The COVID-19 pandemic has dramatically affected our world and our way of living with dire loses and substantial consequences on every aspect of our daily existence. The Commission for Territorial Cohesion Policy and the EU Budget (COTER) at the European Committee of the Regions will prepare regular bulletins on the policy fields within its remits reflecting recent research, articles and discussions on the socio-economic impact of the pandemic in Europe and on the different actions and response measures planned and implemented at EU, national, regional and local level.​ 

In this interview, Roby Biwer (LU/PES), Member of Bettembourg Municipal Council, answers five questions on the importance of biodiversity in preventing a new pandemic outbreak, tackling climate change and in achieving greater sustainability through the EU's Recovery Plan. Roby Biwer is the rapporteur of the opinion Bio-diverse cities and regions beyond 2020, to be adopted at the next plenary session in October. The opinion puts forward the contribution of local and regional authorities to the EU Biodiversity Strategy for 2030 presented by the European Commission on 20 May 2020. Moreover, the CoR will defend the key role that local and regional authorities play in biodiversity protection at the 15th meeting of the Conference of the Parties of the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity (UN CBD COP15), that will take place from 17 to 30 May 2021 in Kunming, China. 

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 is preparing regular bulletins on the policy fields within its remits, 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. 

V tomto rozhovore Tjisse Stelpstra (NL/EKR), člen rady provincie Drenthe, odpovedá na šesť otázok o novom akčnom pláne pre obehové hospodárstvo, ktorý obsahuje súbor návrhov EÚ na oddelenie hospodárskeho rastu od využívania zdrojov prostredníctvom výroby a spotreby trvanlivých, opätovne použiteľných a opraviteľných výrobkov. Po tom, ako Európska komisia 11. marca 2020 uverejnila nový akčný plán pre obehové hospodárstvo, pracuje Tjisse Stelpstra na príspevku Európskeho výboru regiónov v podobe stanoviska , ktoré má byť prijaté na plenárnom zasadnutí 12. – 14. októbra 2020. Obehové hospodárstvo je kľúčovým pilierom európskej zelenej dohody, ktorá je stratégiou rastu EÚ na dosiahnutie klimatickej neutrality do roku 2050. 

„Opatrenia, na ktorých sa dohodli členské štáty EÚ, sú historickým príkladom solidarity a riešia bezprecedentnú hrozbu,“ vyhlásil o záveroch európskeho summitu predseda Európskeho výboru regiónov (VR) Apostolos Tzitzikostas. „Rozpočet EÚ a plán obnovy musia teraz urýchlene začať slúžiť všetkým ľuďom v regiónoch, mestách a dedinách v celej Európe. Je nevyhnutné investovať finančné prostriedky EÚ tam, kde sú potrebné, a čo najviac vyťažiť z každého eura.“ 

Kríza spôsobená pandémiou COVID-19 oslabuje hospodársku, územnú a sociálnu súdržnosť Európy a jej schopnosť zabezpečiť ekologickejšiu, inkluzívnu a inteligentnú transformáciu smerom k udržateľnejšej budúcnosti. Preto združenie #CohesionAlliance, t. j. koalícia združujúca vyše 12 000 signatárov z celej EÚ, vyzýva členské štáty EÚ, aby podporili silný viacročný finančný rámec (VFR) na roky 2021 – 2027 a plány obnovy. VFR a plány obnovy musia podporovať súdržnosť ako základnú hodnotu Európskej únie a kľúčový cieľ všetkých jej politík a investícií. Tieto požiadavky boli zahrnuté do vyhlásenia , ktoré bolo 14. júla, tri dni pred začiatkom zasadnutia Európskej rady v Bruseli, predložené počas videokonferencie komisárke EÚ pre súdržnosť Elise Ferreirovej a predsedovi výboru REGI v Európskom parlamente Younousovi Omarjeemu. 

V tomto rozhovore Vojko Obersnel (HR/SES), starosta mesta Rijeka a spravodajca stanoviska o Fonde na spravodlivú transformáciu (FST), odpovedá na päť otázok o iniciatíve EÚ zameranej na podporu regiónov najviac postihnutých prechodom na nízkouhlíkové hospodárstvo. V kontexte pandémie COVID-19 sa navrhovaný rozpočet na FST zvýšil zo 7,5 na 40 miliárd EUR. Európsky výbor regiónov prijal stanovisko o Fonde na spravodlivú transformáciu na plenárnom zasadnutí v júli 2020, pričom rozhodne privítal skutočnosť, že EÚ podporuje sociálne spravodlivú a udržateľnú zelenú transformáciu. 

