​​​​​The Commission for Territorial Cohesion Policy and the EU Budget (COTER) met on March 3rd, 2020 for the second time to discuss and adopt an opinion on "The Renewal of Leipzig Charter on Sustainable European Cities". The opinion called for enhancing synergies between Urban Agenda for the EU, partnerships, and future Leipzig Charter and for establishing a closer link with the Commission Better Regulation Agenda.

 

The EA President and Cork City Cllr Kieran McCarthy said that Leipzig Charter offers many opportunities to showcase and develop best practices on urban thinking within different initiatives such as Urbact, Horizon 2020 and Urban  Innovative Initiative but current draft needs to be improved to make sure it fits the needs of all European cities and programmes.  

The COTER meeting also discussed annual work programme, exchanged views on future options regarding the Just Transition Mechanism, and hosted a joint debate with the European Parliament's TRAN committee on the topics of sustainable urban transportation and decarbonisation.