Traineeships The CoR is a relatively young institution and, as such, recognizes the importance of giving voice to the ideas of newcomers and younger generations. Involving young people in the EU decision-making process is precisely the aim of the CoR traineeship programme. There are two obvious “yes, buts” about burgeoning localism. One is that if individuals devote all their energies to parochial concerns they won’t bring about national or international political change. If we do good deeds in our market garden or forest school, we’re not demanding systemic change: we’re letting Boris Johnson’s government get away with it. Another fear is that local action simply fulfils David Cameron’s vision of a “big society”, proving governments don’t have to provide essential local services or even a safety net; instead we have the survival of the fittest communities. Utilising the expertise of our membership, as well as our associates in a multitude of professions, for the betterment of everyone and society as a whole Do you have internet on your mobile phone? If so visit www.go in mobile.co.uk for all your local news and events on the move.

Established as from February 2007, interregional groups are platforms to exchange views and create new ideas between local and regional authorities in the Member States and beyond. Goinlocal would like to wish all its readers a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. Thank you for your continuing support in 2015. We look forward to seeing you all in 2016 Access to documents The Treaty of Amsterdam introduced a new Article 255, which provides for a right of access for citizens to documents of the European Parliament, the Council and the Commission. These three institutions have adopted Regulation (EC) 1049/2001 regarding public access to European Parliament, Council and Commission documents, and subsequently, in a joint declaration, have asked the other European agencies and bodies to adopt similar rules on the matter. Euro-Mediterranean Regional and Local Assembly (ARLEM) The Euro-Mediterranean Regional and Local Assembly (ARLEM) is an assembly of local and regional representatives from the European Union and its Mediterranean partners. The European Committee of the Regions (CoR) is launching a new call for best practices to its members and alternates, Young Elected Politicians (YEPs) and members the CoR network of local and regional councillors to collect and promote low-carbon and sustainable projects as well as climate commitments to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from local and regional authorities across the EU. Does your region or city have a specific project that targets the objectives of the European Green Deal? Has your region or city set a target to reduce GHG emissions by 2030 or 2050? Then this new call is right for you.

For Rob Hopkins, the co-founder of the Transition Network, meaningful change is now most likely not at the centre but through local government. The Transition movement began in Hopkins’s home town of Totnes, Devon, in 2006, when people began sharing ideas of how to move from a carbon-based economy to a healthier, more sustainable community. Community change often begins with food. “You don’t need anyone’s permission around food. It’s not expensive. You just need people, tools and a deadline,” Hopkins says. In Totnes, “it’s been a fairly lonely furrow for a long time. Finally the surrounding world is starting to catch up a little bit.” Now that 245 local authorities across the UK have declared a climate emergency, which requires tough new carbon-reduction targets, councils will require the practical ideas of the Transition movement.

United Nations Climate Change Conference (UNFCCC COP 27) which is set to take place in Sharm El-Sheik, Egypt, in November 2022, climate commitments from local and regional authorities will be gathered in a map to support the CoR's efforts to strengthen the role of cities and regions in global climate governance and the implementation of the Paris agreement. National delegations are made up of CoR members from each of 27 EU countries. They reflect the political, geographical and local balance of each Member State.This research has highlighted the appetite (pun intended) amongst our audiences to explore and debate how the food they eat impacts the environment. It’s clear our visitors understand that alternative methods of food production would have a beneficial effect. In the commissions, Members of the CoR produce opinions on UE legislative proposals and initiatives, as well as discuss other issues relevant to the work of Europe's more than one million local politicians.

Active subsidiarity and multilevel governance are key principles and fundamental features for the EU functioning and democratic accountability. SEDEC (Commission for Social Policy, Education, Employment, Research and Culture) The SEDEC commission is in charge of employment, social policies, education, training (including lifelong learning), sports and culture related dossiers. SEDEC is also responsible for equality, social economy and youth files, as well as research, innovation and artificial intelligence. To further promote regional and local action towards the Green Deal, the European Committee of the Regions is launching a new call for best practices and climate commitments to all CoR members and alternates, Adur & Worthing Councils, the Coastal Clinical Commissioning Group and West Sussex County Council have launched a new health delivery programme to explore ways of improving community based health solutions.

The fact of the matter is, the effects of the pandemic have caused wholesale re-evaluation of supply chains, which has been exacerbated by further challenges, such as the disruption caused by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, subsequent sanctions, and shortages caused by Ukrainian farmers being unable to produce and export grain that the world has come to rely on. Kippax Halloween Trail is almost complete with over two dozen entries. Visit the spooktacular displays around the village from 29th October - 31st October. Territorial Impact Assessment (TIA) Territorial Impact Assessments (TIAs) aim to provide the Committee of the Regions' (CoR) rapporteurs with an analysis of the potential territorial impact of EU legislative proposals.

Through its own activities and through those carried out with the #CohesionAlliance, the Committee is committed to making sure that economic, social and territorial cohesion is fostered and respected in all EU policies. The European Committee of the Regions (CoR) encourages participation at all levels, from regional and local authorities to fellow citizens. Find out how you can participate! Eastern Partnership (CORLEAP) Set up by the CoR in 2011, the Conference of Regional and Local Authorities for the Eastern Partnership (CORLEAP) is the political forum of local and regional authorities from the European Union and the Eastern Partnership countries.It is the only EU platform that offers an opportunity to discuss the contribution by cities and regions in the development of the Eastern Partnership. Life has found most people are reluctant to radically change the way they eat – despite global food supply chains having a detrimental effect on the environment – although many would consider ‘going local’. On 9 October 2023, the Committee of the Regions has published its EU Annual Report on the State of Regions and Cities, as a snapshot of the most pressing challenges faced by regions and cities across Europe, as well as solutions from the ground to inform EU policy decisions.

The CoR also works closely with national, regional and local authorities, making their voices heard and fostering political debate, not only in Brussels, but also in EU regions and cities, outside Europe and online. I have discovered through my own volunteering for a couple of forest schools that the best way to chase away anxiety and despair is to do something positive locally with other people – something that isn’t driven by money. As Hopkins says: “I’ve never been anywhere where anybody has said: ‘I was doing all right until I got involved in this Transition stuff,’ or: ‘I was doing all right until I learned to grow my own food.’ We are social creatures living in a time that is trying to stop us from being that. There’s something good for the heart about being involved in projects with other people.” The European Committee of the Regions (CoR) is the voice of regions and cities in the European Union (EU). It represents local and regional authorities across the European Union and advises on new laws that have an impact on regions and cities (70% of all EU legislation).