173rd CoR Plenary Session

The Members of the European Committee of the Regions will hold a meeting for the 173rd Plenary Session on 12-14 October 2026.

The main highlights of the session will be:

• Opening of the #EURegionsWeek with:
  • António COSTA, President of the European Council
  • Jack CHAMBERS, Irish Presidency of the Council of the European Union, Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation
  • Raffaele FITTO, Executive Vice-President for Cohesion and Reforms
  • Kata TÜTTŐ, President of the European Committee of the Regions
  • Jyrki KATAINEN, former Finnish Prime Minister
• Joint Action Plan on renewed cooperation on employment and social policies with:
  • Roxana MÎNZATU, Executive Vice-President for Social Rights and Skills, Quality Jobs and Preparedness, European Commission
• Debate on Wildfires and Drought with:
  • Kamal KISHORE, Special Representative of the United Nations Secretary-General, UN Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR)
• European Capitals of Culture 2027 – Liepāja (LV) & Évora (PT) with:
  • Glenn MICALLEF, Commissioner for Intergenerational Fairness, Youth, Culture and Sports, European Commission
  • Gunārs ANSIŅŠ (LV/renew E.), Mayor of Liepāja, Latvia
  • Carlos ZORRINHO (PT/PES), Mayor of Évora, Portugal
• Debate on the Culture Compass for Europe, and launch of the initiative 'Voices of the Future' with:
  • Glenn MICALLEF, Commissioner for Intergenerational Fairness, Youth, Culture and Sport, European Commission
• Debate on the Automotive sector with:
  • Brigitte TORLOTING, Vice-President of the Grand Est region of France and chair of the Automotive Regions Alliance (ARA)
• European Entrepreneurial Region Award with:
  • Alberto CIRIO (IT/EPP), Chair of the jury of the award, President of the Piedmont Region, IT
  • Stefania PROIETTI (IT/PES), Awardee, President of the Umbria Region, IT
  • Rasmus C. BECK, Awardee, Chief Executive Officer, Duisburg Business & Innovation, DE
  • Vasile ASANDEI, Awardee, General Director, North-East Regional Development Agency (NE RDA), RO