In September, representatives of ten Libyan municipalities and universities met with European provinces, regions and research institutes to discuss how the competencies of local administrators in Libya could further be strengthened. They built on the consolidated partnership within the Nicosia initiative which had developed a decentralised system of continuous learning over the past three years, establishing structured cooperation between governments and universities in the country.  

The much-needed involvement of cities and regions in shaping the European recovery after the COVID-19 crisis, as well as in shaping a new European economic governance system, were the main focus of the first meeting of the commission for Economic Policy (ECON) after the summer break. 

The organisers have decided to extend the registration deadlines to #EURegionsWeek 2020: registration to week 1 "Empowering Citizens" (5-9 October) remains open until 1 October, registration to week 2 "Cohesion & Cooperation" (12-16 October) remains open until 7 October, registration to week 3 "Green Europe" (19-22 October) remains open until 14 October. Register now to the sessions you do not want to miss! 

On 24 September, the members of the European Committee of the Regions (CoR) commission for territorial cohesion policy and EU budget (COTER) met online to adopt their recommendations for the role of cohesion policy against the backdrop of the coronavirus crisis, the implementation report on the partnership with the EU's outermost regions (OR) and public transport in cities and metropolitan regions. Members also discussed the REACT-EU package, Cross-border public services and the state of play of the MFF negotiations. 

On 17 September 2020, the European Commission launched this year’s European Semester cycle with the publication of the Annual Sustainable Growth Strategy 2021 (ASGS). Usually issued in November, this ASGS came unexpected early due to the Commission’s decision to “temporarily adapt the European Semester to the launch of the Recovery and Resilience Facility (RRF)” in order to avoid an overlap between both. This ASGS is also unusual in its content since it largely focuses on setting the strategic guidance for the implementation of the RRF. It was accompanied by two Staff Working Documents providing additional guidance and a template to support Member States in the preparation of their national and Recovery and Resilience plans (RRP). 

he COVID-19 pandemic has dramatically affected our world and our way of living with dire loses and substantial consequences on every aspect of our daily existence. The Commission for Territorial Cohesion Policy and the EU Budget (COTER) at the European Committee of the Regions will prepare regular bulletins on the policy fields within its remits reflecting recent research, articles and discussions on the socio-economic impact of the pandemic in Europe and on the different actions and response measures planned and implemented at EU, national, regional and local level.​ 

Two of our RegHub contact points will feature on a high-level panel with Commission Vice-President Maroš Šefčovič on 7 October 2020 from 11.30 – 13.00 during this year's edition of the European Week of Regions and Cities (#EURegionsWeek). 

Členovia komisie VR pre občianstvo, riadenie, inštitucionálne a vonkajšie záležitosti (CIVEX) diskutovali 22. septembra o politickej situácii v Bielorusku za účasti Petrasa Auštrevičiusa (LT/Renew Europe), spravodajcu pre vzťahy s Bieloruskom v Európskom parlamente. 

The first week (5-11 October) out of three of this year's #EURegionsWeek is dedicated to the thematic cluster Empowering Citizens. Check out the online programme and discover interesting working sessions on various topics. 

The third week (19 to 22 October) of this extended edition of the #EURegionsWeek will revolve around the theme Green Europe. The programme is fully dedicated to the Green Europe theme. Check out our programme and register in order to have the sessions added to your agenda! 

The second week (12 to 16 October) of this year's #EURegionsWeek is dedicated to the thematic cluster Cohesion and Cooperation. This week includes the highest number of working sessions, together with all the political highlights. Do not miss the speech "Annual Regional and Local Barometer - State of the Union from the regional and local perspective", to be given by CoR President Tzitzikostas and add other key moments to your agenda! 

Európsky výbor regiónov (VR) zriadil kontaktnú skupinu pre Spojené kráľovstvo, ktorej cieľom je udržiavať komunikačné spojenia medzi miestnymi a regionálnymi samosprávami v Európskej únii a mestami, regiónmi a decentralizovanými orgánmi Spojeného kráľovstva. Iniciatíva nadväzuje na vystúpenie Spojeného kráľovstva z EÚ 31. januára 2020. 

