The members of the Congress of the Council of Europe / European Committee of the Regions (CoR) of the European Union High Level Group held an online meeting on 10 July 2020. 

Discussions focused on the COVID-19 health crisis and the responses at the local and regional levels. The presidents of the two organisations presented the actions developed to help support national authorities and the European Union and Council of Europe institutions in ensuring good democratic governance and the respect of human rights and the rule of law also in times of crises. Among the initiatives launched by the two organisations were the CoR's exchange platform "We Stand Together #EuropeansAgainstCovid19" and the platform "COVID-19: local and regional responses" developed by the Congress to facilitate the exchange of good practice between municipalities, regions and partners.

"The crisis has had a major impact on the functioning of democratic institutions and mechanisms of governance at local and regional level," stressed Congress President Anders Knape.