Impact community Labour 31

The Council of European Municipalities and Regions (CEMR) is pleased to present its 2021 Activity Report, which provides an overview of the organisation’s main actions and achievements over the year. Guided by the 2021–2030 multiannual strategy and the 2021–2022 work programme, CEMR focused its work on four objectives:

Policies and advocacy

Knowledge sharing and capacity-building

Pan-European campaigns and visibility

Internal organisation and sustainability

All actions were aligned with the aim of advancing the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) across Europe’s territories.

Shaping European and Global Agendas

Throughout 2021, CEMR actively influenced European initiatives and alerted members to upcoming developments affecting local and regional governments. Activities included:

Monitoring EU initiatives on recovery, resilience, and international cooperation.
Engaging in structured dialogues on cohesion policy, rural development, disability rights, and urban development.
Providing input that shaped OECD analyses, Council Conclusions, and the European long-term vision for rural areas.
Publishing position papers and resolutions on gender equality, migration, the Fit for 55 energy package, water, and digitalisation.

At the international level, CEMR deepened cooperation with UCLG, the Global Taskforce, OECD, and the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities.

Building Knowledge and Capacity

To strengthen understanding of EU policies and empower members to act, CEMR:

Produced publications and webinars, including a new edition of the TERRI Report on decentralisation reforms.
Organised workshops on member participation in national and European processes.
Delivered capacity-building through externally funded projects in areas such as EU funding, climate adaptation, gender equality, migration, and SDG implementation.

Raising Visibility and Engaging Citizens

2021 was also a year of celebrations:

70th anniversary of CEMR and the 15th anniversary of the Equality Charter brought together 500 participants online.
Pan-European campaigns were launched for Europe Day, SDG Day, and equality, highlighting the voices of local leaders and women in politics.
CEMR ensured visibility for its spokespersons through social media, interviews, videos, and participation in international events.

In numbers:

Over 120 articles published in English and French.
More than 650 tweets reaching 1 million views.
14 newsletters delivered to the network.

Strengthening Internal Organisation

CEMR took concrete steps to become a more sustainable, inclusive, and resilient organisation:

Two online Policy Committee meetings gathered 170 elected representatives to adopt policy positions and validate the strategy.
A new Secretary General selection process was launched.
Internal processes were modernised with digital templates, e-signatures, and reduced paper use.
Staff received training on project management, budget monitoring, public speaking, and team collaboration.

Milestones and Campaign Highlights

Advocated for local governments to be included in post-COVID recovery plans (#CohesionAlliance).
Shared local leaders’ visions for the Conference on the Future of Europe.
Continued the #Power2Her and #LocalEquality campaigns on gender equality.
Helped secure recognition of the multilevel cooperative model in the Glasgow COP26 agreement.

2021 was a year of adaptation, resilience, and influence for CEMR. Despite the challenges of the pandemic, the network succeeded in shaping European debates, amplifying the voice of local and regional governments, and strengthening internal capacities. With a stronger foundation and renewed strategy, CEMR continues its mission to empower Europe’s municipalities and regions to lead sustainable change.

For more information, contact:

BORDELOT Federica

Director – Policy & Impact

BENNIS Hamza In Digitalisation, Digitalisation, Impact community Labour, Impact community Labour, Latest, Publications

Principles for a digital transition for all

Is the EU’s new approach in tune with local and residents’ needs?

Digital services, online platforms and electronic devices have become part of our everyday life, bringing us countless new opportunities for professional and personal development. However, innovation can come at a cost. Continuous access to information and data can put our privacy at risk and expose us to misinformation, fraud and discrimination.

For this reason, the European Commission recently issued a “Declaration on Digital Rights and Principles for the Digital Decade” with guidelines to ensure a fair and inclusive digital transition. The document will shape future EU digital rules, such as the upcoming Data Act on sharing of information between businesses and governments.

CEMR provided its input during the Commission’s consultation preparing the digital decade declaration. In fact, we recently adopted our own position paper “Digital Services for All: Principles for a digital transition in European local and regional governments”. The paper outlines CEMR members’ views on the digital transition, a trend which is transforming the role and activities of local and regional governments.

