ensure that the Renovation Wave accelerates the social and economic recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic while greening a sector that accounts for 40% of energy consumption and 36% of greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) in the EU. The third CoR multilevel climate and energy dialogue provided an open exchange platform between different levels of government to build bridges for the full involvement of local and regional authorities in the design and implementation of national resilience and recovery plans. ​  

The Spring trainees of 2021 are working on a Y-Factor project focused on the European Year of Rail (EYR). The trainees are producing a podcast series, Next Stop, exploring everything to do with the EYR. Next Stop plans on addressing pressing issues in the rail sector, advertise rail related initiatives and raising awareness on rail as a sustainable way of transport. Next Stop aims to being as inclusive as possible, inviting everyone from MEPs to YouTube bloggers and everyone in between, giving them the opportunity to share their experiences, while also providing helpful information on what is happening in the Rail sector today. 

The Young Elected Politicians programme of the European Committee of the Regions (CoR) and the Bratislava – Petržalka Youth Parliament organised a digital info session and debate on the opportunities associated with the European Green Deal – the EU's strategy to reach climate neutrality by 2050. The debate was the occasion to discuss the key priorities of the CoR's Green Deal Going Local initiative and the challenges and opportunities that the EU's transition towards climate neutrality brings for the city of Bratislava. 

A pandemia de COVID-19 tem repercussões consideráveis nas economias europeias. A Comissão ECON do Comité das Regiões Europeu elabora boletins económicos regulares sobre investigação recente, artigos e debates relativos ao impacto socioeconómico da pandemia na Europa e às diversas medidas de resposta económica previstas e aplicadas a nível da UE, nacional, regional e local. 

​The European Committee of the Regions' (CoR) commission for Natural Resources (NAT) met on 19 May to discuss the role of cities and regions in the resilience of critical entities. Through a draft opinion adopted by the commission, members stressed the need to consult local and regional authorities in this field and called on EU institutions to include the CoR in the new European Critical Entities Resilience Group. A draft opinion on the New Consumer Agenda was also adopted during the meeting. 

​In this interview, Gunārs Ansiņš (LV/Renew Europe) answers four questions on the transition towards a more sustainable and efficient EU energy system. The Vice-Mayor of the Latvian city of Liepāja is the rapporteur of the opinion on the EU Strategy for Energy System Integration, adopted during the 5-7 May CoR Plenary session, which calls on to the European Commission and Members States to put into place a systematic approach to involve local and regional authorities in the energy transition, in particular within the development of national energy and climate plans. Energy production and consumption account for 75% of the EU's greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. An integrated energy system is therefore crucial to delivering on the European Green Deal's objective of reaching climate neutrality by 2050.  

The President of the European Committee of the Regions Apostolos Tzitzikostas intervened today at the informal meeting of Ministers responsible for cohesion policy. The debate focused on how to ensure synergies between cohesion policy and the Recovery and Resilience Facility (RRF), the EUR 672.5 billion instrument that is the cornerstone of the recovery instrument Next Generation EU, known also as the Recovery Plan for Europe. 

Populism, nationalism, disinformation, hate speech and conspiracy theories are widespread in the European public and political sphere, which is leading to polarisation and intolerance. The deterioration of fundamental rights in one Member State has a negative impact across the EU. Therefore, in the 8th meeting of the CIVEX Commission, members welcomed the European Commission's initiative on the European Democracy Action Plan (EDAP) and adopted an opinion that puts forward a set of proposals for tackling disinformation and hate speech, as well as for promoting media literacy and critical thinking, including the setting up of a European agency linked with the CoR. The members also pointed out that local and regional leaders can play an important role in strengthening citizenship, as they are the closest authorities to citizens and the ones that aremost trusted, according to the EU annual regional and local barometer published in October 2020 . 

The European Committee of the Regions (CoR) and the Organisation for Economic Co operation and Development (OECD) invite representatives of local and regional authorities across Europe to participate in a survey on the Sustainable Development Goals. The consultation is open until Friday 15 May 2021. 

​​The President of the European Committee of the Regions (CoR), Mr Apostolos Tzitzikostas, officially launched the Network of Former Members of the European Committee of the Regions, a new CoR initiative, at the 144th CoR Plenary in the presence of Portuguese Prime Minister António Costa, a former CoR member himself. 

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. 

