The chairman of the CoR's High-Level Group on European Democracy – Herman Van Rompuy, former President of the European Council – will lead a debate on 1 December on strengthening European democracy in the context of the Conference on the Future of Europe. 

​​​​Moving towards zero-pollution, making the EU Emission Trading System (ETS) and the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) work for EU cities and regions along with gender equality and climate change are three of the main topics discussed at the ENVE commission meeting on 23 and 24 November. The meeting hosted the award ceremony of the Transformative Action Awards 2021. The conclusions of the COP26 climate summit have been part of the discussions with members celebrating the Glasgow Climate Pact reference to 'the urgent need for multilevel and cooperative action' to tackle the climate crisis. 

​​2021 marks the fifth anniversary of the Transformative Action Award, which recognises ongoing or concluded Transformative Actions - inspired by the 15 pathways outlined in the Basque Declaration - that accelerate the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals and the Paris Climate Agreement, in addition to spearheading the socio-cultural, socio-economic and technological transformation of societies. The Transformative Action Award is organised by ICLEI Europe, the Basque Country and the City of Aalborg with the support of the European Committee of the Regions (CoR) and the European Investment Bank. 

The European Committee of the Regions' Commission for Natural Resources (NAT) met on 22 November to discuss and adopt a draft opinion on the EU Long-term vision for rural areas, which should take into account the specific needs of European territories and the differences among them. During the meeting, members also presented their expectations and hope for tourism in the next decade and exchanged views on the future EU State aid rules for agriculture, rural areas and forestry; on the Health Emergency Response Authority ​and on the new EU Forest Strategy for 2030. 

We are pleased to share the third edition of the COP26 Glasgow Chronicles series, bringing you a summary of the activities - and updates on the negotiations, that the members of the European Committee of the Regions delivered during the second week of COP26, the 26th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) that was hosted by the UK in Glasgow from 31 October to 13 November 2021. On the closing day, the CoR published a COP26 political declaration endorsed by several partners. The COP26 conclusions are gathered in the Glasgow Climate Pact. Following the end of Glasgow climate talks, the LGMA constituency, gathering subnational governments in the UNFCCC system, published that 'Multilevel action is the beacon of hope to keep the 1.5 degree goal alive'. Already in July 2017, the CoR published that 'Cities and regions can bridge the emissions gap'. 

Európsky výbor regiónov (VR) otvára ročník 2023 ocenenia Podnikateľský región roka (EER). V rámci jeho ústrednej témy – „Podnikanie a odolné komunity“ – môžu mestá, regióny a obce predložiť svoje stratégie na podporu malých a stredných podnikov (MSP) počas nadchádzajúcich dvoch rokov. Prihlášky sa môžu podávať do 29. marca 2022. 

​​​The future of European democracy requires permanent dialogue between citizens and their elected representatives and a clear understanding of the need for greater ownership of the European project at every level of government. This is one of the main conclusions from the work of the CoR's High Level Group on European Democracy chaired by former European Council President Herman Van Rompuy, shared today at the CoR's commission for Citizenship, Governance, Institutional and External Affairs – (CIVEX). 

This year's edition of the ESPAS Annual Conference, co-hosted by the EP and the EC, will see a high-level contribution by former CoR President Markku Markkula (FI/EPP). The ESPAS 2021 Conference will be held online on 18-19 November, under the headline 'Shaping Europe's future: Global trends and strategic choices.' 

​After two weeks of negotiations, the latest COP26 conclusions highlight the urgent need for multilevel and cooperative action. The reference was deleted in previous drafts, but reinserted after the European Committee of the Regions (CoR), speaking on behalf of the Local Governments and Municipal Authorities Constituency, called for it to be included during the COP26 stocktaking plenary session on 11 November, the cities and regions day at COP26. The latest draft also urges Parties to further integrate adaptation into local, national and regional planning and recognise the important role of non-Party stakeholders in contributing to the goals of the Paris Agreement. Looking ahead to the COP27, a coalition of international networks – led by the CoR and representing cities and regions worldwide – today adopted a political declaration in support of further strengthening multilevel collaboration as a prerequisite to limit temperature rise to 1.5°C by the end of the century. 

