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BORDELOT Federica

Director - Policy & Impact

BORDELOT Federica
In EU budget, EU budget, Housing, Impact community Cohesion, Impact community Cohesion, Latest

Our reaction to the Agenda for cities

Twinning Report - News

CEMR welcomes the publication of the EU Agenda for Cities and the renewed recognition of local and regional governments as essential partners in delivering Europe’s priorities

The publication of the Agenda for Cities marks an important step towards strengthening the urban dimension of EU policies. It does acknowledge the key role of local and regional governments in implementing 70% of EU legislation, and the importance therefore to better inform and associate local governments in the preparation of European legislations. But the agenda falls short of answering the “ambition” level announced by President Ursula von der Leyen in her mission letter to Executive Vice President Raffaele Fitto.

Beyond a catalogue of policy areas where cities play an important role, and a list of initiatives already implemented by the European Commission, several elements will require clarification and improvement to ensure the Agenda truly delivers solutions for cities of all sizes and contribute to better policy making by transparent and representatives partnership with local and regional governments at European level. 

The Agenda for cities is just one piece of the puzzle 

While the EU Commission states that the Agenda applies to cities of all sizes, as well as suburbs and towns, the continued reliance on the Eurostat definition of “urban centres” (50,000+ inhabitants) risks leaving much of Europe behind. As we have seen with the implementation of the European Innovative action, the Eurostat definition has become the minimum population criteria in calls for proposals directly managed by the European Commission. This approach may inadvertently exclude small and medium-sized municipalities, which make up the majority of local governments and are at the heart of delivering EU policies.  

But beyond the Agenda for Cities, CEMR regrets that this initiative has not been enshrined in a broader more comprehensive territorial development strategy for Europe. As set out in our position paper Towards an inclusive EU agenda for cities of every size and context, an effective EU Agenda must reflect the full territorial diversity of the EU and avoid reinforcing urban–rural divides.  

A welcome recognition of cities’ role, but structured multilevel governance is still missing 

CEMR welcomes the acknowledgement of local and regional authorities as key implementers of EU legislation. However, the governance model proposed in the Agenda still relies heavily on ad hoc consultations, including the reference to the June 2025 Implementation Dialogue, which lacked transparency and representativity. 

We reiterate the need for a permanent, structured and inclusive multilevel governance mechanism involving local and regional governments and their representative associations at national and European level. This is essential for shaping, not only implementing, EU policies. In this respect, associations representing local and regional governments at European but also national level must be the go-to partners for the European Commission, to ensure representativity and legitimacy of their consultation processes.  

When mentioning the preparation of the “National and Regional Partnership Plan” for the EU budget post 2027, the Commission states that structured multilevel dialogue will be key feature in the preparation and implementation of the plan, but did not include any binding measure to ensure this is the case. CEMR also made concrete recommendations to secure the involvement of local and regional governments in preparation of these plans. 

Better Implementation must become a priority of the EU Agenda 

It is positive that the Agenda includes some specific support under a new “EU Cities platform” for capacity building, innovation and participation in dialogue. It will be important that this support offer is not restricted to few cities but available to all subnational governments.  
CEMR calls in particular for a dedicated Better Implementation pillar as part of the EU Urban Agenda with: 

  • Governance and competence impact assessments for all new EU proposals, 
  • capacity-building resources in the reforms pillar of the next MFF, 
  • regular and inclusive implementation dialogues, 
  • and a one-stop-shop integrating all support tools for subnational governments. 

These elements are indispensable for translating EU ambitions into real local outcomes.  

Funding: more clarity, but uncertainties remain 

We welcome the launch of the new EU City Portal, which can help cities navigate funding opportunities more easily. At the same time, the future EU Facility – to be directly managed by the European Commission raises questions about the future of existing programmes (EUI and URBACT) and on governance, accessibility, and safeguarding participation of smaller municipalities. To unlock the full potential of local governments, the EU must deliver simpler, fairer and better-aligned funding, as outlined in our position paper.  

Promising measures in the agenda, if they remain accessible to all

CEMR welcomes new initiatives announced in the Agenda, including: 

  • “potential” access to the European Competitiveness Fund for clean transition and industrial decarbonisation, as well as for resilience, security and defence 
  • High and technical levels consultations of urban stakeholders 
  • strengthened support for capacity building, including on public procurement, 

While cities are encouraged to adopt the “mission approach” it remains unclear whether that is mere suggestion or whether it will come with a new call and potential funding for these “Mission Cities”. 

