 So, as you know, the COR was present at the COP28 with an eight-member delegation, which was part of the official delegation and which I had the honour to lead. All delegates engaged in high-level side events took the floor on behalf of local governments and municipal authorities in the plenary and informal sessions, interacted with their national delegation and EU negotiators to put forward relevant points for negotiation and of course held bilateral meetings with civil society and with networks. In addition to the official delegation, further seven COR members attended the COP28 in other capacities, but worked closely with the European Committee of Regents, delegation both on-site and outside and of course online. So, let us now watch a short video on the participation of the COR's delegation in the COP28 in Dubai and we also have a second video highlighting a number of best practices that were connected to our members climate action. We would like to share this with you as well. As carbon pollution heats the planet, scientists are warning that the Earth's climate may soon reach tipping points after which changes cannot be reversed. We have to act now if we want to have any hope of stopping the climate crisis. Every action helps no matter where it happens. Greening industrial production, mobility, agriculture and energy production, tackling air, soil and water pollution, reducing waste and consuming sustainably. To protect people and our planet, action starts at the local level. Colleagues, COP28, a pivotal moment in our global pursuit for climate action. The historic agreement to transition away from fossil fuels marks the beginning of the end of fossil fuels and serves as a testament to our collective commitment to a sustainable future. For local and regional authorities, COP28 was a significant step in making our voices heard on the international stage, a long-lasting challenge for cities and regions worldwide. The achievements in COP28 mark a breakthrough in our ability to influence global climate talks. Prior to our arrival in Dubai, both the Council of the EU and the European Parliament acknowledged the pivotal role that subnational governments play in advancing climate action, responding to our strong call in this sense. This recognition became ever more evident in the face of extreme weather events EU cities and regions experienced last year, now confirmed as the warmest year in history. The successes we achieved together in Dubai were rooted in a year-round commitment prior to the COP. For this, I express my greatest gratitude to the delegation for their hard work and their dedication. Let me also express the gratitude of the whole delegation for the work accomplished by our secretariat, which made it possible. Thanks to our work demonstrated on the ground and our partnerships with subnational governments globally in the local governments and municipal authorities constituency, we have made cities and regions take a central stage on the COP28 negotiations. In Dubai, the EU demonstrated that it is a reliable and engaged partner, and that its European Green Deal is an irreversible pathway away from fossil fuels. But let me be clear, targets on paper will not save the planet. We need adequate support. We need means to be made available for cities and regions where climate transitions will have to happen. The COR will continue translating global targets into local action and working hand in hand with regional and local authorities around the globe for the implementation of the targets taken in Dubai. From now on, we will work together to further amplify our voices towards the next COP, the COP29 in Azerbaijan. So I'm looking forward now to hearing the views of our guests, but also to hearing from all of you, as members of the European Committee of Regions. So I would like to thank you again for joining us, Vice President Hossik, and I give you the floor for five minutes. Thank you very much, and thank you to the Committee of the Regions for the opportunity to be with you today. Having been to Dubai for the COP, representing European Parliament, being part of the delegation, I didn't fail to notice actually very strong presence of the Committee of the Regions, but also regional representatives from around the world. And indeed, as the Vice President said, the Regions are playing even more crucial role and I think need to be heard much more, not only on the European level, but on the global level as well. Because at the end of the day, if the drought comes, if the flood hits, if a hurricane, like last night in the Norway, at the end of January, beginning of February, a hurricane in Norway hits, it's the mayors, it's the regional leaders that need to lead the way to address the consequences. The COP 28 was sadly actually the first time, and I mean sadly because it took 28 COPs before to finally admit that we need to end the year-after-south use. This is not because the science wasn't clear. The science was clear for a long time. This is because the way decision making works on a UN level. That actually there has to be de facto unanimity to agree on the final text. And the major oil producers and the major fossil fuel producers were until now fiercely resisting the call for the end of the fossil fuels. But even they couldn't completely ignore what's happening and the shift away from the fossil fuels that's happening in the reaction to the climate crisis. Beyond this, very important calls to triple the renewable energy and double the energy efficiency globally by 2030 were adopted, which for me doesn't represent the challenge, it actually represents the