The United Nations' climate summit is to kick off in Glasgow in less than two months. Six years after the signature of the Paris Agreement, national governments are to provide concrete answers on how they plan to meet their climate targets. As the world goes through unprecedented heat waves, fires and floods, COP26 will put the spotlight on the need for higher climate ambition to accelerate the reduction of greenhouse-gas (GHG) emissions. The formal inclusion of local and regional governments and their climate contributions remains a key demand that EU cities and regions will put forward in Glasgow, in close cooperation with international networks of sub-national government actors.  

Commenting on today's State of the European Union speech delivered by the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, the President of the European Committee of the Regions, Apostolos Tzitzikostas, said: 

A crise da COVID-19 mostra que a política de coesão é hoje mais do que nunca necessária para reforçar a resiliência na Europa, proteger os cidadãos e levar a recuperação a todas as regiões da União Europeia, sem deixar ninguém para trás. Desde a sua criação em outubro de 2017, a Aliança pela Coesão (#CohesionAlliance) , uma aliança à escala da UE composta por 12 000 signatários que defendem uma política de coesão mais forte, conseguiu evitar cortes orçamentais dramáticos após 2020, preservar a política de coesão em benefício de todas as regiões da União e propor regras mais simples e mais flexíveis. Em videoconferência consagrada ao novo rumo da Aliança pela Coesão, os seus membros fundadores renovaram o compromisso de unir forças e manter a política de coesão no topo das prioridades da UE. A Aliança pela Coesão velará pela plena aplicação do princípio da parceria pelos Estados-Membros quando da conceção e execução da política de coesão 2021-2027. A coerência e as sinergias entre os instrumentos de recuperação e os fundos estruturais são da maior importância para evitar sobreposições e maximizar o impacto da ação europeia. 

European Committee of the Regions critical of New Pact on Migration and Asylum at a European Parliament hearing​ Antje Grotheer (DE/PES), rapporteur of the European Committee of the Regions (CoR) on the New Pact on Migration and Asylum and Vice-President of Germany's Bremen City Parliament, presented the opinion of EU's cities and regions on the asylum & migration reform package at the hearing of European Parliament's LIBE Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs, on 2nd September. She was highly critical of the importance of the first entry criterion in the analysis of asylum applications, a criterion on which Member States “waste too much time", as well as of the failure to take account of the realities of the regions, particularly those on the front line of migration. She urged to this effect for a greater consideration of regional specificities in every aspect of the process. 

​​As rapporteur of the European Committee of the Regions (CoR) on the opinion on rural areas, the President of the Region of Andalusia Juanma Moreno, today took part in an exchange meeting between the European Commission and the EU Ministers of Agriculture on the future of rural areas. President Moreno stressed the need to further involve regions and local communities in the implementation of the Next Generation EU funds so as to ensure the sustainable development of rural areas in Europe. The CoR will organise a high-level forum in December dedicated to the recovery of rural areas in the Union.​ 

The deadline for nominations for the 2021 edition of the Mayor Paweł Adamowicz Award has been extended to the end of September. 

Cities are on the frontline for promoting diversity, inclusiveness, social cohesion, and sustainable development and the coronavirus pandemic has even deepened some of the existing social challenges. Thus within its Intercultural Cities and Learning Programme, the Anna Lindh Foundation launches the EuroMed Capital for Dialogue Award – Call for Candidatures. 

O Connecting Europe Express é uma das principais iniciativas do Ano Europeu do Transporte Ferroviário 2021 e tem por objetivo chamar a atenção para os muitos benefícios do transporte ferroviário, tanto para os passageiros como para o setor do transporte de mercadorias. Contribui igualmente para o objetivo global da UE, estabelecido no âmbito do Pacto Ecológico Europeu, de incentivar a transição para o transporte ferroviário em toda a UE, a fim de descarbonizar os fluxos de transporte e aumentar a mobilidade sustentável. A importância da dimensão territorial desta iniciativa foi sublinhada pela comissária dos Transportes, Adina Valean, em carta enviada ao presidente do Comité das Regiões Europeu (CR), Apostolos Tzitzikostas , que lançou o convite a todos os membros do CR para participar no projeto e visitar o comboio numa das paragens ao longo do seu percurso. 

