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GRIFFON Axelle
In Climate, Energy, Environment, Impact community Climate, Impact community Climate, Latest, Publications

An incluve local green transition deal

Renewable Energy - News Section

CEMR launches groundbreaking report on the local green transition

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CEMR is excited to announce the launch of its new report, “Local Green Transition: Prospects for an Inclusive and Competitive Deal”. This study examines how Local and Regional Governments adapt to and implement the European Green Deal, aiming for climate neutrality by 2050.  It provides a comprehensive assessment of the opportunities and challenges LRGs face in executing green policies, highlighting their critical role in achieving Europe’s climate goals. With over 300 LRGs participating in extensive surveys, the study presents sector-cross-cutting and specific recommendations to enhance local-level implementation of green strategies.

Key Insights:

  • High Awareness: An impressive 92% of LRGs are familiar with the decarbonisation legislation affecting their regions.
  • Impact of Climate Change and Preparedness: Many LRGs report feeling the effects of climate change acutely, with only a third feeling adequately prepared to implement necessary legislation.
  • Positive Outcomes: More than half of the surveyed LRGs have experienced benefits from green policies, including job creation and improved air quality, although challenges like funding access and regulatory complexity remain significant.
  • Social Equity: The report emphasises the need for equitable and responsive policies to the diverse needs of urban and rural areas.

Recommendations for EU Decision-Makers: CEMR identifies crucial priorities for European and national governments to support LRGs in their green transition efforts, including:

  1. Addressing local needs during EGD implementation.
  2. Fostering collaborative dialogue and partnerships with LRGs.
  3. Simplifying and increasing funding for local initiatives.
  4. Ensuring equitable implementation across regions.
  5. Making the green transition a priority for cross-border cooperation.

CEMR President Gunn Marit Helgesen emphasised the importance of local governments in facilitating real change, stating, “Municipalities and regions lay the groundwork for a more competitive Europe by implementing renewable energy projects and developing sustainable infrastructure.”

This report serves as a vital resource for local and regional governments, aiming to guide them in harnessing the green transition to foster economic growth while addressing the pressing challenges of climate change

Read study here

For more information, contact:

BENNIS Hamza
In Digitalisation, Digitalisation, Employment, Employment, Impact community Labour, Impact community Labour, Latest, Projects and Programmes, Projects and programmes, Publications, Skills, Skills, ,

Local, social, digital – digitalisation impact

Digital transition - News 2022

A joint CEMR–EPSU project explores how digitalisation is transforming local and regional governments across Europe and its impact on workers, services and governance 

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Digital transformation is reshaping local public services across Europe, from how services are delivered to how public employees work and engage with citizens. To understand these changes and support effective responses, the Council of European Municipalities and Regions (CEMR) and the European Public Service Union (EPSU) launched a joint project: “Local, Social, Digital”, co-funded by the European Commission and implemented between 2023 and 2024. 

This initiative explored the challenges, opportunities and impact of digitalisation in local and regional governments (LRGs), with a particular focus on working conditions, skills development, social dialogue, and inclusive governance. 

At the heart of the project is a comprehensive research report prepared by an independent expert, based on desk research, interviews with national CEMR and EPSU affiliates, and key insights from international conferences and webinars held in Cagliari, Tallinn and online. 

The research revealed a wide range of digital practices and challenges across European LRGs. Digital tools are enhancing flexibility, accessibility and efficiency, but also raising important questions around workers’ rights, surveillance, data privacy, and fair access to training and upskilling. The study also found growing awareness around the gendered impact of digitalisation, particularly following the COVID-19 pandemic. 

Key themes included: 

  • Telework and hybrid work: The shift to remote working has been widely adopted, but requires clearer frameworks on rights, disconnection, and workplace safety. 
  • Digital skills and employment: There is a pressing need to train and support public employees in using digital tools, with strong involvement from both trade unions and employers. 
  • Ethics and AI: The use of Artificial Intelligence in local governance raises new ethical challenges and calls for stronger social partner dialogue. 
  • Smart cities and services: Digitalisation of public services must remain people-centred, focusing on inclusiveness, accessibility, and transparency. 

