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In Impact community Society, Latest, Local democracy

International Migrants Day

Migration - News Section

How cities are shifting the narrative on migration

Mechelen, Belgium. A middle-aged woman dressed in light colours sits in a public library. It seems like someone interrupted her while she was reading a book, but she doesn’t mind. She looks straight, and you immediately feel there is a story to tell behind those warm brown eyes.

This is Farida, a woman, a mother of three children, a grandmother of five, an accountant. She speaks five languages, likes to cook and loves to read. She lives in Mechelen, but fled from Syria five years ago: she is a refugee. This picture, placed on a window near the public library in Mechelen was part of the ‘People Make the City’ exhibition and Farida’s story is just one of many in the series.

‘People Make the City’ is a storytelling project that translates residents’ stories into public content such as street art, podcasts, exhibitions, images and texts, building a more nuanced narrative of migrants and refugees’ impact on their local neighbourhoods. These features show the diversity and the rich multi-layered identities of people living in the local community.

The people concerned can co-create the way they want to be presented because it’s up to them how they want their story to be told and where. “Listening to a story is the first step to connect with someone you don’t know”, explains Sara Lanoye, the project’s coordinator. Storytelling is a powerful way of strengthening social cohesion by promoting mutual understanding.

Tackling rumours

We tend to make up stories about people we don’t know well. An animated story, ‘It all started accidentally’, sets a mirror to people who spread assumptions about other people without checking the facts first. Such rumours can spread like wildfire and thus contribute to exclusion and discrimination.

This animated video has been made for children and adults alike as part of the Antirumours Project in Fuenlabrada, Spain. It aims to raise awareness about the negative impact of rumours. “If we don’t stop the rumours, they grow into more dangerous forms, which are used to spread fear and misinformation”, warns Juan Carlos Hernandez of the City of Fuenlabrada.

The Spanish city has experienced rapid population growth due to migration over the past 40 years. Therefore, the municipality put social participation and inclusion programmes in place that helped the city become multicultural.

‘Antirumours’ is one such project, bringing together 25 cities to discredit false rumours through the collection of data and the creation of a network of local civil society actors. The project has been running since 2013 as part of the Council of Europe’s Intercultural Cities initiative.

It Takes a Community to shift the narrative

Nowadays, media narratives tend to be reactive, related to specific events or tragedies, and frame migration with negative words such as waves, crisis, invasion. In addition, migrants are portrayed either as dangerous or helpless victims. Personal stories, messages that evoke emotions work better. This is one of the lessons learned from the ‘It Takes a Community’ campaign.

This multilevel campaign showcases how migration enriches our lives by sharing concrete stories of families, friends, neighbours, co-workers or classmates from around the world who are making our local communities a better place. ‘It Takes a Community’ is a collaborative effort of national and local governments, civil society, the private sector, and the International Organization for Migration (IOM).

“The international level tries to build upon the richness coming from the local level”, says  Sophie van Haasen of the GFMD Mayors Mechanism.“Engaging with national governments is sometimes difficult. The problem is, the national levels usually don’t have a lot of communication campaigns fostering inclusion and integration of migrants.”

Migrants in Europe are sometimes are portrayed as a threat to national identity and economic prosperity, and this is even the predominant political discourse in some countries. However, local and regional governments are taking the lead with campaigns and projects promoting integration and inclusion. These initiatives often achieve better outcomes than overly centralised ones.

Tackling rumours and prejudice, letting newcomers tell their stories, fostering an environment where locals can engage with newcomers and their stories: all these actions can change attitudes towards migration in the local community. However, connecting the dots between different levels of government remains the main challenge in changing the way we frame and shape migration.

GAUDRON Marine
In Impact community Cohesion, Latest, Local finances

European Semester

European Parliament - News

A conversation with MEP Schuster on the future of the European Semester

While EU member states enjoy financial support from the Union’s largest ever package of economic support, the so-called the “EU’s Recovery and Resilience Facility”, we spoke to MEP Joachim Schuster about his views on the reform of the “European Semester” formulating economic policy recommendations for all EU Member States.

The implementation of Member States’ recovery and resilience plans will drive their reform and investment agenda for the years ahead. For its part, the European Semester, with its broader scope and multilateral surveillance, will usefully complement the implementation of the recovery and resilience plans.

The European Semester process has been overturned by the Recovery and Resilience Facility (RRF). Why is the debate around the European Semester so important now and what is at stake? 

The Commission has allotted a strong role to the European Semester in the Recovery Plan and therefore strengthened its importance for policy coordination at EU level. However, I am convinced that the effectiveness and success of the alignment of Member States’ investment and reform programmes will depend on the reform and simplification of the Semester as well as the increased ownership by the Member States when it comes to the implementation of the Country Specific Recommendations (CSRs). 

