Impact community Society Archives - Page 5 of 9

BORDELOT Federica In Gender equality, Gender equality, Impact community Society, Impact community Society, Latest, Migration and inclusion, Migration and inclusion, Publications

EU directive on gender and domestic violence

CEMR urges multi-level coordination, victim support, and recognition of women politicians’ safety

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Violence against women and domestic violence remain among the most widespread violations of fundamental rights in Europe. In response to the European Commission’s proposed Directive on combating violence against women and domestic violence, the Council of European Municipalities and Regions (CEMR) has published a position paper calling for a unified and multi-level approach to ensure effective implementation across the EU.

CEMR welcomes key elements of the Directive, including provisions on safeguarding victims, training professionals, tackling harmful gender stereotypes, and addressing sexual harassment at work. However, the organisation stresses that the Directive must go further to recognise the central role of local and regional governments (LRGs), who are on the frontline of prevention, victim support, and access to justice.

Among its recommendations, CEMR calls for:

Formal consultation with LRGs in policy design and coordination, ensuring that Article 39 on multi-level response explicitly requires their involvement.
Targeted EU funding for local authorities through programmes such as CERV, ERDF and ESF+, to strengthen prevention, awareness-raising and victim services.
Better data collection, disaggregated by sex, age and region (NUTS 2, NUTS 3, and local level), to tailor policies effectively.
Improved victim support systems, combining both “one-stop” online access and physical centres, with minimum geographic coverage standards.

The paper also highlights violence against women in politics, noting that harassment and threats against elected representatives undermine democracy itself. CEMR urges the addition of a specific clause under Article 13 on aggravating circumstances for violence against women in public office.

Finally, CEMR emphasises the importance of prevention, beginning with early education to challenge gender stereotypes, and extending to workplaces where women in public-facing professions are disproportionately exposed to third-party violence. The organisation recommends a dedicated article on cooperation between LRGs and social partners to strengthen workplace protections.

By adopting a truly coordinated, multi-level approach, the Directive could transform Europe’s fragmented response into a coherent framework that empowers governments at every level to protect women’s rights and safety.

Read the policy paper here

For more information, contact:

BORDELOT Federica

Director – Policy & Impact

BORDELOT Federica In About CEMR, 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, Publications

CEMR report of 2021

Report on the publications, knowledge-sharing, advocacy and communications in 2021

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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.

Read the study here

For more information, contact:

BORDELOT Federica

Director – Policy & Impact

THOMAS Carol In EU budget, EU budget, Governance, Governance, Impact community Society, Impact community Society, Latest, Publications

Recovery & Resilience Facility funds

Local and regional governments warn of weak involvement, risks of fund misallocation, and limited ownership of recovery plans

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The Recovery and Resilience Facility (RRF) is the EU’s largest ever economic support plan, launched in response to the COVID-19 crisis. While national governments designed National Recovery and Resilience Plans (NRRPs) to guide investments and reforms until 2026, a new consultation by the Committee of the Regions (CoR) and the Council of European Municipalities and Regions (CEMR) highlights a persistent problem: local and regional authorities (LRAs) remain sidelined in the process.

Weak involvement in preparation and governance

The survey, conducted in early 2022 among 26 associations across 19 EU member states, shows that most LRAs had little to no influence on defining objectives, reforms, or investments. Compared with 2021, dialogue with national governments slightly improved, but respondents stress that these consultations had minimal impact on final plans. Governance of the process remains largely top-down.

Mixed views on the plans’ content

Respondents were broadly positive about the NRRP’s contribution to the green (37% earmark) and digital transitions (20% earmark). However, they expressed doubts about the plans’ ability to advance territorial cohesion, one of the RRF’s six pillars. The interplay between NRRPs and other EU funds such as the ERDF or Cohesion Fund also remains unclear and inconsistent, raising fears of overlaps and inefficient spending.

Implementation: low ownership, high risks

When it comes to implementation, optimism is scarce. Only a handful of LRAs reported having a meaningful role in monitoring, adapting, or co-managing projects. Ownership is strikingly low, despite LRAs’ frontline role in pandemic response and recovery. The main barriers identified were a lack of political will at the national level and tight or unsuitable formats and timelines, rather than a lack of local capacity.

These shortcomings translate into serious risks:

Failure to meet milestones and targets
Misallocation of funds
Increased territorial disparities
Public distrust in the EU and national institutions

Calls for stronger EU-level monitoring

To improve outcomes, respondents strongly supported enhanced dialogue between the EU and local/regional representatives and the creation of an early warning mechanism to flag delays or problems in implementation.

Conclusion

Two years after the pandemic outbreak, Europe’s recovery is underway, but its governance remains overly centralised. The CoR-CEMR consultation warns that without meaningful involvement of local and regional governments, the RRF risks missing its objectives, weakening both recovery efforts and citizens’ trust in the European project.