During the 4 March 2021 Plenary session of the European Commission's Fit for Future Platform (F4F), the Platform Chair and Vice-President of the European Commission, Maroš Šefčovič, requested the CoR's RegHub to present a special report on planning and permitting for infrastructure. 

O primeiro vice-presidente, Vasco Alves Cordeiro, e a presidente da Comissão SEDEC, Anne Karjalainen, representaram o Comité das Regiões Europeu na Cimeira Social da UE, realizada no Porto, em 7 e 8 de maio. Congratularam-se com o compromisso assumido pelos chefes de Estado e de Governo da UE de intensificar os seus esforços em prol de uma Europa social, de reforçar a coesão social e de alcançar os novos grandes objetivos da UE em matéria de emprego, competências e redução da pobreza. Lamentaram, no entanto, que a declaração final da cimeira não faça referência ao papel dos governos regionais e locais. 

On the occasion of the launch of the Conference on the Future of Europe on 9 May in Strasbourg, the European Committee of the Regions is organising, together with the French government and the main French territorial associations, a local dialogue which will give the floor to local and regional elected representatives from all over Europe and to European citizens. The debate will take place immediately before the official launch of the Conference with the aim of marking its territorial dimension and guaranteeing that it reaches out to people in regions, cities and villages across Europe. Participants will discuss how to best involve local elected politicians and local communities in the Conference and how to ensure a stronger role for local and regional authorities in the Europe of tomorrow. 

Representantes das instituições da UE, associações territoriais e de jovens e dirigentes locais e regionais debateram hoje as formas de reforçar a legitimidade democrática da Conferência sobre o Futuro da Europa, dialogando com os cidadãos nos lugares onde estes vivem. O diálogo local foi organizado pelo Comité das Regiões Europeu, juntamente com o Governo francês, o município de Estrasburgo e as principais associações territoriais francesas (Associação das Regiões de França, Assembleia dos Departamentos de França e Associação dos Autarcas de França). Os participantes aprovaram uma carta aberta , que apela aos dirigentes locais e regionais para que organizem diálogos na sua região ou município como contributo para a Conferência e que designem um conselheiro para os Assuntos Europeus na sua assembleia política. 

The European Committee of the Regions' (CoR) has launched a mobile app that offers real-time notifications about news, events and opinions based on preferred topics. 

Na 144.ª reunião plenária do CR, os dirigentes locais e regionais adotaram uma resolução sobre a Conferência sobre o Futuro da Europa (a Conferência) e debateram com Herman Van Rompuy, antigo presidente do Conselho Europeu e presidente do recém-criado Grupo de Alto Nível para a Democracia Europeia, a perspetiva do CR para o futuro da Europa, bem como a sua participação na Conferência. O grupo de alto nível – um órgão consultivo independente cuja missão consiste em apoiar o CR – fornecerá uma análise política estratégica, centrada nos desafios que se colocam aos órgãos de poder local e regional da Europa e trabalhará em estreita colaboração com os membros do CR, nomeadamente a Conferência dos Presidentes do CR e os membros da delegação do CR na Conferência. 

O Comité das Regiões Europeu (CR) apresentou um conjunto de propostas que visam proteger o ambiente marinho e recuperar os ecossistemas oceânicos. O CR preconiza uma nova Lei Europeia dos Oceanos que estabeleça uma orientação a longo prazo, com metas mensuráveis e prazos, a fim de assegurar a proteção e a recuperação dos ecossistemas marinhos. Os dirigentes locais e regionais propõem a criação de um Fundo para os Oceanos, com vista a descarbonizar o transporte marítimo, e defendem a supressão da isenção que a Diretiva Tributação da Energia prevê para o combustível utilizado na pesca. O CR insta igualmente a Comissão a propor regras inovadoras sobre quotas obrigatórias de azoto e fósforo reciclados no mercado da UE, no âmbito dos seus esforços para reduzir as fugas de nutrientes para os mares da UE e travar a proliferação de algas e a expansão dos leitos mortos. 