Under the heading "Together for recovery", this year programme is focused on the capacity of the EU and of national and regional governments to support European citizens and their local communities with practical measures and public policies aimed at investing in a fairer, greener and more digital future for recovery 

Trade effects of Brexit likely to become clearer only after 1 October, senior EU official tells EU and UK local and regional politicians at meeting that puts spotlight on Northern Ireland and Gibraltar. Movement across the United Kingdom's borders with Ireland and Spain were central issues discussed at a meeting of British and EU local and regional politicians that focused on connections at risk of being lost by the UK's withdrawal from the EU. 

The results of a survey carried out by the European Committee of the Regions (CoR) show a clear demand among local and regional authorities to extend the flexibility measures introduced last year to mobilise EU structural funds and state aid in the fight against COVID-19. Regions and cities need extraordinary rules to be maintained in order to secure the continuity of emergency investment and the deployment of crucial initiatives such as job retention schemes. This request is included in a letter co-signed by the CoR President Apostolos Tzitzikostas and the chair of the CoR's COTER commission Isabelle Boudineau, addressed to the President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen and the commissioners responsible for the relevant policies.  

Em resposta ao pacote Objetivo 55 da Comissão Europeia, que visa reduzir em 55% as emissões de carbono da UE até 2030, o Comité das Regiões Europeu (CR) apela para que a legislação atualizada e nova assegure um papel central e financiamento direto para os municípios e regiões, que possuem competências jurídicas e estão próximos das pessoas na transição para a neutralidade climática. 

​​​Countries in the Western Balkans should use significant new financial support from the European Union to make their economies greener and more digital and to advance their case for EU membership, local and regional leaders heard at the Enlargement Day conference held by the European Committee of the Regions (CoR) on 13 July. The conference – which was addressed by the Slovenian presidency of the Council of the European Union and the European Commission's Acting Director-General for Neighbourhood Policy and Enlargement Negotiations – also identified the post-pandemic recovery as a major milestone in the history of regions' and cities' involvement in the EU accession process.  

Bringing cross-border cooperation back to the forefront of the EU’s policy agenda is one of the European Committee of the Region’s (CoR) top priorities. The Conference on the Future of Cross-Border Cooperation, organized together with the other founding partners of the European Cross-Border Citizens' Alliance, feeds into this objective. During the event, which took place on 5 July, participants reflected on the effects of the COVID-19 crisis, identified the ongoing and future challenges for cross-border regions, and held a debate on the vision for cross-border cooperation as part of the future of Europe. The event took place just a few days after CoR's plenary adopted a resolution on cross-border cooperation which will serve as a contribution to the Conference on the Future of Europe. 

The EU's regions and cities are looking forward to the Social Economy Action Plan, which the European Commission is expected to publish before the end of the year. The opinion adopted by the European Committee of the Regions (CoR) on Thursday underlines that it is essential to harness the full potential of social economy enterprises and organisations to ensure economic recovery, to promote collective entrepreneurship and to create high-quality jobs after the COVID-19 crisis. 

​Aviation has been one of the sectors worst affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. Smaller regional airports have recorded the greatest decline in direct flight connections, particularly in passenger flights. Treviso (Italy) lost 95% of its connections, Vaasa (Finland) 91%, Quimper (France) 87%, and Burgas (Bulgaria) 82%. 

While the climate emergency is still very much a pressing matter, the path towards carbon neutrality must take into account the challenges posed by the COVID-19 crisis and the specific features of each region. Against this backdrop, rapporteur and Mayor of Autun Vincent Chauvet presented an opinion in today's plenary session that sets out the European Committee of the Regions' positions and demands regarding climate change in view of COP26, the United Nations Conference on Climate Change, which will take place in November 2021 in Glasgow, Scotland. 