Read the study here

For more information, contact:

THOMAS Carol

Senior Adviser, Governance, Gender Equality, Local Democracy

GAUDRON Marine In Climate, Climate, EU budget, EU budget, Impact community Climate, Impact community Climate, Impact community Cohesion, Impact community Cohesion, Latest, Local democracy, Local democracy, Publications, Territorial development

Investing in Europe’s future

A new EU growth model must empower local services, boost resilience and deliver sustainable investments

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The war in Ukraine and the aftermath of the COVID-19 crisis have placed Europe at a critical crossroads. These overlapping challenges are testing the strength of our democracies, economies and social fabric and call for a bold rethinking of Europe’s economic governance.

In response, the SGIs Network, bringing together key public service stakeholders, has issued a joint declaration ahead of the Tripartite Social Summit on 23 March 2022. The message is clear: to manage the transition and strengthen the EU’s resilience, Europe must urgently shift towards a more forward-looking, inclusive and investment-oriented growth model.

A new economic framework
The current EU fiscal rules are no longer fit for purpose in the face of permacrisis. The declaration calls for a reformed fiscal architecture that reconciles debt sustainability with long-term, growth-enhancing investments. This includes distinguishing productive investments, such as in green infrastructure, digitalisation, healthcare and education, from unproductive spending.

Empowering local action
Local and regional governments are essential to achieving a green, digital and fair transition. The declaration stresses the need for their full involvement in implementing the National Recovery and Resilience Plans (NRRPs) and accessing the Next Generation EU funds. Without this multilevel approach, the EU risks missing the full potential of its recovery strategy.

From temporary response to permanent capacity
As the NGEU package and current EU budget cycle expire in 2026–2027, the declaration urges leaders to prepare for a longer-term fiscal and investment strategy. A permanent common fiscal capacity will be vital to address future shared challenges, from climate change to geopolitical instability, and avoid deepening inequalities between territories.

The call from the SGIs Network is not just for more funding, but for better governance and greater solidarity. It is a reminder that investing in public services, social cohesion and local resilience is not a cost. It is the foundation of a stronger, united Europe.

Read the declaration here

For more information, contact:

GAUDRON Marine

Advisor – Territorial Cohesion & Local Finances

BORDELOT Federica In European Charter for Equality, European Charter for Equality, Gender equality, Gender equality, Impact community Society, Impact community Society, Latest, Migration and inclusion, Migration and inclusion, Projects and Programmes, Projects and programmes, Publications

European charter for equality

Europe’s towns and regions commit to building fairer societies through the European Charter for Equality

Read full charter

Equality between women and men is a fundamental right and a cornerstone of democracy. Yet, despite legal recognition, disparities remain in pay, representation, and everyday opportunities across Europe. Recognising the pivotal role of local and regional governments in tackling these inequalities, the Council of European Municipalities and Regions (CEMR) developed the European Charter for Equality of Women and Men in Local Life in 2006.

By signing the Charter, municipalities and regions make a public commitment to promoting equality across their policies, services and institutions, and to developing Equality Action Plans that transform principles into practice.

The Charter was drafted with the support of the European Commission and has since become a reference tool for towns and regions seeking to mainstream gender equality. It encourages signatories to act not only within their own administrations but also with local institutions, organisations and citizens.

Over the years, supporting tools have strengthened their implementation:

An online Observatory launched in 2011 provides resources and examples of good practice.
A toolkit of indicators, developed in 2014, helps monitor and evaluate progress.
A 2022 update, funded by the EU, introduced amendments to strengthen the Charter, clarifying language and emphasising intersectionality under the guiding principle: “always gender, never gender alone.”

New provisions were also added, including the need to apply a gender lens in crisis management and to address gender perspectives in digitalisation and online life. From 2023 onwards, all new signatories commit automatically to both the original Charter and the 2022 amendments.

The European Charter for Equality demonstrates how local and regional democracy is crucial for advancing fairness in daily life, whether through housing, transport, health, or political participation. By embedding gender equality into decision-making and governance, towns and regions can both safeguard rights and unlock economic and social potential.

More than a symbolic document, the Charter is a practical instrument for change, mobilising local authorities across Europe to ensure that equality between women and men is not only a principle on paper but a reality in every community.

Read the charter here

For more information, contact:

BORDELOT Federica

Director – Policy & Impact

TARAN Stanislav In Bridges of Trust, Bridges of Trust, Latest, Local democracy, Local democracy, Projects and Programmes, Projects and programmes, Publications

European social partners with Ukraine

Social partners offer solidarity and support in response to the Russian invasion

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The European social partners for local and regional governments, CEMR and EPSU, have jointly expressed their strong condemnation of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, calling it a grave violation of international law and a direct threat to democracy and peace in Europe.