A reunião plenária do Comité das Regiões Europeu (CR) aprovou por unanimidade uma resolução promovida por todos os grupos políticos que acolhe favoravelmente a proposta da Comissão Europeia de um Certificado Verde Digital. No entanto, os líderes locais e regionais recomendam, no interesse da clareza, que o documento passe a chamar-se «Certificado COVID-19 da UE», como proposto pelo Parlamento Europeu. Insistem que este certificado não deve ser um documento de viagem, e chamam a atenção para o princípio da não discriminação, em particular em relação às pessoas não vacinadas. Num debate sobre a recuperação dos setores do turismo, da hotelaria e da restauração, os membros do CR comprometeram-se ainda a converter a crise da COVID-19 numa oportunidade e a passar do turismo excessivo para novos modelos seguros, sustentáveis, resilientes e conformes aos objetivos do Pacto Ecológico Europeu. 

A União Europeia deve reduzir a sua dependência dos produtores estrangeiros, incentivando o regresso à Europa da produção de medicamentos essenciais e de equipamento de proteção, afirmaram os membros do Comité das Regiões Europeu, em 7 de maio. O apelo para uma autonomia estratégica é uma das recomendações formuladas no Parecer – Experiências e ensinamentos retirados pelos municípios e regiões durante a crise da COVID-19 . 

The Union of Equality builds on local communities' work on the ground: this is the key message that members of the European Committee of the Regions (CoR) stressed today in a debate with European Commissioner for Equality Helena Dalli. Local and regional politicians from across Europe welcomed the inclusion of an equality perspective into all EU policies, legislation and funding programmes. 

Cities and regions deem it necessary to establish a coherent and simplified legal framework for the chemicals sector to make the industry greener and more effective. The European Committee of the Regions' (CoR) opinion on Safe and sustainable chemicals for a toxic-free environment in Europe's cities and regions recognises the importance of the new chemicals strategy presented by the European Commission and welcomes the steps leading to its implementation. 

In a bid to make the European education system more digital and resilient, local and regional politicians are calling on Member States to utilise a larger proportion of EU funds to improve digital education and to help close the digital gap between rural and urban areas. The suggestions are part of an opinion on the Digital Education Action Plan 2021-2027 which was drafted by Gillian Coughlan (IE/Renew Europe), Member of the Cork County Council, and discussed by the members of the European Committee of the Regions (CoR) on 6 May. 

Os dirigentes locais e regionais manifestaram apoio ao reforço do papel da União Europeia no domínio da saúde e aos planos da UE para proteger a estabilidade e a segurança do aprovisionamento de medicamentos e equipamentos essenciais. No entanto, numa série de recomendações adotadas na reunião plenária do Comité das Regiões Europeu de 7 a 9 de maio, consideram igualmente que os planos da UE para enfrentar crises sanitárias pecam por não conferirem a devida importância aos órgãos de poder local e regional, que constituem a pedra angular dos sistemas de saúde em dois terços dos países europeus. 

A transição acelerada para canais de distribuição digitais, a alteração dos hábitos de consumo e a diminuição das receitas publicitárias comprometem a viabilidade comercial e a independência dos meios de comunicação social locais. O Comité das Regiões Europeu (CR) congratula-se com o plano de ação proposto pela Comissão Europeia, mas salienta a importância de ter em conta a situação financeira particularmente alarmante dos meios de comunicação social locais e regionais. Num sistema político a vários níveis, como a democracia europeia, os meios de comunicação social de menor dimensão, que estão diretamente em contacto com as preocupações dos cidadãos, são essenciais para garantir o controlo democrático e a legitimidade, defende o parecer apresentado na reunião plenária de maio do CR, do qual foi relator Jan Trei (EE-PPE), membro da Assembleia Municipal de Viimsi. 

The accelerated move to digital distribution channels, changed consumer habits and falling advertising revenues jeopardize local media's business cases and independence. The European Committee of the Regions (CoR) welcomes the Action Plan proposed by the European Commission but highlights the importance of taking into account the particularly alarming financial situation of local and regional media. In a multilevel political system like the European democracy, smaller media outlets directly in touch with citizens' concerns are critical to securing democratic control and legitimacy, argues the opinion drafted by rapporteur Jan Trei (EE/EPP), Member of Viimsi Rural Municipality Council, which was presented at the CoR's May plenary session. 

O Comité das Regiões Europeu (CR) instou a União Europeia a suspender temporariamente as patentes relativas às vacinas contra a COVID-19, a fim de travar a rápida expansão da pandemia. Preconizou igualmente o reforço da produção na Europa e a aceleração da campanha de vacinação em toda a Europa. 