The work of the European Commission's Fit for Future Platform (F4F) has taken on speed and its subgroups and experts are about to carry out consultations on selected EU legislation in order to check whether it is futureproof and fit for purpose. 

Para remodelar com êxito o setor europeu dos transportes e torná-lo mais sustentável, os municípios e as regiões da UE devem dar mais prioridade ao incentivo de uma mobilidade sem emissões, à promoção de modos de transporte ativos e partilhados, à transformação da mobilidade urbana e a uma melhor interligação das zonas rurais. Estas são as sugestões de um parecer sobre a Estratégia de Mobilidade Sustentável e Inteligente, adotado pelo Comité das Regiões Europeu (CR) e apresentado pelo relator Robert van Asten (NL - Renew) na reunião plenária do CR de quarta-feira, 30 de junho. 

A União Europeia deve criar uma «nova infraestrutura democrática» para garantir eleições livres e justas, melhorar o pluralismo da comunicação social e promover o empenho dos cidadãos, declarou o Comité das Regiões Europeu em 30 de junho. Em recomendações destinadas a reforçar a democracia, a igualdade e o respeito dos direitos humanos, os dirigentes municipais e regionais frisaram que os governos infranacionais podem desempenhar um papel importante na promoção da literacia mediática, do pensamento crítico e da transparência nas campanhas políticas, bem como no apoio à participação política dos cidadãos. 

The European Union should make improving the health of the Mediterranean Sea one of the priorities of its cooperation with countries in its southern neighbourhood, the European Committee of the Regions (CoR) has said in recommendations that also praise the EU for making support for youth entrepreneurship central to its new strategy for the region.  

Os dirigentes locais e regionais europeus apelam a que os Objetivos de Desenvolvimento Sustentável das Nações Unidas (ODS) sejam colocados novamente no topo da agenda da União Europeia e instam as instituições da UE e os Estados-Membros a assegurarem a sua realização até 2030. Num parecer adotado hoje na sua reunião plenária, o Comité das Regiões Europeu (CR) sublinha que a pandemia de COVID-19 evidenciou a importância do desenvolvimento sustentável e demonstrou que os ODS podem contribuir para a transição rumo a uma visão coerente e holística no âmbito do Instrumento de Recuperação da União Europeia . No entanto, um estudo recente do CR assinala que muitos planos nacionais de recuperação e resiliência não referem, de forma explícita e transparente, os ODS da ONU. 

In a bid to put cross-border cooperation back at the top of the EU's policy agenda, the European Committee of the Regions (CoR) has adopted a resolution today calling on the European Commission to present a proposal for maintaining cross-border cooperation and cross-border life in the event of future crises. The resolution contains multiple proposals to improve cross-border cooperation and calls on the European Commission to follow up on already existing legislation and treaties, whose implementation could often still be improved. The future of cross-border cooperation will be further discussed during an event organised by the CoR, together with other key European partners, on 5 July. 

The European Committee of the Regions (CoR) has adopted its proposals on climate adaptation in the opinion Forging a climate-resilient Europe - the new EU Strategy on Adaptation to Climate Change. The CoR calls for demand-based policies, market incentives, carbon footprints and handprints in public procurement criteria and to accelerate cooperation with academia and businesses to boost broad-scale innovation, sustainable products, services and nature-based solutions. Despite net greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in 2020 estimated to drop 35% below 1990 levels, the economic rebound from the COVID-19 risks bringing emissions back up. Around 40% of EU cities with more than 150 000 inhabitants have adopted climate adaptation plans.  

The European energy infrastructure update and expansion is a key enabler for the green energy transition and must be consistent with the Green Deal objective of achieving climate neutrality by 2050. Therefore, last December 2020 the European Commission adopted a proposal to revise the 2013 Trans-European Energy Infrastructure Regulation (TEN-E). In an opinion drafted by the rapporteur Robert Sorin Negoiță (RO/PES) and discussed today, the European Committee of the Regions (CoR) calls on the European Commission to ensure that the new regulation takes into account the needs and specificities of EU regions and that it stimulates sustainable energy security, market integration, fair competition, diversification of energy supply and affordable energy for all.  