According to you, how should the future European Semester look like to become the main tool to relaunch growth and to allow strategic investments in the EU?

A reformed European Semester should build on the lessons learned from the Recovery and Resilience Facility (RRF) exercise and improve the existing mechanisms to establish a more transparent and democratic coordination process. This applies in particular to the definition of policy objectives in the European Semester and the CSRs, which needs the full involvement of the European Parliament and the Member States. A reform should also improve the cooperation between Commission and Member States in developing the needed reforms and investments on national level to achieve those policy objectives.

In the report “The European Semester for economic policy coordination: Annual Sustainable Growth Strategy 2021” you called for a more democratic European Semester in line with the principles of subsidiarity and proportionality. How could local and regional governments be better involved in the elaboration of the country specific recommendations? What role could the European Parliament play to ensure a more democratic process?

The involvement of local and regional authorities, as well as social partners and civil society would enhance the ownership of Member States but also foster tailor-made solutions for their reforms and investments. The Member States should therefore put in place arrangements for the participation of local and regional authorities during the whole Semester process. Moreover, the European Parliament should be stronger involved in setting economic policy priorities and economic governance decisions, and ensure social dialogue.

How can the European Semester ensure a clearer and increased role of local and regional governments in the use of the recovery funds, and especially in reaching the SDGs?

The RRF gives a bigger role to local and regional authorities in the preparation and implementation of the national plans. We need to safeguard that the Commission is ensuring their involvement according to the Regulation and establishes adequate mechanisms in the future economic policy coordination. The upcoming reform must transform the Semester into a governance tool that implements the EU´s social and environmental ambitions. It must also ensure that economic and budgetary targets are on equal footing with social and environmental targets.

Now that the Commission has re-launched the discussion around the reform of the EU economic governance system, which role do you think could the European Semester play in the coordination and management of the recovery funds? 

To recover from the pandemic and finance the climate-neutral and digital transformation, the Member States will need more fiscal flexibility even beyond the pandemic. I strongly welcome greater flexibility in the economic governance framework. However, it will only be accepted by all Member States and succeed if we come to a stronger binding economic policy coordination in Europe. Here, too, it is worth looking at the incentive-driven ratio behind the RRF, which could be a successful model for a reformed EU Semester: democratically set guidelines at EU level and involvement of the Member States in the elaboration of country-specific reforms. 

The European Semester, initially established as a pure instrument for fiscal surveillance has now included other policy areas, such as cohesion, green and social policies. Would you favour a reform of the Semester to ensure that the Green Deal or the results of the Social Scoreboard are duly taken into consideration?

Since the introduction of the EU governance system, we learned that it is not possible to pursue a successful economic policy based on fiscal surveillance alone. Therefore, I strongly support the Commission’s announcement to reform the European Semester and to convert it further into a tool to coordinate economic, social and environmental policies. The economic and fiscal policy should serve the Union objectives and principles such as the Green Deal, the SDGs or the European Pillar of Social Rights while ensuring financial stability in Europe.

As a German MEP, could you provide us more information on the state of play of the cooperation at subnational level in your country? How can a federal state such as Germany truly ensure the application of subsidiarity already in the design phase of national reforms?

In Germany, the principle of subsidiarity and the division of tasks and competences is enshrined in the constitution and is generally respected even in times of crisis. In political practice, this requires close cooperation between the federal government, the federal states and also the municipalities. The federal states and municipalities have a variety of formal and informal opportunities to participate in the process of shaping national reforms at early stage. In many areas, such as for the adoption of the RRF, the approval of the Bundestag and the Bundesrat (representative chamber of the Länder) is required for legislative projects to enter into force.

REVAULT Martin
In Latest, United Cities and Local Governments

Smart cities

City - News

Just out: UCLG’s new study on the impact of COVID-19 on cities’ Smart resilience

Discover “Smart Cities Study 2021“, a new study published by our world organisation, United Cities and Local Governments (UCLG), shedding light on the impact of COVID-19 on cities’ Smart resilience. 

This new study provides an overview of the pre-pandemic situation of 35 cities in 20 countries from Europe, Latin America, Africa and Asia. It identifies their level of digitisation and the “Smart” resources and tools they had. Participating cities in Europe include Brno, Ostend, Utrecht, Santander, Barcelona, Villanueva de la Serena, Gavà, Bilbao, Lappeenranta, Alba Lulia and Lasi.