Several of the principles put forward by CEMR members were also reflected in the Commission’s Declaration, notably on the importance of user-centred digital services, consultation between levels of government for setting standards and the upgrading of digital skills among citizens. Read our take on the declaration and what’s in store for local governement.

Interoperable and transparent data management

Digital Services for All outlines the conditions needed for local and regional governments to provide effective and inclusive digital services for all citizens.

These include the development of open international standards through dialogue between all levels of governments – European, national, regional and local – and between the public and private sectors. Only through dialogue with all stakeholders can solutions suitable to all be found.

Public and private actors must bear in mind that the interoperability of services and systems is crucial to ensuring smooth data exchange. Data management must be transparent. To this end, local and regional governments comply with GDPR and other regulations on accessing public-sector data.

Inclusive digital services

Digitalisation of public services is useless if the people concerned, our citizens and users, cannot access them. That is why CEMR strongly advocates a non-discriminatory approach for the deployment of digital public services, taking into account economic and social barriers.

Awareness of intersectionality – the interaction of these economic and social barriers – means always ensuring public services are accessible and usable by everyone, regardless of the conditions they face. Proactive actions are needed to make sure that elderly people, persons with disabilities, marginalised and vulnerable individuals are not excluded.

Finally, we can only reap the full fruits of digitalisation if people have the skills needed to participate. We need coordinated action to further develop digital skills and literacy among public officials, citizens and indeed all users. Only an informed society and a digitally literate public will be able to make the most out of digital services.

For more information, contact:

Officer – Employment, Digitalisation and Public Services

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

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

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.

For more information, contact:

Officer – Employment, Digitalisation and Public Services

BENNIS Hamza In Digitalisation, Digitalisation, Impact community Labour, Impact community Labour, Impact community Society, Impact community Society, Latest, Public services, Public services, Publications

EU values in the digital space

CEMR calls for a digital transition that works for all levels of government

Local and regional governments must be fully equipped and supported in Europe’s digital transition. That’s the key message from the Council of European Municipalities and Regions (CEMR) in its response to the European Commission’s consultation on EU digital principles.

As frontline providers of public services and facilitators of digital innovation, local and regional governments (LRGs) are key to making the digital decade a success. However, CEMR warns that this transformation must not impose new burdens or widen digital divides.

“European initiatives must support, not sideline, local governments. Funding, training and collaboration are vital,” says the organisation.

CEMR welcomes the goals outlined in the Commission’s “2030 Digital Compass,” especially the focus on digitalising public services. It highlights the importance of digital skills, cybersecurity, smart cities, and interoperability to help municipalities deliver inclusive and user-friendly digital services.

Local authorities are already investing in e-government, innovation labs, and partnerships with start-ups. But CEMR calls for better coordination between national and EU levels to avoid duplication and ensure all regions, rural and urban alike, can benefit.

CEMR also emphasises:

The need to strengthen local democracy through inclusive digital participation;

Protecting privacy and personal data under the “once-only” principle;

Supporting socially responsible platforms in the sharing economy;

Promoting open standards and seamless interoperability across administrations.

The digital transition must not leave anyone behind. From investing in digital education to adapting services for vulnerable groups, local governments play a central role in ensuring a digital Europe that is fair, accessible, and democratic.

For more information, contact:

Officer – Employment, Digitalisation and Public Services

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

Engaging in the European semester

CEMR–EPSU handbook helps local government social partners strengthen their role in EU economic governance

Read full handbook

The European Semester, launched in 2010 to coordinate EU Member States’ economic, financial, employment and social policies, increasingly shapes national reforms and public investments. For local and regional governments (LRGs) and their social partners, the Semester is not just about fiscal discipline, it now covers areas like health, education, taxation, social care, and the green and digital transitions, with direct implications for workers in the LRG sector.

Recognising this impact, the 2018–2020 CEMR–EPSU joint project produced a Handbook for Social Partners. Its aim: to help LRG social partners navigate the Semester, build their capacity, and influence reforms more effectively.