As Europe's population is ageing, the need for care services is expected to increase significantly in the coming decades. In an opinion drafted by Heinrich Dorner (AT/PES), Member of the State Government of Burgenland, the European Committee of the Regions (CoR) calls on the European Commission to support cities and regions in addressing care worker shortages and highlights that family members – most often women – carrying out informal care work need adequate social rights and protection. 

The European Committee of the Regions' (CoR) discussed the role of cities and regions in reinforcing the resilience of critical entities during its plenary session on 1 July. To ensure a comprehensive approach, each Member State should have a strategy prepared in cooperation with local and regional authorities, setting out objectives and policy measures based on an assessment of all natural and man-made risks that may affect the provision of essential services. 

Com muitos aeroportos regionais a tentar recuperar das dificuldades económicas causadas pela pandemia, em 1 de julho, os membros do Comité das Regiões Europeu adotaram um parecer que insta a Comissão a definir regras mais flexíveis e eficazes em matéria de auxílios estatais que permitam aos Estados-Membros prestar assistência financeira aos aeroportos regionais. No parecer , elaborado por Władysław Ortyl (PL-CRE), o CR salienta igualmente que o apoio financeiro deve ser investido na maior sustentabilidade dos aeroportos regionais, a fim de contribuir para a consecução dos objetivos definidos no Pacto Ecológico Europeu. 

A crise da COVID-19 salienta a necessidade de interligar a elaboração de políticas da UE e as necessidades das comunidades locais através do papel fundamental dos dirigentes políticos eleitos a nível local: foi esta a mensagem transmitida hoje pelos membros do Comité das Regiões Europeu (CR) ao vice-presidente da Comissão Europeia Maroš Šefčovič. Num debate em reunião plenária, os dirigentes locais e regionais reiteraram o seu empenho em melhorar a legislação da UE através dos seus contributos para a Plataforma Prontos para o Futuro . Numa resolução com propostas para o programa de trabalho da Comissão Europeia para 2022 , os membros do CR solicitam à Comissão Europeia que assegure a participação dos órgãos de poder local e regional na execução dos planos nacionais de recuperação e resiliência, a fim de combater eficazmente as consequências da pandemia no terreno. Solicitam igualmente a prorrogação das medidas excecionais de flexibilidade introduzidas para mobilizar fundos europeus estruturais e de investimento durante a crise da COVID-19. 

Os representantes políticos regionais e locais, representados na UE pelo CR, e os deputados ao Parlamento Europeu, a única instituição da UE cujos membros são eleitos diretamente pelos cidadãos, devem unir esforços no quadro da Conferência sobre o Futuro da Europa. O seu objetivo comum deve ser destacar o apelo dos cidadãos para uma União mais próxima dos mesmos, que respeite o princípio da subsidiariedade e dê respostas orientadas para o futuro aos desafios de nível mundial e local. Os membros do CR partilharam esta mensagem durante a 145.ª reunião plenária do Comité , que contou com a participação de Guy Verhofstadt, Manfred Weber e Iratxe Garcia Perez, os três representantes do Parlamento Europeu no Conselho Executivo da Conferência. Os três deputados europeus sublinharam que os membros do CR são aliados fortes para um debate sobre o futuro da Europa amplo, genuinamente integrador, transparente, equilibrado em termos geográficos e políticos. 

The publication of the long-term vision for rural areas by the European Commission is a major success for the European Committee of the Regions (CoR), which has been asking for a rural agenda since 2016. Local leaders welcome the proposal of a Rural Pact and Action Plan setting objectives and reinforcing the political ownership for investment on sustainable rural developments. The CoR appreciates the long-term vision of rural areas in all their diversity and the effort to revitalise them in a way that goes beyond agriculture and considers every policy area through the rural lens. As foreseen in the Commission's proposal, the Committee is ready to promote the mobilisation of local communities in the implementation of the rural action plan and vision. At the same time, the CoR demands that EU's Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) is coordinated not only with cohesion policy but also with the Recovery and Resilience Facility. 

