In a context of multiplication of crises, EU local and regional leaders debated at the meeting of the European Committee of the Regions' commission for Natural Resources (NAT) on 30 March on how to make regions more resilient in agriculture, health and food systems. They argued that European Union should not only be reacting to crises but also be able to anticipate them by defining vulnerabilities criteria at local and regional level and integrating them into EU policy-making. Health claim labelling on food and alcoholic products was also discussed at the meeting. 

On Thursday 30 March, the 2023 high-level conference of the Covenant of Mayors was the opportunity to reflect on how local authorities are responding to the energy crisis and protecting citizens and local business from soaring energy prices. The conference was the occasion to demonstrate that EU local and regional authorities are the ones driving the EU energy and climate ambition forward - while calling for direct funds and innovative financial instruments to make the European Green Deal go local.  

Local and regional authorities, representatives of the European Commission and other European institutions, academia and civil society attending the European Committee of the Regions conference discussed how to promote the integration of migrants and refugees, intercultural interaction and social cohesion in increasingly diverse societies. 

The Commission launched the ninth edition of the European Capital of Innovation Awards (iCapital).The prize is awarded to European cities that are front-runners of innovations that benefit their citizens. 

Lead representatives of the European Committee of the Regions (CoR) joined European Commissioners Mariya Gabriel and Elisa Ferreira for the launch of a call for expression of interest to establish 100 Regional Innovation Valleys in Europe. The launch took place on 28 March during a high-level event gathering EU territories that participate in the Partnerships for Regional Innovation (PRI) pilot action.  

On 29 March 2023, ENVE Chair Rafal Trzaskowski and Martin Horn, Mayor of Freiburg and President of ICLEI Europe and have presented the CoR-ICLEI action plan 2023-2024. The action plan has been designed with the aim to facilitate cooperation between the CoR and ICLEI and to promote their shared goals and objectives with respect to climate policies, biodiversity, regional development and citizens' engagement. 

EU members of the European Committee of the Regions' UK Contact Group met on 29 March to discuss recent developments regarding EU-UK relations and to attend a ceremony in the European Parliament marking the 25 years of the Good Friday Agreement, which brought an end to the conflict in Northern Ireland.  

Less-developed regions have improved their performances, triggering significant economic advantages for their citizens, but big differences remain in particular between large urban areas and the rest 

Tagad ir izsludināta pieteikšanās uz ES Bioloģiskās ražošanas balvu (2023). Balvas, ko kopīgi pasniedz Eiropas Reģionu komiteja, Eiropas Komisija, Eiropas Ekonomikas un sociālo lietu komiteja, COPA-COGECA un IFOAM Organics Europe, ir paredzētas, lai godalgotu dažādus dalībniekus, kuri iesaistīti bioloģiskās vērtības ķēdē un ir izstrādājuši inovatīvus, ilgtspējīgus un iedvesmojošus projektus, radot reālu pievienoto vērtību bioloģiskajai ražošanai un patēriņam. Šajā sakarā tiek piešķirtas astoņas balvas, kas ir iedalītas septiņās dažādās kategorijās, un RK pasniedz trīs godalgas, t. i., labākajam bioloģiskās ražošanas reģionam, labākajai bioloģiskās ražošanas pilsētai un labākajam bioapgabalam. Uzvarētāji tiks paziņoti ES Bioproduktu dienā – 2023. gada 25. septembrī.Dabas resursu komisijas (NAT) priekšsēdētāja Izilda Gomeša (Isilda Gomes) sacīja: “Pieaugošais patērētāju pieprasījums pēc kvalitatīvākas, ilgtspējīgākas, tuvākajā apkārtnē ražotas un veselīgas pārtikas, tostarp pēc bioloģiskiem produktiem, var radīt jaunas iespējas lauku ekonomikai.Bioloģiskā lauksaimniecība ir kļuvusi par svarīgu nodarbinātības un ienākumu avotu, kas lauku apvidiem palīdz sasniegt ilgtermiņa redzējuma mērķus.Tāpēc RK pārliecinoši atbalsta stratēģijā “No lauka līdz galdam” noteikto ES mērķi, proti, līdz 2030. gadam panākt, ka 25 % lauksaimniecības zemes tiek izmantoti bioloģiskajai lauksaimniecībai.Šādu mērķi var sasniegt, tikai izmantojot bioloģiskās ražošanas nozares attīstību veicinošus politikas instrumentus, tostarp tādus apbalvojumus, ar kuriem tiek godalgota izcilība bioloģiskās pārtikas ķēdē un stimulēta gan bioloģisko produktu ražošana, gan to patēriņš.Manā dzimtajā pilsētā Portimaunā (Portimão) mēs ļoti atbalstām stratēģijas “No lauka līdz galdam” mērķi, un, lai to sasniegtu, mēs sadarbojamies ar vietējiem ražotājiem, palīdzot uzlabot viņu produktu noietu pilsētu tirgū, nodrošinot vietējiem iedzīvotājiem piekļuvi kvalitatīvākai pārtikai un vienlaikus aizsargājot mūsu lauku kopienas.”Pieteikumus var sūtīt līdz 14. maijam, izmantojot šādas saites:BioapgabalsReģioniPilsētasJa jums ir jautājumi saistībā ar pieteikšanos, sūtiet e-pastu uz šādu adresi: EuorganicawardsCoR@cor.europa.eu. 