​The event took place on 12 November 2021 in fully remote format, co-organised by CEI and the Union of Municipalities of Montenegro (UOM). Roberto Ciambetti (IT/ECR), President of the Regional Council of Veneto and Co-Chair of the Joint Consultative Committee between the CoR and Montenegro, represented the Committee of the Regions. 

Joint Consultative Committee between the European Committee of the Regions and Montenegro held its 16th meeting on 3 November 2021, in Brussels-based hybrid format, under the joint leadership of its two Co-Chairs, Roberto Ciambetti (IT/ECR), President of the Regional Council of Veneto, and Aleksandar Kašćelan, Mayor of Cetinje. 

Apostolos Tzitzikostas, President of the European Committee of the Regions and Governor of the region of Central Macedonia, spoke on 9 November at the Berlin Conference organised every year by the Stiftung Zukunft Berlin to mark the anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989. The theme of this year's conference is "Europe Bottom Up!". 

​We are pleased to share the first of the COP26 Glasgow Chronicles series, intended to bring you updates on the activities and key messages that the members of the European Committee of the Regions are delivering at COP26, be that remotely or from Glasgow. Please click here to download the CoR official delegation and key messages to COP26. Here is our dedicated COP26 web portal. 

We are pleased to share the second of the COP26 Glasgow Chronicles series, bringing you updates on the activities and key messages that the members of the European Committee of the Regions are delivering at COP26. This second issue includes major COP26 developments and new pledges and additional press coverage. 

The European Committee of the Regions (CoR) and the European Commission jointly held the third meeting of the Broadband Platform on 27 October. Members learnt about the latest policy initiatives on digital transformation, such as the Digital Policy Programme, the Digital Principles, the European Green Deal and digitalization, the National Recovery and Resilience Plans funding connectivity, the security dimension of 5G and the EDIH network. CoR Members directly informed Commission's experts about the digital challenges they experience at local and regional level.  

​​The Councillor of the French Finistère Departmental Council, Nathalie Sarrabezolles (FR/PES), was elected new chair of the Commission for Territorial Cohesion Policy and EU Budget (COTER) of the European Committee of the Regions (CoR). During the meeting, members of the COTER adopted an opinion on the gender dimension of cohesion policy drafted by Donatella Porzi (IT/PES), and debated on cohesion as an overall value of the EU within the framework of the Conference on the Future of Europe.  

The development of innovation ecosystems and the management of changes to the tourism industry will be critical to the long-term recovery of Mediterranean economies from the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, according to local and regional politicians as well as representatives from the United Nations, the Union for the Mediterranean, and the European Union. 

Na plenárnom zasadnutí Konferencie o budúcnosti Európy , ktoré sa konalo tento víkend v Európskom parlamente v Štrasburgu, zaznel hlas viac ako milióna volených miestnych a regionálnych politikov vďaka rozšírenej delegácii zreteľnejšie ako kedykoľvek predtým. Na druhom plenárnom zasadnutí Konferencie o budúcnosti Európy sa zúčastnilo spolu 30 regionálnych a miestnych delegátov . 

CIVEX secretariat is delighted to report on the commission's contribution to this year's edition of the European Week of Regions and Cities - the largest European event dedicated to our regions and cities and their optimal development. #EURegionsWeek took place from the 11 October to the 14 October 2021 and featured three events organised by the CIVEX commission.  

Take part in the public consultation for more responsible short-term accommodation rental services The ECON commission warmly encourages you to participate in the European Commission's ongoing public consultation on short-term accommodation rentals to get your voice heard. 

Efforts by the European Union to involve regions and cities in counter-terrorism efforts over the past five years have been welcomed by the European Committee of the Regions in a set of recommendations that, as well as calling for a continued deepening of cooperation, urge extra support for law-enforcement efforts at the EU level and the extension of support for the victims of terrorism. 