The handbook highlights the growing territorial dimension of the process: in 2019, 62% of all Country-Specific Recommendations (CSRs) had a direct or indirect local and regional impact. With future EU funds increasingly tied to Semester priorities, active engagement becomes crucial.

Practical guidance is provided on how to engage across the Semester’s different phases:

Awareness-raising and capacity building: Social partners should strengthen internal knowledge, build alliances, and establish direct contact with the national ministry leading the Semester and with the European Commission’s Semester Officer. Early and proactive engagement, including joint employer–worker positions on key issues, helps set the agenda.
Country reports and fact-finding missions: In December–February, the Commission assesses national situations. LRG social partners can influence this by meeting fact-finding missions, submitting analyses, and ensuring that their priorities are reflected in reports.
Implementation phase (April–July): As Member States draft their National Reform Programmes (NRPs) and receive new CSRs, social partners can contribute written submissions, highlight gaps, and propose reforms aligned with local needs. Examples from Sweden, Lithuania, and Spain show structured opportunities for input through consultation fora or tripartite councils.
Follow-up phase (August–October): With reforms under implementation and budgets prepared, dialogue with national authorities and Semester Officers is vital to ensure LRG perspectives are integrated.

The handbook stresses that the aim is not one-off consultations, but structured, regular dialogue between governments, the Commission, and LRG social partners. By organising themselves, building alliances, and proactively shaping priorities, local government employers and trade unions can ensure their voices count in one of the EU’s most influential policy processes.

For more information, contact:

Officer – Employment, Digitalisation and Public Services

BANOS DE GUISASOLA Eva In Impact community Climate, Impact community Climate, Impact community Cohesion, Impact community Cohesion, Impact community Labour, Impact community Labour, Impact community Society, Impact community Society, Latest, PLATFORMA, PLATFORMA, Publications

Localising sustainable goals after COVID19

How European territories are driving sustainable change amid the Covid-19 crisis

The Covid-19 pandemic has been a profound shock for municipalities and regions across Europe. Faced with health emergencies, social disruption, and economic slowdown, local and regional governments (LRGs) had to adapt swiftly, protecting essential services, reallocating budgets, and reshaping priorities. Yet, despite the immense challenges, many local authorities did not abandon global commitments. Instead, they turned to the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development (SDGs) as a framework to guide recovery and long-term resilience.

With over 65% of SDGs requiring local implementation, municipalities and their national associations play a decisive role in ensuring progress. Some cities temporarily slowed their SDG-related work, but others actively integrated the Goals into recovery strategies, using them to design inclusive, coherent, and sustainable policies. This approach has strengthened their credibility as leaders in “building back better.”

National associations of local governments proved to be vital allies. By coordinating efforts, connecting municipalities with resources, and advocating at the national and European levels, they helped ensure that even small and rural communities could advance the SDG agenda. Importantly, awareness and commitment have grown: associations in countries where SDG uptake was once limited are now actively building knowledge, promoting peer learning, and pushing for recognition of local action.

Another breakthrough is the rise of Voluntary Local Reviews (VLRs) and Voluntary Subnational Reviews, which showcase municipal achievements and give visibility to local actors on the international stage. This not only strengthens city diplomacy but also fosters a shared vocabulary and sense of purpose among local, national, and global partners.

The Covid-19 crisis has underscored the transformative power of the SDGs: as both a roadmap for sustainable recovery and a catalyst for innovation in governance, partnerships, and service delivery. Still, achieving the Goals requires greater investment and mobilisation of resources. EU initiatives such as the Green Deal, cohesion funds, and Global Europe offer crucial opportunities to scale up local action, alongside new forms of public-private partnerships.

In short, the SDGs are not an abstract global agenda, they are a practical tool for territories to rebuild stronger, fairer, and greener communities. Even in times of crisis, Europe’s municipalities and their associations are proving that sustainability is not just a long-term ambition, but an immediate necessity.

