Members of the European Committee of the Regions that called for the European Union to establish basic levels of cross-border services that must be provided even in emergencies that lead to the re-imposition of national borders. Speaking at an event focused on cross-border cooperation in the Neisse-Nisa-Nysa Euroregion, Martin Půta (CZ/EPP), governor of the Liberec region, Bernd Lange (DE/EPP), head of Görlitz district council, and Pavel Branda (CZ/ECR), deputy mayor of Rádlo – all of them members of the European Committee of the Regions – said that the coronavirus pandemic had underlined how close the day-to-day ties are in the region, but also the gaps in existing cooperation. The three-country Euroregion also covers part Lower Silesia in Poland.

Lepší prístup občanov žijúcich v pohraničných regiónoch EÚ k verejným službám je hlavným predmetom stanoviska , ktoré vypracoval Pavel Branda (EKR/CZ), zástupca starostu obce Rádlo, a o ktorom diskutovali členovia Európskeho výboru regiónov na svojom februárovom plenárnom zasadnutí. V stanovisku poukazuje na výhody cezhraničného poskytovania verejných služieb a naliehavo žiada silnejší právny rámec, trvalé štruktúry, ako sú cezhraničné kontaktné miesta, a finančnú podporu prostredníctvom iniciatívy REACT-EU.

At its first plenary of 2021, the European Committee of the Regions will discuss with Dr Hans Henri P. Kluge​​, Regional Director for Europe of the World Health Organization, the progress and challenges of the vaccination campaign against Covid-19 and the potential role that regions and cities should play. At the same occasion, Ana Paula Zacarias, Secretary of State for European Affairs of the Portuguese Republic, will present her country's priorities for its six-month presidency of the Council of the European Union. Local leaders will also discuss with European Commissioner Elisa Ferreira the priorities of the new cohesion policy and the economic recovery plans. The presence of European Commissioner Mariya Gabriel will offer the opportunity to discuss the importance and challenges of recovery of the cultural and creative sectors. Pedro Silva Pereira, Vice-President of the European Parliament, and Christa Schweng, President of the European Economic and Social Committee, will discuss the European Citizens' Initiative.

The members of the commission for territorial cohesion and EU budget (COTER) discussed the future of cross-border cooperation including their participation in the Cross Border Citizens' Alliance and adopted the draft opinion on cross-border public services prepared by rapporteur Pavel Branda (ECR/CZ). During their meeting members agreed that a minimum of cross-border cooperation needs to be guaranteed in times of crisis.