opportunity. The science is clear. The scientists have been saying that even this deal isn't enough to keep us within 1.5. But what brings me optimism is that what we've seen in the recent years, the massive, massive increase in the usage and deployment of renewable energy, the increase of energy efficiency, is that we can indeed move forward and make sure that we deliver on the 1.5. And why we need to do that is if not only for the sake of the climate, not for the sake of preventing massive extreme weather events, limiting the crop failures and all the negative impact that science is warning us from. Actually it's an immense opportunity for development. We need to cut our, especially European, reliance on fossil fuels because of our security. Because let's be honest, we saw very well what happened when Mr. Putin started to turn off the gas, which we are reporting. That how much we are reliant on imports of fossil fuels from not really friendly regimes. What it made to your budgets, what it made to the people's budgets, when the costs of fossil fuels skyrocketed because of Putin's actions. The opportunity that you see in the jobs that can be created when running the renovation wave, when using more renewables. And actually the money that can be saved that right now is being sent outside of the, outside of your regions for fossil fuels that can be kept within those regions. We need to also adapt. That's the brutal reality right now. We need a climate resilient infrastructure, we need climate resilient buildings, we need cities where people can live in the extreme hot summers. So let me get a bit to the content. And one thing, it's the mitigation. Lowering the emissions is not only about the big utilities. It's a unique opportunity for the cities and regions to become energy producers rather than energy consumers. All the rooftops that represent the opportunity to put photovoltaics in. All the infrastructure that you can adapt and work towards having it better prepared for mass transit transport, for having it better prepared for cycling, for actually fundamentally changing your cities to make them more livable. I believe that the climate crisis is a biggest threat to humanity yet. But I also believe that this is, the dealing with this crisis is the biggest opportunity to make our regions and lives of the people across the Europe better, to bring them prosperity and well-being. And it's going to be pity if we don't use this opportunity. And this opportunity is in your hands, ladies and gentlemen. Thank you very much. Thank you very much. Dear colleagues, in Dubai we followed very difficult negotiations, and of course the outcome was not clear up until the end. But I would submit to you that COP 28 conclusions ended up sending a strong signal as we wanted, signaling consensus when it comes to moving away from fossil fuels. And what is most important for us, of course, is a very serious inclusion and treatment of subnational governments in international climate talks. But we all know that targets themselves will not solve issues. Pledges need to be translated into real action and need to be supported by adequate financial means. And we do not have much time. Climate neutrality by 2050 is only possible when we put all of our hands on deck, of course, including us, subnational governments. At the COP 28 Local Climate Action Summit, more than 70 nations, including 11 member states, endorsed the Coalition for High Ambition Multilevel Partnership, the so-called CHAMP. By endorsing the CHAMP initiative, they committed to develop their national climate plans due in 2025 with their subnational governments and ensure that their investment plan targets take our contribution on board, which always was, of course, our points in negotiations. In the year we have the opportunity and the responsibility in 2024 to make the CHAMP a reality. Next Tuesday, we expect a communication on the climate target for 2040 as our second intermediate target before reaching climate neutrality in 2050. EU cities and regions expect an ambitious target, and we expect that the next commission will continue to strengthen direct collaboration with and support for cities and regions in order to meet this goal. But ultimately, the success of the Paris Agreement and in the EU of the European Green Deal will depend on how the green transition will benefit European citizens and businesses, and it has to be well explained, as everyone watching Brussels today and other cities in Europe knows. Most of us are already working in this direction, and we know that our ambition is not enough. The sustained delivery of ambitious climate and energy policies requires additional action in the coming years. This additional support needs to include areas such as financing, labour and skills shortages, cost of material and other problems that are hindering progress at the local level. Next year, at COP 29 in Baku, national governments will be called to establish a new climate finance goal. National governments together with the EU must provide the right financial and legislative enabling conditions, including targeted programs for cities and regions, and increased resources in the next EU budget so that we can continue to reduce carbon emissions while fighting energy poverty. The example of emissions on climate neutral cities provides the evidence that climate neutrality is not out of reach for us, but also the demonstration that financial and implementation tools are insufficient. Next month, the European Commission will propose important texts such as a communication on climate risks and another communication on water resilience. In