Many national and local social partners have already launched strategies, tools and agreements to manage this transformation, including practical guidelines, awareness-raising events and training programmes. 

As Europe enters its Digital Decade, local and regional governments stand at the forefront of this transformation. The “Local, Social, Digital” project reinforces the crucial role of social dialogue in managing digital change, ensuring fair working conditions, and promoting inclusive public services. 

CEMR and EPSU call for continued EU support and structured collaboration among employers, trade unions and institutions to empower local administrations in navigating digital change, sustainably, socially, and with dignity. 

Read the study here

For more information, contact: 

GAUDRON Marine
In Impact community Cohesion, Impact community Cohesion, Local Insights, Publications, Territorial development

Participatory Budgeting

Participatory Budget - Youth

Participatory Budgeting for Young People in Vienna

In 2020, Vienna embarked on a groundbreaking initiative with the introduction of its ‘Participatory Children and Youth’ strategy. This forward-thinking approach aims to empower children and young people to shape their futures by becoming key decision-makers in their communities. Central to this strategy is the allocation of municipal budget funds specifically for ideas proposed by young residents. Known as the ‘Participatory Children and Youth Million’, this initiative sets aside €1 million every two years to bring these ideas to life.

Youth Participatory Budgeting

Youth participatory budgeting is designed to actively engage young people in public decision-making processes. By providing platforms for discussion, deliberation, and proposal of projects, it fosters a collaborative environment where young voices are heard and valued. This approach not only encourages dialogue but also builds a strong sense of ownership and partnership between the youth and local government.

The process begins with young people, aged 5 to 20, submitting their ideas either individually or in groups. These submissions are then reviewed in co-creation workshops where participants work with representatives from over 30 municipal departments and district offices. These collaborations ensure that ideas are both innovative and practical. For example, in 2024, a total of 226 ideas were submitted, with 215 being retained for further development.

Public outreach plays a crucial role in this process, aiming to engage not just politically active youth but a broader demographic. In Phase 2, Vienna’s city departments and district administrators review these ideas, requiring clear communication and effective integration with municipal operations. Events and clear timelines are essential to keep the process transparent and inclusive. Proposals must have a minimum budget of €50,000 and be implemented within two years.

As of the May 2024 CEMR webinar, the process had advanced to the voting stage. At this point, 49 projects were presented online for voting, allowing both individual and group preferences to shape the outcomes.

Vienna’s participatory budgeting for children and young people exemplifies a successful model of inclusive governance, demonstrating how cities can harness the creativity and insights of their youngest residents to enhance community life.

Learn more about Participatory Budgeting here

GAUDRON Marine
In EU budget, EU budget, Gender equality, Impact community Cohesion, Impact community Cohesion, Impact community Society, Impact community Society, Latest, Migration and inclusion, Publications, Territorial development

X Budgeting – power of subnational finance

Participatory Budget - Youth

Municipalities and regions explore new approaches to budgeting, from participatory and priority-based models to green and SDG-oriented practices

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Municipalities, cities and regions across Europe are at the forefront of delivering essential services, from housing and health to climate action and mobility. Yet, they face increasing financial pressures, recovering from the pandemic’s “scissor effect” of higher costs and lower revenues, and coping with inflation. In this context, how budgets are designed and allocated has become a powerful political tool.

To explore this potential, the Council of European Municipalities and Regions (CEMR) organised a training event on 23 May titled “X-budgeting – the power of subnational finance.” The session brought together experts and practitioners to share knowledge on innovative approaches to local and regional finance.

“X-budgeting” refers to a range of methods that go beyond simple accounting, transforming budgets into instruments for shaping policy and engaging citizens. These include:

  • Priority-based budgeting, aligning spending with political or community priorities rather than repeating last year’s allocations.
  • Process-based budgeting, such as participatory models that involve residents directly in decisions.
  • Green and SDG budgeting, aligning local finances with climate goals and the Sustainable Development Agenda.

Each approach offers opportunities, from fostering transparency and boosting trust to mobilising investment for sustainability, but also poses challenges, such as methodological complexity, resource needs and the demand for strong political support.

By experimenting with new forms of budgeting, municipalities and regions can make financial choices that not only keep services running but also reflect citizens’ voices and accelerate progress towards long-term goals.

