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THOMAS Carol
In Impact community Society, Latest, Local democracy

Expansion of the Schengen Area

Schengen Space - News

Bulgaria and Romania Join the Schengen Area: A Landmark Achievement for European Unity 

The Council of European Municipalities and Regions (CEMR) congratulates Bulgaria and Romania on their historic accession to the Schengen Area, the world’s largest free-movement zone. This significant milestone, marked by border ceremonies at the Kulata crossing and the Friendship Bridge, represents years of dedicated effort and collaboration among European Union (EU) member states. 

Strengthening European Integration 

With this expansion, Schengen now encompasses 25 EU member states, facilitating the free movement of over 425 million people to travel, work, and reside without internal border controls. This milestone strengthens European unity, promotes economic growth, and fosters cultural exchange. 

Celebrating Progress 

At midnight on 1 January, Bulgarian and Romanian officials symbolically lifted border barriers, marking the end of land border checks between their countries and other Schengen countries. These celebrations were a testament to the hard work and commitment required to achieve full membership. 

The Role of Local and Regional Governments 

CEMR, representing Local and Regional Governments across Europe, recognises municipalities and regions’ vital role in fostering cross-border cooperation and facilitating integration. The expansion of Schengen will strengthen local partnerships, streamline mobility for citizens and businesses, and enhance regional development opportunities. 

A Stronger Europe 

Including Bulgaria and Romania in Schengen is more than a practical advancement; it is a symbolic reminder of the EU’s commitment to unity, collaboration, and shared prosperity. This milestone paves the way for continued progress in European integration and cooperation. 

CEMR stands ready to support local and regional governments as they adapt to the opportunities and challenges of a border-free Europe. 

Learn more about Schengen and its benefits: https://ec.europa.eu/  

ROSSI Fabrizio
In About CEMR, Bridges of Trust, Impact community Society, International cooperation, Latest, Local democracy, Twinning

Matchmaking Platform

CEMR launches a Matchmaking Platform for Twinning cooperation during the Leaders’ Summit in Karlsruhe

  • CEMR launches a new Matchmaking Platform to promote city-to-city cooperation and international partnerships during the Leaders’ Summit in Karlsruhe, Germany
  • The Bridges of Trust Community is launched in partnership between CEMR and U-Lead to foster new partnerships and support international municipal cooperation
  • The CEMR Leaders’ Summit gathered over 200 international leaders from across Europe, emphasising collaboration for sustainable and inclusive development

The Council of European Municipalities and Regions (CEMR) unveiled an innovative Matchmaking Platform to enhance city-to-city and local cooperation during its Leaders’ Summit in Karlsruhe. This high-profile event gathered over 200 international leaders, representing towns, regions, and cities from EU and Ukranian countries.

The platform, building on CEMR’s seven-decade legacy of town twinning, allows municipalities, cities, and regions to form partnerships sending a matching request to potential peers across Europe in just a few minutes.

First introduced at the Ukraine Recovery Conference in Berlin and now open to all local governments in Europe, the platform is also meant to strengthen partnerships with Ukrainian municipalities to secure its vital recovery support and advance through its integration into the EU.

Building on its long-standing collaboration with Ukrainian local governments, CEMR in partnership with U-Lead with Europe have announced the creation of the Bridges of Trust Community. The project’s positive impact expanded beyond its initial scope, demonstrating the need for wider engagement and collaboration.

CEMR President Gunn Marit Helgesen underlined the Matchmaking Platform strategic importance: “Local leaders are at the forefront when it comes to adopting the acquis communautaire — the foundational laws of the EU. It is crucial to support them in this process to ensure it is carried out equitably, avoiding future disparities between urban and rural communities”.

Christoph Schnaudigel, CEMR Co-President, RGRE President and Mayor of Karlsruhe, highlighted: “City-to-city cooperation has already shown its power as a tool for post-war reconstruction, reconnecting people divided by war and cultural gaps, and fostering peace. Today, we are committed to putting our network at the service of every town in Europe, small or large, to connect, share experience, and work on their dream projects together.”

Stefano Poretti, Councillor of Arconate, Italy, a city twinned with the Ukranian city of Zlatopil, emphasized the Bridges of Trust impact: “In a time of growing geopolitical uncertainty, local governments remain steadfast in promoting cooperation and solidarity. Thanks to Bridges of Trust, we have exchanged knowledge and experiences that will leave a lasting mark on my political journey.”

Media opportunities:
Journalists can interview key participants, including mayors and local leaders, and explore the matchmaking platform in detail.

Register to the Platform – here

ROSSI Fabrizio
In Energy, Environment, Impact community Society, Latest, Territorial development

€86 billion SCF at risk

Local-Alliance

Vulnerable households risk being underserved by the €86 billion EU Social Climate Fund due to inadequate consultation with local and regional governments, a new Local Alliance report warns.