The network of regional hubs has concluded its third consultation on the first and only EU Directive on the rights of patients in cross-border healthcare. Reaching out to more than 140 local and regional stakeholders active in the area of healthcare provision, this consultation has again been extensive and is providing unique data, based on stakeholders' "user experience" of this EU policy. 

​Catalan Health System makes https://stopcovid19.cat/en/ available altruistically for the International community. A free access cooperative platform to help prevent the global expansion of SARS Cov-2. The main objective is to share the work done with the maximum number of institutions, governments and International organizations. ​ 

The members of the European Committee of the Region's commission for Territorial Cohesion Policy and EU Budget (COTER) discussed and adopted opinions on "Equivalent standards of living" and the "European Year of Rail 2021". At the meeting on 10 July, members also exchanged their views on the challenges for public transport in cities and metropolitan regions. 

​As a continuation of our successful webinars, we are inviting you to our 5th edition of the "Digital Masterclasses" series. Join us for a talk on inclusivity in online communication. This time, the webinar will introduce both academic and practical perspectives on effective strategies of connecting with diverse audiences online. 

The EU's recovery efforts after the Covid-19 pandemic must have a strong social dimension in order to maintain social security networks, safeguard workers' jobs and avoid wrongful dismissals, members of local and regional governments highlighted in a debate with Nicolas Schmit, Commissioner for Social Rights and Jobs. An opinion discussed at the European Committee of the Regions' SEDEC commission on Thursday points out the close link between the EU's social agenda, the Green Deal and the digital transition and calls for more investment in youth, education and life-long learning. 

Predsedníčka vlády autonómneho spoločenstva La Rioja Concha Andreu Rodríguez (ES/SES) sa v tomto rozhovore vyjadruje k stratégii EÚ pre rodovú rovnosť a upozorňuje na dôsledky pandémie COVID-19 pre ženy. Concha Andreu je spravodajkyňou stanoviska, ktoré tento týždeň prijala komisia pre sociálnu politiku, vzdelávanie, zamestnanosť, výskum a kultúru (SEDEC) v Európskom výbore regiónov (VR). Prijatie stanoviska na plenárnom zasadnutí je plánované v októbri. 

The European Commission recently published its report: “Annual report 2019 on the application of the principles of subsidiarity and proportionality and on relations with national parliaments“. In the report, the RegHub network is mentioned several times in connection with the COM's efforts to better integrate the experiences of the regional and local level in the future legislative procedure. For the RegHub network it is a further proof of the appreciation of its work by the European Commission. 

Side events must relate to the thematic priorities of the #EURegionsWeek 2020 and must be organised digitally between 5-9 October 2020, 12-16 October 2020 or 19‑22 October 2020. The application must be submitted by 2 September 2020 at the latest. 

The Covid-19 pandemic has substantial repercussions on the European economies. The ECON Commission of the European Committee of the Regions prepares regular economic bulletins on recent research, articles and discussions on the socio-economic impact of the pandemic in Europe and on the different economic response measures planned and implemented at EU, national, regional and local level. 

This year, the European Week of Regions and Cities will spread over three consecutive weeks in October (5-22/10/2020). Due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the related health and safety measures, the majority of the 500 sessions will be in fully digital format. Registration for the 18th European Week of Regions and Cities will open on 27 August 2020. To view the recording of the meeting and the slides presented, check the event website Partners' page! 

The European assembly of local and regional politicians adopted their recommendations for the Just Transition Fund, which aims at supporting regions to meet the challenges of the green transition. Rapporteur Vojko Obersnel (HR/PES), mayor of Rijeka, calls for an ambitious EU support so that no one and no place is left behind in the transition to a revived and green economy. 

Dva týždne pred kľúčovým európskym samitom Európsky výbor regiónov – zhromaždenie regionálnych a miestnych samospráv EÚ – vyzýva členské štáty, aby včas dospeli k spravodlivej dohode o viacročnom finančnom rámci (VFR) a plánu Next Generation EU. V uznesení a diskusii s komisárom pre rozpočet a administratívu Johannesom Hahnom predstavitelia regiónov a miest žiadali, aby sa súdržnosť stala nosným pilierom všetkých politík EÚ a aby sa vykonávanie programov EÚ zakladalo na spoločnej zodpovednosti a partnerstve. 