A devastating earthquake hit Türkiye and Syria last 6 February, Europe’s worst natural disaster in a century according to the World Health Organisation. More than 50,000 people have been killed and millions of people affected, including injured and left homeless people. 

On 21 and 22 March, the Mayor of Gabrovo, Tanya Hristova (BG/EPP) - the Chair of the European Committee of the Regions' (CoR) Commission for Social Policy, Education, Employment, Research and Culture (SEDEC) - will represent the EU's assembly of local and regional authorities at the 'European Innovation Days' in San Francisco, California. The high-level delegation of entrepreneurs, investors, local and regional leaders and other innovation actors is led by Mariya Gabriel - European Commissioner for Innovation, Research, Culture, Education and Youth. 

War in Ukraine has reinforced case for the EU to tailor cooperation to match the different priorities of the EU's neighbours to the east, European Committee of the Regions argues. 

Secure and sustainable access to digital infrastructure, skills and services are vital to accelerate the development of Europe's rural areas and of so-called 'smart' villages in particular. This was the main message of the demands of the opinion on "Targets and tools for a smart rural Europe" by Radim SRŠEŇ, Mayor of the Municipality of Dolní Studénky, adopted during the European Committee of the Regions plenary session on Wednesday. 

Regions and cities play a major role in regulating and supporting the media and cultural sectors in the EU. In order to ensure media freedom and pluralism, and to preserve the integrity of the European information space, they demand that the EU's intervention does not overlap with existing systems of media supervision and avoids any overregulation. Local leaders also call for a closer cooperation between media regulatory authorities and stress that the European Board for Media Services proposed by the European Commission must be protected against any political and business influence. These demands are included in the opinion on the European Media Freedom Act, led by Mark Speich (DE/EPP), which was adopted during the plenary session of the European Committee of the Regions (CoR) on 16 March. 

Regions and cities demand more ambition on reducing the use of pesticides to help farmers to cope better with the economic, energy and climate crisis by promoting sustainable food systems and protecting health and nature Reneging on commitments made with the adoption of EU's Farm to Fork strategy and on raising standards for sustainable food production will have seriously detrimental impacts on the environment and risk deepening the economic effect of the climate and food price crises. But farmers need more support, including with a new national fund for pest management that could be financed by a risk-based taxation on pesticides, by contributions of retailers, or by penalty payments. This was the key message of local and regional leaders in the opinion adopted on 15 March in the European Committee of the Regions plenary session, calling on EU Member States to help farmers reduce the use of pesticides and related risks by introducing dedicated measures in their strategic plans funded by EU's Common Agriculture Policy. 

EU regional and local leaders supported the European Commission's proposals to revise a directive on protecting workers from the effects of asbestos, while stressing that the directive deals with asbestos in a very fragmented way and that the broad spectrum of asbestos regulation should be strengthened by a European strategy for asbestos removal, which would ensure an integrated approach of different policies and implement systemic and effective solutions in all Member States on inventory, monitoring, safe disposal, storage, education and training methods. 