An exclusive new report from eight major European local and regional government networks reveals that vulnerable households in the EU are at risk of being underserved by the €86 billion Social Climate Fund (SCF) due to inadequate consultation by national governments.

The survey underpinning the report, conducted by the Local Alliance — a coalition comprising ACR+, CEMR, Climate Alliance, Energy Cities, Eurocities, FEDARENE, ICLEI Europe and POLIS — highlights widespread non-compliance with key requirements under SCF legislation. 

Articles 4 and 5 of the SCF state that Member States must engage with local and regional governments in developing their national Social Climate Plans. However, the report finds that many governments are failing to fulfil these obligations, often reducing consultations to empty gestures or bypassing them entirely.

A missed opportunity to address local needs

The SCF is a flagship initiative under the European Green Deal, aimed at supporting vulnerable households. But the findings show a troubling disconnect between national decision-makers and their local governments.

The survey, covering cities and regions across 14 Member States, including Belgium, Finland, Germany, Greece and Spain, paints a stark picture of delayed consultations, inadequate dialogue, and missed opportunities to incorporate local expertise.

“The €86 billion Social Climate Fund holds the potential to transform lives and build a more equitable Europe, but only if the voices of local and regional governments are at the table. These governments are on the frontlines of addressing energy and transport poverty, yet too often, their expertise is overlooked. National governments and the EU Institutions must recognise that meaningful consultation isn’t just a legal requirement — it’s a necessity for effective and inclusive action.”  Fabrizio Rossi, Secretary General of CEMR. 

Local governments: Key partners for effective action

Local and regional governments are uniquely positioned to ensure that EU funds address the specific needs of their communities. They bring expertise, proximity, and an understanding of local priorities, which are crucial for tailoring measures to effectively support vulnerable households.

The absence of meaningful consultation not only undermines the legislative requirements but also jeopardises the effectiveness of the SCF just six months before Member States are due to submit their plans in June.

Recommendations for national and EU decision-makers

To ensure the Social Climate Fund effectively supports vulnerable households, the Local Alliance urges Member States, amongst others, to prioritise meaningful collaboration with regional and local governments, through locally developed plans such as SECAPs and Sustainable Urban Mobility Plans.

This will provide EU investments that are aligned with local needs to address energy and transport poverty, ensuring measures that target the needs of vulnerable groups like women, older people and single-parent households. For more information, download the full report here.

BORDELOT Federica
In Gender equality, Gender equality, Impact community Society, Impact community Society, Latest, Publications

Women in politics: European trends

Women - News Section

Launch of the women in politics study – Breaking the silence, ending the violence 

Read full study

The Council of European Municipalities and Regions (CEMR) is proud to have launched its second groundbreaking study Women in Politics: Local and European Trends, which provides important data and insights into women’s representation in politics across Europe from 2019 to 2024. 

The study shines a light on both the progress and the persistent, systemic challenges, from underrepresentation in leadership to the rising issue of violence against women in politics – especially online abuse and cyberviolence. 

This study comes at a critical time. While representation in local councils has risen to above 40% in some European countries, leadership roles at all levels still show a troubling gender gap. At the national level, women’s representation in parliaments averages around 33%, with notable disparities among countries. In the European Parliament, women currently occupy 38.5% of the seats, which is the first decrease in the proportion of women Members of the European Parliament since 1979. 

Source: Women in Politics – Local and European Trends, page 14

Violence against women in politics, both physical and digital, remains a major deterrent to women’s political participation. The data collected shows that 32% of respondents have experienced violence during their political career, and of those that suffered some type of violence 29% experienced cyberviolence. As highlighted by one of the speakers, Dr Marta Mazurek, Councillor from Poznan, on “recognising the serious consequences of cyberviolence” signalling that the responsibility to combat online harassment lies not only with national bodies but also with local authorities dedicated to fostering inclusive governance. 

Only 29% of those affected by violence had reported experiencing different types of violences, which may not only undermine their personal well-being but also their potential participation in politics. Angela Lowe, Senior Advisor at Women Political Leaders (WPL) emphasized that “the path towards a safe environment for women requires a collaborative effort,” underscoring the importance of working together across sectors to protect women in politics. 

Source: Women in Politics – Local and European Trends, page 87

The Women in Politics study collected data from across Europe, presenting the importance and need for reliable data on women’s political representation and experience to ensure informed policies and targeted actions. Robin Devroe, a researcher at the Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), pointed to the broader impact of these challenges, noting that “these issues of gender-based violence contribute to a more global cycle of underrepresentation,” which weakens democratic structures and the inclusiveness of policymaking. Additionally, women from disadvantaged backgrounds—such as women of colour and LGBTQI+ women—are particularly vulnerable, facing unique and compounded challenges that further hinder their political participation. 

