​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. 

Concepción Andreu Rodríguez (ES/PES), predsednica avtonomne skupnosti La Rioja, v intervjuju govori o strategiji EU za enakost spolov in vplivu pandemije COVID-19 na ženske. Concha Andreu je poročevalka za mnenje, ki ga je ta teden sprejela komisija za socialno politiko, izobraževanje, zaposlovanje, raziskave in kulturo (SEDEC) v Evropskem odboru regij (OR). Njegovo sprejetje je predvideno na oktobrskem plenarnem zasedanju. 

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! 

Evropska skupščina lokalnih in regionalnih politikov je podala priporočila glede Sklada za pravični prehod, katerega cilj je podpreti regije pri reševanju izzivov zelenega prehoda. Poročevalec Vojko Obersnel (HR/PES), župan Reke, poziva k obsežni podpori EU, da ne bi pri prehodu na oživljeno in okolju prijazno gospodarstvo pozabili na nobeno osebo niti na noben kraj. 

Evropski odbor regij, skupščina regionalnih in lokalnih oblasti EU, je dva tedna pred odločilnim evropskim vrhom države članice pozval k pravočasnemu in poštenemu dogovoru o večletnem finančnem okviru in instrumentu „Next Generation EU“. V resoluciji in razpravi z evropskim komisarjem za proračun in upravo Johannesom Hahnom so regije in mesta pozvali, naj kohezija usmerja vse politike EU ter naj izvajanje programov EU temelji na deljeni odgovornosti in partnerstvu. 

Evropski odbor regij (OR) je 2. julija sprejel resolucijo , v kateri si je določil tri prednostne naloge za naslednjih pet let. Politična skupščina želi, da Evropska unija postane bolj odporna, trajnostna in kohezivna, kar bi dosegli z večjo vključitvijo regij in mest v oblikovanje in izvajanje politik EU. 

Evropski odbor regij je na julijskem plenarnem zasedanju skoraj soglasno sprejel mnenje, ki ga je pripravil Roby Biwer , z naslovom Okrepitev ukrepov EU za zaščito in obnovo svetovnih gozdov . Poročevalec za mnenje OR poziva k uvedbi trdne sheme certificiranja in trdnega informacijskega sistema EU, ki bosta zagotavljala trajnostne gozdarske proizvode in pregledne dobavne verige iz držav, ki niso članice EU. 

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. 

Lokalni in regionalni voditelji Evrope so med razpravo z Dubravko Šuico, podpredsednico Evropske komisije, pristojno za demokracijo in demografijo, institucije EU pozvali, naj tesno sodelujejo z lokalnimi vladami, da bi ublažili teritorialne in družbeno-gospodarske posledice demografskih sprememb. V več kot 40 % regij EU se prebivalstvo zmanjšuje, zato se Evropski odbor regij zavzema za vključitev demografske razsežnosti v vse politike EU in v razpravo o prihodnosti Evrope. 

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.  

Lokalni in regionalni voditelji so podprli predlog Evropske komisije, da se EU namenijo dodatna sredstva v višini 2 milijard EUR za neposreden odziv na prihodnje krize. Člani Evropskega odbora regij so med razpravo z evropskim komisarjem za krizno upravljanje Janezom Lenarčičem o izkušnjah, pridobljenih pri spoprijemanju s pandemijo COVID-19, poleg tega pozvali k oblikovanju novih pravil, s katerimi bi imeli regije in mesta v kriznih časih neposreden dostop do podpore EU. 

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. 

Johannes Hahn, evropski komisar za proračun EU, bo z lokalnimi in regionalnimi voditelji 2. julija, na plenarnem zasedanju Evropskega odbora regij, razpravljal o načrtu Evropske unije za okrevanje ter dolgoročnem proračunu, ki se zdaj sprejema. Zasedanje bodo zaznamovale težave v gospodarstvu in zdravstvu, ki jih je povzročila pandemija. Udeležili se ga bodo še trije evropski komisarji, ki bodo ravno tako spregovorili o političnem odzivu EU na krizo: podpredsednica Dubravka Šuica bo z udeleženci razpravljala o vprašanjih, povezanih z demokracijo in demografijo, komisar Thierry Breton bo odgovarjal na vprašanja o notranjem trgu, komisar Janez Lenarčič pa bo podal pregled nekaterih ukrepov EU na področju kriznega upravljanja. 