The key challenges and future objectives of Cohesion Policy were the main focus of the high-level event organised by the #CohesionAlliance on 16 March. The EU-wide coalition of 12,000 signatories advocating for a stronger Cohesion Policy launched two calls addressed to European local and regional authorities to collect their feedback on the future role and design of cohesion policy, and to showcase the unique role of this policy in supporting cities' and regions' development in every corner of Europe.  

Representatives of the EU's cities and regions have welcomed the European Commission's increased efforts to reduce territorial disparities and support the regions facing development challenges, such as depopulation and brain drain. However, the measures recently presented in the Harnessing Talent in Europe's regions communication need to be supported by tailor-made approaches steered by a reinforced cohesion policy, with a particular focus on rural areas whose future depends on retaining and attracting young talent.  

EU regions and cities stand ready to work together with the Swedish EU Council Presidency to achieve the "greener, safer and freer" Europe that Sweden has made the key focus of its presidency. Erik Slottner, Sweden's minister for Public Administration, intervened in the European Committee of the Regions' plenary session today to present a state of play of the presidency priorities: supporting Ukraine against Russia's aggression, boosting Europe's competitiveness, speeding up the green and energy transitions, and ensuring democratic values and the rule of law. 

Increased transparency and free access to critical information on short-term rentals in order to fight illegal activities and ensure the availability of affordable housing for local communities: these are the main requests that European cities and regions addressed to the EU institutions through an opinion drafted by Roberto Ciambetti, President of the Veneto Regional Council, adopted by unanimity on 15 March at the plenary of the European Committee of the Regions (CoR). 

Leaders at every of the European Union and beyond, participarting in the European Committee of the Regions conference to mark International Women's Day have united to call on decision-makers to accelerate efforts to achieve gender equality.  

The European Committee of the Regions will on 15 March adopt a resolution on one of the major developmental challenges facing regions in the EU – the combined effects of a shrinking working-age population, a low share of graduates, and the departure of young people in search of better economic opportunities. The President of the European Committee of the Regions (CoR), Vasco Alves Cordeiro, will welcome Dubravka Šuica, Vice-President for Democracy and Demography of the European Commission, to discuss with regional and local leaders this 'talent trap'. In all, 82 regions, home to nearly 30% of the EU's population, are believed to be at risk of being trapped. 

The challenges the EU is facing need strong democratic legitimacy at regional and local level. Participatory democracy can support local and regional authorities when developing and implementing policies. To ensure this, the European Committee of the Regions and the Bertelsmann Stiftung on 9 March launched a new project to support local and regional politicians in mainstreaming citizen participation in their decision-making, in particular on EU-related topics.  

On International Women's Day, we recognise all that women have achieved thanks to their continuous and relentless fight for their rights, but we also recognise the work that still needs to be done to make gender equality a reality for women and girls at local and regional level, but also in the European Union and across the globe. 

On 7 March, the 12th meeting of the Green Deal Going Local (GDGL) working group adopted its 2023 roadmap and discussed ways to boost green investments and innovative financing to allow local and regional authorities to push the climate-neutral transition forward. The 2023 roadmap includes three main political objectives: reinforcing multi-level governance, mobilising financial resources and moving towards a fairer Green Deal. 

​The debate on the future of Cohesion Policy has already started, and we need to come together to make sure it will continue as the EU's biggest investment policy, supporting the development of regions and cities. We need to remind all EU and national decision-makers of the indispensable role that Cohesion Policy plays in the European integration process. The need to show that cohesion is a fundamental value of the European Union is more pressing than ever! 

The European Committee of the Regions (CoR) is launching its 2023 call for application for the Young Elected Politician Programme (YEP), opening the doors for the first time for young local and regional representatives from EU candidate countries to join the YEP initiative this year.​ 

Ukraine's president and the country's national, local and regional leaders can count on the enduring support of cities and regions in the European Union, the President of the European Committee of the Regions, Vasco Alves Cordeiro, told Ukraine's Congress of Local and Regional Authorities on 4 March. President Cordeiro stressed the importance of Ukraine's local and regional governments to the reconstruction of Ukraine, suggesting that they could be in the "vanguard of development" in Ukraine. 