For more information, contact:

BANOS DE GUISASOLA Eva

Senior Advisor – Global Agendas, SDGs & Climate

TONHAUSER Boris In Climate, Impact community Climate, Impact community Climate, Impact community Cohesion, Impact community Cohesion, Impact community Labour, Impact community Labour, Impact community Society, Impact community Society, PLATFORMA, PLATFORMA, Publications

EU delegations & local action

Exploring how EU Delegations engage with local and regional governments in global development

As the global landscape of development cooperation evolves, the role of local and regional governments (LRGs) has moved from the margins to the mainstream. No longer seen merely as beneficiaries of aid, LRGs are now recognised as key actors in the design, implementation and ownership of sustainable development policies.

With over 139 EU Delegations around the world, the European Union plays a pivotal role in supporting governance and development at all levels. This new PLATFORMA study explores how these Delegations are engaging with LRGs, the value of their cooperation, and the road ahead.

This study highlights the growing political relevance of decentralised cooperation, mayor-to-mayor partnerships, city-to-city exchanges, and collaboration between national associations in achieving sustainable development. EU Delegations, representing the EU in partner countries, manage funding and support development policies aligned with local needs. In this context, their relationship with LRGs is crucial.

Key insights from the study include:

Local knowledge matters: LRGs are closest to citizens and understand their needs. Their involvement improves governance, ensures better delivery of services, and strengthens citizen engagement.
TALD – Territorial Approach to Local Development: Promoted by PLATFORMA, TALD ensures local development strategies are not only nationally supported, but locally owned and shaped.
From consultation to partnership: The new 2021–2027 EU Multiannual Financial Framework emphasises a permanent policy dialogue with LRGs, beginning with programme design and continuing through implementation and monitoring.

Yet, the study also reveals a mixed picture. While some Delegations engage actively with local authority associations and decentralised actors, others have limited or no contact, missing opportunities for peer learning and stronger governance.

The study calls for a deeper and more consistent relationship between EU Delegations and local governments in partner countries. It identifies four key areas where progress can be made:

Training: EU Delegation staff would benefit from greater awareness of local governance realities, decentralisation processes, and participatory mechanisms. LRGs can offer training and insights rooted in real experience.

Political closeness: LRGs understand the language of local politics. Stronger ties between EU Delegations and elected representatives could boost trust and effectiveness.

Networks and awareness: LRGs bring with them local networks and credibility. Their role in development education and public awareness can link global goals with local realities.

Support to associations: Many national associations of LRGs remain underused. Targeted EU support could enhance their capacity, sustainability and leadership in local development.

By investing in these relationships, the EU can reinforce its commitment to local ownership, sustainable development and effective international cooperation. Ultimately, localising global agendas such as the 2030 SDGs will only be possible if local voices are not only heard, but also empowered.

For more information, contact:

TONHAUSER Boris

Director – PLATFORMA

BENNIS Hamza In Digitalisation, Digitalisation, Employment, Employment, Gender equality, Gender equality, Impact community Labour, Impact community Society, Impact community Society, Latest, Migration and inclusion, Migration and inclusion, Publications, Skills, Skills, ,

Social rights, local action

What are the priorities for implementing the European Pillar of Social Rights with a strong local and regional involvement?

The Council of European Municipalities and Regions (CEMR) welcomes the European Pillar of Social Rights as a step toward strengthening fairness and equality in Europe. While supporting its ambition, CEMR stresses that the measures linked to the Pillar’s 20 principles should remain non-binding, respecting the diversity of national, regional and local competences. For local and regional governments, the Pillar should serve as a reference framework to inspire reforms, rather than impose uniform rules.

CEMR identifies key challenges where Europe must act: rising inequality, persistent poverty, gender gaps, and labour market transitions accelerated by digitalisation and COVID-19. Municipalities and regions, as major providers of education, housing, health, social inclusion and employment services, are at the heart of delivering social rights.

