Skip to main content
search

August 2026

Anna Goclawska
In EU Covenant of Mayors, EU Covenant of Mayors, Latest

European Week of Regions and Cities 2026 

CEMR agenda for the European Week of Regions and Cities 

The European Week of Regions and Cities 2026 will take place from 12 to 14 October 2026. 

Organised by the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Regional and Urban Policy and the European Committee of the Regions, the European Week of Regions and Cities is the biggest annual Brussels-based event during which cities and regions showcase their capacity to create growth and jobs, implement European Union Cohesion policy, and prove the importance of the local and regional level for good European governance. 

If you are a CEMR member and plan to be in Brussels this week, please let us know by completing this form so we can contact you regarding visibility opportunities. 

CEMR events taking place during the European Week of Regions and Cities (outside the official programme) 

CEMR will organise, co-organise, or take part in several events during the Week, taking advantage of the presence of numerous local leaders in Brussels. 

Strengthening the territorial dimension in the future EU Cohesion Policy 

  • Date and time: 12 October 2026, 17:00 – 20:30 CET  
  • Venue: CEMR, Square de Meeûs 1, Brussels 
  • Organisers: CEMR and the German Association for Housing, Urban and Spatial Development (DV), with the financial support of the German Federal Ministry for Housing, Urban Development and Building 

This high-level Brussels event will bring together EU, national and local leaders to discuss the future of Cohesion Policy and its territorial dimension. It will focus on upcoming decisions on the EU budget and investment framework, while promoting balanced, place-based development across urban and rural areas and strengthening cooperation between key European stakeholders. 

Making the freedom to stay a reality: The role of services of general interest in strengthening territorial cohesion

  • Date and time: 14 October 2026, 16:00  – 17:30 CET 
  • Venue: Square Brussels, Studio 214+216

This policy debate will explore how people can be supported to live and work in the places they call home. Speakers from different levels will share experiences and practical solutions to address regional gaps and improve access to services. Participants will be invited to exchange views and identify ways to strengthen support for local communities through European funding and cooperation. The panel will be moderated by Valeria Ronzitti, the Secretary General of SGI Europe, CEMR’s partner organisation.

Cohesion Alliance event 

  • Date and time: 14 October 2026, 16:30 CET 
  • Venue: TBC, Brussels  

This high-level evening event in Brussels will create a timely political space to take stock of where Cohesion Policy is heading, and what is at stake for the territorial dimension in the next programming period. The event will deliberately connect that overarching debate with one of the most consequential upcoming decisions: the shaping of the new Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) and the emerging architecture of National and Regional Partnership Plans (NRPPs), where the priorities, governance, and delivery tools for future EU investment will be negotiated. 

Bridges of Trust Annual Gathering 

  • Date and time: 14 October 2026, 13:30 – 17:30 CET 
  • Venue: CEMR, Square de Meeûs 1, Brussels 

The fourth edition of the Bridges of Trust Annual Gathering will bring together partners from Local and Regional Government Associations, networks, partner organisations and EU institutions to exchange experiences, strengthen cooperation, and shape joint initiatives on international municipal cooperation between European and Ukrainian towns, cities and regions. 

Bridges of Trust Award Ceremony

  • Date and time: 14 October 2026, 18:00 – 22:30 CET 
  • Venue: Les Ateliers des Tanneurs, Rue des Tanneurs 60A, Brussels
  • By invitation only

The Bridges of Trust Partnerships Award Ceremony will recognise five leading EU–Ukraine municipal partnerships as “Bridges of Trust Ambassadors” to celebrate their contribution to recovery, resilience, and EU integration at the local level. 

EU Covenant of Mayors Ceremony 

  • Date and time: 15 October 2026, 9:00 – 15:30 CET 
  • Venue: Charlemagne Building, Rue de la Loi 170, Brussels 
  • Organiser: Covenant of Mayors for Climate and Energy Europe 

From high-level political dialogue to practical workshops and peer exchanges, the Ceremony will bring together hundreds of local and regional leaders from across Europe alongside high-level representatives of the European Commission and other key stakeholders to discuss how local action is central to achieving European objectives.  

