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BORDELOT Federica
In About CEMR, About CEMR, Governance, Governance, Local democracy, Local democracy, Press, Publications

National associations in Europe

Discover how national associations unite and represent Europe’s 100,000 towns and regions 

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Europe is home to approximately 100,000 municipalities, provinces and regions, each embedded in its national political system yet also interconnected across borders. But who represents them? Who ensures their voices are heard by national and European institutions? 

To answer these questions, the Council of European Municipalities and Regions (CEMR) has published a new study delving into the vital but often overlooked world of national associations of local and regional governments. 

Since its creation in 1951, CEMR has championed local democracy, subsidiarity and citizen participation. At the heart of this mission are its member associations, 60 in total from 41 European countries, who work every day to represent the interests of towns and regions. 

Based on a survey conducted among 58 member associations, the publication sheds light on the structure, function and political weight of these associations, also known as LRGAs (Local and Regional Government Associations). 

Organised into five chapters, the report explores: 

  1. Who they represent – the types and numbers of municipalities and regions linked to each association. 
  1. How they are structured – their legal status, governance, staffing and membership models (voluntary or mandatory). 
  1. What they do – including advocacy with national authorities, knowledge sharing, training for elected officials, and support for policy implementation. 
  1. Their legislative influence – assessing how and when they are consulted in national law-making. 
  1. Their European and international role – detailing their involvement in CEMR, the EU institutions and global agendas such as the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals. 

The second part of the study offers a country-by-country overview of all member associations, providing a practical “identity card” for each organisation. 

This study offers a rare and valuable insight into the backbone of local democracy in Europe: the national associations that bring together municipalities and regions, giving them a common voice. Though often under-recognised, these associations play a vital role in shaping effective governance, ensuring policies are informed by local realities and that decisions taken at higher levels reflect citizens’ everyday needs. 

Strengthening the structure, recognition and influence of these associations is more than a technical issue, it’s a democratic imperative. From local services to national reforms and European cooperation, their contribution is essential for building resilient, inclusive and well-governed communities across the continent. 

Read the study here 

For more information, contact: 

BORDELOT Federica
In Governance, Governance, Local democracy, Local democracy, Press, Publications

European elections manifesto of 2019 

EU Elections - News

Stronger EU policies require the full involvement of local and regional governments to ensure democracy, sustainability, and citizen engagement 

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The 2019 European Parliament elections took place at a decisive moment for the Union, marked by global challenges, climate imperatives, and demands for greater transparency. Local and regional leaders stressed that Europe’s future depends on building closer ties between EU institutions and citizens, while ensuring that local governments are recognised as central actors in European governance. 

Local Governments at the Heart of Europe 
Europe’s 130,000 municipalities and regions are indispensable to democracy and public life. They provide services, drive innovation, and implement EU policies on the ground. To meet citizens’ expectations, the EU must adopt governance models that fully recognise the role of local authorities in decision-making, as outlined in Article 4 of the Treaty on the European Union. 

Key Priorities for the Future 
The challenges Europe faces, climate change, sustainable growth, social inclusion, and democratic participation, require a strong partnership across all levels of government. Local and regional leaders have called for: 

  • Strengthened cohesion policy as a central EU priority to reduce inequalities and foster sustainable development. 
  • Citizen-centred democracy, including local dialogues between communities and EU institutions and greater transparency in decision-making. 
  • Education for Europe, such as promoting the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights in schools and ensuring every pupil has the chance to visit EU institutions. 
  • Climate and global commitments, with local governments mobilising to achieve the Paris Agreement and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. 
  • Inclusive governance, with clearer recognition of the representative role of local associations and easier cooperation across borders, including with UK local governments post-Brexit. 

A stronger European Union can only be built in partnership with its cities, municipalities, and regions. By embedding local governments into EU governance, supporting their projects, and fostering open dialogue with citizens, Europe can remain democratic, resilient, and united in the face of today’s challenges. 

Read the position paper here 

For more information, contact: 

THOMAS Carol
In Governance, Governance, Local democracy, Local democracy, Press, Publications

European charter of municipal liberties 

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How the 1953 European Charter of Municipal Liberties laid the groundwork for local self-government in Europe 

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In October 1953, more than one thousand mayors and local representatives from 16 European countries gathered in Versailles for a historic assembly. Out of their debates emerged the European Charter of Municipal Liberties, a pioneering text that recognised the essential role of municipalities in safeguarding democracy, peace, and citizen freedoms. Drafted and adopted under the auspices of the Council of European Municipalities, it was one of the first pan-European commitments to local democracy, years before the binding European Charter of Local Self-Government (1985). 