It also analyses what impact the pandemic had on the different areas of local governance and what new “Smart” measures or tools were used to combat the negative consequences that were generated.
Finally, the study determines to what extent these types of actions have served to increase the resilience of cities, and to assess the usefulness of the new measures and tools for combating future crises. It also seeks to promote the exchange of knowledge including best practices developed by the cities.

The study is available in English and Spanish.

TARAN Stanislav
In Bridges of Trust, Latest, Projects and Programmes

Decentralised cooperation

Ukraine flag - News section

Bridges of Trust online Forum: strengthening ties between Ukrainian and EU municipalities

Over 100 representatives of local government from Ukraine and the EU gathered virtually on 10 December 2021 to discuss how to create and revitalise partnerships between Ukrainian and EU municipalities. This unique online forum was the scene of both lively discussions and the exchange of practical recommendations and best practices.

The event was moderated from both Brussels and Kyiv and was organised by the Council of European Municipalities and Regions (CEMR), PLATFORMA and the U-LEAD with Europe Programme.

Municipal partnerships: a driver of democratisation and reform

In the morning, the participants were greeted by four speakers. Viacheslav Nehoda, Ukrainian Deputy Minister for Communities and Territories Development, emphasised the importance of learning and applying the best practices of EU municipalities. He cited in particular the areas of education, healthcare, land management, community involvement and investments.

Xavier Camus, Head of Co-operation Section 1 — Good Governance and Rule of Law of the EU Delegation to Ukraine, argued that municipal cooperation is an important component of EU-Ukraine relations.

This was echoed by CEMR Secretary General Frédéric Vallier, who noted that local and regional governments are well positioned to drive Ukraine’s democratisation and reform processes, and to bring EU policies and projects in the country closer to the people. 

Bastian Veigel, GIZ Director of U-LEAD with Europe, stressed that EU-Ukraine municipal partnerships are important for the implementation of decentralisation reform.

During the forum, participants learned about the objectives and planned activities in the framework of the “Bridges of Trust” initiative. Virtual meetings between partner-municipalities have already started to take place. The main focus of these meetings is on identifying mutual interests, outlining the scope of joint actions and agreeing on the goals and modalities of the study trips and internships to the EU municipalities to be held in 2022. 

A study of existing EU-Ukraine municipal partnerships, which was carried out within the initiative, was also presented to the participants. The study contains key success and failure factors of international municipal cooperation and many useful recommendations to those municipalities who would like to start or improve an existing partnership, as well as to the third actors who support EU-Ukraine municipal cooperation.

Lively online discussions

There were lively debates during a a panel discussion on how to build successful partnerships, with numerous exchanges both between the panelists and the participants via an online chat. Yuliia Noskova, Director of Shyroke Municipality’s Development Agency (Ukraine), and Olena Ovcharenko, Project manager at Engagement Global, shared practical tips and examples.

Roma Žakaitienė, Director of the Association of Local Authorities in Lithuania (ALAL) and Lyudmyla Damentsova, Deputy Executive Director of the Association of Ukrainian Cities (AUC), provided examples of how national associations support municipalities in their international cooperation efforts. 

During the afternoon, the 20 municipalities of the Bridges of Trust initiative were presented through an original and memorable “Eurovision of municipalities” presentation. They are:

1. Kakhovka municipality (Ukraine) and Narva (Estonia)

2. Novohuivynske municipality (Ukraine) and Lazdijai district municipality (Lithuania)

3. Fastiv municipality (Ukraine) and Druskininkai municipality (Lithuania)

4. Chuhuyiv municipality (Ukraine) and Kuldīga municipality (Latvia)

5. Zboriv municipality (Ukraine) and Joniškis district municipality (Lithuania)

6. Henichesk municipality (Ukraine) and Wieliczka (Poland)

7. Korosten municipality (Ukraine) and Ukmergė district municipality (Lithuania)

8. Solotvyno municipality (Ukraine) and Sol’ village (Slovakia)

9. Dolyna municipality (Ukraine) and Šiauliai district municipality (Lithuania)

10. Polyanytsya municipality (Ukraine) and Polanica-Zdroj (Poland)

Partnerships for people

Local leaders also shared their motivations for joining the partnerships. Mayor of Ukmergė Rolandas Janickas said in a video: “I have no doubt that by developing a friendship with Korosten, we will become stronger together.” For her part, Mayor of Chuhuiv Halyna Minaevaaffirmed that “The initiative will help the municipality find new opportunities to grow, learn and apply the best practices of European colleagues in their own work.”

In his closing remarks, Durmish Guri, Director of External Resources and Knowledge Strategy at CEMR, expressed his hope that the 20 municipalities would make the most of their upcoming exchanges and study visits.

