​​​​At the SEDEC commission meeting helod on 25 November 2020, members appointed Mikel Irujo, Director-General for External Action of the Government of Navarre as CoR rapporteur on the outlook opinion on the new European Action Plan on Social Economy. The first exchange of views on Mr Irujo's opinion will take place in February 2021.

During the same meeting, members held a debate with Ms Mariya Gabriel, European Commissioner for Innovation, Research, Culture, Education and Youth and signed a joint action plan for cooperation with the European Commission's Directorate-General (DG) for Research and Innovation, DG Education and Culture, as well as with the Joint Research Centre. During the debate, Mr Irujo highlighted the importance of smart specialization strategies as drivers of regional ecosystems and a tool to foster interregional cooperation and touched upon his previous opinion on the Regional Innovation Scoreboard, calling for a bigger involvement of local and regional authorities in its preparation. 

During the same debate, EA group's president and Cork city councilor, Kieran McCarthy stressed the importance of bringing research and innovation into communities and promoting their concrete and practical aspects at the local level, such as through Innovation Camps. 

Later in the meeting, members also had a debate with Mr Joost Korte, European Commission's Director General for Employment, Social Affairs and Inclusion, where Ms Elisabet Nebreda, our member and Secretary for Foreign Action and the EU in the Government of Catalonia, called for a direct participation of regions in the design, management and implementation of EU policies and programmes in order to avoid situations like the current one when much-needed funds for regional recovery after Covid-19 are blocked in the Council. 

The next meeting of the SEDEC commission will take place in February 2021.