Michael Murphy of Tipperary County Council will lead the national delegation of Ireland to the European Committee of the Regions, whose members met on 11-13 February for the first time in their new five-year mandate. He will also lead its economic-policy commission.

While welcoming the expected increase in funding for Horizon Europe –framework programme for research and innovation in the EU's next long-term budget – the European Committee of the Regions (CoR) reaffirms in a fresh opinion that EU's cohesion policy must fulfil its role in supporting research infrastructure in all EU regions. Cities and regions also emphasize the importance of creating European networks of regional innovation ecosystems and hubs.

Narrowing the innovation and digital divides in Europe was in the spotlight on 11 July, when the European Committee of the Regions' Commission for Social Policy, Employment, Culture, Education and Research (SEDEC) met in Brussels. Members adopted an opinion drafted by Eamon Dooley (IE/Renew Europe), a member of Offaly County Council, on the future of research infrastructure and the European Research Area.