36 mayors and regional politicians from the EU and Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Moldova and Ukraine inaugurated on 8 of September the new platform set up by the EU Committee of the Regions, the Conference of regional and local authorities for the Eastern Partnership (CORLEAP).

The Committee of the Regions set up the Conference of regional and local authorities for the Eastern Partnership (CORLEAP) to support political developments in Europe's Eastern neighbourhood as they have an impact on the EU's prosperity and stability. On 8 of September, under the Polish presidency of the EU Council, the new Conference was inaugurated. CORLEAP will continue as a yearly event. It intends to become the hub for direct cooperation between regions and cities from the EU and the Eastern partner countries by holding regular thematic meetings and facilitating the exchange of project proposals, best practices and know-how.

During the meeting, CORLEAP members demanded that regional and local authorities be given more say in the Eastern Partnership and urged more funding for projects strengthening local democracy, human rights at local and regional level and citizens' participation. They also requested that the new bilateral agreements to be negotiated between the EU and the Eastern partner countries must contain specific sections on strengthening local and regional self-government.

The European Union launched the Eastern Partnership policy in December 2008. Proposed measures to deepen the EU's relationship with the six neighbouring countries range from the negotiation of comprehensive free trade agreements to gradual visa liberalisation. The Eastern Partnership is a priority for the EU and the Conference of Foreign Affairs Committee Chairpersons (COFACC) held on 4-5 September was also focused on how to enhance the cooperation with the eastern and southern neighbours of the European Union.