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HETZ Léa Agathe
In Bridges of Trust, Impact community Society, International cooperation, Projects and Programmes

A month of advocacy for Ukraine

Ukraine advocacy - News

From Istanbul to Kyiv, Belgrade, and Brussels, CEMR advanced cooperation with Ukrainian peers and the country’s path toward EU accession

October was a month of steady advocacy and engagement for the Council of European Municipalities and Regions (CEMR), underscoring the central contribution of cities and regions in supporting Ukraine.  
 
Since the early 2000s, CEMR has worked closely with its national associations in Ukraine and has also been deepening ties through initiatives such as Bridges of Trust and SUN4Ukraine, and most recently by launching a digital Matchmaking Platform focused on connecting EU and Ukrainian municipalities. 

Throughout October, CEMR intensified its outreach with local and regional governments, as well as European institutions. Working alongside partners, the organisation sought to consolidate efforts, amplify the impact of its support, and promote practical tools that directly benefit communities (see latest Call for Proposals). Discussions focused on topics such as Chapter 22 “Regional Policy and Coordination of Structural Instruments” in the EU enlargement process, successful municipal partnerships in wartime, Cohesion Policy to address disparities, and aligning Ukraine’s recovery with climate and energy goals through local action.  

Together with its members and partners, CEMR co-organised a series of major events, each reaffirming the importance of local cooperation and resilience in times of war: 

Marmara Urban Forum 
  • Session: “Resilient Local Governance in Wartime – Reform, Decentralisation, and Reconstruction in Ukraine.”  
    Speakers highlighted how decentralisation, stronger local competencies, and international cooperation enable real progress even in wartime. Drawing on lessons from South-East Europe and city partnerships with Ukrainian municipalities, they showed how access to knowledge, tools, and advocacy channels empowers local leaders to influence national decisions and drive recovery as equal partners in rebuilding the country.  
16/10/2025, Brussels – Building Bridges of Trust – COMMUNITY ANNUAL GATHERING © Elio Germani 2025
  • 13 October: Meeting with Ukrainian Mayors Delegation.   
    A delegation of 23 Ukrainian mayors visited CEMR in Brussels for the opening session. The roundtable gave each mayor the opportunity to share experiences from their municipalities and explore initiatives in international partnerships, climate, and smart cities, including PLATFORMA, SUN4Ukraine, the Bridges of Trust Community, and the Matchmaking Platform. The visit aimed to deepen their understanding of EU actors and processes, as well as to learn more about effective advocacy and lobbying. 
  • 15 October: Political session — “Ukraine’s Path to the EU: Municipalities and Partnerships for Cohesion and Growth.” 
    The room was full at the Committee of the Regions, where four representatives from organisations with diverse missions illustrated how Ukrainian municipalities are actively advancing EU integration, aligning with Chapter 22 requirements while deepening cooperation with their European counterparts. As emphasised during the discussion, local governments are driving reforms and influencing national and European policy, showing that localising accession is crucial for Ukraine’s municipalities to be fully engaged in the EU integration process. 
  • 16 October: Bridges of Trust Community Annual Gathering.  
    The European Partnership Hub convened for constructive exchanges aimed at uniting efforts and preventing fragmentation. Over thirty organisations from across Europe participated, all actively engaged in strengthening municipal cooperation between the EU and Ukraine. Notably, all four national associations of Ukrainian cities were represented. 
  • 15–16 October – Kyiv (Ukraine): SUN4Ukraine events 
  • The Multilevel Policy Dialogue brought together Ukrainian and European partners to strengthen multilevel governance processes and align Ukraine’s recovery and EU accession with climate and energy goals. Cities including Rivne, Chernivtsi, Vinnytsia, Konotop, Kalush, Kyiv, and Sumy Region shared how they translate national ambitions into local action. Key national and international institutions actively participated in the discussions.  
  • The Capacity Building sessions equipped 12 Flagship Municipalities to develop their Climate Neutrality Plans, reinforcing local governments’ role in driving a sustainable recovery. 
  • A key highlight was the launch of the SUN4Ukraine Partnership Programme, connecting 12 Ukrainian cities with European Mission Cities under the EU’s “100 Climate-Neutral and Smart Cities” initiative, with Munich and Oslo serving as advisory partners.  
  • 23–24 October – Belgrade (Serbia): CEMR Secretaries General and Directors Meeting 
  • Discussions and exchanges with members focused on opportunities for EU–Ukraine municipal partnerships under the Bridges of Trust call for proposals. Looking ahead, national associations and other partners selected under the Bridges of Trust Community will continue to advance EU–Ukraine municipal partnerships. 

