On 23 April the Committee of the Regions' Commission on Territorial Cohesion (COTER) debated and adopted two opinions on the challenges and opportunities of regional airports in times of COVID and on the EU strategy on smart and sustainable mobility.
During the meeting, members recalled the key role played by regional airports in achieving territorial cohesion and the need for investments to ensure their sustainability.
The European Alliance Group President and Cork city councillor, Kieran McCarthy, intervening during the discussion, said: " The loss of regional airports could have serious consequences in term of territorial cohesion, widening regional disparities and impacting severely on smaller cities and peripheral areas. Strategic planning and investments are key to make sure they can get up and running".
COTER also discussed the opinion on the EU's smart and sustainable mobility strategy where Nanette Maupertuis, member of the executive council of Corsica and COTER commission Vice-president reiterated the need to invest in cleaner forms of transport while taking into account challenges of different territories such as islands.
We must support cleaner forms of transport to achieve the Green Deal goals. It is also important to recognise the challenges faced by territories where alternatives to the car or air transport are limited. Mountain, islands rural areas have different needs and require a more targeted approach, she added.
She also pointed to the important role played by ports in the decarbonisation of transport and the need for investments in green ports. Hydrogen and e-fuels derived from it can play a key role and have a great potential to become hubs for integrated electricity systems, hydrogen, and other low-carbon fuels.
The two draft opinions will be up for final discussion and adoption during the CoR’s Plenary session from 30 June to 2 July of this year.
Finally, a study commissioned by the CoR and presented during the commission meeting - analysed the application of the principles of partnership and multi-level governance in cohesion policy programming 2021-2027. These two principles are key features for the programming and implementation of cohesion policy as they enhance the delivery of cohesion policy programmes by providing ownership and making investments place-based.
