An Effective and Just Green Transition
Local governments are key players in achieving climate goals. About 70% of climate mitigation policies are implemented at the local level. However, financial and staffing constraints present challenges.
Enhanced Territorial and Societal Cohesion
Cohesion policy reforms are essential for ensuring balanced development across Europe. By prioritising competitiveness and access to services, LRGs can strengthen regional economies.
Investments and support for Local Cooperation
Strengthening cooperation is vital for managing transitions. Investing in these partnerships enhances resilience, innovation, and the capacity to address future challenges.
+Democratic, Equal, Inclusive Europe
Local governments play a key role in promoting inclusivity and equality by fostering democratic governance and supporting diversity, they help build stronger, more cohesive communities.
Key Recommendations
For an Effective and Just Green Transition
- Ensure Effective Implementation:
Mandate an evaluation of infrastructure investments to address local needs, streamline costs, and support sectoral legislation implementation. - Strengthen Engagement and Collaboration:
Promote mechanisms to involve local and regional governments in policy-making and foster public-private partnerships for sustainable, tailored investment strategies. - Increase Funding for the Green Transition:
Boost direct funding and simplify procurement processes to support local governments in driving the green transition and enhancing competitiveness.
Enhanced Territorial and Societal Cohesion
- Allocate a Significant Cohesion Budget:
Dedicate at least one-third of the EU budget to cohesion policy, ensuring it supports multi-level governance and local priorities. - Maximise Cohesion Policy Investments:
Involve all stakeholders in the entire process, from design to implementation, to ensure investments are effective and tailored to local needs. - Oversee Territorial Development:
Ensure the Executive Vice President for Cohesion and Reforms focuses on territorial development across sectors, considering urban-rural dynamics and enabling local investments.
Local Investment for Sustainability
- Invest in Local and Regional Capacities:
Increase investment in the technical, financial, and administrative capacities of local governments to address current and future challenges. - Enhance Support for Decentralized Cooperation:
Boost financial support for decentralized cooperation to foster inclusion, equality, and democracy, contributing to the 2030 Agenda’s local implementation. - Strengthen Twinning Programs:
Reinforce twinning programs between local governments, including with EU candidate countries, to build capacity, share knowledge, and promote long-term collaborative projects.
For a more Democratic, Equal, Inclusive Europe
- Support the European Charter for Equality:
Upscale and implement the European Charter for Equality of Women and Men in Local Life. This Charter is a vital tool for promoting gender equality at local and regional levels, offering municipalities practical guidance to create more equitable environments. - Adopt an Intersectional Perspective:
Integrate an intersectional, gender-transformative perspective into all policies and activities across Europe. By doing so, local and regional governments can address diverse needs and foster inclusive, effective, and sustainable solutions. - Implement the Pact on Migration and Asylum:
Ensure the prompt and comprehensive implementation of the Pact on Migration and Asylum, with active involvement of local and regional governments to ensure inclusive and effective processes.