“We hope that Ukrainian municipalities will use the knowledge that they will receive during these activities and will apply it in their communities, to improve a specific service or a general organisation and management of the municipality”, Guri said. “And let’s not forget that the ultimate beneficiaries of all of these activities and of your international partnership should be the citizens of your communities.”

For more highlights from the Forum, consult the exchanges on Twitter under the hashtag #BridgesofTrust.

———————–

«Мости довіри»: Посилення муніципальної співпраці між громадами України та Європейського Союзу

Понад 100 представників органів місцевого самоврядування з України та ЄС зібралися минулого тижня (10 грудня 2021), щоб обговорити, як створити та покращити партнерські відносини між громадами України та ЄС. Цей унікальний онлайн-форум cтав платформою для дискусій, обміну практичними рекомендаціями та найкращими практиками.

Захід був організований Радою європейських муніципалітетів та регіонів (CEMR),  PLATFORMA  та Програмою  «U-LEAD з Європою», а спільна модерація була проведена з Брюсселя та Києва.

Муніципальні партнерства: драйвер демократизації та реформ

У першій половині дня, учасників вітали чотири доповідачі. В’ячеслав Негода, заступник Міністра розвитку громад та територій України, наголосив на важливості  навчання  та застосування кращих практик муніципалітетів ЄС, особливо в таких сферах як: освіта, охорона здоров’я, землеустрій, залучення громад’ян та інвестицій.

Ксав’є Камю, керівник Програм співробітництва щодо належного урядування та верховенства права Представництва ЄС в Україні, відзначив, що муніципальне співробітництво є важливою складовою відносин між Україною та ЄС. Це повторив генеральний секретар CEMR, Фредерік Вал’є, який підкреслив, що місцеві та регіональні органи влади мають всі можливості для стимулювання процесів демократизації та реформ в Україні, а також для наближення політики та проєктів ЄС у країні ближче до людей. Бастін Файгель, директор Програми «U-LEAD з Європою» від GIZ, наголосив,  що  муніципальне партнерство Україна-ЄС є також важливим для реалізації реформи місцевого самоврядування.

Під час форуму учасники дізналися про цілі та заплановані заходи в рамках ініціативи «Мости довіри». На разі, в рамках ініціативи вже проходять віртуальні зустрічі між партнерами.  Основна увага під час цих зустрічей зосереджена на визначенні взаємних інтересів, окресленні обсягів спільних дій та узгодженні цілей навчальних поїздок до муніципалітетів ЄС та стажувань, які пройдуть у 2022 році.

Учасникам також було представлено дослідження існуючих муніципальних партнерств Україна-ЄС, яке проводилося в рамках ініціативи. Дослідження містить ключові фактори успіху та невдач міжнародного муніципального співробітництва та багато корисних рекомендацій для тих громад, які хотіли б розпочати чи покращити існуюче партнерство, а також для третіх учасників, які підтримують муніципальну співпрацю між Україною та ЄС.

Жваві онлайн-дискусії

Під час панельної дискусії, відбулися жваві дебати про те, як побудувати успішні партнерські відносини, з численними обмінами як між доповідачами, так і між учасниками через онлайн-чат. Юлія Носкова,  директорка КУ “Агенція розвитку Широківської ТГ” (Україна), та Олена Овчаренко, керівниця проєкту, «Муніципальні партнерства з Україною», Engagement Global, поділилися практичними порадами та  прикладами.

Рома Жакайтієне, директорка Асоціації місцевих органів влади Литви, та Людмила Даменцова, заступниця Виконавчого директора Асоціації міст України (АМУ), навели приклади того, як національні асоціації підтримують громади в їх зусиллях з міжнародного співробітництва.

У другій половині дня 20 громад  учасниць ініціативи «Мости довіри» були представлені у динамічному форматі-презентації «Євробачення громад». Серед них:

1. Каховська громада, Херсонська область – Нарва, Естонія
2. Новогуйвинська громада, Житомирська область – Лаздійський район, Литва
3. Фастівська громада, Київська область – Друскінінкай, Литва
4. Чугуївська громада, Харківська область – Кульдізький край, Латвія
5. Зборівська громада, Тернопільська область – Йонішкіський район, Литва
6. Генічеська громада, Херсонська область – Величка, Польща
7. Коростенська громада, Житомирська область – Укмергський район, Литва
8. Солотвинська громада, Закарпатська область – Соль, Словаччина
9. Долинська громада, Івано-Франківська область – Шяуляйський район, Литва
10. Поляницька громада, Івано-Франківська область – Поляни́ця-Здруй, Польща

Партнерство для людей

Мери муніципалітетів та голови громад також поділилися мотивами участі в ініціативі та налагодженні партнерських відносин. Мер Укмергського району,  Роландас Яніцкас, наголосив у відеозверненні:  «Я не сумніваюся, що розвиваючи дружбу з Коростeнем, ми разом станемо сильнішими».  Міська голова Чугуївської громади,  Галина Мінаєва переконана,  що  «Інітіатива допоможе громаді знайти нові можливості для зростання, навчання та застосування кращих практик європейських колег у власній роботі».