O Comité das Regiões Europeu reforça o seu empenho no vasto projeto legislativo da UE que visa reforçar o controlo democrático das plataformas dominantes da Internet e restabelecer uma economia em linha equilibrada e funcional para as PME e para os consumidores individuais. Na reunião plenária de junho, os membros do Comité adotaram um parecer que apoia a intenção da Comissão Europeia de endurecer a regulamentação dos mercados e serviços digitais, salientando ao mesmo tempo as inovações e as competências com que os municípios e as regiões podem contribuir para uma regulamentação sólida e eficaz. O parecer do CR sobre o pacote legislativo sobre os serviços digitais insere-se numa série mais vasta de iniciativas destinadas a reforçar o perfil do CR como um dos motores da UE em prol de uma transformação digital integradora. 

O Comité das Regiões Europeu e a Comissão Europeia vão desenvolver projetos conjuntos de apoio ao ensino dos valores da UE nas escolas, com a ajuda dos órgãos de poder local e regional e numa base voluntária. Num debate em reunião plenária com Margaritis Schinas, vice-presidente da Comissão Europeia responsável pela Promoção do Modo de Vida Europeu, os líderes locais e regionais recordaram igualmente que os sistemas educativos devem respeitar plenamente e promover a liberdade, a igualdade, a tolerância e a não discriminação. Salientaram ainda que a aprendizagem sobre a União Europeia, os seus valores, o seu património cultural e a sua diversidade é vital e deve ser proposta em todas as comunidades, a todas faixas etárias e a cada cidadão da UE. 

Os presidentes dos parlamentos regionais, com ou sem competências legislativas, e os presidentes de regiões e de outras entidades regionais apoiaram hoje uma declaração que é o ponto de partida de uma aliança das regiões para a democracia europeia, que visa reforçar o impacto político das regiões no processo de decisão europeu sobre questões de interesse direto para o trabalho dos órgãos de poder local e regional. Esse apoio foi expresso durante um evento político sobre o tema «As regiões na arquitetura da União Europeia tendo em vista a Conferência sobre o Futuro da Europa» , organizado pelo Comité das Regiões Europeu , pela Conferência das Assembleias Legislativas Regionais da Europa (CALRE) e pelo Governo da Região Autónoma dos Açores . A declaração também solicita que a Conferência sobre o Futuro da Europa debata o papel das regiões na arquitetura institucional da UE e o melhore, a fim de corresponder melhor às necessidades dos cidadãos. 

When migrants move, it is overwhelmingly to cities that they come. Migrant integration happens in cities, and it is overseen by local governments. EUROCITIES recently published its fourth Integrating Cities Report which gives a direct insight into how cities are integrating migrants today. It is now available to read in full here. 

O Comité das Regiões Europeu, juntamente com a Rede Internacional de Cidades de Refúgio (ICORN) e o município de Gdańsk, abriram as nomeações para a edição de 2021 do Prémio Paweł Adamowicz que distingue a coragem e a excelência na promoção da liberdade, da solidariedade e da igualdade. 

A large number of citizens and experts took part on 23 June in "Towards a multimodal Adriatic-Ionian major line with multiple connections to the Tyrrhenian coast", an event staged by the Abruzzo Region in collaboration with the European Committee of the Regions (CoR) as part of the European Year of Rail 2021. Connecting from L'Aquila and Brussels, speakers included president of the Abruzzo Region and CoR member Marco Marsilio; Portugal's secretary of state for infrastructure, Jorge Delgado on the outlook for the Portuguese Council presidency; the director for Investment, Innovative & Sustainable Transport at the European Commission's Directorate-General for Mobility and Transport (DG MOVE), Herald Ruijters; and Italy's deputy minister for infrastructure and sustainable transport, Alessandro Morelli. 