S vedúcimi predstaviteľmi miest a regiónov dnes diskutovala podpredsedníčka Európskej komisie pre demokraciu a demografiu Dubravkou Šuica. Členovia Európskeho výboru regiónov (VR) ocenili snahu Komisie zabezpečiť, aby mali zástupcovia regiónov, miest a obcí na konferencii primerané zastúpenie. Zopakovali svoju výzvu, aby sa zaručilo, že sa diskusia o budúcnosti Európy prostredníctvom miestnych a regionálnych orgánov dostane k občanom a že sa v nej bude reagovať na ich požiadavky. 

Members of the European Parliament and the European Committee of the Regions (CoR) discussed with Commissioner for Cohesion and Reforms Elisa Ferreira the new programming period 2021-27 and the territorial aspects of the Recovery and Resilience Facility (RRF). They asked the European Commission to ensure the full respect of the partnership principle and the multilevel governance, and to provide recommendations to Member States and relevant managing authorities to improve partnership processes. They also called on Member States to guarantee a broader territorial implementation of the RRF, and on the European Commission to guarantee that the National Recovery Plans will be built in full respect of articles 175 and 174 TFEU and prioritise less developed and transition regions, as well as the Regions most impacted by the socio-economic repercussions of the COVID-19 crisis. 

In an opinion adopted by the plenary session today, the European Committee of the Regions (CoR) welcomes the EU LGBTIQ Equality Strategy but warns that we are at the same time experiencing regression in respect of EU values, with some authorities continuously using anti-LGBTIQ rhetoric and even adopting discriminatory policies and legislation. The assembly of EU's regions and cities argues that European funds should not be granted to governments promoting structural discrimination mechanisms against LGBTIQ people and suggests providing more financial support to equality and diversity programmes at local level. 

At the event "Cities fostering democracy in the European Union: Urban perspectives for the Conference on the Future of Europe", co-organised by the European Committee of the Regions, Eurocities and the Council of European Municipalities and Regions (CEMR), local and regional leaders set out their expectations for the Conference on the Future of Europe, and shared their experiences on strengthening local democracy. Examples of innovative participative exercises, green projects, digital services to citizens or integration of communities were discussed. The event led to the adoption of conclusions which will feed the Conference on the future of Europe. 

Nový celoeurópsky systém na ochranu priemyselných a remeselných zemepisných označení, ktorý by sa inšpiroval úspešným modelom používaným pre poľnohospodárske výrobky a potraviny, by bol prospešný pre remeselníkov aj miestne hospodárstvo. Vďaka nemu by sa zlepšila právna ochrana špičkových výrobkov, zefektívnil by sa boj proti falšovaniu a podporilo vytváranie a udržanie pracovných miest. Návrh je uvedený v stanovisku, ktoré vypracovala Martine Pinville, poslankyňa regionálneho zastupiteľstva Nouvelle-Aquitaine a ktoré plenárne zhromaždenie Európskeho výboru regiónov (VR) (jednomyseľne) prijalo v stredu 13. októbra. 

Jari Andersson, chair of Sastamala City Council (FI/EPP), has drafted an opinion urging the EU Member States to accelerate implementation of the EU strategy on the rights of the child and the European Child Guarantee. Mr Andersson's opinion was adopted at the plenary session of the Committee of the Regions (CoR) on Tuesday 12 October. The opinion underlines that regions and municipalities play an important role in combating child poverty and exploitation and preventing exclusion. 

Janez Janša, Prime Minister of Slovenia, currently holding the Presidency of the EU Council, remotely attended the Plenary of the European Committee of the Regions (CoR), discussing with regional and local authorities how to address local communities' needs. He told local and regional politicians that the top priority of his country's presidency of the Council of the European Union is to stop the pandemic and support the EU's economic recovery. Prime Minister Janša also thanked the European Committee of the Regions for excellent cooperation during the first half of the Presidency and for a great discussion in June already when State Secretary Gašper Dovžan presented the Presidency priorities to the Bureau, as well as congratulating the Committee members on their flagship "European Week of Regions and Cities" event. 