In November, CEMR will continue its advocacy and promotional efforts at the Smart City Expo (4-6 November) and the Salon des Maires Français (18–20 November), where sessions will spotlight international municipal partnerships in Europe and the Matchmaking Platform developed to support them. This all-in-one digital tool connects cities and regions across Europe and already counts over 500 registered Ukrainian municipalities. 
Under SUN4Ukraine, the 12 partnerships between Ukraine and EU cities will meet in Munich on 17-20 November to start their collaborative journey. The moment will also include the second step of the Capacity Building programme to further support the development of Climate Neutrality Plans.  
 
All project partners, including CEMR, will continue facilitating constructive exchanges and supporting partnerships in deepening their cooperation, ensuring that local collaboration remains at the core of Ukraine’s recovery and EU accession efforts. 
 
 For more information, contact:

THOMAS Carol
In Governance, Governance, Impact community Society, Impact community Society, Local democracy, Local democracy, Press, Publications

Mis/disinformation impact on democracy

Local truth study 2025

Empowering cities against mis/disinformation: building capacity, coordination, and trust

Read full study

According to CEMR’s latest study, nearly half of LRGs report moderate to significant impacts from misinformation, particularly in areas such as public health, personal attacks on officials, and election interference. During the pandemic, for example, false claims about vaccines and public measures severely undermined public trust. 

The personal toll is also growing. One in four local representatives has faced online abuse or intimidation, and over half report being targeted by false claims about their integrity or conduct. These are not abstract challenges, but rather, they erode both individual safety and democratic trust. 

The evidence of CEMR’s study highlighted how misinformation and disinformation spike during crises, for example, around COVID-19, climate policies like low-emission zones, or housing and migration debates. During moments when emotions run high and public debate intensifies, local and regional governments often find themselves on the frontline of these tensions, but many lack the capacity or tools to respond effectively. CEMR’s findings show that 58% of municipalities still lack a formal strategy to counter misinformation and disinformation, and only a quarter are in the process of developing one. Most rely on reactive measures, 58% monitoring social media to spot emerging issues, around a third run awareness campaigns, and a smaller share (4%) collaborate with fact-checkers or pursue legal action (21%). These are useful but insufficient without proactive planning. 

For CEMR, building resilience requires three key actions: 

  1. Strengthen local capacity and trust. Training staff, protecting targeted officials, and using participatory democracy tools such as citizens’ assemblies can help communities become less vulnerable to false narratives. 
  1. Improve coordination and tools. Shared monitoring systems, partnerships, and national or EU knowledge-sharing platforms can help municipalities act faster and avoid duplication. 
  1. Create an enabling framework. National and EU support, through measures like the Digital Services Act, AI Act, and national counter-disinformation laws, can provide resources, clarity, and legal backing. 

Ultimately, misinformation may be a global issue, but its impact is most visible locally. Empowering local governments with the right capacity, coordination, and frameworks is key to protecting communities, safeguarding democracy, and rebuilding public trust. 

Read the study here

For more information, contact:

GAUDRON Marine
In Housing, Impact community Society, Press

New task force on housing

ADD ME project

CEMR strengthens the voice of local and regional governments in Europe’s housing agenda 

With housing fast becoming one of Europe’s most pressing social and economic challenges, the Council of European Municipalities and Regions (CEMR) has launched a new Task Force on Housing to shape the local and regional contribution to the EU’s forthcoming European Affordable Housing Plan but also beyond the EU agenda, to foster exchanges within CEMR membership to consolidate the voice of local and regional governments on the housing crisis. The new task force is bringing together close to 30 housing experts from 11 European countries.  

What European solutions to local challenges?  

At its inaugural meeting on 3 October 2025, participants highlighted how the housing crisis takes different forms across Europe: from overheated urban markets and speculative investment in short-term rentals, to depopulation and poor housing quality in rural areas. Despite these diverse contexts, all agreed that housing is a human right and that local governments must have the means and autonomy to act. 

Members discussed how the EU can best support local and regional efforts through more accessible financing, simplified permitting, stronger subsidiarity, and fairer fiscal rules, without replacing or duplicating existing national and local initiatives As one participant put it, “We need to define what the EU can add to national and local support systems to housing and look where local expertise could lead.”  
 
The task force also exchanged with Matthew Baldwin, Deputy Director General at the European Commission Directorate General for Energy, responsible of the Commission’s own task force on housing. He presented the European Commission’s vision for the European Affordable Housing Plan, emphasising that affordability, sustainability, and decent living standards are now recognised as core EU priorities. He invited CEMR and its members to contribute to the public consultation. 