Read the study here

For more information, contact:

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

Europe engagement in localising SDGs

Localising SDGs study - News

European Mayors strengthening their engagement at UN High-Level Political Forum

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A delegation of European Mayors and councillors is heading to New York to defend the key role of local and regional governments in United Nations intergovernmental bodies during the upcoming High-Level Political Forum (HLPF) (8-17 July).

This year, HLPF will focus on “Reinforcing the 2030 Agenda and eradicating poverty in times of multiple crises” and is held under the auspices of the Economic and Social Council.

Once again, European Mayors and councillors will make they voice heard and present how the local level can deliver sustainable, resilient and innovative solutions.

Among them are:

  • Véronique Bertholle, Vice Mayor on European and International Relations, City of Strasbourg (France), PLATFORMA spokesperson
  • Francine Farrugia, Local Councillor in the locality of Siggiewi (Malta), member of CEMR-PLATFORMA Young Elected Officials Committee
  • Clare Hart, Vice-President Montpellier Métropole, President of Crisis and Rehabilitation Group, Cités Unies France
  • Gail Macgregor, Leader of Dumfries and Galloway Council, Scotland, UK (COSLA), Spokesperson for Environment and Economy, CEMR Spokesperson on SDGs
  • Nicole Unterseh, Mayor City of Bonn (Germany), Deutscher Städtetag
  • …

Mayors and councillors will actively participate in several meetings, including the Local2030 Coalition Special Event “Unlocking transformative change through the localisation of the six SDG transitions” on 10 June, during which Francine Farrugia will officially present the CEMR-PLATFORMA 2024 annual study on SDGs.

This year, the study European Territories Localise the SDGs – The time for impact is running out gathers 46 responses from associations of local and regional governments, representing 31 European countries.

In the Foreword, Tengiz Mtvarelishvili, Chair of Telavi City Council in Georgia, and PLATFORMA Spokesperson, warns about delays in implementing the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). “But there’s hope: local and regional governments are on the front lines, closest to citizens, and uniquely positioned to find tailored solutions”, he says.

Eva Baños de Guisasola, PLATFORMA Advisor on SDGs, Global Agendas and Climate, and Federica Bordelot, CEMR Director of Policy and Impact, will moderate several sessions.

To strengthen the voice of local and regional governments, PLATFORMA and CEMR are joining forces with the Global Task Force of Local and Regional Governments (GTF) led by UCLG.

This year, HLPF will be followed by the UN Summit of the Future, also in New York on 22-23 September, where local and regional governments will gather during an Action weekend ahead of the meeting.

Discover the study:

Check the agenda of the Global Task Force of Local and Regional Governments (GTF)

For more information, contact:

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

Future of EU cohesion policy

MFF - Position paper News 2025

Rethinking EU budget design to empower local and regional governments post-2027 

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The Council of European Municipalities and Regions (CEMR) highlights the critical role of local and regional governments in shaping Europe’s future Cohesion Policy and the next Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF). Municipalities, cities and regions are at the frontline of delivering essential services, from transport to education and climate adaptation, while also being major drivers of public investment. Yet, the upcoming EU budget debates risk sidelining their role, particularly with the disappearance of the Treaty objective for Territorial Cohesion. 

CEMR calls for a strong, ambitious Cohesion Policy that maintains at least one-third of the EU budget and embeds key principles such as partnership, multi-level governance, and place-based development. Simplification is a top priority: fewer funds, a single set of rules for beneficiaries, and reduced administrative burdens would make EU resources more accessible and effective. Importantly, local and regional governments must be clearly recognised as beneficiaries and implementing partners to ensure funds reach citizens directly. 

A place-based and integrated territorial approach should be at the core of future instruments, designed bottom-up with local authorities defining priorities. CEMR stresses that Cohesion funds must not be redirected towards large corporations without strategic planning, but rather reinforce local and regional capacity for innovation, sustainability, and economic growth. 

For the post-2027 EU budget, the message is clear: no successful European project without local and regional governments at its heart. Territorial cohesion, simplified rules, and genuine partnership are essential to delivering a fair, sustainable, and effective Cohesion Policy. 