Európsky výbor regiónov (VR) prijal 2. júla uznesenie , v ktorom stanovuje svoje tri hlavné priority na nasledujúcich päť rokov. VR ako politické zhromaždenie sa usiluje o to, aby sa Európska únia stala odolnejšou, udržateľnejšou a súdržnejšou vďaka väčšiemu zapojeniu regiónov a miest do navrhovania a vykonávania politiky EÚ. 

Európsky výbor regiónov takmer jednomyseľne prijal na svojom júlovom plenárnom zasadnutí stanovisko na tému Posilnenie opatrení EÚ na ochranu a obnovu svetových lesov , ktoré vypracoval Roby Biwer . Spravodajca stanoviska VR žiada vytvorenie silného systému certifikácie a informačného systému, ktoré zaručia udržateľné produkty lesného hospodárstva a transparentné dodávateľské reťazce z krajín mimo EÚ. 

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. 

The European Committee of the Regions (CoR) has adopted the opinion "European Climate Law: enshrining the 2050 climate neutrality objective​" by rapporteur Juanma Moreno (ES/EPP), President of Andalusia. The European Climate Law, as the legal pillar of the Green Deal, needs to fully engage cities and regions in the design of the trajectory towards 2050. Members request local and regional climate inventories and objectives and call for a permanent Multilevel Energy Dialogue Platform and a European climate neutrality observatory. Data for monitoring progress should be collected at regional, rather than national level. Renewables rather than nuclear energy should power the path towards climate-neutrality. 

In a debate with the European Commissioner for Internal market, Thierry Breton, CoR members highlighted the success of the online Exchange Platform created by the CoR to enable local and regional governments share the best practises in responding the COVID-19 pandemic. Based on this successful example, CoR members proposed Commissioner Breton to jointly promote the digitalisation and the innovative use of digital platforms to support the European Commission's work in strategic fields as transport, tourism, social and education services.The assembly of EU regions and cities, also asked for a stronger support to relaunch the tourism industry, highlighting in particular the vital role of regional airport and of the airlines that connect them. Regional and local leaders stressed that the pandemic boosted the adoption of digital and innovative solutions but, at the same time, made visible persisting massive digital gaps. 

The Chair of the CoR's Working Group on the Western Balkans, Mr Nikola Dobroslavić welcomes the end of the Mostar conflict which will lead to the first local elections in Mostar since 2008. The agreement reached between the party leaders to divide political power in the city of Bosnia-Herzegovina is a historic one.  

The European Committee of the Regions is to adopt an opinion on the 'Fitness Check of the Water Framework Directive and the Floods Directive' by rapporteur Piotr Całbecki (PL/EPP), president of the Kujawsko-Pomorskie Region. In the context of the COVID-19 and unabated global warming, Piotr Całbecki calls for a paradigm shift that places circularity and sustainability at the centre of water management policies. The opinion was discussed during the plenary session alongside a high-level debate on the European Green Deal. Read here an interview with rapporteur Piotr Całbecki on the next steps to improve water quality and sustainability. 

Európski miestni a regionálni lídri počas diskusie s podpredsedníčkou Komisie pre demokraciu a demografiu Dubravkou Šuicovou apelovali na inštitúcie EÚ, aby pri riešení územných a sociálno-hospodárskych dôsledkov demografických zmien úzko spolupracovali s miestnymi samosprávami. Keďže vo vyše 40 % regiónov EÚ počet obyvateľov klesá, Európsky výbor regiónov požaduje, aby sa demografický rozmer začlenil do všetkých politík EÚ, ako aj do diskusie o budúcnosti Európy. 

The European Committee of the Regions has adopted the opinion 'Towards a Roadmap for Clean Hydrogen – the contribution of local and regional authorities to a climate-neutral Europe'. The rapporteur is Birgit Honé (DE/PES), Minister for Federal and European Affairs and Regional Development of Lower Saxony. The opinion sets out a wide range of specific legislative and non-legislative measures for the development of a green hydrogen economy as a crucial building block of decarbonisation, in particular in the industry and certain transport sectors. Hydrogen currently accounts for less than 1% of Europe’s energy consumption and most of it is not produced through renewable energy sources.  

Local and regional leaders have backed European Commission proposals which would give the EU an additional €2bn of funds to be able to directly respond to future crises. Drawing lessons from the COVID-19 pandemic during a debate with the EU's Commissioner for crisis management, Janez Lenarčič, members of the European Committee of the Regions also called for new rules to let regions and cities have direct EU support during times of emergency.  