The study also underscored that lasting change will require widespread engagement from everyone within society and the need to shift our mindset of the current social and cultural norms and attitudes towards more inclusive equality, with Sari Rautio from Hämeenlinna City Council in Finland stressing that “all genders, all girls and boys should be interested in working on gender balance”. 

Read the Full Report 

For a deeper understanding of these findings and practical recommendations, the Women in Politics: Local and European Trends report is now available on the CEMR website. This study serves as a call to action for governments, communities, and advocates to work together in building a political landscape that champions gender equality and safeguards women’s participation across all levels of governance. 

For more information, contact:

TSKHELISHVILI Bella
In Gender equality, Impact community Society, Latest

Gender Equality for all

Gender Charter - News

Municipalities Can Lead by Example: The European Charter for Equality of Women and Men in Local Life

Today, at the World Forum for Democracy in Strasbourg, France, CEMR’s Bella Tskhelishvili shared insights into a powerful instrument for local change: the European Charter for Equality of Women and Men in Local Life. “Gender equality is more than an ambition—it’s a necessary foundation for democratic and inclusive communities,” Bella affirmed.

Since its launch in 2006, the Charter has empowered over 2,035 local and regional governments in 36 countries to commit to gender equality. With updates in 2022 that tackle issues like cyber violence, workplace flexibility, and climate change, the Charter has adapted to modern challenges, making it a living document that continues to evolve.

Empowering Local Governments

Local governments are uniquely positioned to lead in promoting gender equality. Initiatives inspired by the Charter, such as gender-responsive budgeting in Ixelles and stereotype prevention in Sienna, exemplify how local measures can drive tangible results. The Observatory of the European Charter for Equality supports municipalities with tools and frameworks to develop and track action plans, ensuring impactful progress.

A Call for Continued Action

Despite challenges such as resource constraints and opposition from anti-gender movements, the drive for gender equality persists. As Bella highlighted, “Our journey to equality requires resilience, collaboration, and unwavering commitment.”

Disseminating the Charter throughout Europe and beyond is crucial. By expanding the reach of the European Charter for Equality and forging international connections, CEMR demonstrates that this mission is global. The Euro-Mediterranean Charter for Equality and the Local Authorities Charter for Gender Equality in Africa underscore this commitment, promoting shared values and actionable strategies across diverse regions. These efforts reflect CEMR’s vision to inspire a world where every local government embraces and advances gender equality

For more on the Charter, visit the European Charter for Equality.

Learn more about global initiatives at the Euro-Mediterranean Charter for Equality and the Local Authorities Charter for Gender Equality in Africa.

BORDELOT Federica
In Gender equality, Impact community Society, Latest

Women in Politics

Event on the launch of the Women in Politics study

Register here

Women in Politics: Local and European Trends

Are women truly breaking through in politics, or are they still facing invisible barriers? Is violence just a private matter, or is it also hindering women’s participation in public life?

Join us for the exclusive launch of a groundbreaking study that uncovers the latest trends shaping women’s participation in politics—both locally and across Europe. Dive into the challenges, successes, and the evolving impact of violence on women’s political leadership.

Don’t miss your chance to be part of this critical conversation shaping the future of leadership in Europe!

ROSSI Fabrizio
In Impact community Society, Latest, Local democracy

Nobel Peace Prize

Nobel Prize Peace - News 2024

Nobel Peace Prize 2024: A Tribute to the Japanese Anti-Nuclear Movement and a Call for Global Peace

The 2024 Nobel Peace Prize has been awarded to Nihon Hidankyo, a grassroots movement of survivors of the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Praised by the Norwegian Nobel Committee for their relentless efforts to promote a world free of nuclear weapons, this group has spent decades highlighting the devastating human toll of nuclear warfare through survivor testimonies. Since its founding in 1956, Nihon Hidankyo has been a powerful voice against the threat of nuclear arms, ensuring that the horrors of the past are never repeated.

The Nobel Committee’s choice is particularly poignant as 2025 will mark the 80th anniversary of the bombings that claimed over 120,000 lives and left countless more suffering from burn and radiation injuries. This recognition also arrives at a time when nuclear powers are modernising their arsenals, and the spectre of nuclear conflict looms larger than ever. As Jorgen Watne Frydnes, chair of the Norwegian Nobel Committee, warned, “A nuclear war could destroy our civilisation.”

In a world marked by increasing armed conflicts – 59 in 2023, according to the Uppsala Conflict Data Program – the message of this year’s Nobel Peace Prize resonates strongly. The recognition of Nihon Hidankyo highlights the urgency of global cooperation to prevent further destruction and the vital role of grassroots movements in shaping a peaceful future.

