European Commission’s (EC) Directorate Generals for Education and Culture, Research and Innovation and Joint Research Centre have published a joint action plan together with the Committee of Regions (CoR). It will cover four priority areas of collaboration with 26 concrete actions aimed at increasing the administrative and implementation capacities of the Regions: 

• Priority A: No one left behind, evidence-based policy making in the Regions 
• Priority B: Close consultation on the implementation of the European Research Area (ERA), the European Education Area (EEA) and the Digital Education Action Plan (DEAP), Horizon Europe Missions and other initiatives 
• Priority C. Raising awareness and dissemination of funding opportunities. Exchange of best practices in the fields of research and innovation, education, culture, youth and sport 
• Priority D: Co-funding of programmes: top-up with European Structural and Investment Funds (ESIF) 

 In international higher education, CoR will be involved in the consultations related to the implementation of the EEA by bringing local and regional authorities in the process and by promoting dedicated platforms for exchanges to encourage all interested parties to take part in online courses, access online material, exchange good practice, and access information on opportunities through EU programmes. The European Universities Initiative will be central in this process. 

 In research and innovation, CoR will be involved in mapping of knowledge systems across the EU with a view to designing the ERA Hubs by DG RTD. CoR will also be disseminating information and play a role in the European Innovation Council (EIC) forum, Seal of Excellence Initiative and R&I/ERA related policy dialogue with Member States. 

The CoR will be involved in the consultation process for the transformation agenda in strengthening links between EEA and ERA, and the subsequent awareness-raising at regional level. The new EEA and ERA portals will be created to provide information on activities, disseminate outputs and facilitate cooperation. 

 ERA4You initiative will be established by DG R&I to incentivise a more balanced circulation of talent across regions and sectors with targeted mobility measures and awareness-creation about initiatives to support researchers in lower performing member states to develop R&I excellence. CoR will participate in the search for solutions through analysis of the brain-drain problem mapping. 

 CoR will also improve contacts with National Agencies in order to support applicants in regions for calls launched in member states.  In funding, the Horizon Europe programme and Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA) will continue encouraging synergies with European Structural and Investment Funds, particularly in the Cofund-actions and the Seal of Excellence -scheme. The CoR could act as a catalyst and facilitator to promote co-funded ecosystems in order to increase the impact of EU projects in the regions. 

 The Joint Action Plan (Committee of Regions) is available by clicking here.