On June 22 and 23rd, the final workshop of the first phase of the project “Fostering collaboration through mapping, analysing and interlinking of European Entrepreneurial Regions” took place. 

Despite the challenging circumstances created by the covid-19 crisis, the regional hubs have continued their work. Thanks to their resilience, the continuity of the RegHub consultations has been maintained. Here is a short overview of the ongoing consultation activity. 

During a recent speech at a Commission workshop with national experts on "One in-One out", Commissioner Šefčovič confirmed the Commission is stepping up its collaboration with its partners, including the Committee of the Regions, the European Economic and Social Committee, the Commission's representations in Member States, national authorities and other representative associations – in part to help identify which policies can be simplified and their burdens reduced. 

Removing unjustified obstacles to the cross-border provision of services would speed up economic recovery in Europe, the European Committee of the Regions (CoR) believes. The opinion drafted by Jean-Luc Vanraes (BE/Renew Europe), Member of Uccle Municipal Council, will be adopted in the CoR plenary session this week. 

In this interview, Michael Murphy (IE/EPP), Member of Tipperary County Council, answers five questions on the importance of global trade for Europe's local economies, both in tackling the consequences of the pandemic and in promoting sustainability. The Chair of the CoR's Commission for Economic Policy (ECON) is the rapporteur of the opinion 'Implementation of Free Trade Agreement (FTAs): the regional and local perspective' to be adopted at the 1-2 July plenary session. 

Komisár pre rozpočet a administratívu Johannes Hahn bude na plenárnom zasadnutí Európskeho výboru regiónov diskutovať s vedúcimi predstaviteľmi miest a regiónov o Pláne obnovy pre Európu a návrhu dlhodobého rozpočtu EÚ zostavených v kontexte hospodárskych a zdravotných problémov, ktoré spôsobila pandémia. Aj ostatní pozvaní eurokomisári sa budú venovať politickým odpovediam EÚ na krízu. Podpredsedníčka Dubravka Šuica sa zameria na aspekty spojené s demokraciou a demografiou, komisár Thierry Breton zodpovie otázky o vnútornom trhu a komisár Janez Lenarčič zhodnotí niektoré opatrenia EÚ v oblasti krízového riadenia. 

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 is preparing regular bulletins on the policy fields within its remits, 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. 

In this interview, Birgit Honé (DE/PES), Minister for Federal and European Affairs and Regional Development of Lower Saxony, answers five questions on clean hydrogen, a key energy source to achieve climate neutrality in the EU. Minister Birgit Honé is the rapporteur of the opinion 'Roadmap on Clean Hydrogen – the contribution of local and regional authorities to a climate neutral Europe', which is due to be adopted at the plenary session on 1 and 2 July in conjunction with a high-level debate on the European Green Deal. 

The annual European Week for Waste Reduction (EWWR) Awards Ceremony took place online on 25 June and revealed the names of the most outstanding awareness-raising actions on waste reduction implemented in November 2019. The European Committee of the regions supports the European Week of Waste Reduction initiative and is a member of its steering committee. 

Členovia Európskeho výboru regiónov (VR) na schôdzi komisie pre občianstvo, riadenie, inštitucionálne a vonkajšie záležitosti (CIVEX) diskutovali s poslankyňou Európskeho parlamentu a podpredsedníčkou Výboru Európskeho parlamentu pre ústavné veci (AFCO) Gabriele Bischoff o možných spôsoboch organizácie Konferencie o budúcnosti Európy. Podľa miestnych a regionálnych lídrov pretrvávajúca kríza jasne dokazuje, že Európska únia musí urýchlene pracovať na tom, aby bola účinnejšia, demokratickejšia a bližšia k občanom. VR víta pozíciu Rady z 24. júna ako dôležitý krok vpred, ktorý otvára možnosti pre rokovania o riadení, obsahu a štruktúre konferencie . Výbor však zároveň nalieha, aby sa práce začali hneď , ako sa skončí pandémia. Pani Bischoff opätovne zdôraznila, že miestni a regionálni lídri musia v tomto procese zohrávať dôležitú rolu. 

​CORLEAP recommendations adopted in view of the Eastern Partnership leaders' video conference on 18 June 2020 reflect the main messages from various reports that CORLEAP has adopted since the last EaP summit. The message is based on a well-documented evaluation of the situation, carried out at the level of governance closest to citizens.  