The President of the European Committee of the Regions, Vasco Alves Cordeiro, was the guest of today's debate at the "Nueva Economía Fórum", a high-level event hosted in Madrid to exchange ideas among representatives of EU institutions, national governments, business and media. 

Sanāksmē, kas notika 24. februārī – tieši gadu pēc tam, kad Krievija mēģināja ieņemt Kijivu un piespiest Ukrainu kapitulēt, – Eiropas Reģionu komitejas (RK) locekļi apņēmās sniegt pastāvīgu humāno palīdzību un nodrošināt ārkārtas piegādes, kā arī atbalstīt Ukrainas pilsētu un reģionu atjaunošanu un valsts gatavošanos pievienoties ES. Sanāksmē piedalījās arī vairākas apvienības, gubernatori, mēri un vietējo pašvaldību deputāti, kas bija iesaistītiEiropas aliansē “Pilsētas un reģioni Ukrainas atjaunošanai”, kuras darbu koordinē RK.Diena iesākās ar ceremoniju, lai iebrukuma upurus pieminētu Varonīgās Mariupoles laukumā, ko Gdaņskas pilsēta nesen pārdēvēja par godu savai sadraudzības pilsētai Mariupolei, kuru Krievijas spēki ir pārvērtuši gruvešos. Pēc tam ES un Ukrainas vietējā un reģionālā līmeņa vadītāji tikās diskusiju pasākumā Gdaņskas Eiropas Solidaritātes centrā, kura nosaukums atsaucas gan uz Polijas antikomunistiskās solidaritātes kustības mantojumu, gan uz pašvaldības apņemšanos iestāties par solidaritātes un brīvības principiem. Eiropas Reģionu komitejas priekšsēdētājs Vašku Alvešs Kurdeiru (Vasco Alves Cordeiro, PT/PSE) sacīja: “Šodienas pulcēšanās Gdaņskā ir īpaši nozīmīga ne tikai šī datuma dēļ, bet arī norises vietas dēļ, jo šī pilsēta pārstāv cīņu par brīvību un solidaritāti, par mūsu kopīgajām vērtībām.”Viņš turpināja: “Jau kopš Krievijas pilna mēroga iebrukuma pirmās dienas Eiropas Reģionu komiteja ir atbalstījusi Ukrainas iedzīvotājus un pašvaldības. Mūsu atbalsts ir divējāds: Ukrainai kā Eiropas valstij, kurā notiek karš, mēs palīdzam ar tādām iniciatīvām kā Eiropas alianse “Pilsētas un reģioni Ukrainas atjaunošanai”, kā arī atbalstām Ukrainu tās ceļā uz pievienošanos ES, uzsākot Ukrainas pašvaldību spēju veidošanas iniciatīvas. Tādas iestādes kā mūsu Komiteja ir instruments, lai strādātu un panāktu labāku nākotni tiem cilvēkiem, kuriem bija cerības un dzīve, ko satricināja šis karš.”Gdaņskas mēre un RK darba grupas sadarbībai ar Ukrainu priekšsēdētāja Aleksandra Dulkeviča (Aleksandra Dulkiewicz, PL/PPE) sacīja: “Šodien mēs pulcējamies sakarā ar traģisku un skumju datumu – ir pagājis tieši gads pēc Krievijas karaspēka pilna mēroga iebrukuma Ukrainā. Vēsturiskie notikumi, kas pašlaik notiek Ukrainā, ir ne mazāk svarīgi kā tie, kuri notika Gdaņskā. Vēlos atgādināt, ka Gdaņskā 1939. gada 1. septembrī sākās Otrais pasaules karš. Pagājušajā gadā pieņemtajam lēmumam piešķirt Ukrainai Eiropas Savienības