CEMR Green Day 

  • Date and time: 15 – 16 October 2026 
  • Venue: CEMR, Square de Meeûs 1, Brussels 
  • Registration here

Day 1 – From climate ambition to green competitiveness, what does the evolving EU agenda mean for local and regional governments?  

Thursday 15 October | 16:00-17:45 CEST | Open event – In person at CEMR office 

Panel discussion with CEMR spokespersons and external speakers, audience exchange and short “Territorial Spotlights” from members showcasing concrete local and regional practices of connecting competitiveness to territorial green policies, including climate adaptation, energy, circular economy, decarbonisation and clean mobility.  

Day 2 – Defining CEMR green priorities for 2027 

Friday 16 October | 10:00–13:00 CEST | CEMR members only meeting – In person at CEMR office & online  

The second day will focus on CEMR’s internal work and priorities for the year ahead. Spokespersons and Expert Group Chairs will provide brief updates on key policy developments, ongoing CEMR activities, and expected priorities for 2027.  

Are you organising an event during the European Week of Regions and Cities 2026? 

CEMR members and partner associations are invited to share details of their own events taking place during the Week by completing this form, so we can help promote them and coordinate the wider CEMR agenda for the Week. 

For more information, contact:

ALIJA Makfire
In About CEMR, Latest, PLATFORMA, Projects and Programmes

Job vacancy – Policy Adviser, PLATFORMA

CEMR Conferences

PLATFORMA is looking for a Policy Adviser

328 words
1–2 minutes
Read the full job description

PLATFORMA is looking for a Policy Adviser to join its Brussels-based team.

About the role

As a Policy Adviser you will be responsible for monitoring of policy and legislative developments in the field of EU external action (financing instrument NDICI – Global Europe and its programming and implementation, including the EU Global Gateway strategy, territorial approach to local development, EU-AU / EU-CELAC relations, aid effectiveness, innovative financing) and advocacy towards EU institutions to include the role of and the opportunities for local and regional governments. You will also be responsible for monitoring project partners’ activities. You will report directly to the Director of PLATFORMA.

Profile

Candidates should have:

  • A master’s degree in international relations, political science, development studies or a related field.
  • At least four years of experience in policy, advocacy and project management related to development cooperation.
  • A solid understanding of the role as well as the functioning of local and regional governments in the field of international cooperation.
  • Fluent (written and oral skills) in English and another official EU language; a working knowledge of French is an asset.
  • An outstanding knowledge of the European Union policy-making and decision-making processes.
  • Availability to travel, if necessary, in Europe and/or internationally

Our offer

For this position, we offer an initial short-term contract, starting as soon as possible and ending on 31 December 2026, with a possibility to extend based on performance and funding available.

A competitive salary package (54k – 75k gross per year, depending on experience and background), including the 13th month of salary, legal and extra-legal holidays, a teleworking policy and teleworking allowance, holiday allowance (as per Belgian legal framework), lunch vouchers, eco-vouchers, medical insurance, and coverage of public transport.  

How to apply

Interested candidates should send a CV and cover letter by 2 September 2026, at midnight, to:

application@ccre-cemr.org
Subject line: “Policy Adviser, PLATFORMA”

Read more here

CEMR is an equal opportunities employer committed to diversity and inclusion.

For more information, contact:

BORDELOT Federica
In EU budget, Impact community Cohesion, Latest

EU budget campaign – Slovenia

Nova Gorica - Slovenia

The advocacy work of our national associations: the case of Slovenia

359 words
2–3 minutes

As negotiations on the next EU long-term budget move forward at both European and national level, CEMR is calling for a stronger role for local and regional governments in shaping EU investments and priorities.

In a recent video message, Samo Turel, Mayor of Nova Gorica and President of the Association of Urban Municipalities of Slovenia, says that the current proposal does not fully reflect the needs and realities of cities. Speaking from Nova Gorica, a border city that has experienced firsthand how European cooperation and EU funds shape local development, he highlights, in particular, that a weaker cohesion policy could widen development gaps between regions rather than closing them, pulling Europe away from its shared goals.

The Association of Urban Municipalities of Slovenia has been active both nationally and at European level, engaging directly with national ministries, the European Commission and Slovenian Members of the European Parliament to argue that involving the local level in policymaking leads to better outcomes for citizens.

