Climate Change
The growing exposure of EU cities and regions to the consequences of climate change, biodiversity loss and environmental degradation is of serious concern, requiring more focus on and financial means for prevention and adaptation. The EU’s climate neutrality target by 2050 must be achieved through a legally binding 2040 target of 90% CO2 reduction and ambitious as well as realistic efforts empowering cities and regions, as outlined in the Green Deal framework.
Water Resilience
Water resilience is a critical global challenge. It is crucial for EU competitiveness and key to deliver on climate adaptation, protect biodiversity, reduce pollution, ensure food security, and strengthen the circular economy and public health. It must therefore be integrated into all other relevant EU policies.
Clean, secure and affordable energy
An efficient, economically sustainable, clean and fair local energy transition is key to reducing strategic dependencies and to combining climate targets and competitiveness. It is of crucial importance to promote micro production of energy and decentralised and renewable energy systems. The completion of the European Energy Union with a fully integrated and interconnected market across the EU will be fundamental to enhance the EU's energy security and to keep energy prices affordable.
Cross-border cooperation
The transfer of people and goods across borders is one of the best examples of European added value. European territorial cooperation needs to be recognised as a priority and strengthened in the EU budget.
The European Cross-Border Platform gathers actors in cross-border cooperation and advocates for new approaches and policy solutions.
Health
A shrinking healthcare workforce, supply problems of critical medicines, health inequalities and rising numbers of chronic diseases and mental health problems pose significant challenges. Building and implementing the European Health Union must address them to ensure societal resilience and strategic autonomy.
Agriculture
Rural areas must not be left behind. A strong Common Agriculture Policy (CAP) will be essential to increase the EU’s resilience, sustainability, competitiveness, as well as food sovereignty and security and the protection of its farmers. A stronger role of regions and adequate resources are needed to address the various challenges facing the agricultural sector, to help farmers who need it most and to support the transition to sustainable farming.
Security
Europeans and the EU are facing evolving and multi-dimensional threats. Crisis preparedness, whether in relation to geopolitical tensions or natural disasters, is essential. Local and regional perspectives need to be fully reflected in EU policies so that they can be effective on the ground.
The CoR stresses its unwavering support to Ukraine's cities and regions, which is expressed through the Alliance for the Reconstruction of Ukraine.