These measures can help cities accelerate the green and digital transitions—as long as access is equitable and not restricted to larger or well-resourced municipalities. 

Our final message 

Today’s publication is a milestone for Europe’s urban future. But an EU Agenda for Cities must be inclusive, territorially balanced and grounded in genuine multilevel governance. CEMR stands ready to work with the European Commission, Member States, and its member national associations to ensure that this Agenda becomes a truly transformative framework—one that delivers for cities, towns and regions of every size and context. 

For more information, contact:

BORDELOT Federica
In Gender equality, Impact community Society, Latest, Local democracy

Workshop on Gender Equality Action Plans

Women - News Section

Training on gender equality at the local level: from commitment to actions

On 18 November, CEMR organised the online workshop “From commitment to action: Training on gender equality action planning”. The event brought together around 60 participants from more than 10 countries, including France, Germany, Belgium, the Netherlands, North Macedonia, Romania, Ukraine, Greece, Poland, the United Kingdom and Austria. Municipal representatives, national coordinators and experts joined to strengthen their capacity to design, update and implement Gender Equality Action Plans (GEAP) in line with the European Charter for Equality of Women and Men in Local Life.

As the Charter approaches its 20th anniversary in 2026, the session provided practical guidance, tools and inspiration to support renewed commitment at local and regional levels.

Gender equality action planning: tools and approaches

The workshop started with inputs on the importance of gender mainstreaming as a core tool for local gender equality strategies. Miguel Hernandez Littlewood from DG REGIO presented the EU’s strategic framework, relevant funding mechanisms and the new gender-tracking methodology.

Aline Burni research fellow at the think tank ODI Europe shared findings from the GAP III report and offered practical guidance on conducting needs assessments, securing financial resources, ensuring leadership commitment and developing monitoring systems focused on impact rather than activities.

The experience of the Charter’s signatories

Several Charter signatories shared their experiences and challenges in developing their Action Plans.

Nataliya Lazarenko, on behalf of the Association of Ukrainian Cities, and Alina Khaletska, member of the Expert Council on Gender Integration of the City of Kyiv (Ukraine), presented their unique experience with the Charter, recalling that the first Ukrainian signatory was Vinnytsia (Ukraine) in 2017 and explaining how the context of war has intensified gender equality concerns.

Pascale Douineau, elected official responsible for gender equality from the City of Quimperlé (France), shared her work on the visibility of women in public spaces, while also highlighting the specific challenges faced in rural areas.

They emphasised the importance of strong political commitment, noting that signing the Charter is a concrete signal to take action, and that Action Plans are essential tools for implementing equality measures in daily life.

The workshop offered participants the chance to work through a practical exercise to design an action plan based on the Charter’s articles, including Article 22 on gender-based violence, which encouraged the exchange of good practices. Participants also discussed the need for an integrated approach, the challenges of securing adequate financial resources, and the importance of setting dedicated budget targets. Finally, the relevance of effective monitoring tools emerged as a key point of reflection.

The main takeaways from the workshop highlight that an assessment of gender needs is indispensable for identifying priorities and ensuring that measures are not generic but reflect local realities. Sustainable implementation requires adequate financial resources, committed leadership, and long-term structures. Ultimately, the discussions made clear that a single model for gender equality action planning does not exist. Each approach must be tailored to local contexts, and Gender Equality Action Plans are essential tools to translate these commitments into concrete, measurable actions.

Preparing for the Charter’s 20th anniversary

As next year 2026, we move toward the 20th anniversary of the Charter, CEMR will keep working alongside towns, cities and regions to advance their gender equality strategies. Participants are encouraged to take forward the tools and insights gathered during the workshop, embed them in their local plans, and remain active partners in the collective push for gender equality.

For more information, contact:

BORDELOT Federica
In Climate, Climate, EU budget, EU budget, Impact community Climate, Impact community Climate, Impact community Cohesion, Impact community Cohesion, Latest, Publications, Territorial development

EU budget: Local Alliance action plan

Local Alliance - News Section

Making the next EU budget work for cities and regions: the Local Alliance’s 10-point action plan

Read full position paper

The Local Alliance – a coalition of Europe’s leading local and regional governments: ACR+, CEMR, Climate Alliance, Energy Cities, Eurocities, FEDARENE, ICLEI Europe and POLIS, – aims at ensuring that our constituencies have the competencies and resources to implement and reinforce Europe’s resilience, competitiveness and decarbonisation.