kandidātvalsts statusu ir liela simboliska nozīme. Lai gan pievienošanās pati par sevi ir ilgtermiņa un politisks process, reformas, kas tiek veiktas virzībā uz to, valstij sniegs neapstrīdamus ieguvumus. Šajā gadījumā pamatkritērijs ir tiesiskums ar uzsvaru uz pārredzamību un cīņu pret korupciju. Tas ir mūsu šodienas sanāksmes temats. Korupcija vietējā līmenī, it īpaši kara laikā, rada lielas bažas, un mums visiem tam ir jāpievērš uzmanība.”Sanāksmi video formātā uzrunāja Ļvivas mērs Andrijs Sadovijs (Andriy Sadovyi) un Ukrainas pilsētu apvienības izpilddirektors Oleksandrs Slobožans (Oleksandr Slobozhan). Ivans Slobodjaniks (Ivan Slobodianyk), Visukrainas Kopienu asociācijas izpilddirektors, un Ivans Fursenko (Ivan Fursenko), kurš pārstāvēja Ukrainas pašvaldību apvienību, piedalījās Gdaņskā notikušajā pasākumā, lai pārdomātu pagājušo gadu un problēmas, ar kurām tagad saskaras Ukrainas pašvaldības. Uzstājās arī Eiropas Parlamenta deputāts un bijušais Eiropas komisārs Janušs Levandovskis (Janusz Lewandowski), kā arī Eiropas Komisijas Ukrainas dienesta direktora pienākumu izpildītāja Anna Jaroša-Frīsa (Anna Jarosz-Friis).Gdaņska un daudzas citas ES pilsētas un reģioni pagājušajā gadā kara dēļ pārvietotajiem ukraiņiem ir nodrošinājuši mājvietas, kā arī ārkārtas atbalstu Ukrainas pašvaldībām. Sanāksmes dalībniekiem bija iespēja apmeklēt noliktavu, lai redzētu, kā Gdaņskas pilsēta vāc un nosūta uz Ukrainu elektroenerģijas ģeneratorus un citus ārkārtas materiālus, un novērot darbu, ko veic UNICEF atbalstītais Ukrainas bēgļu sociālās integrācijas centrs.Eiropas alianse “Pilsētas un reģioni Ukrainas atjaunošanai” tika izveidota 2022. gada jūnijā, un tajā ir apvienojušās daudzas Ukrainas un Eiropas vietējās un reģionālās apvienības un pašvaldības, no kurām Gdaņskā piedalījās Ukrainas Pilsētu asociācija, Visukrainas kopienu asociācija, Ukrainas pašvaldību apvienība, Eiropas Padomes Vietējo un reģionālo pašvaldību kongress, Eiropas Pašvaldību un reģionu padome (CEMR) un Eiropas Reģionālo likumdevēju konference (CALRE).24. februāra sanāksmē Gdaņskā Reģionu komitejas priekšsēdētājs kopā ar RK politisko grupu priekšsēdētājiem un RK darba grupas sadarbībai ar Ukrainu locekļiem apsprieda RKdesmit punktu atbalsta plānu Ukrainas reģioniem un pilsētām. Plāns ir vērsts uz solidaritātes pasākumiem ar valsti, kurā notiek karš, un ilgtspējīgiem atjaunošanas centieniem, no vienas puses, un uz spēju veidošanas pasākumiem, lai atbalstītu Ukrainas centienus kļūt par ES dalībvalsti, no otras puses.Kontaktpersonas: Monika TiberiEiropas Reģionu komitejas priekšsēdētāja runaspersona Mob. tālr. +32 479 51 74 43monica.tiberi@cor.europa.euMaciej BuczkowskiGdaņskas pilsētaTālr. +48 58 323 62 84maciej.buczkowski@gdansk.gda.pl 