Three vice-presidents of the European Commission will address the European Committee of the Regions on 30 June, discussing efforts to strengthen and deepen democracy, build inclusive societies, and improve EU legislation. Vice-President Věra Jourová will present the European Democracy Action Plan to empower citizens and build more resilient democracies, Vice-President Margaritis Schinas will highlight the role of education and culture in protecting the European way of life, while Vice-President Maroš Šefčovič will set out the European Commission's work programme as well as the Commission's efforts to embed strategic foresight into its work. Members of the CoR will also discuss the Conference on the Future of Europe with the three MEPs leading the work of the European Parliament in the EU-wide consultation. 

​​​​​​​The webinar looked at the state of digital transformation in European regions, taking stock of the latest research showing an increasing digital divide across European regions and urban-rural communities. Invited speakers shared their views on how public authorities at all levels can facilitate the digital transition of small and medium enterprises (SMEs), showcasing some best practices and collaboration initiatives from the European Entrepreneurial Regions. 

On 13 July 2021, the CoR, in cooperation with the Slovenian Presidency of the Council of the EU, will hold the Enlargement Day.  

​​​Local communities' needs will weigh more in the future Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) investment decisions and regions will be among leading actors in shaping, implementing and assessing the national CAP strategic plans. This crucial result was achieved thanks to the work of the CoR, its intense cooperation with the European Parliament and – more recently - with the EU Commission. Regional and local leaders are ready to use the new CAP to deliver the Green Deal on the ground but urge Member States to set adequate rules to make this happen.  

Enquanto os chefes de Estado ou de governo da UE se reuniam em Bruxelas para fazer o ponto da situação da retoma económica, um novo estudo encomendado pelo Comité das Regiões Europeu (CR) revelava a participação limitada dos órgãos de poder local e regional na elaboração e execução dos planos nacionais de recuperação e resiliência. O estudo foi apresentado na reunião da Comissão da Política Económica (ECON) do CR , tendo os membros presentes manifestado a sua profunda preocupação com uma possível sobreposição de fundos em resultado do escasso foco dos planos nas disparidades territoriais e da coordenação insuficiente com os objetivos da política de coesão. 

The President of the European Committee of the Regions, Apostolos Tzitzikostas, has received the International Medal of the Community of Madrid in recognition of his "unconditional support" to the region, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. 

​​Jari Andersson, member of Sastamala City Council (FI/EPP) has drafted an opinion for the European Committee of the Regions on the EU strategy on the rights of the child and the European Child Guarantee. Mr Andersson's opinion was adopted on Wednesday at the meeting of the Commission for Social Policy, Education, Employment, Research and Culture (SEDEC) of the CoR. 

There are early signs that changes aimed at making the process of accession to the European Union more dynamic and predictable are yielding results, with local and regional leaders, Serbia's EU ambassador and the European Commission detecting a "new momentum" in the past year.  

Regional leaders from Turkey and the European Union have expressed some optimism that the strains in the relationship between Turkey and the European Union may ease and that a more productive period of contacts and collaboration is possible, with economic sustainability a central theme. 

Albanian municipalities are increasingly focused on improving their capacity to absorb European Union money and implement EU-related reforms, political leaders and government officials said as a meeting with the European Committee of the Regions on 17 June. There were, however, warnings about a continuing imbalance between the level of responsibility they have been given by central government and the funding available to them. 

Montenegro must overcome a period of political tension and administrative disruption and "do its homework" on issues related to the rule of law if it is to maintain the pace of its bid to join the European Union, local and regional leaders from Montenegro were told at a meeting and the European Committee of the Regions on 10 June. 

Over 80 young local and regional young elected politicians (YEPs) from 21 European countries participated in an info session organized by the European Committee of the Regions (CoR) on the implementation of the Renovation Wave at the local level . They engaged in a debate with the CoR member Rafal Trzaskowski, representatives of the Commission for the Environment, Climate Change and Energy (ENVE) from the CoR, the Covenant of Mayors Initiative, the European Investment Bank, the European Infrastructure and Environment Executive Agency (CINEA) and the European City Facility Initiative, who provided them with the key information, tools and financial support opportunities to reduce energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions.  

A joint survey of the European Committee of the Regions and the OECD