The sharp deterioration in relations between Turkey an​d the European Union's member states and institutions has underscored the importance of maintaining lines of communication between local and regional authorities in the EU and Turkey, EU and Turkish politicians and officials said on 16 December.

​​​In this interview, János Ádám Karácsony (HU/EPP) answers seven questions on the Future of the EU Clean Air policy in the framework of the zero-pollution ambition, one of the key priorities of the European Green Deal. The member of the Local Government of Tahitótfalu and CoR rapporteur on clean air calls for a revision of the current EU legislation on air quality and stresses that an improvement of air quality requires closer and more effective cooperation between all levels of government. At the request of the European Commission, the CoR's opinion on clean air, adopted in July 2020, provides a local and regional perspective to the new EU Action Plan towards a Zero Pollution Ambition for air, water and soil, which will be presented in 2021.

Cancelarul german Angela Merkel și președinta Comisiei Europene, Ursula von der Leyen, vor discuta despre răspunsul Uniunii Europene la pandemia de coronavirus pe 12 și 13 octombrie la Comitetul European al Regiunilor. Adunarea UE a reprezentanților politici locali și regionali va organiza, de asemenea, dezbateri cu președintele și vicepreședinta Băncii Europene de Investiții, Werner Hoyer și Lilyana Pavlova . Vor avea loc dezbateri și cu patru comisari – Frans Timmermans, vicepreședinte executiv și comisarul pentru Pactul verde european, Elisa Ferreira, comisara pentru coeziune și reforme, Paolo Gentiloni, comisarul pentru economie și Nicolas Schmit, comisarul pentru locuri de muncă și drepturi sociale.

The European Committee of the Regions (CoR) adopted at the July plenary session the opinion The Future of EU Clean Air policy in the framework of the zero-pollution ambition drafted by János Ádám Karácsony (HU/EPP), member of the Local Government of Tahitótfalu. In the context of the COVID-19, the rapporteur of the CoR opinion stresses the possible link between pollution and the gravity of infection’s consequences. Therefore, fighting air pollution must be among the top priorities of the recovery plan. Pollution reduction during lockdown showed the importance of a healthier environment. Local leaders encourage Member States to deliver and update their National Air Pollution Control Programmes as a matter of urgency and to take LRAs' contributions on board.