Local democracy102

A follow-up consultation from the CoR and CEMR on the RRF implementation

Since its launch, CEMR has monitored the European Union’s Recovery and Resilience Facility (RRF) to assess the experiences of local and regional governments in navigating this crucial funding instrument aimed at revitalizing the EU’s economy post-COVID-19. In collaboration with the Committee of the Regions (CoR), CEMR conducted a targeted consultation in 2021, engaging with associations of local and regional governments. The objective was to examine the involvement of these bodies in both the design and execution phases of the RRF. Initial findings revealed a very limited engagement of local and regional governments in the process.

This year, CoR and CEMR conducted a follow-up consultation to assess any changes in the situation. Despite the RRF being halfway through its implementation, local and regional governments express continued frustration at being sidelined from National Recovery and Resilience Plans (NRRPs). The results of the CoR-CEMR survey confirm a trend of highly centralised management of the RRF by Member States.

On April 16, CEMR hosted a high-level panel debate featuring representatives from EU institutions, where the key findings of the consultation were unveiled. The results of the CoR-CEMR consultation can be accessed here.

THOMAS Carol

Senior Adviser, Governance, Gender Equality, Local Democracy

CEMR Hosts High-Level Panel Debate on “Pathways to Resilience: Local and Regional Perspectives on the Recovery and Resilience Facility”

A new CoR-CEMR consultation shows that the territorial allocation of funds from the Recovery and Resilience Facility is widely perceived as unbalanced on the ground.

The Council of European Municipalities and Regions (CEMR) is pleased to announce an upcoming in-person panel debate titled “Pathways to Resilience: Local and Regional Perspectives on the Recovery and Resilience Facility (RRF)”, scheduled for 16th April, from 9:30 AM to 12:15 PM. The event will be held at CEMR’s Secretariat in Square de Meeûs, Brussels.

• Participants are encouraged to join and register by 11th April via the following link: https://forms.office.com/e/qbbVqMrZjp

In light of the upcoming Committee of the Regions Plenary on 17th and 18th April in Brussels, CEMR extends a warm welcome to elected members to register for the event.

The debate will allow to go beyond the narrative of the RRF’s milestones and targets and assess the impact of the programme at the local and regional levels. Lessons learned will be shared during the panel, as we discuss its potential to shape future EU investment programmes, particularly future Cohesion Policy initiatives.

Distinguished speakers confirmed for the event include:

• Kamila Bláhová, Vice-President for European Affairs, SMOCR (CZ)
• Maria Teresa Fernandez, Director at DG RECOVER of the European Commission
• Monika Hohlmeier, Chair of the Budgetary Control Committee (CONT), European Parliament
• Ivana Maletic, Croatian Member of the European Court of Auditors
• Christophe Rouillon, CoR Member, rapporteur on the CoR’s draft opinion on the mid-term report on the RRF’s implementation

CEMR anticipates robust participation in this high-level event and encourages stakeholders to contribute actively.

THOMAS Carol

Senior Adviser, Governance, Gender Equality, Local Democracy

CEMR Secretary General Delivers Keynote Address at Marseille Event on EU Enlargement and Local Partnerships

Fabrizio Rossi, Secretary General of the Council of European Municipalities and Regions (CEMR), delivered a keynote speech in Marseille during an event organised by the Université européenne de l’AFCCRE. The gathering aimed to explore the critical role of regional and local partnerships in the context of the European Union’s enlargement.

The event comes at a pivotal moment in the EU’s history, stressing the importance of examining the active involvement of regional and local entities, which play a crucial role in fostering collaboration, sharing expertise, and shaping policies that resonate with the diverse needs of communities.

In his address, Rossi highlighted the indispensable role that regional and local partnerships play in shaping the European Union’s future. He emphasised that involving these entities in policy-making and collaboration is crucial for creating policies that truly understand and address the distinct requirements of different communities.

Fabrizio Rossi summed up the sentiment, stating, “Local and regional authorities are the backbone of our societies. Their active engagement is vital for a successful and cohesive European Union. Let us join hands and work towards a stronger, more unified Europe, where the voices of local and regional entities are at the forefront of policy-making and progress.”

The Secretary expressed warm appreciation towards the Association Française du Conseil des Communes et Régions d’Europe (AFCCRE) for arranging the event and lauded their steadfast dedication to fostering dialogue and understanding regarding EU enlargement. The event acts as a platform for stakeholders to collaborate and contribute to a stronger, more unified Europe where local and regional perspectives hold significant value and are integrated.

