​The President of the European Alliance Group in the European Committee of the Regions Cllr Kieran McCarthy said that every measure necessary must be taken to combat COVID19 but these must respect democratic principles which are fundamentally important to local and regional government.

"While it is very clear that the Coronavirus needs new legislation to ensure that it is defeated, this cannot be at the expense of those elected to take decisions closest to the citizens. Any decision to take to limit the powers of elected mayors cannot be accepted and is contrary to the values upon which the EU is based.", said Cllr McCarthy.