At the Council of European Municipalities and Regions (CEMR), we recognise that lasting peace is built not only at the international level but also through local and regional governance. Cities and regions play a pivotal role in fostering dialogue, cooperation, and understanding between communities. They are the building blocks of a peaceful society, promoting inclusivity and resilience from the ground up. By empowering local authorities and encouraging cross-border collaboration, we can create environments where peace is nurtured, and conflicts are prevented before they escalate.

CEMR continues to advocate for a better world, one where hope and cooperation bind nations together, not fear.

BORDELOT Federica
In Gender equality, Impact community Society, Latest

Nobel Prize Literature

Nobel Prize Literature - News 2024

Celebrating Han Kang’s Nobel Prize: Advancing Equality and Inclusion

South Korean author Han Kang, known for “The Vegetarian” and “The White Book”, has become the 18th woman to win the Nobel Prize for Literature. You can see how many Female Nobel Laureates have been nominated since 1901 below.

Source: Wikipedia

Her powerful prose, recognised for confronting historical traumas and exploring human fragility, resonates deeply in today’s world. The Nobel Committee praised her innovative style and unique awareness of the connection between body, soul, life, and death.

Han Kang’s recognition highlights the ongoing struggle for gender equality in fields like literature, where women remain underrepresented. This achievement aligns with the values of the Council of European Municipalities and Regions (CEMR), which has long championed equality and inclusion. Through initiatives like the European Charter for Equality of Women and Men in Local Life, CEMR supports local governments in advancing gender equality and ensuring equal representation in decision-making.

Just as Han Kang’s work challenges societal norms, CEMR continues to advocate for a more inclusive, equal future for all.

Learn more about our work: https://charter-equality.eu.

THOMAS Carol
In Impact community Society, Local democracy, Local Insights

Democracy on bike

Democracy on Bike

From Cologne to Brussels: A Cyclist-Led Initiative for Climate Action and Democracy

In response to growing far-right influence and environmental challenges, a group of activists from 127 cities across Europe cycled from Cologne to Brussels in a remarkable initiative called Democracy On The Streets (DOTS). This movement, which originated from the German campaign “Ohne Kerosin nach Berlin”, expanded into its first cross-border edition with a clear mission: to demand urgent climate action, protect democracy, and rally support ahead of the European elections.

From 20 to 26 May, cyclists travelled from Germany to Belgium, stopping in towns and cities along the way to raise awareness about pressing environmental issues. These activists, known as cyclo-activists, held peaceful yet visible protests throughout their journey, advocating for climate justice, human rights, and democracy. Along the route, they met with citizens and politicians to create spaces for discussion and debate on critical topics. Key moments included protests at controversial sites such as the Stop Alibaba movement in Liège, which opposes the expansion of the local airport, and a demonstration against a concrete development in the rural area of Anton, Andenne.

This initiative was notable for its grassroots, community-driven approach. Participants were hosted overnight by local residents, churches, schools, and associations, reinforcing the solidarity and communal spirit of the project. It embodied the belief that united individual actions can create meaningful change. While the peloton was loud to ensure it was seen and heard, it remained entirely pacifist, with a strong focus on delivering its message in time for the upcoming European elections.

This wasn’t just a protest; it was a powerful call to action to protect both the environment and democracy. The grand finale took place in Brussels, where even more activists joined in solidarity, amplifying the campaign’s message at the heart of European politics.

If you’d like to learn more or join the movement, visit: https://ohnekerosinnachberlin.com/inscription-bruxelles-2024-fr/

ROSSI Fabrizio
In Impact community Society, Latest, Local democracy

Online Breakfast

EU Elections - News

Join Us for an Online Breakfast on the Future of Local & Regional Governments

Start your day with insights at our Online Breakfast on October 22, from 9:00 to 9:45 AM.

Meet with CEMR Secretary General Fabrizio Rossi and Marta Galceran-Vercher, Senior Researcher at CIDOB, as they discuss a crucial new study examining the implications of the June 2024 European elections.

This report highlights a significant shift to the right in the European Parliament and explores the election results from the perspective of local and regional governments (LRGs). It examines territorial voting disparities between urban and rural areas, as well as the local backgrounds of Members of the European Parliament and the European Commission. Key issues like policy cohesion, rural-urban connections, the European budget, decentralized cooperation, climate transition, migration, the rights agenda, and local democracy will also be addressed.

The event will be livestreamed on LinkedIn, providing a platform for lively discussion and engagement. This is a fantastic opportunity to gain valuable insights and strategic recommendations for LRGs to advocate effectively with European institutions during the 2024-2027 term.

Don’t miss out—register here to secure your spot and join us for breakfast and insights!

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