UN, EU and local leaders must come together to monitor, assess and support regions, cities and villages build resilient communities. On the International Day for Disaster Risk Reduction, the European Committee of the Regions (CoR) held a debate with Mami Mizutori, Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General for Disaster Risk Reduction, and Janez Lenarčič, European Commissioner for Crisis Management, on how to increase resilience to disasters. Sharing personal experiences of the impact and response to recent disasters, leaders at all levels emphasised the importance of taking a coordinated approach to reduce risks. Local and regional leaders called on the UN and EU to work together with the CoR to monitor, assess and strengthen preparedness in regions and cities. Building local, regional and national resilience through robust risk management structures, supported by technical and financial measures, are key steps to reducing the impact of disasters. 

Európsky výbor regiónov prijal uznesenie o konferencii COP 26 , v ktorom stanovil svoje klimatické požiadavky dva týždne pred rokovaniami OSN o klíme v Glasgowe. Svet čelí bezprecedentným vlnám horúčav, záplavám, hurikánom a zvyšovaniu hladiny morí, a preto miestni lídri EÚ vyzvali OSN a národné vlády, aby formálne uznali, monitorovali a podporovali úsilie miest, miestnych samospráv a regiónov o znižovanie emisií skleníkových plynov na celom svete. Vyššie ambície v oblasti klímy, transparentnosť a zodpovednosť pri znižovaní emisií skleníkových plynov a financovaní opatrení v oblasti zmeny klímy pre najzraniteľnejšie skupiny sú tri kľúčové aspekty diskusie v Glasgowe. 

Členovia Európskeho výboru regiónov (VR) prijali na svojom októbrovom plenárnom zasadnutí stanovisko na tému Nový program pre spotrebiteľov , v ktorom podčiarkli význam ochrany práv spotrebiteľov. Pri ochrane spotrebiteľa sa musia zohľadniť dôsledky krízy spôsobenej ochorením COVID-19, environmentálne zmeny, digitálna transformácia, globalizácia a nové osobitné potreby zraniteľných spotrebiteľov. Miestni a regionálni lídri zároveň poukazujú na to, že malé a stredné podniky treba v ich digitálnej a zelenej transformácii podporovať bez toho, aby sa zvyšovala administratívna záťaž. Na zabezpečenie tejto transformácie je nevyhnutné financovanie z európskych zdrojov. 

Ako sa uvádza v dnes uverejnenom regionálnom a miestnom barometri , ktorý vypracoval Európsky výbor regiónov , obnovu EÚ oslabuje skutočnosť, že hlavné mestá nekonzultujú núdzové plány obnovy financované z prostriedkov EÚ s ostatnými mestami a regiónmi. Ak by sa finančné prostriedky EÚ nenasmerovali tam, kde sú podľa miest a regiónov najviac potrebné, mohli by sa takisto prehĺbiť problémy spôsobené 180-miliardovým schodkom, ktorý vznikol medzi príjmami a výdavkami v dôsledku pandémie COVID-19. 

Európsky výbor regiónov (VR) prijal na svojom plenárnom zasadnutí stanovisko na tému Efektívne zapájanie miestnych a regionálnych samospráv do prípravy partnerských dohôd a operačných programov na roky 2021 – 2027 , ktoré vypracoval predseda Bratislavského samosprávneho kraja Juraj Droba (SK/EKR). Členovia VR podporili toto stanovisko a žiadajú, aby sa pri využívaní nových nástrojov financovaných z nástroja Next Generation EU, ako je Fond na spravodlivú transformáciu a Mechanizmus na podporu obnovy a odolnosti, v plnej miere dodržiavala a uplatňovala zásada partnerstva. 