У своєму заключному  слові,  Дурміш Гурі, директор з питань проєктів та стратегії управління знаннями (CEMR), висловив надію, що 20 муніципалітетів візьмуть максимум найкращих практик з майбутніх обмінів та навчальних візитів.

«Ми сподіваємося, що українські громади використають знання, які вони отримають під час цих заходів, і будуть застосовувати їх у своїх громадах, щоб поліпшити конкретну муніципальну послугу або загальну організацію та управління громадою»,- сказав пан Гурі. І давайте не будемо забувати, що кінцевими бенефіціарами всіх цих заходів і вашого міжнародного партнерства повинні бути громадяни ваших громад».

Ця публікація була підготовлена за підтримки Європейського Союзу і його держав-членів Німеччини, Швеції, Польщі, Данії, Естонії та Словенії. Зміст цієї публікації є виключною відповідальністю її авторів та не може жодним чином сприйматися як такий, що відображає погляди Програми «U-LEAD з Європою», уряду України, Європейського Союзу і його держав-членів Німеччини, Швеції, Польщі, Данії, Естонії та Словенії

BENNIS Hamza
In Employment, Employment, EU budget, EU budget, Impact community Cohesion, Impact community Cohesion, Impact community Labour, Impact community Labour, Latest, Local finances, Local finances, Publications, Territorial development

Modernising working time rules

Labour - News Section

Balancing worker protection with flexibility and legal clarity in local public service delivery under the Working Time Directive

Read full position paper

The Council of European Municipalities and Regions (CEMR) has responded to the European Commission’s public consultation on the review of the Working Time Directive (WTD), urging the EU to prioritise legal certainty and respect for local autonomy in any future reform. 

Unchanged since 2003, the current Directive no longer fully reflects today’s labour realities, especially for local and regional governments as major public employers. While modernisation is welcome, CEMR warns against overreach: the Directive should focus strictly on health and safety, without encroaching on broader employment issues that fall outside the EU’s remit, such as wages, work-life balance, or new working patterns. 

In its response, CEMR reaffirms key positions first set out in its 2011 position paper, which remain relevant today. It calls for: 

  • Flexibility for social dialogue: Local social partners are best placed to find tailored solutions through bargaining and agreements that balance worker protection with service continuity. 
  • Clear limits to scope: The Directive must not expand into areas that are either outside EU competence or not directly related to health and safety. 
  • Legal certainty: Any revision should result in simpler, clearer rules that avoid legal ambiguity and reduce the administrative burden on local authorities. 

CEMR further stresses that the review must take full account of the impact on local and regional governments’ ability to provide uninterrupted public services, especially in sectors like emergency care and civil protection, where flexible working patterns are essential. 

CEMR concludes that no legislative initiative should proceed before the publication of detailed impact assessments and a full analysis of the public consultation. In the meantime, it stands ready to engage in open and constructive dialogue with EU institutions to ensure a balanced approach that works for all levels of governance. 

Read the position paper here 

For more information, contact: 

TARAN Stanislav
In Bridges of Trust, Latest, Projects and Programmes

Decentralised cooperation

Ukraine people - News

Stronger together: 6 EU and Ukrainian municipalities join forces to tackle common challenges

Decentralised cooperation: it’s not just a phrase, but the reality of local governments coming together to tackle concrete problems. Six municipalities from Ukraine, Poland, Latvia and Estonia met last month to kick-start their partnerships as part of the CEMR-PLATFORMA project Briges of Trust. The communities discussed possibilities for future cooperation in a wide variety of areas, including business and investment, tourism and cultural heritage.

On 8 November 2021, the cities of Kakhovka (Ukraine) and Narva (Estonia) held their first meeting online. Kakhovka is located in the south of Ukraine on the banks of the Kakhovka reservoir, formed by the city’s hydroelectric dam. Narva, Estonia’s third-largest city, is on the lower reaches of the Narva River on the border with Russia.

These two communities face a number of common challenges, including developing social support infrastructure for aging populations, loss of young talent to emigration and the need to attract investment. The municipalities will engage in joint activities and knowledge exchange to find solutions to these problems.