the core, we believe that the climate and biodiversity crisis should be tackled in synergy, and that's why we are working on an opinion on towards a global green deal, harmonizing global frameworks for climate change, biodiversity and sustainable development, for which I'm proud to be the rapporteur together with Deputy Mayor of Budapest, Kata Tutu. And finally, as a chair of the core and the commission and the green deal going local working group, I can assure you that we will continue working hard to make multi-level ambition a permanent point in climate international talks and towards an ambitious outcome, not only of COP29 in Azerbaijan, but also a biodiversity protection at COP16. And let me join our president in thanking our secretariat and all the people involved in, of course, our wonderful delegation for their incredible work at COP. It is our common success. Thank you very much. Thank you very much. The floor now to Moreno Bonilla, please. I would like to reiterate and express my deepest gratitude to the European Committee of the region, and especially, of course, to the European Popular Party for allowing me to be part of this delegation that has represented our institution in the COP28 of Dubai last month of December. An edition that, honestly, I think represents a great step for the local and regional in terms of the importance of the recognition of its actions in the fight against climate change. It has been heard, and we can say it with clarity, it has been heard by our voice in the United Nations. Without a doubt, it has been advanced enormously so that from now on the contributions of the representatives of the region and the city go beyond an aspiration and can be materialized in actions that have to be concrete. The two main agreements of COP28, or so to say it, the most acclaimed, to say it in a way, have been, as you know, the commitment to triple the renewables for 2030 and double the energy efficiency. Very easy to say, but now we have to take it to practice, which is truly complex. It is evident that in this hard work we have a role that is a capital role, a primary role, and if our work and our effort is absolutely impossible to aspire to achieve those little important things. That is why we must insist on that agenda of COP29. We all know that it is a work that must be carried out throughout the year, not only in the days that COP is celebrated in November of 1924, just as it was done to reach COP28 with the duties made by the Committee of the Region. Thanks to that work, it was achieved that the board of directors, expressly, the European Commission, a mandate that mentioned our role in this struggle. And also thanks to that effort, the presidency of COP28 launched the Coalition for the Associations in a multi-level of great ambition, which was supported by more than 70 countries. That is why it is now the time to redouble those efforts for COP29, and he said it convincingly. That is why this conviction was put into this house of climate law, and also because I am president of a community like Andalucía, which has a challenge ahead and which is submitted in a very hard cycle of drought as a consequence of climate change. That is why we have to lead the need to give more specific weight to the regions and local entities in that struggle, in that revolution against climate change. And also because, as we have said in a reiterated way, and with clear arguments, because the regions and local governments are the most attached to the land, the ones that have greater capillarity, and the ones that, on many occasions, are giving examples to entire countries in the management of the climate crisis and the biodiversity that we seem to have. Allow me to finish by thanking again the Committee of the Region, especially the co-companies of COP28, and to thank them for the enormous work they have done, for the good environment they have created, and for the enormous co-companies that have presided over each and every one of our meetings. I would also like to thank the European PPP Group, and especially the excellent professionals of the State Committee of the Region, who support us and have not supported us at all times, and that in Dubai I have to say that they have done a spectacular job. I think that the final conclusion is that we have advanced in that presence, in that role of cities and regions, which is fundamental, completely capital, in this great struggle, in this great battle against climate change. Thank you very much. Thank you very much, Ms. Allison Gilliland. Thank you very much, Mr. Press Vice President. Before I comment on what we can take from the outcomes of COP28, I want to focus on the significantly strong position of the Committee of the Regions and its delegation heading into COP28, and that was a result of actually implementing lessons learned at COP27. So ahead of COP28, we had strong COR climate action opinions, including our COP28 opinion, debated and adopted. Members, particularly the COP28 delegates, participated in a wide and varied range of fora, including high-level EU and UN dialogues throughout the year. Relationships and communications with the Commission and the Parliament were strengthened and deepened, resulting in, for the first time, a formal acknowledgement of the key role of cities and regions in the Council conclusions and in the European Parliament resolution on COP28, providing them with a multi-level mandate in negotiations. Our close working collaboration with the LGMA constituency, particularly with Italy, allowed for a common position across global cities and regions to be coordinated, and this very