The European Committee of the Regions has backed the idea of a European Digital Identity Wallet, which should enable citizens to prove their identity all across the European Union allowing them access both commercial and public services online. Members adopted today at the plenary session an opinion drafted by Mark Weinmeister (DE/EPP), Secretary of State for European Affairs of the Land of Hesse, in which they suggest that this could become a concrete element of European identity that every EU citizen is aware of. However, the opinion points out that the use of digital identity should remain voluntary and underlines it needs to be sufficiently reinforced against the risk of cyberattacks. 

The EU’s zero pollution ambition was set out in the European Green Deal to protect Europe’s citizens and ecosystems. It aims to reduce air, water and soil pollution to levels that are no longer considered harmful to health and natural ecosystem. 

Predseda Európskeho výboru regiónov Apostolos Tzitzikostas (EL/EĽS) predstaví 12. októbra regionálny a miestny barometer 2021 miestnym lídrom a podpredsedovi Európskej komisie Marošovi Šefčovičovi. Súhrnná správa obsahuje posúdenie vplyvu pandémie na regióny, mestá a obce EÚ, pričom sa uvádzajú hlavné zistenia, fakty a čísla týkajúce sa hospodárskych, sociálnych, zdravotných a digitálnych dôsledkov. SLEDUJTE NAŽIVO 

The 7th meeting of the European Committee of the Regions' Green Deal Going Local Working Group focused on the role of subnational governments to effectively deliver on the objectives of the Paris Climate Agreement. Members also exchanged views on the new European Commission's Horizon Europe mission on 100 Climate-Neutral Cities by 2030 and the future of the Covenant of Mayors, the world's largest city coalition on climate action. During a plenary session debate with Virginijus Sinkevičius, European Commissioner for Environment, Oceans and Fisheries, next Wednesday 13 October, the European Committee of the Regions will debate and adopt its resolution on COP26, which gathers the key messages that EU cities and regions will put on the table of the global climate negotiations. The UN's climate summit is due to kick off in Glasgow on 31 October 2021. 

The prospect of assembly for members of the UK and European parliaments was on 5 October welcomed by members of the European Committee of the Regions, who called for its evolution into a forum to which regions and cities could also have access. 

​Today, the European Commission Joint Research (JRC) Centre launched the Competence Centre on Participatory and Deliberative Democracy (CC). It aims at providing tools, resources, research and methodologies to build capacity and best practice in participatory and deliberative democracy across different levels of governance in the EU. Mark Speich, Chair of the CoR commission for Citizenship, Governance, Institutional and External Affairs – CIVEX - stated that the cooperation between the CC and regions and cities could be mutual: On the one hand the CoR can be a full partner of the JRC in its work on the EC policy priority "A new push for European democracy" by contributing with regional and local best practices to the community of practitioners around the CC. On the other hand the CC could develop a mechanism to mainstream citizens' participation in the EU policy making and support the local and regional level to systematize the use of participatory tools on a permanent basis. 

The European Committee of the Regions (CoR) has a long and fruitful cooperation with the Council of European Municipalities and Regions (CEMR), which turns 70 this year. Many joint initiatives, consultations and activities have been developed by the CoR and the CEMR so far and many others are already in the pipeline. Just a few days ahead of the 19th European Week of Regions and Cities, which will take place from 11 to 14 October, we spoke with the President of Emilia-Romagna and CEMR, Stefano Bonaccini, on how local and regional governments take up the new challenges brought by the COVID-19 pandemic, climate disruption and territorial inequalities. 

Herman Van Rompuy shares his vision for the Conference on the Future of Europe and points out the main challenges facing it. 

Homelessness is probably the most severe manifestation of social exclusion in Europe. There were at least 700 000 people who slept rough or in shelter accommodation on any given night in 2019, which represents an increase of 70% in 10 years. An opinion adopted by the European Committee of the Regions' SEDEC Commission points out that the multiple causes and facets of this urgent societal problem need to be addressed at all levels of government. At the meeting held on 1 October, SEDEC members also adopted an opinion on the European Commission's Artificial Intelligence (AI) package, which seeks to regulate the deployment of AI and prohibit certain AI practices while largely ignoring the contribution of local and regional authorities. 