Read the position paper here 

For more information, contact: 

GRIFFON Axelle
In Climate, Energy, Energy, Environment, Environment, Impact community Climate, Impact community Climate, Latest, Publications, Water, Water

Adoption of the nature restoration law

Green City - News Section

Cities and regions urge swift adoption of EU Nature Restoration Law to combat climate and biodiversity crises

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As Europe faces intensifying environmental challenges, from biodiversity loss to climate-driven heatwaves and pollution, cities and regions are stepping up their call for action. Partners of the Urban Agenda for the EU Partnership on Greening Cities, including many local and regional governments, have issued a joint letter urging EU Member States to swiftly adopt the long-delayed Nature Restoration Law. 

Local authorities are often at the frontline of environmental crises. With over 70% of Europeans living in urban areas, the need to restore green spaces is not only a climate priority but also a public health and quality-of-life imperative. The proposed law would provide a long-awaited framework to strengthen biodiversity, adapt cities to rising temperatures, and support sustainable land use. 

Delays in the law’s adoption not only undermine urgent environmental action but also threaten democratic trust in EU decision-making. A provisional agreement between the European Parliament and Council was reached months ago, and failure to finalise it now would send the wrong signal, both to EU citizens and the global community. 

CEMR and its partner’s stress: restoring nature is not optional. It is essential! Local governments stand ready to deliver, but they need the political will at the EU level to match their ambition. 

For more information, contact: 

BENNIS Hamza
In Employment, Impact community Labour, Impact community Labour, Latest, Publications, Skills

Funding local services first

Funding and investment in Local Regional Governments must be protected

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Europe’s sectoral social dialogue partners for local and regional government unions are concerned about the review of the EU’s economic governance rules.

The Council of European Municipalities and Regions (CEMR) and the European Federation of Public Service Trade Unions (EPSU) are concerned that the proposed reduction in public spending will negatively impact the essential services provided by local and regional governments.

The EU institutions are currently reforming the EU economic governance framework. Bruegel Institute calculations indicate that several member states will have to reduce public spending in 2025 and in the coming years, often in the billions of euros, under this mandate.  

This would not be the first time the EU sets indications to member states to reduce public spending. The effects of such measures have strongly impacted funding for local and regional governments and, therefore, their ability to provide quality services to citizens. Local governments are first responders to the immediate needs of citizens – they deliver services that allow all our communities to thrive. From public administration to housing and social services, from firefighters to waste collection: underfunding means jeopardising the delivery and quality of services to citizens.

Insufficient funding for local and regional governments exacerbates inequalities and disparities across regions and municipalities, as well as between rural and urban areas. Without adequate resources, local and regional authorities struggle to address pressing issues such as unemployment, labour and skills shortages, working conditions, social inclusion, and the digital and green transition.

Moreover, reductions in public spending hit women harder. Underfunding contributes to the persistence of the gender pay gap in the EU, given that the majority of workers in the sector are women often low pay. In addition, women are more reliant on local public services.

Furthermore, local and regional governments ensure democracy and equal access for all citizens. With just two months until European elections, it is important to recall that underfunding local governments means underfunding our democracies.

We urge European policymakers to carefully assess the implications the economic governance framework reform will have on local and regional governments in the EU. The impact of these rules cannot hinder the ability of local and regional governments to fulfil their mandates and provide essential services to citizens. As sectoral social partners in local and regional governments, we are committed to continue supporting the implementation of the European Pillar of Social Rights towards a social Europe for all. This economic reform must not constrain this European ambition.

We expect economic governance rules that protect the funding and investment that Local and Regional Governments require to serve their communities with the services which Europe’s citizens deserve.

Read the statement here

For more information, contact:

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

Unfair recovery fund distribution

Post-COVID Recovery Fund: centralisation and unfair distribution of resources risk harming cohesion in Europe

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A new CoR-CEMR consultation shows that the territorial allocation of funds from the Recovery and Resilience Facility is widely perceived as unbalanced on the ground.

On the eve of a crucial meeting of European heads of state and government focused on competitiveness, the European Committee of the Regions (CoR) and the Council of European Municipalities and Regions (CEMR) unveil the results of their third joint survey on the implementation of the post-pandemic Recovery and Resilience Facility (RFF), which is worth €648 billion.

