​On Thursday, 27 June, SEDEC commission members appointed Declan McDonnell (member of Galway City Council, Ireland) as the rapporteur for the Hungarian Presidency referral "Addressing territorial inequalities by improving access to social services." The first discussion and adoption in the SEDEC commission are scheduled for 1 October, with the final adoption planned at the November CoR plenary.

Our members also took an active part in several debates, including on the new framework programme for research and innovation (FP10), demographic challenges, and artificial intelligence. 

Sergio Pérez Garcia, the EA group's SEDEC coordinator and Director for External Action in the Government of Navarra, emphasized the importance of knowledge valorisation and achieving a 3% investment in research and innovation (R&I) to maintain global competitiveness. During the same debate, Cllr Kieran McCarthy (Cork City Council, Ireland) stressed the need to engage young generations in research and science, asserting, "We have to create today, through education, the research of tomorrow."

Cllr McCarthy also supported the creation of an interregional working group to address demographic challenges, while Tasdeusz Truskolaski, the mayor of Bialystok, Poland, highlighted the strong link between demographic and economic issues. He argued that beyond financial tools, natality policies should be developed at the European level rather than being confined to national strategies.

The discussions also covered a Joint Action Plan for cooperation between the CoR and the services of the European Commissioner for Innovation, Research, Culture, Education and Youth Iliana Ivanova. During the debate with Ms Ivanova, Kieran McCarthy insisted on the importance of continuing the communication initiated during the European Year of Youth, particularly with youth councils, and underscored the significance of cultural heritage. Sergio Pérez Garcia praised the influence of regional commitment at the national level, specifically through the establishment of advisory councils on science and research.

Finally, members debated the ethical use of artificial intelligence (AI), with Kieran McCarthy highlighting the necessity of equipping workers with the necessary skills to work with AI. He shared the experience of the "Digital Cork" project in his city, which is supported by DG GROW, showcasing how local initiatives can lead the way in digital transformation.