Šis ir jaunākais ikmēneša biļetena “ Green Deal Funding Alert ” izdevums, kurā sniegta informācija par finansējuma iespējām un iniciatīvām, ar kurām atbalsta ilgtspējīgu attīstību un pārkārtošanos uz klimatneitralitāti. Šajā izdevumā ir izklāstīta informācija par to, kā sniegt ieguldījumu, lai veidotu “ NetZeroCities ” atbalstu pilsētām, kurām ir vērienīgi mērķi klimata jomā, rīkot pasākumu par ES kohēzijas politiku un saņemt finansiālu atbalstu enerģētikas pārkārtošanas projektiem vai pielāgošanās plāniem. Lasiet tālāk, lai uzzinātu, kā gūt labumu no šīm iniciatīvām! 

Adequate funding and administrative capacity will be critical to the success of future European Union enlargement, local and regional leaders said on 30 April, on the eve of the 20th anniversary of the EU's 'big bang' expansion into eastern-central Europe and to Cyprus and Malta.  

On Europe Day, 9 May, the EU celebrates its achievements of unity and long-term peace, commemorating the signing of the Schuman Declaration in 1950. A month ahead of the European elections (from 6 to 9 June), citizens will have the opportunity to visit the EU institutions in Brussels and beyond, learning more about what Europe does for and with them. Citizens will be invited to participate in debates, live performances, games and other activities. 

The European Committee of the Regions, in partnership with the European Commission, DG Employment, Social Affairs and Inclusion (DG EMPL), held an event, on 25 April, as part of the European Year of Skills, on strengthening regional and urban skills in Europe to boost sustainable growth and social cohesion. 

​The European Committee of the Regions (CoR) has endorsed an interinstitutional agreement for a new Body for Ethical Standards signalling a crucial step towards cultivating a shared culture of integrity and ethics within the European Union.​​ 

The Zero Pollution Stakeholder Platform – a joint initiative of the European Commission and the European Committee of the Regions bringing together experts and key stakeholders – met on 18 April to discuss the next steps on the EU’s zero-pollution agenda and the importance of continuing the joint efforts to reach the 2030 targets on improving air, water and soil quality and reducing waste. 

Today, 24 April 2024, Vasco Alves Cordeiro, President of the European Committee of the Regions (CoR) made the first transfer of documental materials of that institution for long-term preservation in the vaults of the Historical Archives of the European Union (HAEU) at the European University Institute (EUI) in Florence, Italy. 

​Less than two months before the European elections, members of the European Committee of the Regions (CoR) and of the European Parliament held a debate during the CoR plenary session on 18 April, stressing the most pressing challenges rural areas are facing.  

The President of the European Committee of the Regions (CoR), Vasco Alves Cordeiro, and the European Commissioner for Jobs and Social Rights, Nicolas Schmit, presented, at a joint conference held at the CoR on 18 April, a new initiative backed by EU cohesion policy to fund local and regional strategies against long-term unemployment. 

With the opinion on the European Commission’s proposed regulation on new genomic techniques (NGT) and on plant reproductive material (PRM), led by Erik Konczer (HU/PES) and adopted during the April plenary session, the European Committee of the Regions (CoR) warns of serious risks for the future of European agriculture and puts forward its recommendations.  

The European Committee of the Regions (CoR) has urged the European Union to focus more sharply on the local and regional level of government in the Western Balkans as the prospects of countries in the region becoming members of the EU rise. 