Fostering tourism in mountainous regions

On 10 November, officials from the Polish spa town of Polanica-Zdrój and the Ukrainian mountain resort of Polyanytsya presented their communities and discussed joint areas for cooperation and exchange of best practices.

The similarities between the two communities are not limited to their names. Both are popular tourist destinations located in mountainous regions. They share similar challenges in terms of improving tourist infrastructure, nature protection and waste management. In addition, Polyanytsya would like to improve sewage and water management systems as well as attract additional funding for local development.

Capitalising on culture

On 12 November, a productive exchange took place between Chuhuyiv, a district capital in eastern Ukraine, and the Latvian city of Kuldiga. The two communities are interested in business cooperation and promotion of art and culture. Both want to preserve and promote their rich historical heritage and are putting citizens at the centre of their activities.

Kuldiga, a former Hanseatic city, is implementing a programme to preserve the authenticity of its old town, aiming to become a UNESCO World Heritage site. Chuhuyiv, birthplace of the reknowned realist painter Ilya Repin, holds the annual International Repin Plein Air painting event, which has become a meeting place for artists from across Europe.

The partners will continue to develop their cooperation through a series of online meetings. In spring and summer 2022, the Ukrainian municipalities will visit their EU partners to learn best practices and apply them in their own communities.

BORDELOT Federica
In Impact community Society, Latest, Local democracy

Welcoming Europe

Refugees - News

Interview with the mayor of Capaci: “I dream of an inclusive and welcoming Europe”

Migration is a global phenomenon with a strong local impact. Cities bear the burden the migration crisis by receiving newcomers – sometimes providing life-saving support – but also reap the long-term benefits of successful integration. This applies to cities and islands across Europe, in particular in southern Italy.

Ahead of International Migrants Day (18 Dec) we spoke with Pietro Puccio, the CEMR spokesperson on migration and the mayor of Capaci, a Sicilian city taking part in the IncluCities project to improve migrant integration and build more inclusive cities. He shared with us his town’s experience welcoming newcomers, as well his vision of a united Europe that is open and inclusive.

How have Capaci and the Palermo district been affected by migration in recent years? What tools can local communities and local governments use when the main responsibilities and competences are with national governments?

When the responsibilities fall to national governments, local authorities have little room for maneuver. Despite this, we can achieve a lot by mobilising all the local associations through their widespread and active volunteers. In our region for instance, an important solidarity network has been created.

Capaci and Palermo have perhaps been on the margins of immigration in recent years. The main arrival routes have been elsewhere, such as Agrigento, Lampedusa, Ragusa and Syracuse, from where immigrants have been directly relocated to other places.

However, the Port of Palermo also continues to experience significant arrivals. The volunteer associations are playing a fundamental role there in receiving immigrants. Through their work we were able to provide a meaningful response to the rising number of new arrivals. 

You have often said that we should move from the emergency management of receiving immigrants to structured practices of inclusion and integration of newcomers in our societies. Looking at the EU’s migration and asylum policy, and in particular in light of the recent events in Afghanistan, it appears that the EU is trying to keep the migration issue at its external borders. What do you think about this management approach? 

Maintaining the migration emergency at the borders is an illusion. It’s unrealistic. There will be more and more emergencies in the world, simply dictated by the climate crisis. We pass from one emergency to another in Syria, Libya, then Afghanistan…

Europe can do it better. It doesn’t need “gendarmes” at the borders, nor agreements with the illegitimate Libyan government or with Turkey’s Erdogan. If we want to eliminate the shame and the indignity of the reception camps in the Balkans and elsewhere, if we really want to provide a response that looks beyond immediate emergencies, we should build a structured common response at the European level. If Europe doesn’t do it, nobody will. 

United Cities and Local Governments (UCLG) launched the debate on the Charter of Lampedusa, where local and regional governments are reshaping a notion of citizenship that should be defined around dignity, human rights, peace and collective memory, regardless of the status of people on the move. What do you think of this new form of “inclusive local citizenship” UCLG is developing with its members?

Europe is the cradle of world civilisation and must start over based on human dignity and respect for the human rights of all. But there is also a great economic advantage. Let me give you an example: in our area there is a municipality nearby, Balestrate, with hectares of land that are now planted with mangoes. Mangoes are typically a tropical fruit but due to climate change, the weather conditions in Sicily have become appropriate to grow mangoes. The new arrivals can be new consumers. Thus immigration can create new opportunities and new jobs. If Europe wants to provide a general response, it should focus on decent work, job opportunities and respect for human rights.

What is the main thing that Capaci could learn in the IncluCities project? What is the most necessary change that you’d like to start developing in your city?

