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Local & regional governments

Newsletter - September 2018

Council of European Municipalities and Regions

LOCAL INSIGHT
Local and regional governments' view
of European affairs

  fre  eng


 
- Interview with... -

Cohesion policy

Mayor of Karlovy Vary on the future of cohesion policy

We are entering the final phase of the discussions on the future of Cohesion Policy. On the menu: budget cuts, investment priorities and conditionality.

The mayor of Karlovy Vary (CZ) and CEMR vice-president, Mr Petr Kulhánek, speaks about his concerns and expectations regarding the next programming period. 

We are entering the final phase of the discussions on the future of cohesion policy. As a mayor, what are your top three expectations for the future? 
 
I hope our call for simplification will be heard at EU level. 

[ Read more ]

- Opinion -

Europe 2030

Ulrike Guérot: ​"We should establish a European republic based on its regions"

What is Europe's future? In a contribution to CEMR’s publication "Europe 2030: Local leaders speak out", Ulrike Guérot, a German political thinker, reflects on several issues that will shape the future of the European project. 

In my book, I deconstruct the Nation-State and talk about the founding of a European republic made up of 50 or 55 European regions, which are structured around the major cities and metropolitan regions (such as London, etc.). 

I would like to give new life to European cities such as Trieste, Istanbul, Prague. I would like to rethink the structures of Europe through culture because when we speak of cultural identity, it is in the cities and regions (Languedoc, Alsace, Tyrol, Bavaria, Saxony, etc.) that the cultural heritage of Europe can be found; whereas it is nations that often present a narrative of war and peace. 
 

[ Read more ]

- Future of cohesion policy -

Cohesion policy

What kind of cohesion policy do towns and regions need for their future?

Through Cohesion policy, the EU invests millions in local and regional infrastructure and services. And with the EU’s next long-term budget coming up, the Commission has released a proposal to redefine cohesion policy for the 2021-2027 period.

The impact of the future cohesion policy on towns and regions, and their citizens, will be immense. On 4 September, a conference was held at the European Parliament to discuss the proposal with Commission representatives. It was organised by the URBAN Intergroup, presided by MEP Jan Olbrycht, in partnership with CEMR and EUROCITIES. As the voice of Europe’s towns and regions, CEMR was there to convey the needs and expertise coming from the ground. This is what we had to say.


 

[ Read more ]

- Local democracy -

30th anniversary of local autonomy

From the European Charter of municipal liberties to the European Charter of local self-government!

This year marks the 30th anniversary of the European Charter of Local Self-Government. This international treaty affirms the role of towns, cities and regions as the first level for the exercise of democracy. Since its entry into force on 1 September 1998, over 40 countries have ratified it. In this article, CEMR's President and Secretary general pay tribute to the charter and put forward the role CEMR played in its implementation. 

Since its foundation in 1951, the Council of European Municipalities (which became the Council of European Municipalities and Regions in 1984) has always been attached to defending the principle of a United Europe. A Europe that can build its development on strong and recognised local governments. The organisation’s first important move was to adopt, during its first General Assembly in 1953, the “Charter of municipal liberties”.

[ Read more ]

- President Juncker's speech -

State of the European Union

Why local governments have mixed feelings about Juncker’s SOTEU speech

The State of the European Union, the yearly speech given by Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker on 12 September, was awaited with great excitement. Among other issues, he was expected to present the conclusions of the taskforce on subsidiarity, which is in charge of finding ways to better involve local and regional governments in EU policy making. However, this did not happen.

Reacting to Juncker's speech, President of CEMR and of the region of Emilia Romagna, Stefano Bonaccini, stated the following:

President Juncker was absolutely right to focus on the global dimension of the great challenges of our time: migration, climate change and digitalisation. However, we regret that, once again, the role of towns and regions, who are fundamental allies to address these issues, was not mentioned. None of those challenges will be overcome without their support.

[ Read more ]

- State of the European Union -

Future of Europe

President Juncker, give towns and regions the support that Europe needs!

Europe faces massive challenges, from migration to climate change and all points in between. As Jean-Claude Juncker gears up to make his final address to this European Parliament, Frédéric Vallier, CEMR Secretary general, calls on the Commission's President not to forget the role of cities and regions.

President Juncker will probably make his last State of the European Union speech on 12 September. Everyone will keep in mind the words he said four years ago following the vote on the “last chance Commission", as he described it.

Unfortunately, the expectations raised then were seriously undermined by the many crises we have faced. This is not only the fault of the Commission president and his Commissioners, but rather that of all European leaders who struggled to find common answers to the multiple issues we have endured.

[ Read more ]

- Library More items -
 

Cohesion policy

10 key messages for the future

 

UN Global goals

[Study] How Europe’s towns and regions are taking the lead

 

EU funds in the area of migration

Local and Regional Governments’ perspective

 

EU budget

Declaration on the Multi-Annual Financial Framework (MFF) on regional development

 
- Upcoming events -
8 - 11 October
  .  European Week of Regions and Cities
Location : Brussels
9 October
2.30 - 4 pm
  .  Delivering Sustainable Development Goals
Location : Brussels
9 October
11 am - 1 pm
  .  Integrated Territorial approach and collaborative governance to tackle emerging challenges
Location : Brussels
10 October
9.30 - 11 am
  .  Towards Green, Inclusive and Attractive Cities!
10 October
2.30 - 6 pm
  .  The Covenant of Mayors community: a governance model for the future cohesion policy
10 October
9.30 - 11 am
  .  PLATFORMA's 10th anniversary
10 October
9.30 - 11 pm
  .  Europe's social future: a local and regional debate
Location : Brussels
8 November
9 am - 18 pm
  .  First national seminar of the CEMR-EPSU project “Localising the European Semester”
Location : Copenhagen

CCRE

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Comission Européenne