The freshly published Communication on the two-year anniversary of the Recovery and Resilience Facility (RRF), adopted on 21 February by the European Commission, does not address any concerns raised by local and regional leaders on the territorial impact of the €724 billion financial instrument. The President of the European Committee of the Regions (CoR), Vasco Alves Cordeiro, and the CoR rapporteur on the RRF, Rob Jonkman, jointly call on the European Commission to finally investigate the effective contribution of the RRF to cohesion in Europe and the added value of the financed projects. 

This year the #EURegionsWeek will welcome an increased number of participants to onsite sessions and exhibition spaces in Brussels. The event will take place from 9 – 12 October 2023. 

The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), the Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN) and the European Committee of the Regions (CoR) are launching a survey to take stock of the progress made by cities and regions in implementing the SDGs, assess the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic outbreak on the SDGs and analyse how current crises such as the war in Ukraine are affecting the work on the SDGs and in particular the areas of energy and food, which emerged as political priorities in the current context. 

​Innovation, research, culture and education are key to the EU's competitiveness, cohesion, and ability to lead the green and digital transitions. Close cooperation between the European Committee of the Regions and Commissioner Mariya Gabriel's services is therefore important for maximising the positive impact of EU action in Europe's regions and cities. In an exchange of views with Isidro Ballesteros, an expert in Commissioner Gabriel's cabinet on 17 February, SEDEC members took stock of recent developments and in particular the implementation of the Partnerships for Regional Innovation pilot action that was launched last year. 

The President of the European Committee of the Regions (CoR), Vasco Alves Cordeiro, and the Chair of the CoR Commission for Territorial Cohesion Policy and EU Budget ( COTER ), Emil Boc, have been appointed as co-rapporteurs of the opinion on the future of cohesion policy post-2027. Together with the work of the new #CohesionAlliance, the opinion will be a strategic milestone to design the common position of cities and regions on how to shape the future of the main investment policy of the EU. 

​Reducing harmful pollution in urban water, protecting citizens from asbestos and improving air quality were three of the main topics discussed at the meeting of the ENVE Commission of the European Committee of the Regions (CoR) on 14 February. The priorities of the Swedish Presidency of the Council of the European Union and the results of the United Nations convention on biodiversity – COP15 – were also on the discussion table, along with the priorities of the ENVE commission for 2023. 

Local and regional leaders have backed the creation of a European care strategy intended to encourage minimum standards for care for European Union citizens throughout their life cycle, from early childhood to old age. The recommendations call on national governments to invest more in care services and try to standardise data, backs EU-level action to attract skilled workers into the sector – and suggests the introduction of investment criteria to stimulate private-sector funding into the sector.  

​The European industrial policy and its impact on regions and cities, including strategies to reskill workers in the framework of the green transition, the reform of the EU economic governance framework and the improvement of the public sector interoperability, were the main topics discussed during the meeting of the Commission for Economic Policy (ECON) of the European Committee of the Regions (CoR) on 15 February. 

In the latest regulation on CO2 emission performance standards for cars and vans, European legislators fully took on board regions' and cities' demand to involve the territorial impact of the transition in industrial regions, especially those – such as the regions with an automotive industry– that are undergoing a twin digital and green transition . The European Parliament further tasked the European Commission to report and funding needs and gaps to ensure a just transition in the automotive supply industry, building upon the work done by the European Committee of the Regions' Automotive Regions Alliance. Members of the European Parliament adopted the proposal during their plenary session on 14 February, teaming up with the European Committee of the Regions in an effort achieve a just and fair transition towards a decarbonised road transport sector. 

Regions and cities want to tap into the potential of social economy and social entrepreneurship to support the transition towards more socially and environmentally sustainable and more resilient economic models in the EU. However, the EU must put in place more favourable framework conditions for the social economy to flourish. This requires tackling the current diversity of definitions and legal frameworks and facilitating access to finance and markets. These are the key messages of an opinion drafted by Ricardo Rio (PT/EPP), Mayor of Braga, and adopted at the European Committee of the Regions' plenary session on 8 February. 

Biodiversity loss and ecosystem degradation continue at an alarming rate in the EU and worldwide. Up to 1 million of the estimated 8 million plant and animal species on Earth are at risk of extinction — many of them within decades — according to the UN. In Europe, the European Commission estimates that more than 80 percent of the habitats are in “poor” shape. Although the EU has a legal framework, strategies and action plans to protect nature and restore habitats and species, restoration has been small-scale, and the implementation and enforcement of legislation has been insufficient. It is in this context that the European Committee of the Regions welcomes the European Commission's EU Nature Restoration Law, especially its first ever legally binding targets and calls for streamlining biodiversity funding and provide technical support to cities and regions. 

National Recovery and Resilience Plans may be less efficient and have less impact than desired if regions and cities are not effectively involved in their implementation, members of the European Committee of the Regions (CoR) said on 8 February in an opinion critical of some national governments' EU-funded efforts to boost recovery in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. In recommendations unanimously adopted at a Plenary of the CoR, local and regional leaders urged Member States and the European Commission to transform the current centralised governance of the Recovery and Resilience Facility (RRF) into a multi-level approach, to boost the digital and green transitions, strengthen cohesion and avoid overlaps with other financial instruments. 