Europe is facing a housing crisis, exacerbated by demographic and urbanisation trends, and local authorities struggle to provide affordable housing amidst low renovation rates. Regions and cities demand a EU Housing Agenda, urging better policy coordination and financial support for social housing initiatives, alongside a focus on sustainable architecture in an opinion, led by Andres Jaadla, (EE/Renew), member of Rakvere City Council, which was adopted during the plenary session of the European Committee of the Regions (CoR) on 17 April.​  

​With the upcoming European elections in June, this year will mark the end of one legislative cycle and the beginning of a new one. While countering the various threats to elections, ranging from cyber-attacks to disinformation, it is crucial to ensure a high voter turnout to strengthen the EU's democratic legitimacy. This is the main message of an opinion on defending democracy, adopted during the plenary session of the European Committee of the Regions (CoR) on 18 April. ​ 

With one in four children at risk of poverty and social exclusion in the EU, local and regional leaders adopted their recommendations to guarantee free education, childcare, school canteens, and healthcare to vulnerable children across the UE, at the European Committee of the Regions plenary session on 18 April. They called for local and regional authorities to be given direct access to EU funding to deliver these objectives on the ground. 

Members of the European Committee of the Regions (CoR) advocated an increase in the targets set for 2030 for the participation of vocational education and training (VET) learners and apprentices in international learning mobility programmes. In a set of recommendations adopted at the plenary session on 18 April, they stressed that the collaboration of local and regional authorities is key to improving skills and talent mobility and empowering the Union for the green and digital transitions. 

​EU regions and cities point out that their greater involvement and active participation is necessary to find new ways for livestock, people and large carnivores to coexist sustainably and safely while enhancing biodiversity. The European Committee of the Regions (CoR) considers that the protection status of certain species should be periodically reassessed and that EU funding should fully cover measures to prevent damage or compensate damages. 

The European Committee of the Regions (CoR) stresses that reducing plastic pellet losses is a key priority for the European Union's zero-pollution agenda, as microplastic pollution has a significant impact on the environment, climate and economy, especially for coastal communities and the fishing, agriculture and tourism sectors. The opinion drafted by Roberto Ciambetti (IT/ECR), President of the Veneto Regional Council, was adopted unanimously at the plenary session on 18 April. 

Mental health disorders affect around 84 million Europeans (at a cost of 600 billion euros), with significant regional, social, gender, race and age inequalities. At the April Plenary Session of the European Committee of the Regions (CoR), local and regional authorities adopted an opinion on mental health, led by Mieczyslaw Struk (PL/EPP), acknowledging their important role in shaping the mental health landscape through the design and implementation of community-focused initiatives and recalling on their support to the ‘mental health in all policies’ approach.  

Regional and local leaders welcome the recent proposal by the European Commission, which, after years of political deadlock, designs new instruments to make life of citizens, workers and industries in border regions easier. The proposed regulation takes on board a large majority of recommendations made by the European Committee of the Regions (CoR) in an opinion drafted by Magali Altounian (FR/Renew E.), member of the Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur Regional Council.  

More widespread bicycle use requires more investment in safety and more efficient infrastructure, including separate cycle lanes, strict speed limits and better enforcement of traffic rules. This is the key recommendation of regions and cities, as set out in the opinion prepared by Arianna Censi (IT/PES), Deputy Mayor for Mobility in Milan City Council, adopted at the plenary session of the European Committee of the Regions (CoR) on 17 April.  

The European Committee of the Regions has called on the European Union to be ready to provide additional long-term funding to support Ukraine's recovery from the war, in an opinion that backs the start of membership talks with Ukraine and Moldova.  

A new CoR-CEMR consultation shows that the territorial allocation of funds from the Recovery and Resilience Facility is widely perceived as unbalanced on the ground. 

UN Tourism has partnered with the European Committee of the Regions for a comprehensive study of the significant impact and potential of tourism in fostering socio-economic development in rural areas.  

Local authorities play a key role in integrating cultural heritage into the development of European cities, promoting more sustainable and inclusive communities, said the president of the Commission for Social Policy, Education, Employment, Research (SEDEC) of the European Committee of the Regions (CoR), Tanya Hristova, in her speech at the Forum of the Festival of the New European Bauhaus. 

​EU cities and regions are urging to accelerate action at all levels of government for a more sustainable future by aligning the climate objectives, biodiversity targets and sustainable development goals (SDGs). In its ​draft opinion​, the European Committee of the Regions (CoR) underlines that these global frameworks are substantially interconnected and should be tackled in synergy, from local to global level.  

