A new Charter asserts local governments’ rights over how public services are organised and delivered
CEMR adopts European Charter to defend local self-government and services of general interest!
Local and regional governments are on the front lines of delivering essential public services, from waste collection and housing to education and healthcare. Yet, their ability to make decisions on how these services are provided is increasingly shaped, and at times constrained, by EU internal market rules. In response, the Council of European Municipalities and Regions (CEMR) has adopted the European Charter on Local and Regional Services of General Interest, a call to reaffirm the role of local democracy in public service delivery.
This Charter sets out fundamental principles to ensure that municipalities and regions retain the freedom to define, organise, and deliver services in the way that best responds to local needs. It highlights that there is no “one-size-fits-all” model for public service provision, it is up to elected local governments to choose between direct delivery, public-private partnerships, outsourcing, or other legal forms.
The Charter underlines the growing tension between the EU’s market-oriented approach and the principle of local self-government. While the European Commission has promoted internal market rules as a tool for efficiency and competition, local and regional governments stress that services of general interest are not merely economic activities. They are social responsibilities, rooted in democratic choice and proximity to citizens.
Key articles in the Charter emphasise:
- Local autonomy to decide how services are defined and delivered;
- Exemptions from internal market rules for non-commercial, social, cultural, educational, or environmental services;
- Recognition of inter-municipal cooperation and in-house provision as valid and lawful approaches;
- Limits to EU intervention, stressing proportionality and subsidiarity.
CEMR is concerned that recent rulings from the European Court of Justice and some Commission practices risk undermining these democratic rights by imposing market principles too rigidly. This Charter is both a political statement and a tool for advocacy, calling on EU institutions to rebalance their approach and respect the democratic space of local and regional authorities.
In the broader context of building a strong and democratic Europe, CEMR’s message is clear: strong local services need strong local democracy. The Charter is a step forward in ensuring that local voices remain central to the future of public service provision in Europe.
Read the Charter:
For more information, contact:
Officer – Employment, Digitalisation and Public Services