Pandémia Covid-19 má pre európske ekonomiky zásadné dôsledky. Komisia ECON Európskeho výboru regiónov vypracúva pravidelné ekonomické bulletiny o najnovšom výskume, článkoch a diskusiách o sociálno-hospodárskom vplyve pandémie v Európe a o rôznych plánovaných a zavedených ekonomických záchranných opatreniach na úrovni EÚ, ako aj štátnej, regionálnej a miestnej úrovni. 

The RegHub secretariat has recently carried out a complete evaluation of the RegHub pilot project.  

The European Union cannot succeed without regions and cities. It is local and regional authorities that are bringing the EU through the COVID-19 pandemic. It is cohesion between regions that is the heart of European solidarity. It is the engagement by regional and local politicians that will deliver the more ambitious targets for climate change announced yesterday. I am confident President Ursula von der Leyen will build an even stronger partnership with our Committee as it is the one million regional and local elected politicians who are Europe's safety net, who are key actors in managing the pandemic and who will be crucial actors in fostering our recovery. 

The European Committee of the Regions' Commission for Natural Resources (NAT) met for the first time after the summer break to discuss sustainable tourism and the responses needed at EU level to face the challenges posed by the Coronavirus and its impact on local communities. At the meeting on 18 September, members also adopted opinions on the Farm to Fork strategy, on EU4Health, on rural revival and on the EU's civil-protection mechanism – all policies with the potential to help build resilient communities across the EU. Members of the commission also exchanged views on agro-ecology.  

On 16 September, the European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen will, in her first State of the Union speech, share her vision for a stronger Europe and a better world after the pandemic, get familiar with this key moment of democracy. 

Členovia predsedníctva* Európskeho výboru regiónov (VR) diskutovali o vplyve krízy spôsobenej pandémiou COVID-19 na obce, mestá a regióny a o potrebe zlepšiť fungovanie Európskej únie. Na online podujatí sa zúčastnil aj ministerský predseda Severného Porýnia-Vestfálska Armin Laschet a podpredseda Európskej komisie Maroš Šefčovič. 

The 2020 edition of the European Natura 2000 Award includes 27 finalists. You can vote now for your favourite project to win the European Citizens’ Award. 

We, the members of the Bureau of the European Committee of the Regions (CoR), call on the Belarusian authorities to ensure the respect of fundamental values, human rights and freedoms, and we strongly condemn all violence, repression and arrests of peaceful protesters. 

During his video statement on the occassion of the meeting of the CoR Bureau on 11 September, Maroš Šefčovič, European Commission Vice-President for Interinstitutional Relations and Foresight, once again pointed to the important role the Network of Regional Hubs (RegHub) can play for linking the levels of policymaking and contribute to a more resilient society by providing evaluative evidence on EU policies. 

If you are interested in sharing your experiences, expectations and ideas on how DG TRADE could feed into national / regional level debates and vice versa, please take part in our on-line survey. The deadline for responses is 18 September.  

Ústrednou témou diskusie s eurokomisárkou pre energetiku Kadri Simson bola úloha miest a regiónov pri obnove po pandémii COVID-19, ktorú treba zároveň využiť ako jeden z kľúčových stimulov na urýchlenie zelenej transformácie. Členovia komisie pre životné prostredie, klimatické zmeny a energetiku Európskeho výboru regiónov opätovne zdôraznili, že do procesu určovania a realizácie prioritných investícií treba zapojiť miestne a regionálne samosprávy, a to aj v rámci nástroja Next Generation EU a Mechanizmu EÚ na podporu obnovy a odolnosti. Na programe rokovania bola aj vlna obnovy budov, biodiverzita, obehové hospodárstvo a adaptácia na zmenu klímy. 

Európsky výbor regiónov vyzýva svojich členov a mladých volených politikov, aby predkladali osvedčené postupy s cieľom zozbierať, ukázať, propagovať a rozširovať nízkouhlíkové projekty po celej EÚ. Je Vaše mesto alebo región priekopníkom udržateľnosti? Ste hrdí na projekty spojené s cieľmi zelenej dohody, ktoré realizujete vo svojich komunitách? Potom je táto výzva určená práve Vám. 

This year the EURegionsWeek will be fully digital and will offer to participants more than 500 digital working sessions to discover over three consecutive weeks in October, from 5-22 October. The registration is open from 27 August to 27 September 2020. 