​Ahead of the upcoming European elections, members of the CoR commission for Citizenship, Governance, Institutional and External Affairs (CIVEX) discussed active subsidiarity and increased participation of local and regional authorities in the EU legislative process, countering disinformation and fighting drug trafficking during the meeting on 10 April.  

The President of the European Committee of the Regions (CoR), Vasco Alves Cordeiro, and the Chair of the COTER commission, Emil Boc, are bringing regions and cities' concerns about the future of cohesion in the EU to the 9th Cohesion Forum, which gathers in Brussels – today and tomorrow - hundreds of decision makers and stakeholders from across Europe. 

Two months ahead of the European elections, the main challenges for the future of Cohesion Policy – including a just transition towards an environmentally sustainable society, crossborder cooperation and Cohesion Policy’s role vis à vis new instruments like the post-pandemic recovery plan – were discussed on 8 April by members of the Commission for territorial Cohesion Policy and EU budget (COTER).  

The call for applications for the 2024 EU Organic Awards is open until 12 May. The awards, jointly organised by the European Committee of the Regions (CoR), the European Commission, the European Economic and Social Committee, COPA-COGECA and IFOAM Organics Europe, aim to reward different actors along the organic value chain that have developed an excellent, innovative, sustainable and inspiring project producing real added value for organic production and consumption.  

Šis ir jaunākais ikmēneša biļetena “Green Deal Funding Alert” izdevums, kurā sniegta informācija par finansējuma iespējām un iniciatīvām, kas atbalsta ilgtspējīgu attīstību un pārkārtošanos uz klimatneitralitāti. Šajā izdevumā tiek piedāvāts profesionāls atbalsts un vadlīnijas, lai rastu pareizo finansējuma pieeju jūsu projektiem, kas saistīti ar pielāgošanos klimata pārmaiņām, kā arī sniegta iespēja mācīties no citām pilsētām, kurām ir vērienīgi mērķi klimata jomā. Lasiet tālāk, lai uzzinātu, kā gūt labumu no šīm iniciatīvām! 

The President of the European Committee of the Regions (CoR), Vasco Alves Cordeiro, and the Chair of the COTER commission, Emil Boc, react to the publication of the 9th Cohesion report by the European Commission. 

The deadline for submission of the proposals for the EURegionsWeek 2024 call for application to become a partner has been extended until 05 April at 12:00 (Brussels time). 

Ahead of the adoption of an important opinion on the Future of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP), the two co-rapporteurs together with members of the natural resources (NAT) commission held a debate on European agricultural policies with Janusz Wojciechowski, European Commissioner for Agriculture, and major stakeholders of the agri-food value chain on 22 March.  

President Cordeiro and the European Commission Executive Vice-President for European Green Deal, Interinstitutional Relations and Foresight, Maroš Šefčovič signed a revised cooperation agreement  

In the lead-up to European elections and on the eve of a meeting of the European Council, over 3500 local and regional leaders from across Europe gathered in Mons to shape the agenda for Europe’s future, restating their power to deliver and tackle challenges at local level.  

The European Alliance of Cities and Regions for the Reconstruction of Ukraine on 19 March called for a decentralised approach to Ukraine's reconstruction and recovery, with Ukraine's regional and local authorities being given "intensive" support to enable them to play a "meaningful" role in the process.  

The 10th European Summit of Regions and Cities, co-organised by the European Committee of the Regions and the Wallonia Region, kicked-off on March 18 in Mons with a strong participation of regional and local representatives. EU investment for a just transition, digitalisation, gender equality and integration were the key topics of the first day sessions.  

With less than three months to go before the European elections, cities and regions are unanimous in confirming the need for a strengthened Cohesion Policy to deliver on a just transition as part of the future EU investment framework centred on supporting economic, social and territorial cohesion. The European Committee of the Regions (CoR), together with the founding partners of the EU-wide coalition #CohesionAlliance, launched a joint call to the European institutions and national governments to keep Cohesion Policy as the main pillar of the EU's development model in the next decade.  