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. 

Člani komisije za državljanstvo, upravljanje ter institucionalne in zunanje zadeve (CIVEX) v Evropskem odboru regij so z Gabriele Bischoff , poslanko Evropskega parlamenta in podpredsednico Odbora Evropskega parlamenta za ustavne zadeve (AFCO), razpravljali o nadaljnjih korakih v zvezi s konferenco o prihodnosti Evrope. Zaradi sedanje krize je po mnenju lokalnih in regionalnih voditeljev še toliko bolj nujno, da si Evropska unija prizadeva postati učinkovitejša, bolj demokratična in bližje državljanom. OR pozdravlja stališče Sveta z dne 24. junija kot pomemben korak v smeri napredka, saj odpira pot pogajanjem o upravljanju, vsebini in strukturi konference. Odbor pa poziva tudi , naj se delo začne takoj, ko bodo to dopuščale razmere zaradi pandemije. Gabriele Bischoff je ponovno poudarila, da bi morajo imeti lokalni in regionalni voditelji pomembno vlogo v tem procesu. 

​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.  

Čezmejna operativna misija (Mission Opérationnelle Transfrontalière (MOT)) bo v sodelovanju z Evropskim odborom regij in Evropsko komisijo 9. in 10. novembra 2020 v Parizu gostila prvi FORUM O MEJAH in deseto letno srečanje platforme EZTS. Na dogodku se bodo zbrali visoki predstavniki lokalne, regionalne, nacionalne in evropske ravni, med njimi komisarka Elisa Ferreira, predsednik OR Apostolos Tzitzikostas in ministri iz Francije, Nemčije, Italije, Madžarske, Luksemburga in Poljske. Dogodek bo organiziran pod pokroviteljstvom francoskega predsednika Emmanuela Macrona. 

Roby Biwer (LU/PES) , član občinskega sveta Bettembourg, je v intervjuju odgovoril na šest vprašanj v zvezi z ukrepi EU za zaščito in obnovo gozdov po svetu. Poročevalec za mnenja OR „Okrepitev ukrepov EU za zaščito in obnovo svetovnih gozdov“ v razmerah, ki jih je povzročila pandemija COVID-19, poziva k oblikovanju nove evropske sheme certificiranja in informacijskega sistema za potrjevanje proizvodov, ki ne povzročajo krčenja gozdov, ter kratkih in preglednih dobavnih verig. Mnenje bo predvidoma sprejeto na plenarnem zasedanju 1. in 2. julija . 

Slovesnost ob podelitvi nagrad v okviru vsakoletnega evropskega tedna zmanjševanja odpadkov bo potekala na spletu 25. junija od 14.00 do 16.00. Vabimo vas, da se prijavite tu . Na začetku slovesnosti bo spregovoril Virginijus Sinkevičius, evropski komisar za okolje, oceane in ribištvo. Letos bo predstavnica Evropskega odbora regij v žiriji podžupanja Budimpešte Kata TÜTTŐ . Šestnajst finalistov je predstavljenih tu. 

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. 

Evropski odbor regij je danes ustanovil delovno skupino za zeleni dogovor. Sestavlja jo 13 izvoljenih lokalnih in regionalnih predstavnikov, njen cilj pa je zagotoviti, da bodo mesta in regije EU neposredno vključene v oblikovanje, izvajanje in oceno številnih pobud, ki se bodo izvajale v okviru evropskega zelenega dogovora, tj. strategije EU za trajnostno rast in podnebno nevtralnost do leta 2050. 

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.  

Zagotavljanje, da je zeleni dogovor v središču strategije za okrevanje, je med glavnimi prednostnimi nalogami komisije za okolje, podnebne spremembe in energijo (ENVE) v Evropskem odboru regij (OR). Današnje videokonferenčne seje komisije se je udeležil tudi komisar Sinkevičius, ki je z njenimi člani razpravljal o nujnosti okolju prijaznega okrevanja. Razpravo je vodil Juan Espadas, predsednik komisije ENVE in župan Seville. OR bo 15. junija ustanovil delovno skupino za zeleni dogovor, da bi zagotovil, da bo okrevanje EU potekalo na lokalni ravni in bo prilagojeno posameznim območjem. 