We share a common vision for the 2028–2034 Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) to become a strong, democratic, and future-proof tool that drives cohesion across territories, reinforces Europe’s competitiveness, and enables a just transition towards climate-neutral and resilient transition.

Local and regional governments are Europe’s frontline for delivering change. They are the democratic level closest to citizens, trusted by a majority of Europeans, and directly or through shared responsibility in charge of implementing most EU legislation. They mobilise the bulk of climate-relevant investment, drive innovation and competitiveness, and safeguard cohesion and just transition by ensuring that no community is left behind. Without their leadership, Europe cannot succeed in meeting its green, digital, social, and competitiveness ambitions.

Yet instead of empowering this strength, the Commission’s proposal for the next MFF risks sidelining local and regional governments, who are best placed to deliver. A centralised approach, which does not reflect the local realities and priorities, not only threatens delivery on the ground, but also Europe’s long-term societal, democratic and economic resilience and competitiveness. As the Committee of the Regions’ most recent report highlights, European cities and regions need a budget to help build the Union from the ground up – where local and regional authorities are not only implementers but co-creators of Europe’s future.

With the negotiations already underway, the Local Alliance calls on the European Parliament and the Council of the EU to seize this opportunity to put democracy, territorial cohesion, and competitiveness at the heart of the next MFF by ensuring local and regional governments are recognised as indispensable partners. Europe cannot achieve its strategic objectives without working hand in hand with its towns, cities and regions. For this reason, the Local Alliance presents an 10 point action plan to ensure the EU budget delivers tangible results for people in every territory across Europe and beyond.

For the next MFF, we call on:

1. Stronger multilevel governance mechanisms to deliver both reforms and investments.

2. Stronger partnership principle for the implementation of the MFF.

For the National and Regional Partnership Plans: 

3. Making regional and territorial chapters of the National and Regional Partnership Plans mandatory, with a clear section on cities.

4. Earmarking for a just transition & affordable living for all.

5. A real EU program for cities of all sizes under the proposed EU Facility.

6. Safeguarding mechanism for the local and regional level to guarantee their access to EU funds.

7. Linking performance indicators to EU law implementation and territorial delivery.

For the European Competitiveness Fund and Horizon Europe: 

8. Competitiveness Fund and Horizon Europe should recognise cities and regions explicitly as innovators and investors.

For Horizon Europe:

9. Continuing the Mission approach under Horizon Europe.

For the Global Europe Facility:

10. Stronger support for accession cities and regions for the future of European cohesion.

Read the full position paper here

For more information, contact:

BORDELOT Federica
In EU budget, EU budget, Impact community Cohesion, Impact community Cohesion, Latest, Territorial development

The EU must hear its cities

Cities and regions unite to defend their role in Europe’s next budget

During this year’s European Week of Regions and Cities, Europe’s local and regional leaders sent a clear message: the future of the EU budget must not sideline those who make Europe work.

Through two major events — one under the #CohesionAlliance and another by The European Urban Forum and the Local Alliance — the Council of European Municipalities and Regions (CEMR) and its partners mobilised to defend the role of towns, cities and regions in shaping and delivering the EU’s next long-term budget for the period 2028–2034.

These engagements follow a broader advocacy effort launched right after the European elections, when the new EU institutions began to define the political priorities for the current mandate.

Standing up for partnership and cohesion

On 15 October, elected representatives from across Europe gathered in front of the European Parliament to call on EU institutions to give local and regional governments full partnership rights in the future Cohesion Policy, and to resist its nationalisation and centralisation.

In a symbolic action joined by Members of the European Parliament (MEPs), the European Committee of the Regions and Europe’s territorial associations, the #CohesionAlliance partners adopted a seven-point call rejecting the European Commission’s current proposal .

“Bundling Cohesion Policy with policies on agriculture, defence or migration,” the statement warned, “would force local and regional authorities to compete for funds at the national level.” Such a shift, participants stressed, risks moving decision-making power away from regions and cities — the level where the EU’s goals are actually delivered.

“Competitiveness and cohesion are two sides of the same coin,” said Christoph Schnaudigel, CEMR Co-President and President of the County of Karlsruhe, Germany. “Businesses in our cities need infrastructure, housing, schools, and fibre networks. Cohesion is part of the Treaties — we need competitiveness and cohesion together. Otherwise, the money will disappear before reaching local communities. The European Commission must talk to us. You can’t know what territories need from Brussels or Berlin — we know it at the local level.”, he added.