Cezhraničná operačná misia Mission Opérationnelle Transfrontalière (MOT) usporiada v spolupráci s Európskym výborom regiónov (VR) a Európskou komisiou 9. a 10. novembra 2020 v Paríži prvý ročník podujatia pre cezhraničné subjekty BORDERS FORUM a 10. výročnú schôdzu platformy EZÚS. Na podujatí sa zídu vysokí predstavitelia miestnej, regionálnej, národnej a európskej úrovne, medzi inými eurokomisárka Elisa Ferreira, predseda VR Apostolos Tzitzikostas a ministri z Francúzska, Nemecka, Talianska, Maďarska, Luxemburska a Poľska. Podujatie sa koná pod záštitou francúzskeho prezidenta Emmanuela Macrona. 

Poslanec zastupiteľstva obce Bettembourg Roby Biwer (LU/SES) v tomto rozhovore odpovedá na šesť otázok o opatreniach EÚ na ochranu a obnovu lesov na celom svete. V kontexte pandémie ochorenia COVID-19 spravodajca stanoviska VR na tému Posilnenie opatrení EÚ na ochranu a obnovu svetových lesov vyzýva EÚ, aby vytvorila nový systém certifikácie a informačný systém na podporu výrobkov, ktoré neprispievajú k odlesňovaniu, a krátkych a transparentných dodávateľských reťazcov. Prijatie tohto stanoviska je naplánované na plenárnom zasadnutí 1. – 2. júla . 

Každoročné slávnostné udeľovanie ocenení Európskeho týždňa redukcie odpadu sa uskutoční online 25. júna od 14.00 do 16.00 hod. Zaregistrovať sa môžete tu . Podujatie otvorí európsky komisár pre životné prostredie, oceány a rybárstvo Virginijus Sinkevičius. Európsky výbor regiónov v porote tento rok reprezentuje zástupkyňa primátora Budapešti Kata TÜTTŐ . Tu nájdete podrobnejšie informácie o 16 finalistoch. 

The European Committee of the Regions' Commission for Natural Resources (NAT) debates on the damage caused by the Coronavirus, its impact on local communities and EU Health Emergency Mechanism. At the meeting on 18 June, members also discussed opinions on cross-border healthcare, sustainable use of natural resources within the ​Mediterranean insular context and on strategy for Rural Revival. 

Around 70 CIVEX participants, including CIVEX members, CoR staff and political advisers attended the webinar on "Tensions between crisis management and fundamental freedoms", organised on 12 June by the CIVEX Commission. 

ARLEM Award 2021: Today is the day! ​The registrations for the ARLEM Award 2021 is open! You can apply until the 31 August 2020 

​The European Commission launches 'Re-open EU', a web platform containing essential information for a safe relaunch of tourism in Europe in the post-Covid period. Europeans will now be able to plan their holidays confidently as the platform provides real-time information on borders, means of transport, travel restrictions, public health and safety measures such as physical distancing or the wearing of facemasks. 

Európsky výbor regiónov dnes uviedol pracovnú skupinu pre zelenú dohodu na miestnej úrovni. Tvorí ju 13 zvolených miestnych a regionálnych zástupcov a jej cieľom je zabezpečiť, aby sa mestá a regióny EÚ priamo zúčastňovali na definovaní, vykonávaní a hodnotení mnohých iniciatív v rámci európskej zelenej dohody, stratégie EÚ pre udržateľný rast, ktorej cieľom je dosiahnuť do roku 2050 klimatickú neutralitu. 

CoR NAT Commission Bulletin​: Updates on the COVID-19 crisis from Committee of the Regions' Commission for natural resources, with focus on health, food production and disaster response, from and for the European regions.  

Najvyššou prioritou komisie pre životné prostredie, klimatické zmeny a energetiku (ENVE) Európskeho výboru regiónov (VR) je zabezpečiť, aby sa zelená dohoda stala jadrom stratégie obnovy v kontexte pandémie COVID-19. Počas dnešnej schôdze formou videokonferencie sa do diskusie s členmi komisie ENVE o potrebe ekologickej obnovy zapojil komisár Sinkevičius. Diskusiu viedol predseda komisie ENVE a starosta mesta Sevilla Juan Espadas. VR 15. júna otvára pracovnú skupinu pre zelenú dohodu s cieľom zaručiť, že obnova EÚ sa bude odohrávať na miestnej úrovni a bude prispôsobená každému územiu.