Eiropas Reģionu komitejas priekšsēdētājs Vasku Alvešs Kurdeiru (Vasco Alves Cordeiro) un Valonijas reģiona ministru prezidents Elio Di Rupo kopā ar vietējiem līderiem no visas Eiropas Savienības un pasaules apspriedīs prioritātes, debatēs piedaloties Beļģijas premjerministram Aleksandram De Kro (Alexander De Croo) un citiem vadošajiem ES, valstu un starptautiskajiem pārstāvjiem. 

On International Women's Day, the President of the European Committee of the Regions (CoR), Vasco Alves Cordeiro, and the Committee’s rapporteur on the Gender Equality Action Plan, Sauri Ratio, called on Member States to put in place measures for more women to enter and play a role in politics. 

​In recognition of International Women's Day, Donatella Porzi (IT/RE), CoR rapporteur of the opinion on "Stopping gender-based violence - cities and regions leading the way", shares her insights into the deep-rooted challenges and developments in this battle, emphasising the importance of education, societal change, and legislative action. 

As part of the CoR's contribution to improving gender equality and to building a more inclusive, gender-equal and fair EU, it has put in place since end of 2023 a dedicated Gender Equality Action Plan, which summarises its own processes and practices aiming to improve gender equality at the Committee of the Regions. To support this process the Bureau appointed a special Bureau rapporteur on the CoR Gender Equality Action Plan, Ms Sari Rautio (FI/EPP), Member of Hämeenlinna City Council. 

Applications for the EURegionsWeek2024 are open! Do not miss your chance to be part of the biggest annual event dedicated to regional and urban policy! 

Ahead of the upcoming European elections in June 2024, elected representatives from the European Committee of the Regions - EU’s assembly of local and regional authorities – and the European Parliament reinforce their cooperation to promote democratic engagement and contribute to an open public debate on EU’s challenges and opportunities. 

This is the latest edition of the Green Deal Funding Alert, a monthly newsletter that keeps you informed about funding opportunities and initiatives that support sustainable development and the transition to climate neutrality. This edition focuses on guides to help you finance circular projects in your city and to apply for funding of green projects, as well as calls to participate in green city award competitions. 

24 February 2024 marks the second anniversary of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine. The following statements were made by the President of the European Committee of the Regions, the chair of its Working Group on Ukraine, and its rapporteur on the EU's newly approved support package, the Ukraine Facility. 

Improving the well-being of children and protecting them from violence, poverty and social exclusion were the main focus of the meeting of the Commission for Social Policy, Education, Employment, Research and Culture (SEDEC), held in Ancona (Italy) on 22 February. The meeting was followed by a high-level conference on regional innovation as a key driver of the EU's green and digital transition, attended by local and regional authorities, representatives of the Italian national government and of the European Commission. 

The President of the European Committee of the Regions, Vasco Alves Cordeiro, met in Brussels with the European Commissioner for Agriculture, Janusz Wojciechowski, with whom he addressed the growing concerns expressed by farmers across the EU, regarding pressures on their incomes, profitability and the regulation of the sector within the EU framework.  

​The creation of a European administrative space to raise the quality of services in the public sector was the main topic on the agenda of the meeting of the Commission for Economic Policy (ECON) of the European Committee of the Regions (CoR) on 12 February. Europe's digital transformation and the challenges of achieving the Green Deal objectives at local and regional level were also discussed with representatives of the European Commission.​  

Just two days after the European Commission published its communication on the 2040 climate targets, members of the CoR’s Commission for Environment, Climate and Energy (ENVE) gathered to discuss the Belgian EU Council’s priorities and ongoing work on Green Deal policies. Members also adopted draft opinions on the challenges linked to large carnivores and on the role of geothermal energy in localising energy production.