ROSSI Fabrizio

Secretary General

CEMR and EPRS Annual Joint Workshop: Paving the Way for a Sustainable and Cohesive Europe

The Council of European Municipalities and Regions (CEMR) is holding the Annual Joint workshop with the European Parliamentary Research Services (EPRS) on Tuesday, October 3rd, from 10:00 to 11:45 at the CEMR Secretariat headquarters located at 1 Square de Meeûs, 1000 Brussels. This recurrent gathering provides a platform for both organisations to engage in a fruitful exchange regarding their respective priorities, delve into discussions concerning the 2024 working plan, and explore opportunities for enhanced collaboration in their shared mission.

Durmish Guri, External Resources and Knowledge Strategy at CEMR emphasised, “This meeting holds significant promise for fostering a stronger partnership and driving our joint efforts towards a more sustainable and cohesive European community, highlighting the pivotal role of territorial governments in achieving this vision.”

Participants will convene in three specialised thematic rooms, fostering an environment conducive to meaningful dialogue:

• Cooperation and International Issues
• Sustainable Transition
• EU Governance and Funds
   

Colleagues from both organisations will have the chance to acquaint themselves, engage in informal exchanges concerning their ongoing projects, and share their perspectives on future plans and priorities.

GURI Durmish

Director – Projects & Programmes

A workshop for better community resilience in Israel

The Federation of Local Authorities in Israel will be hosting an international resilience workshop in May 2023. During three days, participants will learn about Israeli concepts and models of emergency preparedness and community resilience.
 
Individuals, families, businesses, and institutions that are prepared for tackling disasters are more likely to cope efficiently – and to recover faster. Such training reduces the risks of damage to critical infrastructure, lessens economic losses and softens the emotional impact of the catastrophe on the population.
 
Once the steps of immediate emergency response are implemented, it is up to local leadership and the municipality’s services to provide and facilitate all the necessary recovery measures. By supporting citizens and the community’s institutions, local authorities can help restore and strengthen the community’s cohesion.
 
To help communities face emergency situations better, the Federation of Local Authorities in Israel will organize an international community resilience workshop in the coastal city of Nahariya (Israel) from 17 to 19 May 2023. During the event, participants will learn about concepts and methods from experts in the fields of welfare, social work, psychology and urban security. The initiative aims to provide participants with helpful Israeli models of preparedness and resilience that have been field-tested in real emergency situations.
 
For more information on this initiative, visit the website of the Federation of Local Authorities in Israel.

THOMAS Carol

Senior Adviser, Governance, Gender Equality, Local Democracy

Youth Matters: A Step-by-Step Booklet for Building a Strong Youth Council

Youth councils enable young people to better understand democracy and take an active part in it. Unfortunately, many cities do not have a long tradition in this area and may even struggle to create and operate a youth council. Therefore, the Norwegian Directorate for Children, Youth and Family Affairs (Bufdir) and the Association of Local and Regional Authorities (KS) decided to jointly organize a workshop for young counsellors and, from this, to create a brochure for an almost “turnkey” youth council.
The youth councils of Karasjok, Alta and Hammerfest came together in the summer of 2022 to learn more about how to organize effectively, train their recruits and participate more actively in local governments.
The organisers felt it was important to exchange their different experiences so as not to have to start from scratch. Bufdir decided to focus on the participation of young people in public affairs because this is enshrined in the rights of the child and Article 104 of the Norwegian Constitution.

Don’t neglect young people
The workshop received the approval of Karasjok Deputy Mayor John Nystad. He emphasizes the importance of having a youth council in his municipality and hopes to cooperate more with young people in his municipality in the future. Mr Nystad believes that for young people’s wishes to become reality, local politicians must fully support them. The main thing is not to neglect issues that concern young people, he thinks.
During the workshop, the youth councillors shared their knowledge and exchanged advice on how to run a youth council. They advised speaking up more, contacting public administrators, following the calendar of political meetings in their municipality, and cooperating with “adult” politicians.
They also reminded us not to forget diversity and representativeness when it comes to recruiting new committed members. As Deputy Mayor Nystad said, everyone has the right to express themselves. Therefore, raising issues cooperatively with other residents keeps everyone better satisfied.

We never stop learning

Henriette Alexandra Mielonen, a member of the newly established youth council in Karasjok, expressed her satisfaction with the workshop: “It was informative.” She acknowledges that they didn’t know much about running a board before, but meeting more experienced members from other organisations helped them enormously.
“It’s always helpful to understand how others approach work,” she says; it was the old Alta council that gave them a lot of ideas. “We didn’t know we could contact the media if we were unhappy,” she adds.
But as Ms Mielonen reminds us, we never stop learning. This is why the Association of Local and Regional Authorities (KS) has produced a new brochure summarizing the learnings from the workshop. They think this brochure could help other youth councils and make their experience easier.

The brochure is available in Norwegian and English.

THOMAS Carol

Senior Adviser, Governance, Gender Equality, Local Democracy