Capaci is a town with an ancient welcoming culture, but in recent years this culture has been somewhat lost. Fear has taken over, the concern of having a neighbour who is a bit different. By taking part in IncluCities I hope the city will return to being as welcoming as we once were, no longer afraid of those with a different skin colour, those of a different religion or political orientation. I believe that this is a great and unique opportunity for our city. The first thing I would like to see is newcomers no longer hiding inside their homes, but walking around, playing with their children in squares, socialising in public places, also meeting with the citizens of Capaci. This is the most beautiful change I wish for this city.

What is your greatest dream as an Italian citizen and mayor of Capaci for the future of Europe? What role do you think migration should play in the Conference on the Future of Europe?

The theme of immigration is central in the global context. Just look at what’s happening in South America, at the border with the United States of America or every day here in Europe. The topic must have an important, leading role in the discussion at the Conference on the Future of Europe

I dream of the Europe that our founding fathers – Altiero Spinelli, Schuman – dreamed of; a Europe that is inclusive, where everyone can have the right to citizenship and respect for their human rights. The pandemic, which is unfortunately still ongoing, has taught us one crucial thing: how much we need each other. Only if each of us gets vaccinated can we beat COVID. If there is an unvaccinated part of the community, we can’t win. We are all connected.

My dream is that we work together for a Europe that is an inclusive, tolerant, welcoming place. A federal Europe where no one is left behind, where every citizen matters and each opinion counts. The future of Europe is my dream!

ROSSI Fabrizio
In About CEMR, About CEMR, Impact community Climate, Impact community Cohesion, Impact community Labour, Impact community Society, International cooperation, Latest, PLATFORMA, Publications, Twinning

Empowering local Europe since 1951  

Democracy, diversity, and sustainability at the heart of CEMR 

Read full study

Since its founding in 1951, the Council of European Municipalities and Regions (CEMR) has worked to promote a peaceful, democratic, and united Europe. Rooted in local self-government and citizen participation, CEMR brings together municipalities, counties, and regions across 41 countries, giving local democracy a strong voice at European and international levels. 

Our Values 

CEMR stands on three core pillars: 

  • Local democracy: Protecting municipal autonomy, human rights, and the rule of law. 
  • Sustainability: Guiding action through the United Nations’ Global Goals. 
  • Diversity: Promoting gender balance, inclusiveness, and respect for differences. 

With a team of 40 professionals in Brussels, representing a dozen nationalities and speaking 15 languages, CEMR embodies the European mosaic it serves. 

A History of Local Leadership 

CEMR was born in 1951 when 56 mayors from six countries gathered in Geneva to lay the foundations of a united Europe from the bottom up. Their early efforts focused on town twinning, fostering reconciliation through exchanges and cultural ties. Today, with some 20,000 twinnings across Europe, this remains the continent’s most widespread form of cooperation. 

CEMR also pioneered the push for local autonomy, adopting the European Charter of Municipal Liberties in 1953, which later inspired the Council of Europe’s European Charter of Local Self-Government. 

In 1984, CEMR officially added “Regions” to its name, reflecting its advocacy for decentralisation and the growing importance of regional governance. 

What We Do Today 

CEMR’s mission is organised around four “Ps”: People, Places, Planet, and Partnerships. 

  • Advocacy: Representing local and regional interests to the EU, the Council of Europe, OECD, and the United Nations. CEMR works to ensure that 70% of EU laws affecting municipalities and regions take account of local realities. 
  • Knowledge: Sharing expertise and producing ground-breaking studies on local democracy, equality, climate action, migration, and finance. 
  • Partnerships: Leading externally funded projects on sustainable development, integration, climate, and democracy, including initiatives such as PLATFORMA, IncluCities, and the Covenant of Mayors. 
  • Communication: Reaching citizens, members, and global partners through campaigns, media work, and digital platforms. 

Looking Ahead 

Marking its 70th anniversary in 2021, CEMR reflected on past achievements while preparing for future challenges. In an age of polarisation, climate change, and digital transformation, the organisation continues to champion local democracy as the bedrock of peace and progress. 

As former CEMR President Valéry Giscard d’Estaing once urged Europe’s young people: “Today, power is there for the taking! It is the power to act, to bring on the future and to organise it.” 

Read the study here 

For more information, contact: 

GRIFFON Axelle
In Environment, Impact community Climate, Latest

Climate change

Climate Change - News

Commission invites cities to take part in ”100 Climate-Neutral and Smart Cities by 2030”

It’s time to turn the tide of climate change… This, at least, is the European Commission’s ambition with its new call addressed to cities to join the mission “Climate-Neutral and Smart Cities”.