Cities at the centre of Europe’s priorities

Later the same day, local leaders gathered again in the European Parliament for a debate titled “Shaping the Next EU Budget with Cities”, convened by the European Urban Forum in cooperation with the Local Alliance.

The message from city leaders, MEPs and European institutions was united: Europe’s priorities — from the green transition to digital transformation — cannot succeed without empowering cities and regions. As CEMR’s Christoph Schnaudigel put it: “You don’t know what the needs are from Brussels. We do — from the local level.”

Pascal Smet, Member of the Brussels-Capital Parliament and the European Committee of the Regions, warned that the proposed setup risks creating “a Europe of nation states”.

Other leaders, such as Peter Dermol, Mayor of Velenja (Slovenia), underlined the dangers of losing citizens’ trust if Europe fails to deliver on its promises in regions undergoing industrial transitions.

From Germany, Eckart Würzner, Mayor of Heidelberg, stressed that “cities are defenders of democracy” and that without adequate resources, “we will stand up” to protect the local dimension of Europe’s future.

Anna Lisa Boni, Deputy Mayor of Bologna (Italy), urged the EU to use the forthcoming Agenda for Cities as “a lighthouse” to ensure the next Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) strengthens, rather than weakens, the role of local governments.

CEMR’s key asks on the next EU budget

CEMR is already working on an intense advocacy campaign to shape the current EU budget proposal made by the European Commission.

As stated in the document, ‘EU budget 2028-2034: Main changes, challenges and opportunities for local and regional governments’, CEMR has key asks on this topic:

  • Ensuring effective multilevel governance and meaningful partnership in the next MFF
  • Placing cohesion and territorial balance at the core of the next eu budget
  • Guaranteeing fair access to EU funding for local governments across all EU programmes 
  • Enhancing support for local governments in EU enlargement and accession of candidate countries
  • Developing a dedicated EU programme to reinforce local democracy

These proposals echo the sentiment voiced by local leaders throughout the European Week: Europe’s strength lies in its territories. Cohesion and competitiveness can only coexist through real partnership between all levels of government.

For more information, contact:

BORDELOT Federica
In Gender equality, Impact community Society, Latest, Local democracy, Migration and inclusion

Shaping Europe’s migration policies

CEMR meets with Baden-Württemberg cities

CEMR met this week with the working group of EU coordinators from the Association of Cities of Baden-Württemberg to discuss the evolving European and national context of migration and integration The exchange took place as EU Member States begin implementing key elements of the Asylum and Migration Pact, raising questions about how local and regional governments (LRGs) will be involved in shaping Europe’s migration governance framework.

The exchange followed CEMR’s renewed focus on migration and integration, building on the organisation’s longstanding commitment to support local and regional governments in this area through key priorities: the EU Asylum and Migration Pact, the Temporary Protection Directive (TPD), the next Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF), housing, and labour market inclusion.

During the meeting, Annelies Coessens, CEMR’s Policy Officer for Equality, Diversity & Migration, outlined the current challenges shaping EU migration policy. While migration remains a central political priority — as reaffirmed in President Ursula von der Leyen’s 2025 State of the Union address — the implementation of the Asylum and Migration Pact still lacks the involvement of local and regional governments (LRGs). This limited coordination, coupled with security-driven national narratives, continues to hinder the development of sustainable, community-based approaches to migration.

Participants shared insights on local realities in Baden-Württemberg, including integration challenges faced by Ukrainian refugees —such as language barriers, childcare shortages, and limited access to employment. These issues particularly affect women, especially single mothers, whose limited access to childcare and job opportunities significantly delays their integration and economic independence. These examples highlighted the disconnect between EU-level policy and local realities, as well as the need for stronger support mechanisms for municipalities working directly with newcomers.

Looking ahead, the discussion turned to the upcoming EU budget negotiations (2028–2034), where migration funds — including AMIF and ESF+ — are expected to be integrated into the National and Regional Partnership Plans (NRPPs). CEMR stressed that LRGs must have a seat at the table when shaping these plans to ensure that EU resources respond to real needs on the ground.

CEMR also highlighted ongoing initiatives supporting local action, including the Bridges of Trust project connecting EU and Ukrainian municipalities, and new twinning partnerships promoting peer learning on migration and integration. The newly launched CEMR Taskforce on Housing was also presented as a key space for collaboration.