In a statement released through the European Social Dialogue Committee, the two organisations extended full support to the Ukrainian people, especially to workers in cities, municipalities, and local public services, who continue to serve their communities under attack.

“Our thoughts are with first responders, emergency services workers and municipal staff who are ensuring the delivery of basic services, despite the ongoing destruction,” the statement reads.

CEMR and EPSU pledged to mobilise both material assistance and technical expertise to support their peers in Ukraine and urged the EU and international community to provide shelter and asylum for those fleeing the war.

As municipalities across Europe begin to welcome displaced persons, the statement also highlights the importance of supporting local migration services and coordinating with national governments to ensure dignified reception and integration.

Read the declaration here

For more information, contact:

TARAN Stanislav

Project Officer – International Partnerships (U-Lead)

TARAN Stanislav In Bridges of Trust, Bridges of Trust, Governance, Governance, Latest, Local democracy, Local democracy, Projects and Programmes, Projects and programmes, Publications, Ukraine reconstruction

Local support to Ukraine

European local and regional governments denounce Russia’s aggression and pledge solidarity with Ukrainian communities

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European local and regional governments have expressed their strongest condemnation of Russia’s repeated attacks and violations of Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity. They reject any attempt to dismantle a free and democratic state in Europe, stressing that these acts threaten peace and democracy across the continent.

Solidarity with Ukrainian Communities
Mayors, councils, and regional leaders stand firmly with their peers in Ukraine, municipalities, hromadas, districts, and their associations, who remain on the frontline providing essential services to citizens under the constant threat of bombings and destruction of infrastructure.

Commitment to Support
Local and regional governments across Europe, representing 60 national associations in 40 countries, commit to offering Ukrainian communities the materials, expertise, and assistance needed to face the ongoing crisis. They also prepare to respond to the humanitarian consequences, including the likely arrival of refugees, in close coordination with national governments.

City Diplomacy for Peace
Rooted in a tradition of local democracy and city diplomacy since 1951, European municipalities reaffirm their belief in peace and cooperation. They call on Russia to cease its aggression, withdraw from Ukraine, including Donbas and Crimea, and respect international law.

Looking Ahead
Despite the violence, local leaders remain convinced that diplomacy between cities can once again be a powerful force for unity, peace, and rebuilding across Europe.

Read the declaration here

For more information, contact:

TARAN Stanislav

Project Officer – International Partnerships (U-Lead)

Empowering local Europe

CEMR unveils its vision for stronger, inclusive and sustainable territories across Europe

Read full position paper

The Council of European Municipalities and Regions (CEMR) has launched its political manifesto calling for a more inclusive, resilient, and citizen-driven European Union. With over 41 national associations of local and regional governments behind it, the manifesto sets out a roadmap to bring Europe closer to its citizens, starting from the ground up.

At its heart are six concrete proposals to reinvigorate European democracy: from establishing permanent citizen panels and annual Europe Day debates in schools, to relaunching town twinning and creating an Erasmus-style programme for civil servants.

CEMR also stresses that a strong Europe must leave no one and no place behind. It calls for renewed efforts to tackle territorial disparities, address depopulation, and ensure that public services, from education to health, are accessible to all citizens, no matter where they live.

The manifesto also focuses on key priorities for the coming decade, including:

Citizen participation through inclusive local democracy;
Empowered local climate action, as cities and regions lead Europe’s green transition;
Fair and coordinated migration policies, with strong local support for integration;
Digital transformation that bridges the urban–rural divide;
New forms of town-to-town partnerships, especially beyond the EU’s borders;
And financial means to invest in sustainable local infrastructure and innovation.

CEMR’s proposals emphasise the urgent need for deeper recognition of local and regional governments in European decision-making. This includes a stronger role for the Committee of the Regions, the creation of a local chamber, and systematic consultation of representative associations like CEMR when shaping EU legislation and strategies.

By calling for a Europe that is democratic, sustainable, and close to its people, the manifesto is a bold invitation to reimagine the Union from the local level up, with municipalities and regions playing a central role in shaping the continent’s future.

Read the position paper here

For more information, contact:

BORDELOT Federica

Director – Policy & Impact

THOMAS Carol In Impact community Society, Impact community Society, Latest, Publications

TERRI – mapping territorial reforms

Discover “TERRI”: a new online tool mapping territorial reforms and powers in Europe

Discover the online tool

How is Europe’s complex patchwork of local and regional governments evolving? How have the responsibilities of municipalities, counties and regions changed in recent years, marked by environmental and health crises? What examples of successful territorial reforms can inspire others?

To answer these questions, we present to you a new digital report entitled, ‘Territorial Governance, Powers and Reforms in Europe’, or TERRI Report for short. This online tool highlights territorial reforms and decentralisation trends over the past decade in 40 countries. It also analyses the changing nature of relationships between central and subnational governments.

