The European Committee of the Regions (CoR) is drafting an opinion on "Experiences and lessons learned by regions and cities during the COVID-19 crisis". It highlights the crucial role of local and regional authorities in the response to the crisis and in the recovery and aims to bring forward recommendations to the EU level based on evidence from the ground.  

The European Committee of the Regions is in the process of elaborating its position on the recently published European Commission Communication "A Union of Equality: EU anti-racism action plan 2020-2025". An exchange of views on the basis of a Working Document by the Rapporteur, Ms Yoomi Renström (SE-PES), is scheduled on 25 November 2020, within the framework of the meeting of the CoR Commission for Social Policy, Education, Employment, Research and Culture (SEDEC).  

The European Committee of the Regions (CoR) is in the process of elaborating its position on the recently published European Commission's Migration and Asylum Pact. An exchange of views is scheduled on 4 December, within the framework of the meeting of the CoR Commission for Citizenship, Governance, Institutional and External Affairs (CIVEX). 

We live in a time of multiple and multi-dimensional transitions. The green and digital transitions, the demographic change and the COVID-19 pandemic are reshaping our way of life and work. These changes highlight the need for a paradigm-shift on skills. A novel European skills agenda will drive the twin transition and ensure recovery from the social-economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. 

On 11 September 2020, the European Committee of the Regions' Bureau approved the proposal by the SEDEC commission to draft an own-initiative opinion on the Restart of Cultural and Creative Sectors. The SEDEC commission will adopt the draft opinion on the Restart of Cultural and Creative Sectors, with Giuseppe VARACALLI (IT/Renew Europe) as rapporteur, at its meeting on 25 November 2020. 

The German Presidency has requested that the European Committee of the Regions provides insight into how cohesion policy could help overcoming the economic crisis resulting from the ongoing pandemic, and promote growth through innovation and economic change. By means of this written consultation, the CoR rapporteur for this opinion, Mr Michiel Rijsberman, would like to consult relevant stakeholders and gather their input in order to draft the opinion.  

​The topic of public transport is extremely important for local and regional authorities (LRAs) as it is within their core competencies to provide public service to their citizens. Therefore, the European Committee of the Regions has decided to issue an own-initiative opinion on the "Challenges for public transport in metropolitan regions", to be drafted by Adam STRUZIK (PL/EPP), Marshal of the Mazovian Voivodeship. 

Around 70% of EU policies are implemented at the local and regional level. At the same time, EU policies affect people's daily lives in ways that policy makers cannot always foresee. This, combined with the lack of information on the EU and outright disinformation campaigns sometimes leads to a perception of the EU as distant from the people.  

The European Committee of the Regions is currently drafting an opinion on the Farm to Fork Strategy to bring forward a local and regional dimension. The rapporteur, Guido Milana (PES/IT), would like to have your views on this topic. 

A Comunicação da Comissão Europeia – Uma Europa social forte para transições justas, adotada em janeiro de 2020, procura lançar um amplo debate sobre a aplicação do Pilar Europeu dos Direitos Sociais. Ao mesmo tempo, a comunicação é um roteiro para as principais ações anunciadas pela Comissão em 2020-2021. A Comissão elaborará um plano de ação para 2021, até dezembro de 2020, com base nos contributos das partes interessadas, que expressarão os seus pontos de vista sobre a necessidade de novas medidas políticas, acompanhadas (ou não) de iniciativas jurídicas a nível europeu. 

Em 5 de março de 2020, a Comissão Europeia apresentou a sua estratégia para a igualdade entre homens e mulheres na Europa. A estratégia tem por objetivo construir uma Europa em que a igualdade de género seja concretizada e em que a violência de género, a discriminação sexual e a desigualdade estrutural entre mulheres e homens desapareçam. A estratégia remete também para o contexto do ano em curso, em que se celebra o 25.º aniversário da adoção da Declaração e Plataforma de Ação de Pequim, bem como para os Objetivos de Desenvolvimento Sustentável, em particular o ODS 5. A Comissão SEDEC adotará o projeto de parecer – Uma União da Igualdade: Estratégia para a Igualdade de Género 2020-2025, do qual será relatora Concepción Andreu Rodríguez (ES-PSE), na reunião de 9 de julho de 2020. 

O mercado único da UE foi criado há mais de 25 anos e tem sido uma pedra angular do desenvolvimento económico da UE desde então. É considerado uma das maiores realizações da UE e está no cerne da integração económica e política da União.