This meeting underscored the shared commitment of CEMR and its members to making migration policy work with and for local communities — ensuring that those closest to citizens are central to shaping Europe’s response.

BORDELOT Federica
In Impact community Society, Latest, Migration and inclusion

Migration and inclusion start locally

Inclusion and Migration Event 2025

Local responses to migration and inclusion: Challenges and opportunities for local and regional governments

Representatives from CEMR’s national associations of local and regional governments, alongside EU experts and civil society organisations, met on September 17th to discuss how migration policy plays out where it matters most: in Europe’s municipalities and regions. The event “Local responses to migration and inclusion: Challenges and opportunities for local and regional governments” spotlighted the gap between EU policy design and the realities of local and regional implementation.

Local governments at the frontline

Local and regional governments (LRGs) are on the frontline of migration. They provide shelter, education, healthcare, and pathways to employment, often under pressure and with limited resources. Yet participants underlined that LRGs remain largely absent from the design of the EU’s Pact on Migration and Asylum.

“Policy decisions are taken in Brussels or national capitals, but it is municipalities who face the reality on the ground,” said Emmanouil Dardoufas, from the European Committee of the Regions (CoR). “Local leaders need a real say in shaping migration policy, not just in implementing it.”

Inclusion: the missing piece

Speakers stressed that while the Pact addresses border management and procedures, it is far weaker on integration and inclusion, the very areas where municipalities carry the heaviest responsibilities. “Integration doesn’t stop at six months, or nine”, said Annalisa Buscaini of the European Policy Centre, referring to labour-market access timelines and the support that effective integration requires. She also cautioned that the centralisation of EU funds at the national level risks sidelining municipalities, particularly smaller ones.

The gender dimension: overlooked and urgent

The lack of gender sensitivity in EU migration policy drew particular concern. “The word ‘women’ appears fewer than ten times in the Pact implying that migrant women and girls’ specific needs and challenges are at risk of being overlooked”, noted Frohar Poya from the European Network of Migrant Women. She described unsafe reception conditions where overcrowding, lack of privacy, and inadequate safeguards expose women and girls to violence and exploitation. Without gender-sensitive approaches, she warned, the EU risks perpetuating harm.

Housing and employment: pressing local challenges

Housing shortages and access to the labour market remain among the biggest challenges for municipalities. In Germany and the Netherlands, participants reported that limited housing stock feeds hostile narratives portraying migrants as “taking places” from locals. Employment pathways are also blocked by lengthy waiting periods, cumbersome paperwork, and the non-recognition of foreign qualifications.

“Many migrants are ready to work, but legal and administrative barriers prevent them from doing so. Local governments could play a bigger role as both facilitators and employers,” argued Josephine Liebl of the European Council on Refugees and Exiles (ECRE).

Practice snapshots from across Europe

Participants shared examples of how municipalities are responding despite these pressures:

  • Tailored support for minors in the Canary Islands: individualised care and education plans that include health and socio-emotional assessment and equip them with essential life skills.
  • Local level coordination hub in Athens: the municipality’s centre provides needs-based services and a welcoming environment for minors, as well as facilitates the exchange of know-how between local authorities.
  • Inclusive education for minors in Łódź: school integration of Ukrainian children through native-language educators, cultural activities and additional Polish language lessons.
  • Child participation and facilitated transition into adulthood in Bouches-du-Rhône: the involvement of minors in shaping their support plans and providing feedback on services, and the extension of child services into early adulthood to improve employment prospects.

While contexts differ, these snapshots highlight the creativity of local actors. Yet participants stressed: there is no one-size-fits-all, and national/EU frameworks must allow for local flexibility.

A call for stronger multi-level governance

The debate converged on three core priorities, translated into concrete asks:

  • Integration funding: create direct-to-municipality micro-grants and flexible envelopes accessible to smaller towns; require partnership clauses in national allocation rules.
  • Housing capacity: explore targeted EU funding and state-aid flexibilities for affordable housing linked to local needs assessments; encourage national frameworks that allow municipal co-investment.
  • Employment pathways: pilot earlier labour-market access where feasible; fast-track recognition of foreign qualifications in shortage sectors; streamline local hiring of migrants by LRGs as employers.

Participants acknowledged the need for national authorities to ensure consistent rules and oversight. The challenge, they argued, is to calibrate that with the flexibility local implementers require.