​During the 11th Annual meeting of the European Grouping of Territorial Cooperation (EGTC) Platform hosted in Innsbruck (Austria) by the Region of Tyrol, the European Committee of the Regions (CoR) celebrated the ten years of the EGTC Euregio Tyrol-South Tyrol-Trentino and welcomed the foundation of the new EGTC Euregio Connect between Austria and Italy. The CoR recently adopted a resolution calling on the European Commission to present a proposal for maintaining cross-border cooperation and life in the event of future crises. The resolution contains multiple proposals to improve cross-border collaboration and calls on the Commission to follow up on already existing legislation and treaties, whose implementation could often still be improved. 

Potrebujete okamžite preložiť texty a dokumenty? Chceli by ste využiť bezpečný a zaistený prekladateľský nástroj fungujúci v celej EÚ a mať kedykoľvek a kdekoľvek prehľad o svojich prekladoch? Riešením je nástroj strojového prekladu. Navštívte našu novú webovú stránku venovanú aplikácii eTranslation , aby ste sa dozvedeli, ako môžete tento nástroj ľahko a bezpečne používať vo svojej každodennej práci. 

The European Committee of the Regions' Commission for Natural Resources (NAT) met on 27 September to discuss the EU health policy and the resilience of cities. During the meeting, members also analysed how to boost consumption, increase production and further improve sustainability in the organic sector as well as in the blue economy. Both sectors can ensure a green and inclusive recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic. 

Representatives of Europe's local and regional authorities have again voiced their concerns over the lack of sub-national involvement in the implementation, further planning and evaluation of the National Recovery and Resilience Plans. In an opinion drafted by Rob Jonkman (NL/ECR), Alderman of the municipality of Opsterland, the European Committee of the Regions (CoR) underlines that local and regional authorities are responsible for more than half of public investment in the EU and that the objectives of the EU's €750 billion recovery package Next Generation EU can't be reached without their involvement. The opinion was adopted by the CoR's Commission for Economic Policy (ECON) on Wednesday following a debate with Maarten Verwey, European Commission's Director-General for Economic and Financial Affairs (ECFIN). 

We must step up the fight against cancer, was the main message shared by Brigitta Sacrédeus (SE/EPP), rapporteur of the European Committee of the Regions (CoR) at the Interparliamentary Committee Meeting (ICM) on Europe's Beating Cancer Plan on 27th September. The CoR calls for a debate on how to improve people's health awareness so that patients can reduce their exposure to risk factors to get ahead of the disease while making use of research and available digital tools. 

​​In the framework of the debates that feed into the Conference on the Future of Europe, members of the CoR commission for Citizenship, Governance, Institutional and External Affairs – CIVEX – discussed on equality as a building block of European democracy. They argued that local and regional authorities play an important role in building up an inclusive democracy and equality because they are the level of governance closest to citizens and can have an influence on these issues. The CIVEX commission also adopted an opinion on better EU law-making emphasising that the territorial dimension of EU policies must be bolstered and that local and regional authorities should be involved in every stage of the EU decision-making process, notably by using the RegHub implementation reports as a tool for examining the legislative proposals. 

Vedúci predstavitelia miest a regiónov sa 24. septembra zišli v Lipici (Slovinsko), aby diskutovali o tom, ako včas investovať do obnovy na miestnej úrovni a zabrániť oneskoreniam a prekrývaniu politík EÚ. Komisár pre hospodárstvo Paolo Gentiloni a slovinský minister financií Andrej Šircelj, ako aj poprední poslanci Európskeho parlamentu zdôraznili, že národné plány obnovy budú úspešné len vtedy, ak sa budú realizovať v spolupráci s regiónmi a mestami. 

One year after the launch of the Green City Accord, the European Commission organised a ceremony to celebrate new signatories joining this flagship initiative, which reunites cities committing to ambitious environmental protection goals by 2030. The high-level signatory ceremony took place on 22 September 2021.