Kriza zaradi COVID-19 ima uničujoče posledice za naše zdravje, gospodarstvo in socialno okolje. Kakšen je njen učinek v vaši regiji, vašem mestu oziroma vaši občini? Evropski odbor regij (OR) in Organizacija za gospodarsko sodelovanje in razvoj (OECD) želita pridobiti več informacij o izzivih, s katerimi se soočajo organi na podnacionalni ravni. Vaše izkušnje so bistvene za boljše razumevanje in oceno učinka krize na lokalne in regionalne skupnosti v članicah EU in OECD, zlasti na področju upravljanja, financiranja in strategije za okrevanje. 

Pandemija COVID-19 je močno prizadela naš svet in naš način življenja. Zaradi nje je več tisoč ljudi izgubilo življenje, njene posledice za vsak vidik našega vsakdanjega življenja pa so takšne, kakršnih doslej še ni bilo. Komisija za socialno politiko, izobraževanje, zaposlovanje, raziskave in kulturo (SEDEC) v Evropskem odboru regij pripravlja redne biltene o političnih področjih v njeni pristojnosti, v katerih predstavlja najnovejše raziskave, članke in razprave o družbeno-gospodarskih posledicah pandemije v Evropi ter o različnih dejavnostih in ukrepih za odzivanje, ki se načrtujejo in izvajajo na ravni EU ter na nacionalni, regionalni in lokalni ravni. 

The Commission for the Environment, Climate change and Energy (ENVE) has released the second edition of ENVOY, its bulletin.  

Pandemija COVID-19 ima zelo velike škodljive posledice za evropska gospodarstva. Komisija ECON Evropskega odbora regij redno pripravlja ekonomske biltene, v katerih predstavlja najnovejše raziskave, članke in razprave o družbeno-gospodarskih posledicah pandemije v Evropi ter različne gospodarske ukrepe za odziv nanjo, ki se načrtujejo in izvajajo na ravni EU ter nacionalni, regionalni in lokalni ravni. 

V tem intervjuju predsednik Kujavsko-Pomorjanskega vojvodstva Piotr Całbecki (PL/EPP) odgovarja na pet vprašanj o upravljanju voda v kontekstu epidemije COVID-19 in nezmanjšanega globalnega segrevanja. Poročevalec za mnenje OR o okvirni direktivi o vodah in direktivi o poplavah poziva k spremembi paradigme, ki bo krožnost in trajnost postavila v središče našega načina uporabe naravnih virov, zlasti vode. Komisija ENVE bo o osnutku mnenja glasovala na svoji naslednji seji 8. junija . Mnenje bo predvidoma sprejeto na plenarnem zasedanju 1. in 2. julija, ob razpravi na visoki ravni o evropskem zelenem dogovoru. 

Second partners' meeting took place virtually on 27 May. To view the recording of the meeting and the slides presented, check the event website Partners’ page! Third partners meeting will be held also virtually on 26 June. 

Zavezništvo za kohezijo #Cohesion Alliance – vseevropsko zavezništvo 12 000 podpisnikov, ki se zavzema za močnejšo kohezijsko politiko po letu 2020 – pozdravlja predlog Evropske komisije o reviziji proračuna EU za obdobje 2021–2027 in predlog načrta za okrevanje, ki vključuje podaljšanje sedanjih kohezijskih programov z večjo prožnostjo in dodatnim financiranjem. Obenem zavezništvo Evropsko komisijo in države članice poziva, naj poskrbijo za vključenost mest, občin in regij ter ohranijo močan poudarek na koheziji v vseh ukrepih za okrevanje, usmerjenih v ponovni zagon gospodarstva, spodbujanje trajnosti ter krepitev teritorialnega in socialnega tkiva Unije, tudi v okviru evropskega semestra. 

​In the context of COVID19 crisis, the current group of Trainees at the European Committee of the Regions will highlight the commitment of regional and local actors in their effort to facilitate the digital transition in the fields of Education, Culture, and Civic Participation.