​​​​​On 22 June at the COTER commission meeting, members adopted an opinion on the involvement of local and regional authorities in the Partnership Agreements and Operation Programmes. 

Partnership agreements and operational programmes are cornerstones of cohesion policy, laying out the Member States' strategies on how to use cohesion policy funding to strengthen economic, social and territorial cohesion by reducing disparities between regions.

During the discussions, the European Alliance (EA) members warn against the risk of centralization of funding instruments, including the Recovery plans, and delay in the adoption of partnership agreements as a result of the COVID pandemic

"Local and Regional authorities should not only be consulted but become key partners," said the EA President Kieran McCarthy, reiterating the importance of the European Code of Conduct on partnership and the need for local and regional authorities to fully involved in the preparation and monitoring phase of operational programmes.

COTER members were also updated on the European Year of Rail 2021 and the Connecting Europe Express, a train that is set to embark on a journey through most EU Member States.

"Rail transport could play an important role not only from a sustainability point of view but also, to promote cultural heritage, and accessibility to less known tourist destinations in smaller cities and rural areas," added Mr McCarthy.

Finally, Mr McCarthy congratulated the CoR trainees on their new successful podcast about trains. "They have developed a new way of reaching people, something that the Committee of the Regions can and needs to do".

EA group coordinator in the COTER commission is Ms Nanette Maupertuis, member of the Executive Council of Corsica.