The COVID-19 pandemic has dramatically affected our world and our way of living with dire loses and substantial consequences on every aspect of our daily existence. The Commission for Territorial Cohesion Policy and the EU Budget (COTER) at the European Committee of the Regions will prepare regular bulletins on the policy fields within its remits reflecting recent research, articles and discussions on the socio-economic impact of the pandemic in Europe and on the different actions and response measures planned and implemented at EU, national, regional and local level.​ 

V tomto rozhovore Roby Biwer (LU/SES) , poslanec zastupiteľstva obce Bettembourg, odpovedá na päť otázok o význame biodiverzity pri prevencii vypuknutia nových pandémií, potláčaní zmeny klímy a dosahovaní väčšej udržateľnosti realizáciou plánu EÚ na obnovu. Roby Biwer je spravodajcom stanoviska na tému Biologicky rozmanité mestá a regióny po roku 2020 , ktoré sa má prijať v októbri na nasledujúcom plenárnom zasadnutí. Stanovisko obsahuje príspevok miestnych a regionálnych samospráv k stratégii EÚ v oblasti biodiverzity do roku 2030 , ktorú Európska komisia predložila 20. mája 2020 . Okrem toho bude VR na 15. zasadnutí konferencie zmluvných strán Dohovoru OSN o biologickej diverzite ( UN CBD COP15 ), ktoré sa bude konať od 17. do 30. mája 2021 v čínskom meste Kunming, obhajovať kľúčovú úlohu miestnych a regionálnych samospráv pri ochrane biodiverzity. 

The COVID-19 pandemic has dramatically affected our world and our way of living, with the loss of thousands of lives and unprecedented consequences for every aspect of our daily existence. The Commission for Social Policy, Education, Employment, Research and Culture (SEDEC) at the European Committee of the Regions is preparing regular bulletins on the policy fields within its remits, reflecting recent research, articles and discussions on the socio-economic impact of the pandemic in Europe and on the different actions and response measures being planned and implemented at EU, national, regional and local level. 

V tomto rozhovore Tjisse Stelpstra (NL/EKR), člen rady provincie Drenthe, odpovedá na šesť otázok o novom akčnom pláne pre obehové hospodárstvo, ktorý obsahuje súbor návrhov EÚ na oddelenie hospodárskeho rastu od využívania zdrojov prostredníctvom výroby a spotreby trvanlivých, opätovne použiteľných a opraviteľných výrobkov. Po tom, ako Európska komisia 11. marca 2020 uverejnila nový akčný plán pre obehové hospodárstvo, pracuje Tjisse Stelpstra na príspevku Európskeho výboru regiónov v podobe stanoviska , ktoré má byť prijaté na plenárnom zasadnutí 12. – 14. októbra 2020. Obehové hospodárstvo je kľúčovým pilierom európskej zelenej dohody, ktorá je stratégiou rastu EÚ na dosiahnutie klimatickej neutrality do roku 2050. 

„Opatrenia, na ktorých sa dohodli členské štáty EÚ, sú historickým príkladom solidarity a riešia bezprecedentnú hrozbu,“ vyhlásil o záveroch európskeho summitu predseda Európskeho výboru regiónov (VR) Apostolos Tzitzikostas. „Rozpočet EÚ a plán obnovy musia teraz urýchlene začať slúžiť všetkým ľuďom v regiónoch, mestách a dedinách v celej Európe. Je nevyhnutné investovať finančné prostriedky EÚ tam, kde sú potrebné, a čo najviac vyťažiť z každého eura.“ 

Kríza spôsobená pandémiou COVID-19 oslabuje hospodársku, územnú a sociálnu súdržnosť Európy a jej schopnosť zabezpečiť ekologickejšiu, inkluzívnu a inteligentnú transformáciu smerom k udržateľnejšej budúcnosti. Preto združenie #CohesionAlliance, t. j. koalícia združujúca vyše 12 000 signatárov z celej EÚ, vyzýva členské štáty EÚ, aby podporili silný viacročný finančný rámec (VFR) na roky 2021 – 2027 a plány obnovy. VFR a plány obnovy musia podporovať súdržnosť ako základnú hodnotu Európskej únie a kľúčový cieľ všetkých jej politík a investícií. Tieto požiadavky boli zahrnuté do vyhlásenia , ktoré bolo 14. júla, tri dni pred začiatkom zasadnutia Európskej rady v Bruseli, predložené počas videokonferencie komisárke EÚ pre súdržnosť Elise Ferreirovej a predsedovi výboru REGI v Európskom parlamente Younousovi Omarjeemu. 