much drew from our own core COP28 opinion. So this afforded us a strong, united voice across all global fora, and in action, in interactions with all parties at COP28. So everyone was getting the same message, that cities and regions are willing and capable to implement ambitious climate actions, but they must be included and they must be supported. So I want to commend the extensive behind-the-scenes work done by the Enve Commission and Secretariat in realising these significant achievements. As already noted, we hit the ground on COP28 running, with yourself, First Vice President and our Enve Commission President attending the first-ever Local Climate Action Summit and also the launch of CHAMP, the Coalition for High Ambition multi-level partnership. Normally we would see heads of state at these events, but it was the first time we had mayors and we'd leaders of local and regional governments at them. As we've seen from the video, our delegation participated in a wide range of formal and informal events, with a wide range of global actors, including the Second Ministerial on Urbanisation and Climate, worked with the EU Commissioner and Minister Teresa Rivera, continuously advocating for the realisation of ambitious climate actions through strong, inclusive, multi-level cooperation and collaboration. Whether that be in the world of work and economic development, renewable energies with use in the realm of fashion, art, culture, or in solidarity with our colleagues of island nations facing possible extinction, we crossed every sector and we crossed every continent with our message. And we all know the ingrained climate risks that we all face, and this is emphasised with the IPCC and also the global stock take. And there were moments when honestly we didn't know if the outcome text was going to go backwards or if it was going to go forwards. But I think we were all relieved when there were some bold commitments made, the transition away from fossil fuels to ensure net zero by 2050, in particular the first time we actually mentioned fossil fuels in an outcome document, tripling of renewables, doubling of energy efficiency, and we all know that we at local level are going to be involved in implementing that. The finalising of the loss and damage fund that also included access by sub-national government was a significant outcome. While a more formal commitment to mandate multi-level cooperation would have been more desirable, I acknowledge that our voice was recognised in the COP28 outcomes, and also by those parties through their signing up to the CHAMP initiative that commits signature governments to collaborate with local and regional governments in the revision of the nationally determined contributions for 2025. Going forward, and the lesson I would take forward, is that we can use this initiative in the lead up to COP29 to encourage greater multi-level collaboration and to build a strong evidence base for that multi-level action and collaboration in action. Developing case studies to highlight how local and regional governments are absolutely key to realising our targets and a sustainable future that is not only climate just, but social and economically just as well. Finally, like my colleagues, I want to acknowledge everyone in the COR, the Envy secretariat and the core COMS team, as well as my own PES team, for the immense support they provided with us to ensure the success of our delegation. Thank you all. Preparations are already afoot for COP29. We have a review later on today with the delegation, and I have no doubt that we will build on our current achievements and achieve more in Baku in November. Thank you. Thank you. Our member, Vincent Chauvet, please. Merci Monsieur le vice-président, chers collègues. Vendredi dernier, aux alentours de 22h, des agriculteurs en colère du Morvan sont venus déverser plusieurs centaines de tonnes de lisiets, de pneus, de pailles sur les marges de la mairie d'autun, devant la sous-préfecture, devant la permanence de la chambre d'agriculture. Et interrogé par la presse, le porte-parole du collectif indiquait que, eh bien, le maire Vincent Chauvet allait à la COP à Dubaille en avion, et que ensuite c'était eux qu'on accusait de polluer. Chers collègues, c'est ce fait qui est loin d'être une anecdote et qui est particulièrement révélateur, alors que les tracteurs sont devant notre hémicycle de la situation actuelle, nous renvoie à notre double rôle en tant que membre du comité européen des régions. D'une part, celui d'être les porte-paroles de nos territoires, à Bruxelles, et quand nous en avons l'occasion, et il est très heureux que le comité européen des régions soit particulièrement leader parmi les associations d'élus locales et régionales au niveau mondial, de pouvoir porter donc au niveau européen, voire international, les problématiques de nos territoires. Mais également, à l'inverse, de pouvoir faire redescendre dans nos mairies, dans nos villes, dans nos campagnes, dans nos fermes, dans nos bureaux, le changement absolument nécessaire est les grands défis qui sont devant nous et qui nécessiteront, de la part de la prochaine Commission du Parlement européen, des décisions fortes, parce que, eh bien, et on le voit, le Green Deal est déjà au centre de la campagne. C'est un enjeu démocratique important. Pour revenir en quelques points sur la COP, il y a eu, évidemment, un grand moment sur le nucléaire. Avec la relance du nucléaire, c'est très important pour la France et pour notre territoire. Et un certain nombre d'avancées, notamment le fait que, dans le fond, pour la réparation des pertes et dommages, il puisse y avoir