In light of the pandemic, this edition zooms in on local health responsibilities in different countries and evaluates the impact of COVID-19 on local health systems. TERRI visualises trends with numerous charts. In just a few clicks, you have access to individual country profiles, an interactive map and recommendations to policymakers for undertaking successful territorial reforms. There is also a unique tool for side-by-side comparisons of different countries’ systems of local government.

The TERRI Report is based on research by the Council of European Municipalities and Regions (CEMR), gathering data from its member associations on the state of local and regional governments across Europe.

The trends reshaping local Europe

While the situation in different European nations is necessarily diverse, the TERRI Report has identified several common trends.

Europe today is made up of 114,534 towns and cities, 1058 provinces and counties, and 353 regions. There have been reforms reducing the number of municipalities or regions in several countries. These typically aimed to consolidate the territories concerned into larger entities. Portugal, Albania, Estonia, Latvia, Ukraine and Turkey for example, all saw drastic reductions in the number of municipalities, while Norway and France considerably reduced the number of regions.

National associations of local and regional governments emerge as central players in both territorial reforms and healthcare systems. As regards healthcare, associations play a key role through activities such as sharing expert information and best practices amongst their members and in negotiating healthcare roles and budgets with national governments.

In many countries, there has been a decentralisation of healthcare responsibilities. This typically takes the form of increased healthcare responsibilities for subnational governments and/or more healthcare coordination between levels of government.

These are just a few of the changes that are affecting local life in our municipalities and regions. To find out more, explore the TERRI Report at: terri.cemr.eu

For more information, contact:

THOMAS Carol

Senior Adviser, Governance, Gender Equality, Local Democracy

Bringing Equality Closer to Home

2021 Report – CEMR Charter15 Reflection Process

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The European Charter for Equality of Women and Men in Local Life, developed by CEMR, is both a political commitment and a practical tool enabling local and regional governments to integrate gender equality into all aspects of policy and administration. Since its launch in 2006, nearly 2,000 signatories across 36 countries have joined the initiative.

Marking 15 years in 2021, CEMR initiated a reflection process to ensure the Charter remains relevant, inclusive and fit for the future. The process culminated in a set of recommendations to revitalise and adapt the Charter, supported by the EU’s CERV programme.

Key Activities and Participation

6 online workshops (June–November 2021)
5 interviews with national gender focal points
75 participants from 21 countries, including local authorities, associations, and civil society.

Workshop Themes & Findings

1. Employment & Economic Development (September 2021)

Gender gaps persist in pay, part-time work, and parental leave. The Charter update should reinforce equality in employment practices, particularly relevant to local governments as employers.

2. Climate, Urban Space & Sustainable Development (October 2021)

There is a demand to strengthen Article 25 on urban planning by including monitoring and evaluation tools, and to align with SDG 5 through the Charter’s indicators.

3. Violence Against Women and Girls (November 2021)

Updates should better address violence prevention, include children (especially girls) as victims, and consider the complex issue of honour-based violence.

4. Communication, Stereotypes & International Cooperation (June 2021)

The Charter must adopt an intersectional perspective without weakening its gender focus and show how gender equality benefits men and boys as well.

5. Multiple Discrimination & Intersectionality (September 2021)

A call to inclusively reflect diverse experiences of discrimination, guided by approaches like Sweden’s: “always gender, but never gender alone.”

6. Public Services & Administration (September 2021)

The Charter should be made more actionable at the local level. COVID-19 showed the need for gender-sensitive crisis planning to avoid backsliding on equality.

Next Steps

Based on the rich input from this process, an updated version of the Charter will be developed in 2022. This will ensure that it continues to serve as a dynamic tool for gender equality, adaptable to modern challenges, while respecting the commitments of existing signatories.

Read the study here

For more information, contact:

BORDELOT Federica

Director – Policy & Impact

Impact community Society64

EU directive on gender and domestic violence

CEMR urges multi-level coordination, victim support, and recognition of women politicians’ safety

CEMR report of 2021

Report on the publications, knowledge-sharing, advocacy and communications in 2021

Recovery & Resilience Facility funds

Local and regional governments warn of weak involvement, risks of fund misallocation, and limited ownership of recovery plans

Investing in Europe’s future

A new EU growth model must empower local services, boost resilience and deliver sustainable investments

European charter for equality

Europe’s towns and regions commit to building fairer societies through the European Charter for Equality

European social partners with Ukraine

Social partners offer solidarity and support in response to the Russian invasion

Local support to Ukraine

European local and regional governments denounce Russia’s aggression and pledge solidarity with Ukrainian communities

Empowering local Europe

CEMR unveils its vision for stronger, inclusive and sustainable territories across Europe

TERRI – mapping territorial reforms

Discover “TERRI”: a new online tool mapping territorial reforms and powers in Europe

Bringing Equality Closer to Home

2021 Report – CEMR Charter15 Reflection Process

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