What are the priorities of local and regional governments on housing? 

From the first meeting of the CEMR housing task force, some common messages already emerged:  

  • A multi-level governance approach, respecting subsidiarity and proportionality in all EU housing and urban policies; 
  • Long-term, flexible, and accessible financing tailored to both urban and rural needs; 
  • Reformed fiscal rules to give municipalities more autonomy and capacity to invest; 
  • Simplified permitting and planning frameworks that reduce delays without compromising democratic accountability; 
  • And a holistic view linking housing to energy efficiency, mobility, and access to public services — ensuring that every home is part of a sustainable, inclusive community. 

In the discussion that followed, participants stressed that “housing cannot be solved through construction alone. It must be part of a wider territorial vision that connects affordable homes with climate neutrality, social inclusion, and quality of life.”  

CEMR will build on these messages to consolidate a European local and regional vision to address the housing crisis. By coordinating local and regional voices, CEMR aims to ensure that Europe’s response to the housing crisis fully recognises the essential role of municipalities and regions: those who plan, build and care for their inhabitants.  

HETZ Léa Agathe
In Bridges of Trust, EU enlargement and Eastern Partnership, Impact community Society, International cooperation, Press, Projects and Programmes, Twinning, Ukraine reconstruction

Session on Ukraine’s path to the EU

Bridges of Trust - event 2025

Transforming emergency aid into equal cooperation between EU and Ukrainian towns, cities and regions

Amid war-time disruption, Ukraine’s local governments have stepped as frontline problemsolvers and drivers of EU integration. During the European Week of Regions and Cities in Brussels, on October 15th a CEMR-led conversation under the Bridges of Trust (BoT) brought together local leaders, policy experts, and civil society to examine how municipal partnerships can anchor accession and cohesion.  

The takeaway was clear: lasting progress depends on shifting from emergency solidarity to structured cooperation that empowers municipalities to deliver reforms, attract investment, and close regional gaps. 

Why local governments matter 

Ukraine’s municipalities have kept essential services running, coordinated aid, and advanced reforms under extreme pressure. Through BoT and the European Partnership Hub, they are building ties with European peers on projects in education, culture, economic development, and reconstruction. As CEMR’s Director for Projects and Programmes, Durmish Guri explained, success now hinges on moving “from emergency solidarity to mutually beneficial collaboration”. 

Matchmaking for impact 

To turn policy into practice, BoT has launched a Matchmaking Platform that connects every Ukrainian municipality with a European counterpart, enabling concrete joint projects and capacity-building. The platform is designed to reduce fragmentation, align needs with resources, and accelerate cooperation across borders.  

From reform to implementation 

Dmytro Lyvch of Easy Business underscored a dual challenge: advancing structural reforms while financing recovery. Real progress happens locally through municipalities, civil society, and development agencies. Ukraine has adapted to EU Chapter 22 requirements, but gaps persist in horizontal and vertical cohesion, and in institutional and financial frameworks. With regional disparities higher than in many Central and Eastern European countries, targeted interventions are needed to build resilience and competitiveness. 

Lessons from peers 

Ambre Maucorps of the Vienna Institute for International Economic Studies highlighted takeaways from Lithuania and North Macedonia. Lithuania used cohesion policy to tackle disparities with a clear governance model and strong stakeholder input. North Macedonia, after municipal mergers similar to Ukraine’s, benefited from pre-accession funds but still struggles with absorption. The throughline: coordination and flexibility are essential for effective cohesion policy. 

Building capacity, scaling partnerships 

Iryna Mykulych of the NGO Agency for Recovery and Development stressed that durable cooperation often starts with “soft” cultural and educational exchanges that build trust, then evolves into “hard” reconstruction projects. Scaling from municipal partnerships to business and academia can unlock investment, know-how, and long-term outcomes. 

The bottom line 

The event’s conclusion was unambiguous: international municipal cooperation is one of the most effective and sustainable ways to localise EU accession.  

As Durmish Guri noted, “international municipal cooperation is the most effective, sustainable, and the efficient form of collaboration”. Local governments, he added, play a critical role not only in implementing reforms but also in shaping national and European-level policy, underlining the importance of “localizing accession” to ensure Ukraine’s municipalities are fully engaged in the EU integration process.   

Empowering local governments to deliver reforms and shape policy—together with European partners—moves Ukraine from a recipient of solidarity to a co-creator of Europe’s cohesion and growth. That is the promise of BoT’s community-driven approach. 