l'ouverture d'un financement direct des collectivités. Mais, et j'en conclurai par cela, l'enjeu maintenant est de territorialiser l'action climatique, de territorialiser les COP. La France a lancé le processus des COP régionales, qui se déclinent dans chaque département, dans chaque communauté de communes, dans chaque commune, pour pouvoir établir un plan d'action en voyant, selon les territoires, les leviers qui sont les plus pertinents pour arriver à nos ambitions. Parce que, nous sommes, il faut le redire, à nos compatriotes, à nos concitoyens, le bloc le plus ambitieux et le plus crédible sur les engagements climatiques. Et quand l'Europe prend des ambitions, et quand nous représentons l'UE, eh bien, cela se décline rapidement au Parlement, au niveau national, au niveau local. Et nous devons, nous-mêmes, prendre notre part vraiment dans la déclinaison. C'est ce que je souhaite pour la prochaine COP, que nous allions encore plus loin, dans l'ensemble de nos Etats membres, dans l'ensemble de nos territoires, sur la territorialisation des actions et des engagements qui sont pris au niveau international. Je vous remercie. Thank you very much. Our colleague, Yura Droba. Dear Mr Chair, Apostolos, dear Vice President of the European Parliament, Martin, dear colleagues, today I'm speaking on behalf of the ECR Group, and I would like to share our conclusions from the intense two weeks of negotiations that took place in COP28 in Dubai. As we know the work goes beyond just the two weeks, efforts are ongoing all year around, and this is why we need to continue to pursue our emission reduction goals in the most realistic way. We must defend technological neutrality with each country, free to choose its own strategy to achieve the common goal. By doing so, we would ensure Europe's competitiveness and maintain European technology leadership. The EU has flagged itself as a leader on the green front and we need to follow through. This is why we very much welcome that nuclear energy was formally specified as one of the solutions to the climate change. The final COP28 decision text calls for global efforts to accelerate zero and low emission technologies, including the nuclear energy. Slovakia was one of the 20 countries that endorsed the declaration, recognizing the key role of nuclear energy. Nuclear forms 50% of our energy mix, and despite the terrorist Russia and their actions in the recent two years, we still believe that this is the way forward. The Bratislava region, which I represent, remains committed to the effective execution of the Paris Agreement, and we try to translate these commitments and pledges into action. In this regard, I'm delighted to share a little quick win with you. It was not that quick, it took us about four years to complete, but we have an excellent example from my region. It's an eco-center in the village of Chunovo. It's a project linking the environment, education, and tourism, and the doors will be open this spring later on in a few months. The project is also an excellent example of cross-border cooperation with our dear partners from Austria and Hungary, and its objective is to increase environmental awareness, create facilities for nature conservation organizations, and at the same time promote ecotourism and implement climate adaptation and mitigation measures. This eco-center will be attended by the youths and students from Slovakia as well as from Austria and Hungary. In conclusion, I would like to emphasize the principles of partnership and multi-level governance in navigating challenges of climate change. I am happy that for the first time also regional leaders were included at the COP28 and not only the heads of state. Moreover, I'm convinced that to ensure the implementation of Paris Agreement goals on the ground, we need adequate financing for regions and socially just transition where there is no one left behind. Also, using common sense and applying such green solutions that really work for the benefit of environment, but also economies of our member states. Thank you very much. Thank you very much, Mr. Drobach. The floor to Andreas Grifroy, please. Thank you, Mr. First Vice President. Good morning, dear colleagues and dear members. Yes, we had very busy days in Dubai. The delegation put huge efforts and participated in a lot and lot meetings to bring our voices of the regions and the cities to the fore. And I'd like really also to thank the staff for the excellent preparation. You were successful in securing a strong reference to local and regional authorities. Someone is drilling beer, just I don't know. You were successful in securing a strong reference to local and regional authorities in the EU mandate working closely with the European Parliament and the Council. I rejoined COP28 with expectations and hopes that parties would make further progress when it comes to formally and averaging the essential role of sub-national governments in achieving climate goals. In the end, what we get are just nice words and lots of promises. The final deal is positive and a great step forward on major issues. Transitioning away from the fossil fuels, boosting renewable energies and energy efficiency, and also recognizing the role of new clean technologies and innovation, such as carbon capture, nuclear, which is also just like in France and Belgium, very important, and so on. But the main question for us is, and as I mean as the representing local and regional authorities in Dubai on this COP climate conference, did it recognize the pivotal role of regions and cities? Did it acknowledge our role on improving energy efficiency, renewable