A message from the European Committee of the Regions

The European Committee of the Regions (CoR) is anchored by a constant commitment to support cities, regions and towns to deliver transformative change. By becoming an Official Partner for the upcoming Mannheim2020 conference, which marks the 9th European Conference on Sustainable Cities & Towns, we strengthen our collaborative engagement with ICLEI in order to accelerate positive environmental and social change in our territories.

The CoR represents local and regional authorities at the European Union level. We advise on the challenges and opportunities of EU directives. Our mission and that of ICLEI are perfectly complementary, which is the key reason that has been driving us towards continually reinforcing our already longstanding collaboration.

ICLEI and the CoR renewed their partnership on climate action and biodiversity in May 2019. In addition, the CoR has supported ICLEI’s Transformative Action Award since its first edition in 2017. The award is organised together with the Basque Country, the City of Aalborg (Denmark) and the European Investment Bank and recognises a city, region or civil society organisation that implements the Basque Declaration to bring forward the socio-cultural, economic, and technological transformation of their community.

Since its establishment in 1994, the European Committee of the Regions has demonstrated its support for the transformation of European towns, cities and regions to ensure a sustainable future for all.

Amongst its recent works, the CoR unanimously adopted the opinion ‘A Clean Planet for all: a European strategic long-term vision for a prosperous, modern, competitive and climate neutral economy’. Furthermore, last December, the CoR adopted a resolution on ‘The Green Deal in partnership with local and regional authorities’.

Not only do we stress the vital necessity of decoupling economic growth from resource use; we also emphasise the imperative need to design and implement policies by and with local and regional authorities. They are the ones closest to the realities on the ground and too often, they are those that are at the frontline of the fight against global warming and feel the first impacts of climate change.

For the CoR, partnering on the upcoming Mannheim2020 conference is thus a natural fit. Alongside stakeholders from the whole European Union and across multiple levels of government, the EU’s assembly of local and regional representatives is ready to build on the progress made during the 8th European Conference on Sustainable Cities & Towns in 2016. Together we can better achieve the transformative change we need.

The Mayor of Seville (Spain), Juan Espadas, Chair of the ENVE Commission of the European Committee of the Regions, conveys the assembly’s main message: “We are happy to be partnering on this event that aims to build on, and catalyse, much needed action. The world is facing unprecedented challenges. Cities, towns and regions have proven to be leaders committed to ensuring that Europe not only survives hardship, but is able to harness and innovate new solutions so that all people can live in a sustainable and just world. Mannheim2020 will be a critical moment to convene courageous, likeminded leaders and implement real change.”

Despite ongoing global uncertainty, there remains a critical need to implement change. ICLEI and the City of Mannheim thus commit to ensuring that you can contribute to this flagship event. Read the full statement here.

For more information on the conference and to register your interest, click here.