As Merel Bentsink, Chair of CEMR’s Expert Group on Migration and Inclusion (VNG), concluded: “Europe’s cities and regions are ready to do their part. But if we want migration and inclusion policies to work, local voices must be heard and supported.”

For more information, contact:

BORDELOT Federica
In EU budget, Impact community Cohesion, Latest

What the EU budget proposal means locally

Analysis of the EU budget proposal of the European Commission: time to raise the voice of local and regional governments

On 16 July, the European Commission unveiled its proposals for the next EU long term budget: the Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) for 2028-2034. This proposal represents a significant shift in the EU’s approach and governance to its long-term budget. While the Commission is proposing an overall budget increase compared to the current period, investment priorities are being substantially reshaped.

There is a marked shift towards funding for defence and security, as well as for competitiveness and support for European businesses and industries. However, this change comes at the expense of traditional EU policies such as Cohesion Policy and the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP), which have long provided relevant funding to local and regional governments for structural investments in their communities.

In this context, the coming months will be crucial. CEMR and its members will engage with decision makers in the European Council and the European Parliament to ensure that local and regional governments are not sidelined in the negotiations.

These are the key areas for which CEMR will be advocating in the coming months:

1. Multi-level governance and funding for Cohesion Policy

The Commission proposes a major restructuring of all shared management funds, including Cohesion Policy, CAP, Common Fisheries Policy, and funding instruments for internal security, border management, asylum and migration. All these funds would now be brought together under comprehensive ‘National and Regional Partnership Plans’.

The proposed MFF represents a major turning point for the role of cities and regions in delivering economic, social, and territorial cohesion. While Member States may still choose to collaborate with local and regional governments as Managing Authorities – as currently practised under Cohesion Policy – the new framework grants them broader discretion in setting investment priorities. This increased flexibility, however, comes with a clear risk: a shift toward greater centralisation of funding decisions at both the European and national levels. Such a trend could weaken the place-based approach and marginalise the very actors – our cities and regions – who are best positioned to respond to local needs and deliver tangible results on the ground.

Another major concern is the reduced financial weight given the cohesion objectives. The proposed national and regional funding now merge resources from cohesion policy funds, CAP, fisheries, and other programme objectives (e.g. LIFE, Social Climate Fund), diluting the funding explicitly dedicated to economic, social, and territorial cohesion. CEMR estimates that Cohesion Policy could shrink to just 20% of the total EU budget, compared to nearly one-third in the current MFF. In addition, repayment of Next Generation EU has been integrated in the MFF first heading together with the national and regional partnership plans, which could raise an issue of additional decrease in this budget in case of increased interest rates.

2. Acknowledging the role of local and regional governments in competitiveness

The main spending priority in the European Commission proposal is competitiveness, with a focus on the new European Competitiveness Fund, a strengthened Horizon Europe programme, and flagship EU initiatives such as Erasmus +.

Local and regional governments are crucial drivers of economic and social ecosystems at the local level, leading innovation and fostering local economic development. Many municipalities and regions have already benefited from the Horizon programme. It will therefore be essential to clearly identify local and regional governments as key beneficiaries in order to achieve the dual objective of cohesive competitiveness.

Likewise, the increased focus on defence and security must be matched by a recognition of the role local and regional authorities play in securing resilient infrastructure and essential public services, including civil protection and crisis preparedness. This role must be reflected in both national and regional budget allocations, as well as in EU direct fundings.

3. Consistent approach in the role of local and regional in the Global Europe pillar

CEMR and PLATFORMA welcome the attention given to local governments in the proposed Global Europe regulation, particularly their inclusion in consultation, engagement, and capacity-strengthening in line with their respective mandate, as well as the support foreseen for local authority networks and alliances in Europe and partner countries.

However, this recognition is not applied consistently across all geographic pillars. It is notably absent for candidate and potential candidate countries, including Ukraine, and for the neighbourhood countries East and South. Furthermore, the regulation  overlooks the potential of decentralised (city-to-city and region-to-region) cooperation as a proven modality to empower local authorities in partner countries, provide local public services for the populations, localise the Sustainable Development Goals of the 2030  Agenda, and create an enabling environment for Global Gateway investments and for civil society organisations.

As inter-institutional negotiations begin, CEMR will actively engage with EU institutions, building on existing coalitions such as the Local Alliance and the Cohesion Alliance to amplify the messages of united local and regional governments in Europe.

