On 28 January 2026, the Council of European Municipalities and Regions (CEMR) marks its 75th anniversary — a milestone that celebrates decades of cooperation, solidarity, and the vital role of local and regional governments in shaping Europe.
For 75 years, towns, cities and regions have been at the heart of Europe’s progress. This anniversary is both a moment to look back with pride and to look ahead with ambition.
To mark this special year, CEMR will roll out a series of actions to celebrate our network, highlight the people behind local democracy, and reflect together on the future of Europe’s territories.
Seventy-five years ago, in Geneva, a group of visionary European mayors came together with a simple yet powerful conviction: Europe’s rebuilding had to start in its towns, cities and regions.
In the aftermath of the Second World War, they recognised that peace, democracy and prosperity could only be secured through cooperation between territories and communities. From this vision, CEMR was born — the world’s first organisation bringing together mayors and local elected representatives across borders.
Since then, CEMR has worked tirelessly to:
While the global context and the challenges facing Europe have evolved, our mission has remained constant.
Today, as democracy and multilevel governance face increasing pressures and complex transformations, our work is not only relevant — it is essential. Cooperation across territories has never mattered more.
Seventy-five years on, we celebrate the collective efforts of our members and partners and look to the future with confidence. Together, we remain committed to building a Europe where local communities are at the heart of every decision.
Founded by 56 mayors and local representatives from Belgium, France, Germany, Italy, Luxembourg, Switzerland and the Netherlands in the post-war era with the mission to build a united and peaceful Europe.
This document established the commitment of the Council of European Municipalities (CEM) to preserve municipal liberties.
CEM’s early work primarily centred on promoting town Twinning. National associations facilitated municipal requests, fostering friendship and solidarity. A new model of city-to-city cooperation is born.
Two hundred women representatives of European municipalities, provinces and regions met on the occasion of the first “Meeting of Women Local and Regional elected representatives of the European Community” organised by CEM to allow for the debating of the “Renewal of European Society” for three days.
Over the years, CEM broadened its membership beyond municipalities to also include regions and counties. CEMR has consistently advocated not only for political decentralisation but also a decentralised territorial approach to economic development.
Ratified by the Council’s 7 member states, The Charter commits the parties to applying basic rules guaranteeing the political, administrative and financial independence of local authorities.
CEMR became the European section of the world organisation of local authorities, the International Union of Local Authorities (IULA), which later merged with the FMCU-UTO to create United Cities and Local Governments (UCLG) in 2004.
United Cities and Local Governments is an umbrella international organisation for cities, Local and Regional Governments, and municipal associations throughout the world. UCLG strive to advance the agenda of local-self-government, municipal cooperation and peace on the world stage.
To promote gender equality at the local and regional level, CEMR launched the European Charter for Equality of Women and Men in Local Life in 2006. The Charter is both a political document and a practical instrument. It encourages local and regional governments to make a public commitment to equality and to implement the principles listed in the Charter.
PLATFORMA is a CEMR project launched in 2008 to influence and support the European local development policy. Emphasising sustainable development, it brings together a wide range of partners to advance the global agenda of decentralised development cooperation.
This is a powerful and historic response to climate change from cities around the world. GCoM is the largest global alliance for city climate leadership, built upon the commitment of over 12,500 cities and local governments.
In 2021, the EU institutions reached a consensus to exempt local and regional governments, along with their associations, from the mandatory inclusion in the Transparency Register for interest representatives associated with the Parliament, the Council, and the Commission.
CEMR Prague Policy Committee culminated with the adoption of a landmark document titled “The Prague Declaration: More Trust in and Stronger Voice for Local and Regional Governments”. This significant political act underscores the role that Local and Regional Governments (LRGs) play in confronting the challenges facing our municipalities and regions.
Half of the world population will vote, and so will the EU. As the 2024 EU Election approaches, CEMR’s mission gains heightened importance as it strives to amplify the voices of Local and Regional Governments in addressing pressing issues such as ageing populations, economic crises, climate change, political instability, the rise of AI, and neighbouring conflicts creating a Call to Action for the next EU Parliament.
Stay tuned for the anniversary activities and campaigns on the 75th anniversary of CEMR.
______
On 28 January 1951, a group of mayors and local representatives from Benelux, Denmark, France, Italy, Switzerland, and West Germany founded the Council of European Municipalities (CEM) in Geneva.
Mayors and local representatives saw the importance of building a cross-border network of cooperation and solidarity. CEM’s early actions materialised in the inauguration of the Town Twinning programme to foster peace, dialogue and post-war reconciliation. In 1984, the “R” was added to include regions and counties to recognise the powers regions had acquired, namely in Belgium, France, the United Kingdom and Spain.
As a champion of local democracy and autonomy, CEMR has shaped Europe for 75 years, and its sixty member associations collaborate and work on a wide range of issues, including governance, territorial development, inclusion, gender equality, climate and energy transition.
The Historical Archives of the European Union in Florence, home to the archives of CEMR, contributes by exploring 75 years of CEMR’s life through the lens of its twelve presidents.
______
Under Fernand Cottier, the CEM set to work on promoting local democracy, notably with the adoption of the European Charter of Municipal Liberties in Versailles in October 1953.
______
Émile Hamilius had been a member of the CEM promoting committee, later becoming president of the organisation. As the mayor of Luxembourg, he enabled the historic twinning with the city of Metz. The forms codified on this occasion, and the texts adopted, are identical to those still in use today in the twinning procedures.
______
Cravatte’s presidency was marked by the promotion of equality between women and men in local life. In 1983, pioneer women politicians organised the first conference in Pisa to address the issue. A Standing Committee for Equality was created, and the European Charter for Equality of Women and Men in Local Life was launched in 2006, encouraging local and regional administrations to make a public commitment to equality.
______
Hoffmann’s mandate led to increased political recognition of local and regional governments, culminating in the 1992 Treaty of Maastricht and the creation of the Committee of the Regions. Acting as a consultative body to the European institutions, the Committee analyses themes affecting local and regional concerns.
______
Pasqual Maragall i Mira emphasised the need to create a European citizenship at the level of municipalities and regions. He was also one of the founders of Eurocities and Vice President for Europe of the International Union of Local Authorities.
______
In the context of the draft Treaty establishing a Constitution for Europe, and in his capacity as President of the Convention on the future of Europe, Giscard d’Estaing achieved the recognition of the local and regional dimension in the constitution.
______
Michael Häupl fostered the local struggle against climate change by co-founding the Covenant of Mayors for Climate and Energy in 2008. Signatory cities thereby committed themselves to reducing CO2 emissions by at least 40% by 2030 and increasing the use of renewable energy.
______
Wolfgang Schuster’s mandate brought closer cooperation with the EU institutions. At the Council’s 60th anniversary, Schuster introduced the concept of ‘governing in partnership’.
______
Annemarie Jorritsma was CEMR’s first woman president. Her activity focused on expanding the collaboration with the Committee of the Regions and the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities.
______
Iñigo Joaquín de la Serna Hernáiz actively promoted technological interoperability to ease information-sharing and projects in the field of smart cities.
______
Stefano Bonaccini presided over the continued growth of CEMR and the broadening of its activities. With a strategy for 2020-2030, CEMR aimed to be a driver for change organised around four ‘Ps’: People, Partnership, Places, Planet.
______
Gunn Marit Helgesen’s mandate focuses on defending local democracy in a context shaped by polarisation and extremism. Under her leadership, CEMR has become a reference point for local cooperation between Ukraine and the European Union, particularly in the aftermath of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. During her mandate, she also launched the European Observatory for the Defence of Democracy at the Local Level.