For more information, contact:

THOMAS Carol
In Governance, Impact community Society, Local democracy, Press

Mis/Disinformation report event

Truth, Trust and Local Democracy in the Age of Mis/Disinformation

Read full report

It often starts with a rumour. In Sweden, when a local council proposed using municipal land for newly arrived migrants, the debate should have focused on policy. Instead, misleading narratives took over. Trust in the process collapsed, divisions deepened, and planning stalled—not because of disagreement over the proposal itself, but because confidence in local leaders had been shaken.

Similar patterns are appearing across Europe. In the UK, false claims spread by extremists have fuelled threats against local politicians and disrupted council meetings. In Romania, local authorities report having to divert time and resources away from essential services just to counter persistent rumours.

These cases reveal a broader reality: when facts are manipulated, democratic dialogue falters. Decisions that should serve communities are delayed or derailed, while elected representatives—especially women and members of minority groups—face heightened hostility and intimidation.

“Disinformation doesn’t just mislead — it derails local decision-making, sows division, and erodes trust in our institutions. Local governments must be equipped to counter manipulated narratives, protect credibility, and defend democratic dialogue.” Gunn Marit Helgesen, CEMR President

The new CEMR report “Local Truth, Shared Trust” launched on 13 October 2025 during the event “The Local Self-Government Charter turns 40 | Renewing Democracy in the Digital Age”, draws on a spring 2025 survey of national associations to explore these dynamics. Local and regional governments (LRGs) report a rise in mis/disinformation campaigns aimed at discrediting officials, obstructing policy, and deepening community divisions. By sharing real experiences from towns, cities and regions, the report highlights the significant disruption these campaigns create for effective local governance.

Carol Thomas, Senior Advisor at The Council of European Municipalities and Regions (CEMR) during the report “Local Thruth, Shared Trust” presentation.

Truth in a democracy has always been a contested space, where facts meet beliefs and political narratives shape understanding. But today’s challenge goes beyond healthy debate: it involves deliberate distortion intended to divide. The result is a public sphere that is more polarised, less participatory, and less capable of performing essential functions, from maintaining public order to managing crises and protecting vulnerable populations.

Towns, cities and regions are among the most exposed to these pressures. As the democratic institutions closest to citizens, they are both highly trusted and highly vulnerable. Their central role in service delivery and daily engagement with residents makes them visible targets for narratives that distort facts, fuel mistrust, and erode credibility.

Claudia Luciani, Director of the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities and Federica Bordelot, Director of Advocacy and Impact at CEMR.

Responding effectively to mis/disinformation requires action at the local level. Strengthening local democracy is not only about protecting democratic values, but also ensuring that LRGs can continue providing vital services and leadership for cohesive societies. This includes investing in tools and training for public administrators, supporting independent local media, promoting media literacy, and integrating LRGs into national and EU strategies that reflect on-the-ground realities.

By highlighting these challenges and opportunities, the CEMR report underscores the importance of empowering local governments. Building trust, protecting democratic values, and fostering societal cohesion depends on it. The report’s launch event brought together participants able to share insights, experiences, and expertise—sparking debate and informing concrete solutions to one of democracy’s most pressing challenge.

For more information, contact:

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

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.

GURI Durmish
In Call, Impact community Society, International cooperation, Press, Projects and Programmes, Twinning

Call for applications – Twinning

EPSU CEMR - News

Call for Applications: Research and Data Analysis Consultancy

The Council of European Municipalities and Regions (CEMR) is seeking a consultant to support the migration of data from the current Twinning website to the new Matchmaking Platform.

The consultant will verify, clean, and standardise data from around 2,500 cities, ensuring accuracy and alignment with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The assignment will take place over a two-month period in late 2025, with a maximum budget of EUR 13.000.

Applications must be submitted by 27 October 2025 at 12:00 (noon) to application@ccre-cemr.org, with “Data Analyst Expert” as the subject line. Questions may be sent to twinning@ccre-cemr.org by 24 October 2025.

Further details: Twinning | Matchmaking Platform

For more information, read the Terms of Reference here

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

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:

GURI Durmish
In Governance, International cooperation, Local democracy, Press

Reinforce cooperation in Europe

EU Semester - News 2024

Leaders of the Council of European Municipalities and Regions (CEMR) and the Network of Associations of Local Authorities of South-East Europe (NALAS) meet to reinforce cooperation

Today, the Secretary General of the Council of European Municipalities and Regions (CEMR) met with the President and Secretary General of the Network of Associations of Local Authorities of South-East Europe (NALAS) to reaffirm the strong spirit of collaboration between the two organisations.