Note: This is an initial analysis of the proposal presented by the European Commission. CEMR will provide its members with a more in-depth assessment in the coming weeks, once all the regulations have been thoroughly reviewed.

BORDELOT Federica
In EU budget, Latest

Local Alliance reacts to EU budget proposal

EU Budget proposals risk cutting out cities and regions

The Local Alliance – a coalition of eight leading networks of local and regional governments – is raising the alarm over the European Commission’s proposal for the next EU budget, warning it could sideline cities and regions and undermine the delivery of key EU priorities.

The Commission’s proposal for the 2028-2034 Multiannual Financial Framework,  presented on 16 July, introduces new ‘National and Regional Partnership Plans’, intended to simplify EU funding and reduce disparities. However, the Local Alliance argues that this approach risks centralising the EU budget, weakening Cohesion Policy, and marginalising local and regional governments in the policy design and implementation. 

Without a clear earmarking of Cohesion Funds for all territories, including cities, and robust multilevel governance, local and regional authorities are unlikely to access the tools they need to implement EU priorities on the ground. Building on the Court of Auditors’ warnings of the limited impact and quality of projects funded through Recovery Funds, the Local Alliance fears that this new structure of National- Regional Plans might not be able to respond to the real transition and cohesion needs of communities. 

The proposal also fails to clarify how cities and regions would be affected if national governments fall short on reform commitments or breach horizontal conditions such as the Rule of Law. This could jeopardise progress on critical local goals, from clean transport and affordable housing to inclusive communities, the creation of jobs and quality public services, while weakening democratic governance and the principle of multilevel democracy.

The Alliance welcomes the proposed European Competitiveness Fund and the FP10 Framework Programme for Research and Innovation, recognising their potential to address productivity and innovation gaps across regions. However, both instruments must ensure meaningful involvement of cities and regions in priority setting and delivery, as competitiveness and cohesion are two sides of the same coin, as highlighted in the Letta Report. 

As the budget negotiations move forward, the Local Alliance calls on the European Parliament and the European Council to seize this crucial opportunity to strengthen the role of cities and regions, safeguard cohesion policy, and ensure the EU budget delivers tangible results for people across Europe.

Ahead of the EU budget negotiations, local leaders call for: 

  • Reforms and investments are to be defined through a multilevel governance approach. Safeguards must be included in the National and Regional Partnerships Plans to ensure mandatory cooperation with local governments in the design and implementation of the plan.
  • The territorial chapter of these plans must be clearly stated as an obligation and not as an option left to the discretion of central governments.
  • Clear and enforceable safeguarding mechanisms to ensure that local and regional authorities can directly access EU funds, especially in cases where national governments delay or restrict disbursements.
  • Concrete institutionalised cooperation with cities and regions in the European Competitiveness Fund (ECF) and FP10, and we urge the EU institutions to involve local and regional governments as partners in setting priorities and strengthening place-based innovation.

 Notes to editors:

The Local Alliance represents the eight leading networks of European local and regional governments, ACR+, CEMR, Climate Alliance, Energy Cities, Eurocities, FEDARENE, ICLEI Europe and POLIS working together to ensure the next EU budget 2028- 2034 delivers for people by empowering local and regional governments in delivering the transition on the ground.

Christoph Schnaudigel, Co-President of CEMR; Vice-President of the German Section of CEMR (RGRE); President of the County of Karlsruhe, German County Association, said: 

“After analysing the European Commission’s proposal for the EU budget, it is clear that local and regional governments across Europe must mobilise. The proposal fails to uphold economic, social, and territorial cohesion as a core objective. As a result, the share of the budget allocated to Cohesion Policy — including social and territorial development — has been reduced, with real consequences for the quality of life across Europe. Furthermore, centralising decision-making towards member states will not help address the realities and challenges of the territories, making EU funding less efficient. We must act decisively in the coming months to reverse this and defend a strong, inclusive Cohesion Policy, as well as the respect of multilevel governance”.

For more information, contact:

BORDELOT Federica
In EU budget, Latest

What do we want from the EU budget

EU budget - Op-Ed news

Don’t repeat Recovery and Resilience Facility mistakes: local governments must shape EU’s long-term budget

As the European Commission prepares to unveil its proposal for the post-2027 Multiannual Financial Framework today, Wednesday (16 July), attention is turning to how the EU will shape its long-term investment strategy.

What is at stake is not just the amount of funding, but how and with whom those resources will be planned and implemented.