The Charter of 1953 marked a crucial step in Europe’s post-war reconstruction: ensuring that citizens had a say in shaping their communities, free from arbitrary authority, and rooted in centuries-old traditions of liberty and human dignity. 

The Charter of Municipal Liberties defined local self-government as the cornerstone of democratic societies. It emphasised that municipalities were the very foundation of nations, where citizens had the right and duty to participate in local life. 

Key principles included: 

  • Constitutional guarantees: Municipal liberties must be enshrined in law and safeguarded by independent courts. 
  • Autonomy in decision-making: Municipalities should decide on local matters, adapt national laws to local circumstances, and manage their own staff and administration. 
  • Financial independence: Local authorities should raise their own taxes and resources to meet citizens’ needs, with systems of compensation available for those with weaker resources. 
  • Checks and balances: Municipal decisions could only be controlled for legality, and boundaries could not be altered without consulting the affected population. 
  • International cooperation: Municipalities and their associations had the right to belong to international organisations to defend their interests and strengthen European unity. 

The Assembly also adopted a Resolution on Municipalities and European Institutions, declaring municipal self-government the “bulwark of personal liberties” and calling for local authorities to have a voice in the emerging European political community. 

The European Charter of Municipal Liberties (1953) was a visionary document that helped establish the principle that democracy begins at the local level. At a time when Europe was rebuilding from the devastation of war, it placed municipalities at the heart of political, social, and economic renewal. 

Though not legally binding, the Charter inspired decades of work to protect and strengthen municipal autonomy across Europe. It laid the moral and political foundation for the European Charter of Local Self-Government (1985), which gave these principles full legal recognition. 

Seventy years on, the 1953 Charter stands as a testament to the determination of Europe’s mayors and local leaders to defend liberty, democracy, and cooperation across borders, values that continue to shape Europe’s governance today. 

Read the charter here 

For more information, contact: 

THOMAS Carol
In Governance, Governance, Local democracy, Local democracy, Press, Publications

European charter of self-government 

SDG Implementation - News 2023

How the European Charter of Local Self-Government reshaped democracy in Europe 

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The 20th century witnessed the rise of local and regional democracy as one of the most important democratic innovations. At its heart lies the European Charter of Local Self-Government, the first binding international treaty to guarantee the rights of communities and their elected authorities. Adopted in 1985 under the Council of Europe, the Charter firmly established local democracy as the cornerstone of governance closest to citizens, ensuring that power is not only shared but decentralised in practice. 

The Charter was drafted within the Council of Europe after years of advocacy by the Standing Conference of Local and Regional Authorities of Europe, the predecessor of today’s Congress of Local and Regional Authorities. Opened for signature in 1985 and in force since 1988, it has been ratified by the overwhelming majority of Council of Europe member states. 

The Charter requires that the principle of local self-government be enshrined in domestic law or constitutions. It sets out clear democratic safeguards, including the right of citizens to manage public affairs through elected councils, the protection of local authority boundaries, and the free exercise of local elected representatives’ functions. 

A landmark principle of subsidiarity runs through the text: decisions should be taken at the level closest to the citizen. This decentralisation of power must be matched with adequate financial resources, ensuring local governments are able to act effectively. Safeguards against undue interference, guarantees of financial autonomy, and the right of local authorities to associate nationally and internationally further reinforce their role. 

The Charter is flexible, allowing governments to choose which provisions they accept, but also firm, requiring adherence to a core set of fundamental principles of local democracy. Monitoring by the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities ensures compliance and encourages states to respect and expand local autonomy. 

The European Charter of Local Self-Government remains the benchmark treaty for local democracy, affirming that democracy begins at the local level. It guarantees that communities have the autonomy, powers, and resources to manage their affairs, while protecting citizens’ rights to participate directly or through elected representatives. 

More than three decades after its adoption, the Charter has not only safeguarded local self-government but has become a foundation of European democracy. It continues to inspire reforms, guide constitutional principles, and strengthen the voice of local and regional authorities across the continent. In doing so, it secures what is perhaps democracy’s most vital truth: that governance is most effective when it is closest to the people. 

Read the charter here 

For more information, contact: 

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