V tomto rozhovore Vojko Obersnel (HR/SES), starosta mesta Rijeka a spravodajca stanoviska o Fonde na spravodlivú transformáciu (FST), odpovedá na päť otázok o iniciatíve EÚ zameranej na podporu regiónov najviac postihnutých prechodom na nízkouhlíkové hospodárstvo. V kontexte pandémie COVID-19 sa navrhovaný rozpočet na FST zvýšil zo 7,5 na 40 miliárd EUR. Európsky výbor regiónov prijal stanovisko o Fonde na spravodlivú transformáciu na plenárnom zasadnutí v júli 2020, pričom rozhodne privítal skutočnosť, že EÚ podporuje sociálne spravodlivú a udržateľnú zelenú transformáciu. 

The network of regional hubs has concluded its third consultation on the first and only EU Directive on the rights of patients in cross-border healthcare. Reaching out to more than 140 local and regional stakeholders active in the area of healthcare provision, this consultation has again been extensive and is providing unique data, based on stakeholders' "user experience" of this EU policy. 

​Catalan Health System makes https://stopcovid19.cat/en/ available altruistically for the International community. A free access cooperative platform to help prevent the global expansion of SARS Cov-2. The main objective is to share the work done with the maximum number of institutions, governments and International organizations. ​ 

The members of the European Committee of the Region's commission for Territorial Cohesion Policy and EU Budget (COTER) discussed and adopted opinions on "Equivalent standards of living" and the "European Year of Rail 2021". At the meeting on 10 July, members also exchanged their views on the challenges for public transport in cities and metropolitan regions. 

​As a continuation of our successful webinars, we are inviting you to our 5th edition of the "Digital Masterclasses" series. Join us for a talk on inclusivity in online communication. This time, the webinar will introduce both academic and practical perspectives on effective strategies of connecting with diverse audiences online. 

The EU's recovery efforts after the Covid-19 pandemic must have a strong social dimension in order to maintain social security networks, safeguard workers' jobs and avoid wrongful dismissals, members of local and regional governments highlighted in a debate with Nicolas Schmit, Commissioner for Social Rights and Jobs. An opinion discussed at the European Committee of the Regions' SEDEC commission on Thursday points out the close link between the EU's social agenda, the Green Deal and the digital transition and calls for more investment in youth, education and life-long learning. 

Predsedníčka vlády autonómneho spoločenstva La Rioja Concha Andreu Rodríguez (ES/SES) sa v tomto rozhovore vyjadruje k stratégii EÚ pre rodovú rovnosť a upozorňuje na dôsledky pandémie COVID-19 pre ženy. Concha Andreu je spravodajkyňou stanoviska, ktoré tento týždeň prijala komisia pre sociálnu politiku, vzdelávanie, zamestnanosť, výskum a kultúru (SEDEC) v Európskom výbore regiónov (VR). Prijatie stanoviska na plenárnom zasadnutí je plánované v októbri. 

The European Commission recently published its report: “Annual report 2019 on the application of the principles of subsidiarity and proportionality and on relations with national parliaments“. In the report, the RegHub network is mentioned several times in connection with the COM's efforts to better integrate the experiences of the regional and local level in the future legislative procedure. For the RegHub network it is a further proof of the appreciation of its work by the European Commission. 

Side events must relate to the thematic priorities of the #EURegionsWeek 2020 and must be organised digitally between 5-9 October 2020, 12-16 October 2020 or 19‑22 October 2020. The application must be submitted by 2 September 2020 at the latest. 

Pandémia Covid-19 má pre európske ekonomiky zásadné dôsledky. Komisia ECON Európskeho výboru regiónov vypracúva pravidelné ekonomické bulletiny o najnovšom výskume, článkoch a diskusiách o sociálno-hospodárskom vplyve pandémie v Európe a o rôznych plánovaných a zavedených ekonomických záchranných opatreniach na úrovni EÚ, ako aj štátnej, regionálnej a miestnej úrovni. 