At the EU annual budget conference in May, EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen made a shift in tone.

For the first time, she spoke not only of “national” plans, but of “national and regional partnerships for investments and reforms.”

This is more than a semantic change, but words must be followed by action. Without concrete steps, even the most inclusive language risks remaining just words.

The new proposed investment architecture is set to build on lessons from the Recovery and Resilience Facility (RRF). But unless a key flaw of the RRF is addressed — namely, the lack of involvement of local actors — the same mistakes will be repeated.

If we want these partnerships to succeed, they must be co-created with the local and regional governments that will implement them. From green mobility to housing and digital infrastructure, success also depends on getting the governance right.

Luckily, we do not need to start from scratch. The word “partnership” recalls an existing model: the Partnership Agreements used in the Cohesion Policy. These already require member states to involve local and regional governments in shaping investment strategies.

In countries like Poland and Portugal, it has led to investments aligned with real local needs—revitalising industrial areas, developing green transport—showing that when local actors are at the table, EU funding delivers real impact.

But this is about more than funding. As the EU aims to pair investments with reform, multilevel governance must become a central principle of the reform agenda itself. We are therefore calling for:

1. A co-creation approach that underpins new investment and reform partnerships, with transparent and structured mechanisms to involve local and regional governments in shaping priorities, both at the national level and within EU processes such as the European Semester.

2. Multi-level governance must be embedded in the reform dimension of these partnerships, ensuring that Member States not only consult but also empower local and regional governments to act as both planners and implementers.

3. A funding model that respects the principle of subsidiarity, with flexible, bottom-up approaches and less stringent thematic concentration decided at the Commission level to avoid the repetition of the challenges recalled in the mid-term revision of the RRF.

The EU stands at a turning point. The next long-term budget is a chance to move towards a more democratic, grounded, and effective policymaking, or to repeat the mistakes of the past. Let’s not miss this chance. Let’s make partnership the rule, not the exception.

Signatories: 

  • Christopher Schnaudigel is co-president of the Council of European Municipalities and Regions (CEMR), vice-president of the German Section of CEMR (RGRE), and president of the county of Karlsruhe (German County Association)
  • Ľubica Karvašová is an MEP, vice-chair of the Committee on Regional Development, Renew Europe coordinator in REGI Committee
  • Vladimir Prebilič is an MEP, rapporteur on Simplification of the Cohesion Policy, Greens/EFA Coordinator in the REGI Committee.

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This opinion article was published on EU Observer on 15 July 2025. You can read it here

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Position paper on migration 

Migration - News Section

CEMR calls for a human‑centred and inclusive EU migration agenda by empowering local actors 

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As Europe continues to navigate complex migration dynamics, the Council of European Municipalities and Regions (CEMR) stresses that migration is lived and managed locally. Cities, towns and regions are the first to welcome newcomers, support vulnerable groups, and build long‑term inclusion. Yet, most of the time, they remain under‑recognised and under‑resourced in EU migration governance. 

With its new position paper, CEMR urges EU institutions and national governments to place local and regional governments (LRGs) at the heart of migration policy. This means shifting from an emergency mindset to a sustainable, human‑centred, and territorially grounded approach. 

CEMR’s key asks 

1. Empower LRGs 

Reinforce their formal role in migration governance, supported by structured multilevel cooperation, predictable funding, and targeted capacity‑building. 

2. Adopt a human‑centred EU migration policy 

Ensure that all asylum and migration measures respect fundamental rights, legal clarity, and the real capacities of municipalities. 

3. Include LRGs in the implementation of the EU Migration and Asylum Pact 

Systematically involve cities and regions in reception, integration, and emergency responses, backed by clear procedures and real-time information. 

4. Sustain coordinated support for Ukrainians under Temporary Protection 

Move from emergency assistance toward long‑term integration, with a focus on housing, employment, and access to essential services. 

5. Strengthen labour‑market inclusion 

Improve skills recognition, reduce administrative burdens, and promote local partnerships with businesses to ease migrants’ path to employment. 

6. Secure long‑term EU funding for inclusion 

Protect and expand AMIF and ESF+ resources in the next Multiannual Financial Framework to enable municipalities to continue innovative integration work. 

By recognising the essential role of local actors, Europe can build a migration agenda that is both effective and true to its values—supportive, inclusive, and grounded in the realities of people and places. CEMR stands ready to work with EU and national leaders to make this shift a reality. 

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