A poucos dias da Cimeira Social que reunirá os chefes de Estado e de governo no Porto, em 7 e 8 de maio, o primeiro-ministro de Portugal, António Costa, discursou perante a Assembleia Plenária do Comité das Regiões Europeu (CR). Nesta ocasião os representantes dos municípios e das regiões da UE salientaram que todos os níveis de governo devem trabalhar em conjunto para realizar os objetivos do Pilar Europeu dos Direitos Sociais e assegurar uma recuperação justa em toda a Europa na sequência crise da COVID-19. Além disso, instaram os Estados-Membros a associarem plenamente os órgãos de poder local e regional à elaboração dos seus planos nacionais de recuperação e resiliência. 

European Parliament's Vice-President for Information policy, Press and Citizens Relations, Othmar Karas, and Vice-President for Relations with the European Committee of the Regions (CoR), Klára Dobrev, joined the members of the Bureau of the CoR to debate how to better communicate the EU action and achievements to people in regions, cities and villages across Europe. They also discussed how to contribute to the Conference on the future of EU and scale up the cooperation between the only two EU institutions gathering elected officials. 

Escassos dias antes da abertura da Conferência sobre o Futuro da Europa, o presidente do Parlamento Europeu, David Sassoli, discursou hoje perante a reunião plenária do Comité das Regiões Europeu (CR) e concordou com os dirigentes locais e regionais quanto à necessidade de concretizar a conferência no terreno, para além das instituições da UE e das capitais. 

For Europe Day (9 May) this year, the EU institutions are throwing open their ‘virtual’ doors so that citizens across Member States can find out more about the European Union and what it does despite the pandemic. The European Committee of the Regions (CoR) will publish animated video about its premises, role and functioning. An 'all EU-institution' Europe Day portal presents the various bodies and activities.  

António Costa, Prime Minister of Portugal, and European Parliament President, David Sassoli, will attend on 5 May the CoR Plenary session to discuss social Europe and the upcoming Conference on the future of Europe. On 6 May regional and local leaders will discuss with Commissioner Helena Dalli how to strengthen a Europe of equality. On 7 May a debate on the recovery in the hotel and catering sector will take place with Jens Zimmer Christensen, President of the HOTREC Association, the umbrella association of hotels, restaurants and cafés in Europe. On 7 May Herman Van Rompuy, former President of the European Council, will discuss with regional and local authorities the CoR contribution to the Conference on the Future of Europe, in his capacity as chairman of the High-Level Group on European Democracy recently created by the CoR. 

The European Commission has published a new Communication on its better regulation agenda . Building on the existing cooperation with the CoR's RegHub network, the European Commission has put forward a number of opportunities to enhance the role of regional and local authorities to provide input in a shared effort to update and simplify existing EU laws. 

The new European Commission (EC) communication on Better regulation: Joining forces to make better laws sets the scene for better law-making in the European Union and enhances the EC's commitment to make its policymaking processes more transparent, inclusive and efficient. The European Committee of the Regions (CoR) welcomes that the Commission commits to involve local and regional authorities more effectively along the entire policy-cycle, and that it acknowledges the need to develop a territorially sensitive approach to legislation.  

Fostering political engagement and increasing citizens' awareness of the benefits of the transition towards climate-neutrality are two key priorities of the European Committee of the Regions' (CoR) Green Deal Going Local working group. The CoR calls on local and regional leaders to join the new network of Climate Pact Ambassadors and take part in a structured system to collect cities' and regions' climate commitments ahead of the UN's COP26 climate talks in Glasgow and the UN's COP15 biodiversity summit in Kunming, China. New actions complement ongoing efforts to accelerate the rollout of the European Green Deal in every territory as Member States are submitting their COVID-19 recovery plans.  

​​In this interview, Emma Nohrén (SE/Greens) answers five questions on the role of local and regional authorities in protecting the marine environment. The Vice Mayor of the Swedish Municipality of Lysekil is the rapporteur of a draft opinion which calls for a new EU law on oceans with clear targets and milestones to reduce marine pollution and restore marine ecosystems. With the right support, local and regional authorities can set up new measures and projects that contribute to saving the oceans, while providing employment and boosting the economy. Between 4.8 and 12.7 million tonnes of plastic enter the ocean every year. Plastic accounts for 75% of marine litter in the world’s seas.