The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic crisis, the additional pressure triggered by Russia's war against Ukraine and an increasing number of natural disasters make it of urgent importance to deploy a renewed and ambitious support strategy for Europe's outermost regions – This is the key message delivered by the European Committee of the Regions (CoR) during its 8 February plenary session. 

EU regional and local leaders have supported the European Commission's proposals for a European Health Data Space, while stressing that health-care services must fully protect patients' privacy and data rights. 

Local and regional authorities are often the first actors to implement EU and national measures to counteract the consequences of crises that affect the Single Market. Their relevance and needs should not be overlooked and especially internal EU borders must remain open as much as possible, to limit the impact of the crisis on workers and businesses on the ground. This is the main message of the opinion on the Single Market Emergency Instrument that was adopted during the plenary session of the European Committee of the Regions (CoR) on 8 February. 

Without massive plans for skills upgrade and social cohesion, the green and digital transitions will fail, representatives of EU regions and cities warned in an exchange with Nicolas Schmit, Commissioner for Jobs and Social Rights, today at the European Committee of the Regions (CoR). Local and regional leaders stressed that the European Year of Skills 2023 should translate into more financial and political support for local and regional authorities to develop training, upskilling and reskilling policies that are adapted to the needs of each territory. 

The COVID-19 pandemic, the ongoing war in Ukraine, the sharp increase in energy prices and rising inflation have hit low-income households hardest, increasing poverty and inequality. The European Committee of the Regions (CoR) believes therefore that the implementation of the Council Recommendation on an adequate minimum income should be fast-tracked across the EU Member States. The opinion was drafted by Chair of Kerava City Council Anne Karjalainen (FI/PES) and adopted at the plenary session on 8 February. 

ES pašvaldības ir bijušas priekšplānā, atbalstot iedzīvotājus, kurus skārusi enerģētikas krīze, un īstenojot pasākumus, lai nodrošinātu enerģijas taupīšanu un enerģētikas uzņēmumu darbības nepārtrauktību. Tās vēlas vēl vairāk iesaistīties pašreizējās enerģētikas reformās, lai nodrošinātu stratēģiskas investīcijas, kas ļautu paātrināt pāreju uz tīru enerģiju. Steidzamā rezolūcijā Eiropas Reģionu komiteja aicina Eiropas Savienību veidot reālu enerģētikas savienību un vairot ES finansēšanas instrumentu sinerģiju, lai paātrinātu ilgtspējīgas enerģētikas projektu īstenošanu vietējā līmenī, kā arī spēju veidošanas un prasmju pilnveides programmas un tādējādi varētu sasniegt Eiropas Prasmju gada (2023) mērķus. 

Pārvaldot oglekļsaistīgas lauksaimniecības sertifikāciju, pašā centrā jāizvirza pašvaldības, lai atbalstītu tādu vietējām vajadzībām pielāgotu projektu izstrādi, kas saskan ar reģionālajām lauksaimniecības un lauku stratēģijām. Tas ir galvenais vēstījums atzinumā “Reģionālas pielāgošanās stratēģijas, kuru mērķis ir panākt mazoglekļa lauksaimniecību”, ko sagatavojis Bretaņas reģionālās padomes priekšsēdētājs Loigs Šenē-Žirārs. Šādu atzinumu, reaģējot uz EK ierosināto regulu par ES oglekļa piesaistījumu sertifikāciju, RK pieņēma 153. plenārsesijā. Jaunajā ES oglekļa piesaistījumu sertifikācijas sistēmā būtu jāņem vērā visa lauku saimniecība kopumā, kā arī visas siltumnīcefekta gāzu (SEG) emisijas, nevis tikai CO2, un tajā jāiekļauj spēcīga sociālā, ekoloģiskā un ekonomiskā dimensija, citādi Eiropas Savienībā var tikt traucēts pārtikas nodrošinājums. 

Faced with the risk of a slowdown in the fight against the climate crisis and of increasing territorial and social disparities, local and regional leaders have called for greater EU engagement to accelerate efforts to achieve the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in the EU and get on track with the 2030 deadline.