ENVE commission welcomes Cyprus presidency’s focus on resilience

At its first meeting of the year on 3 February, the CoR's Commission for Environment, Climate Change and Energy (ENVE) discussed the Cyprus EU Council presidency's green transition priorities and the preparations for the UNFCCC COP31 in Türkiye. The ENVE commission also adopted an opinion on EU sound policies and exchanged views on the European Grids Package proposal. 

Members welcomed the Cyprus EU Council presidency's focus on water resilience and climate adaptation, with several speakers pointing out water stress as a growing issue across EU regions. The representative of the Cyprus permanent representation ensured that the presidency is aiming at mainstreaming systematically environmental priorities across policies to boost resilience, and for a stronger alignment of EU long-term budget with climate/environment priorities.

A representative from the Turkish permanent delegation to the EU took part in the meeting to present the state of the play of the preparations for the UNFCCC COP31 that will be hosted in Antalya in November. With both the COP31 and the biodiversity COP17 in Yerevan taking place in the second half of 2026, members highlighted the need to tackle climate change and biodiversity loss together at all levels, from local to global.

Another key item on the agenda was the European Commission's European Grids Package proposal presented in December. CoR rapporteur-general Clare Colleran Molloy (IE/Renew Europe), deputy mayor of Clare County Council, stated that her upcoming opinion will call for "more involvement of local and regional authorities to ensure that grid system will work for the future and is implemented on the ground in the best possible way". The opinion will be adopted at the CoR plenary on 4-5 March.

Members also adopted a draft opinion on EU sound policies presented by Marieke Schouten (NL/Greens & Progressives), alderman of the municipality of Nieuwegein. The opinion urges the Commission to treat noise as a core public health, environmental and economic issue with the same commitment and positive results as air pollution. It is set for adoption at the CoR plenary session in May.

Lastly, members exchanged views in view of a future opinion on the Environment Implementation Review with rapporteur Stefania Proietti (IT/PES), President of Umbria Regional Council.  Ms Proietti will present the draft opinion for adoption at the external ENVE meeting in Assisi in June. The opinion will analyse the obstacles in implementing EU environmental legislation at local and regional level.  

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