During the meeting, the CEMR Secretary General highlighted the longstanding partnership and the valuable role that NALAS plays in representing and supporting local governments across South-East Europe. Both leadership teams underlined the importance of strengthening the capacities of local and regional governments (LRGs) and their associations (LRGAs), building on shared membership and joint initiatives.

Looking ahead, CEMR and NALAS exchanged views on how to institutionalise their cooperation so that it is not only continued but also fully embedded within CEMR’s political structures. This step would allow for a more systematic exchange, greater representation of shared priorities at the European level, and stronger support for municipalities, regions, and their associations—particularly in addressing today’s challenges and in the enlargement process of the six Western Balkan countries and the Eastern Partnership Trio.

The meeting was followed by a strategic discussion with representatives of the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Neighbourhood and Enlargement Negotiations (DG ENEST) on how to ensure that LRGs and their associations are actively involved in the Growth Plan for the Western Balkans. This major initiative, launched by the European Union, aims to accelerate the region’s economic development and facilitate its integration into the EU’s Single Market. Both organisations stressed the importance of reinforcing cooperation and dialogue with national governments, while also demonstrating the key responsibilities that LRGs should fulfil in the enlargement and negotiation processes.

For more information, contact:

TARAN Stanislav
In Bridges of Trust, Call, International cooperation, Press, Projects and Programmes

Call for EU-Ukraine municipal partnerships

Ukraine Declaration - News 2025

Call for Proposals: The European Partnership Hub – Towards the Bridges of Trust Community

Since March 2021, CEMR, in cooperation with the Association of Ukrainian Cities (AUC) and with the support of the U-LEAD with Europe Programme with its donors, has been implementing the Bridges of Trust initiative to strengthen municipal cooperation between Ukraine and the EU. What began as a project to build partnerships has now grown into a dynamic community of collaboration and exchange. 
 
The current phase, Bridges of Trust 3.0 – “Towards the Bridges of Trust Community”, seeks to consolidate and expand these partnerships, enhance capacities, and foster sustainable, long-term cooperation. 

To support this ambition, CEMR is launching a call for proposals to engage National Associations of Local and Regional Governments (LRGAs) or similar organisations from EU Member States as Implementers. Selected service providers will provide expertise and deliver activities in their territories to further develop EU–Ukraine municipal cooperation. 

Objectives of this phase 
The goal is to accelerate the recovery of Ukrainian municipalities and support their integration into the European Union by: 

  • Increasing the involvement of local and regional government associations and their members in international municipal cooperation. 
  • Supporting capacity-building efforts. 
  • Promoting and expanding the Bridges of Trust Community. 

Tasks and activities for participating associations 

  • Organise Online Solidarity Forums. 
  • Identify and engage new partner municipalities. 
  • Support the Internship Programme TIPS4UA. 
  • Actively participate in Bridges of Trust events. 
  • Contribute to the development of the Bridges of Trust Community. 

All tasks and deliverables are to be completed by 31 May 2026 (with possible extension).  
The total fee for delivery of these services shall be up to 14 000 EUR.  

Eligibility criteria 

  • Be a Local and Regional Associations, similar organisation, or expert(s); 
  • Be established in a Member State of the EU (Norway included); 

How to participate 
Interested associations/organisations/experts are invited to submit their application by providing the following information: 

  1. Organisation overview: Provide a brief description of your organisation. Describe your current relationships and engagement with local and regional authorities.
  1. Concept Note
  1. Financial offer

Please submit your application to CEMR’s application email: application@ccre-cemr.org 

Deadline: 6 October 

Evaluation   

The selection of interested associations will be carried out by CEMR, in cooperation with the Association of Ukrainian Cities and the U-LEAD with Europe Programme, based on the eligibility and selection criteria outlined in the Terms of Reference. A total of 15 associations or similar organisations will be selected. Priority will be given to associations from the nine EU countries already involved in Phase 2*, while applications from other eligible countries will also be considered. 

The evaluation will take into account: 

  • Geographical balance across participating countries
  • Prior experiences in working with local governments and municipal cooperation in Ukraine 
  • The potential to develop sustainable international municipal cooperation with Ukraine (based on concept note)

We expect the selected associations/organisations/experts to begin their activities in early November 2025. Applicants will be informed of the selection results by 31 October 2025. 

*Czechia, France, Hungary, Italy, Latvia, Poland, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden.

Other Links:
Annexe 1 – Concept Note
Annexe 2 – Financial Offer

For more information, contact:

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