energy and urban planning? And sorry to say, but the answer is no. The Coalition for High Ambition Multilevel Partnerships, the CHAMP, including several member states, committing to involve local and regional governments in the planning and implementation of climate policies is welcome. But we will know all national governments really move from words to facts, or will this be just window dressing, a mere distraction? Will it just end as something only on paper or in a lot of concrete local actions? And there have been laudable initiatives, launches over the last years, yet multilevel governance remains a pledge rather than a binding commitment for all parties. Our mission, continuous and overaction must be bolder to give our regions, our cities, the place they deserve in the global climate governance, because the solution will be largely found at the local and regional level. Thank you. Thank you very much. Thank you very much. I would like to give the floor to Marek Schauten, please. Thank you, Mr. Vice President and dear colleagues. I think my colleague Nina would like to have been here because she was part of the delegation of COP28, but she just gave birth to a baby girl. So again, but I am happy to share with you what we have learned from COP28 and perhaps also which built on the lessons learned from previous COPs. And it is mentioned already quite a few times, but because it is so important I will repeat some things that my colleagues also already mentioned, facing out the fossil fuels. And this final outcome document of COP28, which outlines this transition to move away from fossil fuels, is a really important and historic step. And we as committee of the regions also played a role in this outcome, because it was also part of the opinion of the committee of the regions on COP28. So our opinions on a variety of topics do actually matter. It signifies a clear commitment to the one and a half degree target, which is a cornerstone in the global fight against climate change. And following this decision, an outcome we as local and regional authorities can lead by example. For instance by exceeding our goals, facing out fossil fuels well before 2050 to align with a broader global goal. What we all know is that across the globe cities, towns and regions and citizens are taking bold steps to eliminate fossil fuels. And these efforts are directly addressing the primary human contributors to the climate crisis. Human-induced air pollution and environmental damage. And local and regional governments are also in the privileged position to work with citizens, local business communities and all kinds of communities from all walks of life to address the socioeconomic changes that are part and parcel of climate action. It is imperative that all level of governments accelerate the transition to a fossil-free energy mix. And at COP28, this working together of the committee of the regions and the LGMA really bore fruit. The agreement on a loss and damage fund with direct financing to the most affected local and regional communities is a key milestone and may become a lifeline to those communities. We also welcome the launch of the Coalition for High Ambition multi-level partnerships and everyone and every member state should become a member of it. As Europe we have a responsibility to recognize the daily toll the climate crisis takes and to support the hardest hit regions. Yet a huge financing gap remains and we need to step up efforts to provide more support to local regional authorities and governments around the world. And let's continue to exchange knowledge, best practices because we are still learning every day. And let's keep on demonstrating how we as local and regions contribute to this change. Thank you. Thank you very much. Dear colleagues, the floor now goes to the members and we will have one minute, strictly one minute interventions. The floor to Rastislav Tranka, please. Yosko Klysovich. Thank you, Mr. President. Local leaders are agents of implementation. They take the driving seat in implementation phase. And implementation of European policies and targets means success. It means that policies and targets are not just empty words on the paper. And it's widely recognized that we are important implementation phase. At the same time we do not have access to decision making, to designing policies and targets. And that's why we have the COR. It is our voice. So I think that we should make COR more politically influential body in decision making process in the European Union than debate club where we spell out our frustrations. So let's really think how local voice through the COR can impact the implementation of EU policies. And this is the only way how we will be recognized and acknowledged. Otherwise we will be just, you know, asked to implement what somebody else is asking for us. This is not good enough. Thank you. Thank you. Andres Yadla, please. Member Garcia Galardo. Thank you. Joseph Cobor, please. Dear colleagues, generally we have high expectations towards large international green affairs meetings like scope 28, which are often followed by significant disappointments. The credibility of the venue is already questionable. So one participant mentioned not having to set up a separate heating device in their hotel room in Dubai to counterbalance the uncontrollable air conditioning that produced too much cold. That is about energy efficiency Dubai. The other aspect is that the main attraction of the meeting was the presentation by the Russian company Rosatom about small modular reactors and craft power plants. They are offering these two local governments and it