Latest news from EU institutions and bodies

On 17 April, the European Council adopted conclusions on Ukraine, the Middle East and Türkiye.

With the opinion on the European Commission’s proposed regulation on new genomic techniques (NGT) and on plant reproductive material (PRM), led by Erik Konczer (HU/PES) and adopted during the April plenary session, the European Committee of the Regions (CoR) warns of serious risks for the future of European agriculture and puts forward its recommendations.

The European Committee of the Regions (CoR) has urged the European Union to focus more sharply on the local and regional level of government in the Western Balkans as the prospects of countries in the region becoming members of the EU rise.

Europe is facing a housing crisis, exacerbated by demographic and urbanisation trends, and local authorities struggle to provide affordable housing amidst low renovation rates. Regions and cities demand a EU Housing Agenda, urging better policy coordination and financial support for social housing initiatives, alongside a focus on sustainable architecture in an opinion, led by Andres Jaadla, (EE/Renew), member of Rakvere City Council, which was adopted during the plenary session of the European Committee of the Regions (CoR) on 17 April.​

​With the upcoming European elections in June, this year will mark the end of one legislative cycle and the beginning of a new one. While countering the various threats to elections, ranging from cyber-attacks to disinformation, it is crucial to ensure a high voter turnout to strengthen the EU's democratic legitimacy. This is the main message of an opinion on defending democracy, adopted during the plenary session of the European Committee of the Regions (CoR) on 18 April. ​

With one in four children at risk of poverty and social exclusion in the EU, local and regional leaders adopted their recommendations to guarantee free education, childcare, school canteens, and healthcare to vulnerable children across the UE, at the European Committee of the Regions plenary session on 18 April. They called for local and regional authorities to be given direct access to EU funding to deliver these objectives on the ground.

Cities and regions call for a reformed Cohesion Policy that keeps supporting all territories, boosts investment and tackles the discontent among citizens.

​EU regions and cities point out that their greater involvement and active participation is necessary to find new ways for livestock, people and large carnivores to coexist sustainably and safely while enhancing biodiversity. The European Committee of the Regions (CoR) considers that the protection status of certain species should be periodically reassessed and that EU funding should fully cover measures to prevent damage or compensate damages.

The European Committee of the Regions (CoR) stresses that reducing plastic pellet losses is a key priority for the European Union's zero-pollution agenda, as microplastic pollution has a significant impact on the environment, climate and economy, especially for coastal communities and the fishing, agriculture and tourism sectors. The opinion drafted by Roberto Ciambetti (IT/ECR), President of the Veneto Regional Council, was adopted unanimously at the plenary session on 18 April.