 Dear colleagues, I hope you manage to enjoy the summer break, albeit in different scenarios than we are used to. We are back at work and notwithstanding the restrictions and precautions necessary, we are determined to deliver results that citizens from villages, cities and regions are expecting from us in these challenging times. This Friday, together with my colleagues from the EPPCOR group, I will be participating in the European Committee of Regents Bureau meeting to discuss the future of Europe in the aftermath of the pandemic. Together with the local and regional leaders, I will be discussing health policy and lessons we are learning from the COVID crisis. While we are fully aware of the health impact, stress, fear and economic turbulences the pandemic has caused, we remain determined and focused to come out of this crisis stronger, united and more resilient. Please follow our work on the social media and don't hesitate to share with us your concerns and aspirations in the comments below.