is supported by the EU Horizon program. Nevertheless, we appreciate the representation of the practical standpoint of local governments by the core delegation. Local governments are demanding practical solutions for both resilience and adaptation, not just principles and ideas. Energy efficient buildings, sustainable community mobility and energy and dependence based on renewable energies. These are what local governments need and they need them as quickly as possible. Thank you. Thank you very much. Eva Nieminen, please. Thank you. Thank you. Stefan Elie, please. Thank you very much. Thank you. Our colleague Schobersberger. Thank you very much. Thank you. Thank you. Dear President, Dear Everyone, I will speak also in Finnish. Thank you very much. Thank you very much. Antonio Maseo. Thank you very much. Thank you, Mr President. Let me draw your attention and everyone's attention to the extremely well-written document, five-page background note that we have. It gives a clear signals on the political context and the activities needed. However, at the end of that, when there are the priorities for the CR, one point is missing. We should definitely add there the upgrade the role of innovations and request more investments in research. Why is that? The challenges are so complex and only part of the necessary scientific and technological knowledge exists. And in addition to that, we need to understand that this isn't making, in general, it's not sufficiently evidence-based research supportive and not targeted enough on the creating favorable conditions for societal innovations and implementing those fast enough in real-life practice. I will do my own kind of document in Finnish using this five-page document, adding this crucial point, but pointing out what is really needed and what the different actors on multi-level governance and locally can do. Thank you. Thank you very much. Our member Florian Schutz. Thank you. The floor to Istvan Bokka has the last intervention from the floor today. Thank you, Mr. Mellnökkur. I would like to hear your thoughts on how important the climate is to the development of the climate. I would like to highlight that I am a member of the Balaton Functionary Region. Three years ago, we launched a program on the number of middle school students who aim for climate and environmental education and inspiration. We have set up a group of students with more than 1,200 students per year in the field of environmental education. This is a successful example of how we can strengthen the next generations with such simple tools and with the help of the climate-related activities of the future leaders. The climate-related activities of the I allow me to make an exception. I see Ms. Von Kalben who wants to intervene. Please go ahead, Ms. Von Kalben. Thank you very much. Thank you very much, Mr. President. I would like to vote for many of you, but I would like to go back to Mr. Mark Kuller, who pointed out such important investments. Yes, we are the regions that implement everything, and in Schleswig-Holstein we already have more renewable energies than we use ourselves. Thank you very much. So, your colleagues, I will give the floor back to Vice President Hoschik for his reaction and final remarks, please. Thank you, Mr. Vice President, and thank you, distinguished members of the Committee of the Regions, for lots of interesting inputs. And for me, it's encouraging to see all the work done on the ground, the opportunities that the Regions are using to actually enhance your own self-reliance and independence. Because fossil fuels are making us dependent on others, while energy efficiency and renewable give us independence. No autocrat can shut off the wind, no autocrat can shut down the sun. And if we use these opportunities, our regions will grow and prosper. But it's also important, and I'm happy that I heard the words, just transition. Because indeed we need to make sure that the change is benefiting all, that it's not leaving anyone behind. And actually it was our dependence on the fossil fuels that is something that hurt the farmers most, because the high gas prices meant incredibly high fertilizer prices, because they are dependent on synthetic fertilizers. I believe that we need to grab this opportunity and I'm really happy to see that many of you are ready to do that. The importance is now, will you get the support? Will you be actually allowed to use the opportunity? And one thing is that we need legislative framework on the European and national level that will not prohibit you from developing renewable energies. And we need the money. Interestingly enough the money is there. Just my own Slovakia has 15 billion euros until 2030 from different EU sources as well as from the sale of the emission quotas. This money shall not end up in the state budget. This money shall go to people, shall go to regions, shall go to you ladies and gentlemen, to make sure that you can gain the energy independence, that your buildings that you need to be taking care of are producers of energy rather than users of energy. And in this way it's not about subsidies, it's about the investments that will pay back in a better future. So I wish you good luck in all the effort and look forward to further collaboration on making sure that the climate saving is an opportunity. Thank you very much. Thank you very much Vice President for being here with us. It has been a great honor and the privilege to have you here for this very important topic for us and for the world as a whole. And I would like to thank all of you members who participated in this very, very interesting debate.