CEMR’s policy priorities include:

Skills and education: investment in training, apprenticeships and digital access to avoid a “lost generation” of young people.
Demographic change: integrating women, older workers, migrants, and disadvantaged groups into the labour market.
Gender equality: boosting women’s participation and addressing work-life balance challenges, especially in the pandemic’s aftermath.

At the same time, CEMR warns against excessive bureaucracy or additional reporting obligations for local authorities, calling instead for best practice exchange, benchmarks, and adequate funding.

For the European Pillar of Social Rights to succeed, it must respect subsidiarity, strengthen social dialogue, and involve local and regional governments as essential actors. Municipalities, cities, and regions are indispensable in turning principles into concrete progress, provided they are given the flexibility, resources and recognition needed to deliver.

For more information, contact:

Officer – Employment, Digitalisation and Public Services

Localising the 2030 Agenda

How local and regional governments and their associations are driving sustainable development

The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, adopted by all UN Member States in 2015, laid out an ambitious global roadmap for peace, prosperity, people, and the planet. Its 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are universal in nature but require deeply localised responses to be effectively achieved.

Local and regional governments (LRGs), and the associations that represent them are at the frontline of this challenge. They have the democratic mandate, institutional legitimacy, and daily proximity to citizens to implement sustainable solutions tailored to local realities. This article explores the critical role these governments and their national associations play in bringing the 2030 Agenda to life across Europe and beyond.

The Role of LRGs and Their Associations
Local and regional governments are uniquely positioned to translate global goals into tangible public policies and services. Whether it’s improving access to education, ensuring clean water, fostering inclusive economies, or promoting environmental protection, the SDGs intersect directly with their mandates.

However, the successful localisation of the SDGs requires not only local action but also strong national coordination and multilevel governance. That’s where national associations of LRGs come in. They serve as intermediaries between municipal and national levels, raising awareness, building capacity, and advocating for policy coherence and the resources necessary for implementation.

A Framework for Transformation
For LRGs, the 2030 Agenda is more than a checklist, it’s a strategic and transformative framework that enables long-term thinking, breaks down silos across departments, and connects various stakeholders. When well-integrated, the SDGs improve how public services are delivered and empower communities to engage meaningfully in decision-making processes.

A New Decade of Action and Challenge
Despite early progress, the world is not yet on track to meet the SDGs by 2030. The COVID-19 pandemic has added new complexity, strained local budgets and exacerbated inequalities. Yet the pandemic also highlighted the vital role of LRGs in crisis response, ensuring healthcare access, food security, education continuity, and social protection.

The recovery period offers a chance to “build back better” by placing the SDGs at the core of reconstruction efforts. The UN Secretary General has emphasised the 2030 Agenda as a guiding principle for a resilient, inclusive, and green recovery. In this context, national associations of LRGs become even more essential to facilitate dialogue, share knowledge, and advocate for the tools local governments need to succeed.

The decade ahead will be decisive. The COVID-19 crisis may have disrupted momentum, but it has not undermined the fundamental relevance of the 2030 Agenda. On the contrary, it has reaffirmed the importance of public services, local resilience, and inclusive governance, values that are deeply embedded in the SDGs.

Local and regional governments, supported by their associations, are essential actors in this journey. They are adapting, experimenting, and collaborating to deliver sustainable results, even amid uncertainty. Their work shows that global agendas only become real when rooted in local action.

Going forward, stronger partnerships across sectors and governance levels are needed to ensure no place and no person is left behind. Multi-level and multi-sector cooperation will be vital to address the growing challenges ahead and to seize the opportunities that lie in sustainable, equitable recovery.

In short, if the SDGs are to be met, they must be localised and that starts with empowering the actors who are closest to the people.

For more information, contact:

BANOS DE GUISASOLA Eva

Senior Advisor – Global Agendas, SDGs & Climate

TONHAUSER Boris In Impact community Climate, Impact community Climate, Impact community Labour, Impact community Labour, Impact community Society, Impact community Society, Latest, PLATFORMA, PLATFORMA, Publications

Agenda 2030 study for local and regional governments

Just out: New study reveals how municipalities, regions and their associations are embracing the SDGs