This year, the European Week of Regions and Cities will spread over three consecutive weeks in October (5-22/10/2020). Due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the related health and safety measures, the majority of the 500 sessions will be in fully digital format. Registration for the 18th European Week of Regions and Cities will open on 27 August 2020. To view the recording of the meeting and the slides presented, check the event website Partners' page! 

The European assembly of local and regional politicians adopted their recommendations for the Just Transition Fund, which aims at supporting regions to meet the challenges of the green transition. Rapporteur Vojko Obersnel (HR/PES), mayor of Rijeka, calls for an ambitious EU support so that no one and no place is left behind in the transition to a revived and green economy. 

Dva týždne pred kľúčovým európskym samitom Európsky výbor regiónov – zhromaždenie regionálnych a miestnych samospráv EÚ – vyzýva členské štáty, aby včas dospeli k spravodlivej dohode o viacročnom finančnom rámci (VFR) a plánu Next Generation EU. V uznesení a diskusii s komisárom pre rozpočet a administratívu Johannesom Hahnom predstavitelia regiónov a miest žiadali, aby sa súdržnosť stala nosným pilierom všetkých politík EÚ a aby sa vykonávanie programov EÚ zakladalo na spoločnej zodpovednosti a partnerstve. 

Európsky výbor regiónov (VR) prijal 2. júla uznesenie , v ktorom stanovuje svoje tri hlavné priority na nasledujúcich päť rokov. VR ako politické zhromaždenie sa usiluje o to, aby sa Európska únia stala odolnejšou, udržateľnejšou a súdržnejšou vďaka väčšiemu zapojeniu regiónov a miest do navrhovania a vykonávania politiky EÚ. 

Európsky výbor regiónov takmer jednomyseľne prijal na svojom júlovom plenárnom zasadnutí stanovisko na tému Posilnenie opatrení EÚ na ochranu a obnovu svetových lesov , ktoré vypracoval Roby Biwer . Spravodajca stanoviska VR žiada vytvorenie silného systému certifikácie a informačného systému, ktoré zaručia udržateľné produkty lesného hospodárstva a transparentné dodávateľské reťazce z krajín mimo EÚ. 

The European Committee of the Regions (CoR) adopted at the July plenary session the opinion The Future of EU Clean Air policy in the framework of the zero-pollution ambition drafted by János Ádám Karácsony (HU/EPP), member of the Local Government of Tahitótfalu. In the context of the COVID-19, the rapporteur of the CoR opinion stresses the possible link between pollution and the gravity of infection’s consequences. Therefore, fighting air pollution must be among the top priorities of the recovery plan. Pollution reduction during lockdown showed the importance of a healthier environment. Local leaders encourage Member States to deliver and update their National Air Pollution Control Programmes as a matter of urgency and to take LRAs' contributions on board. 

The European Committee of the Regions (CoR) has adopted the opinion "European Climate Law: enshrining the 2050 climate neutrality objective​" by rapporteur Juanma Moreno (ES/EPP), President of Andalusia. The European Climate Law, as the legal pillar of the Green Deal, needs to fully engage cities and regions in the design of the trajectory towards 2050. Members request local and regional climate inventories and objectives and call for a permanent Multilevel Energy Dialogue Platform and a European climate neutrality observatory. Data for monitoring progress should be collected at regional, rather than national level. Renewables rather than nuclear energy should power the path towards climate-neutrality. 

In a debate with the European Commissioner for Internal market, Thierry Breton, CoR members highlighted the success of the online Exchange Platform created by the CoR to enable local and regional governments share the best practises in responding the COVID-19 pandemic. Based on this successful example, CoR members proposed Commissioner Breton to jointly promote the digitalisation and the innovative use of digital platforms to support the European Commission's work in strategic fields as transport, tourism, social and education services.The assembly of EU regions and cities, also asked for a stronger support to relaunch the tourism industry, highlighting in particular the vital role of regional airport and of the airlines that connect them. Regional and local leaders stressed that the pandemic boosted the adoption of digital and innovative solutions but, at the same time, made visible persisting massive digital gaps. 

The Chair of the CoR's Working Group on the Western Balkans, Mr Nikola Dobroslavić welcomes the end of the Mostar conflict which will lead to the first local elections in Mostar since 2008. The agreement reached between the party leaders to divide political power in the city of Bosnia-Herzegovina is a historic one.