The aim of this call: to achieve 100 climate-neutral and smart European cities by 2030 and to enable all European cities to follow suit by 2050.

“Joining the mission will put the selected cities right at the innovation forefront of the transition towards climate neutrality”, reads the Commission’s website. As the fight against climate change increasingly turns to deployment of solutions, cities are best placed to be the early adopters of the policies to get to climate neutrality. In the process, it will allow them to deliver multiple benefits to their communities in terms of reduced air and noise pollution, less congestion, lower energy bills and healthier lifestyles.

Reacting to this, CEMR Adviser in charge of environment and mobility, Axelle Griffon, said: “This Mission is undoubtedly a great way to provide technical and financial support to the selected cities in their transition towards climate neutrality. But there are thousands of other municipalities and regions pulling in the same direction to do more to tackle environmental and climate challenges. A higher climate ambition comes with responsibility for delivering it and we hope they will also receive support, regardless of their size. Furthermore, the Commission should make sure to strengthen synergies and connect the dots between existing initiatives involving local and regional governments such as the Covenant of Mayors.”

Cities can register for the call for expression of interest. They can respond to the call until 31 January 2022. After assessment by independent experts, the Commission will announce the list of selected participant cities by April 2022. The first cities will be able to start working on their Climate City Contracts with the support of the Mission Platform as soon as the selection process is completed.

The launch of the call took place at the Conference on European Missions at the Committee of the Regions and marks the first milestone in the implementation of the mission.

GAUDRON Marine
In Impact community Cohesion, Latest

Ljubljana Agreement

Cohesion Alliance - News 2021

Green light for a renewed Urban Agenda for the EU

This is a major achievement of the Slovenian Presidency: EU Ministers responsible for Urban Development adopted the Ljubljana Agreement on 26 November 2021. By doing so, EU Member States and the European Commission commit to the continuation of the Urban Agenda for the EU and set new modalities for its implementation. CEMR has been closely associated with the preparation of this agreement. 

The ministerial meeting was attended by the European Commissioner for cohesion and reforms, Elisa Ferreira. She reiterated her support for the Urban Agenda and insisted on the need for changing paradigm towards a sustainable lifestyle, which is the objective of the Green Deal, and to which EU funds contribute. She also pointed the urban-rural linkages and inter-dependencies between urban centres and their surrounding rural peripheries “They need each other to develop in a sustainable way”. 

Together with Krzysztof Hetman, the Vice-Chair of the European Parliament REGI Committee, representatives of Eurocities and of the Committee of the Regions, CEMR spokesperson for territorial cohesion and regional councillor of Tuscany, Ilaria Bugetti seized this opportunity to recall the importance of synergies between EU funds, especially at urban and territorial level: “Synergy between Cohesion funds and Recovery Plans is needed. Never before the principle of proximity and territoriality has been so important in the interest of our citizens”. She emphasised the need for good cooperation between all levels in the programming of EU funds.

What does this agreement mean for local governement?

The Urban Agenda for the EU was launched in 2016 with the Pact of Amsterdam. It was the start of a completely new way of working on urban issues whereby cities of all sizes, ministries and European Commission’s directorate general gather together in thematic partnerships to discuss concrete issues such as public procurement, climate adaptation, digital transition or migrants integration.

Today with the Ljubljana Agreement, the Member States, the European Commission and local and regional governments representatives agree on a new work programme for the Urban Agenda. In this document some key aspects for CEMR are included:

The role of smaller and medium sized cities is clearly stated with the willingness to involve them in the thematic partnerships, and to better communicate on the achievements of the urban agenda. It is also worth noting that the role of national associations of municipalities and regions in supporting municipalities, but also to participate in the thematic partnerships is recognised. 

In 2022 the municipalities and regions will have to answer a call for interest to join future partnerships. The Commission will bring some dedicated support such as expertise or communication means. Member States in particular agree to bring additional financial or capacity to support the participation of smaller and medium sized municipalities in the partnerships.

Finally, the Ljubljana Agreement also includes the proposals of CEMR and Eurocities for four new themes: Cities of equalities; urban food; greening cities; sustainable tourism.

What’s next?

The French Presidency starting on 1st January 2022 agreed to launch two new partnerships on greening cities and sustainable tourism. First, an ex-ante assessment will be carried to better define the scope, relevance of the timeline and identify key stakeholders and EU policies relevant for these two themes. Then (mid or end 2022) a call for interest should be launched to select the cities who will join thematic partnerships. For the next themes (cities of equality and urban food), the process should be launched in 2023.

Additional links

– press release

– Ljubljana Agreement

– Multi-annual work-programme for the Urban Agenda for the EU

– CEMR tweet

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