Watch the video

Our views on the current EU budget proposal

CEMR calls for stronger guarantees for multilevel governance and partnership, greater flexibility for local governments to respond to crises, and a budget that reflects today’s challenges: from climate adaptation and housing to digital services and territorial cohesion.

The message behind the campaign is simple: when local and regional governments are involved from the start, Europe delivers better results for citizens.

For months, CEMR has been calling for:

  • A strong role for local and regional governments in EU programmes and funds
  • Clear guarantees for multilevel governance and partnership
  • Greater flexibility so local governments can respond quickly to crises
  • A budget that matches today’s real challenges, from climate adaptation to housing, digital services and territorial cohesion

CEMR’s EU budget campaign centres on one simple truth: When local and regional governments are involved from the start, Europe delivers better results for its citizens.

This is how democracy works — through cooperation, partnership and decisions made close to the people they affect.

Join us in defending that principle.

Learn more about the CEMR EU budget campaign

For more information, contact:

SKAZLIC Ivana
In Governance, Governance, Impact community Society, Impact community Society, International cooperation, International cooperation, Latest, Mindcraft, Mindcraft, Projects and Programmes, Projects and programmes, Publications

EU Delegations study

Mindcraft study on EU Delegations 2026

EU Delegations engagement with local and regional governments: what will it take to make that cooperation more systematic?

441 words
2–3 minutes
Read the study

“The Work of EU Delegations with Local and Regional Governments” is a new Mindcraft publication, following on from the report published by PLATFORMA in 2021. Since 2021, the EU’s external action framework has undergone significant change. Under the Neighbourhood, Development and International Cooperation Instrument (NDICI) Global Europe and the Global Gateway strategy, EU international cooperation has moved towards a more geographic, investment-driven approach, with growing emphasis on the localisation of development cooperation.

This new study examines to what extent and how EU Delegations (EUDs) engage with Local and Regional Governments (LRGs) and their associations (LRGAs) in the partner countries. It is based on a 2025 survey of 40 EUDs worldwide and, interviews with five of them in Chad, Guatemala, Madagascar, Nepal and Zambia, as well as additional exchanges with EU Member States development cooperation agencies.

 Key findings:

  1. Enabling environment is key for LRG engagement. 62.5% of surveyed EUDs assessed the decentralisation in the partner country as favourable, and 57.5% support decentralisation efforts. Examples across partner countries show that support to local governance and public finance management helps LRGs engage in territorial development and EU-funded initiatives, though access to finance and the preparation of bankable projects remain persistent challenges.
  2. LRG engagement in EU international cooperation remains uneven and rather limited. 57.5% of surveyed EUDs stated they engage with LRGs and LRGAs under the NDICI-Global Europe, while 20% stated they engage with them under the Global Gateway strategy. EUDs point to the lack of a right framework for structured cooperation as an obstacle. 69.2% consider that a specific budget line for LRGs would help.
  3. LRG engagement can be valuable in fragile contexts. Among EUDs working in fragile settings, 76.4% consider that engaging with LRG would facilitate their work.
  4. Decentralised cooperation remains generally underused.  Illustrative examples of partnerships between European and partner-country LRGs, along with cooperation through LRGAs and their international cooperation structures, show real potential to strengthen local governance and support the localisation of EU initiatives but require greater visibility and emphasis.
  5. There is an ongoing need to strengthen EUDs capacities to work with LRGs. Only 30% of surveyed EUDs reported having received specialised training or support for engaging with LRGs, which were assessed useful for understanding territorial approaches to local development.

These findings come at a timely moment, as negotiations on the 2028–2034 Multiannual Financial Framework, including its proposed Global Europe Instrument, are underway. CEMR-PLATFORMA calls for a clear engagement framework, dedicated funding mechanisms for LRGs, and stronger support for decentralised cooperation as a route to shared development goals.

Read the full publication, available in:

For more information, contact:

Close Menu

About CCRE CEMR

1 Square de Meeûs
B – 1000 Bruxelles

T: + 32 2 511 74 77   Fax : + 32 2 511 09 49
E: info@ccre-cemr.org