While the implementation of the RRF is at the halfway point, regions and cities still feel left aside from National Recovery and Resilience Plans (NRRPs). A new consultation conducted jointly by CoR and CCRE-CEMR confirms the highly centralised management of the RRF by the Member States.

Key findings

  • The territorial allocation of RRF funds is broadly perceived as unfair. Nearly half of respondents rate territorial fairness as “poor or very poor” while only a few see it as “good or very good”. And the degree of ownership at local and regional level is also unsatisfactory with significantly more respondents seeing it as “poor or very poor” than “good or very good”.
  • The green and digital transitions stand out as the two objectives supported effectively by the NRRPs, according to respondents in the consultation.
  • Conversely, fully one-third of respondents state that NRRPs do “not at all” effectively contribute to enhancing territorial cohesion, despite this being the legal basis and general objective of the RRF.
  • The involvement of local and regional authorities remains inadequately weak in the various phases of preparation, implementation or monitoring of NRRPs. The specific provisions of REPowerEU to improve the involvement of LRAs do not seem to have yielded concrete results.
  • Almost all respondents encounter barriers to their involvement in the NRRP. The main barrier identified is the national government providing an inappropriate framework for involvement.
  • The share of respondents who consider limited capacity or expertise within their region or city to be a barrier is significantly higher than in the previous consultation. This is likely linked to the higher-than-expected administrative burden of the RRF.
  • Potential overlaps and lack of coordination with cohesion funds remain the highest risk perceived by local and regional governments in the implementation of the RRF.
  • While the overall impact of projects funded by the RRF is rated positively by respondents, they are rather divided regarding its synergies with other funds, its additionality and flexibility.

Christophe Rouillon (FR/PES), Mayor of Coulaines and CoR’s rapporteur on the Mid-term evaluation of the Recovery and Resilience Facility said: “The results of the joint consultation underscore that the RRF is not the silver bullet it was claimed to be. The RRF was the appropriate response in a multi-crises context and will probably have had a positive macroeconomic impact. However, the centralisation it brought about as well as the deficiencies of the performance-based mechanism cannot be extrapolated to the future Cohesion Policy post-2027 if we do not want to put at risk that this policy remains the most efficient EU policy for delivering fair transitions throughout all EU regions.“

Kamila Bláhová, Vice-president for European Affairs, Union of Towns and Municipalities of SMOCR (CZ), stated: “The RRF and the national recovery plans of the Czech Republic have a huge potential to support the efforts of local and regional governments aimed at revitalizing the local economy and green infrastructure investments at the local level. However, the issue of administrative capacity and poor synergies between the RRF and other EU funds present significant challenges. It’s crucial to optimize how subnational governments can maximise the use of this substantial funding source and that we address any shortcomings as the RRF moves forward.”

Background

The consultation was conducted between January and March 2024, collating the views and experiences of 36 organisations representative of a variety of subnational government levels across 22 EU Member States. The respondents were from Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czechia, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Spain, and Sweden. The geographical composition of the respondents was not identical to that of previous consultations.  Responses received from individual local and regional governments were also taken into account.

Results of the previous CoR-CEMR joint consultations (January 2021 and April 2022). 

Read the study here

Contacts:
Matteo Miglietta – CoR
Tel. (+32) 470 895382
Matteo.miglietta@cor.europa.eu

GRIFFON Axelle
In Climate, Energy, Environment, Impact community Climate, Impact community Climate, Latest, Publications

Local Alliance for the Green Deal

Local Alliance: city and regional networks urge EU to stay the course on Green Deal implementation

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Eight leading networks of European cities and regions – ACR+, CEMR, Climate Alliance, Energy Cities, Eurocities, FEDARENE, ICLEI Europe and POLIS – have come together to form the Local Alliance. 

In a joint letter, the Alliance calls on EU leaders to find new ways to effectively roll out the European Green Deal at the local level. The EU must “stay the course on the European Green Deal under this and the next mandate of the European Commission,” the networks have stated.

Recent challenges, such as the passage of the Nature Restoration Law, which still languishes with the European Council, or the last-minute setbacks suffered by the internal combustion engine phase out, are undermining the Green’s Deal objectives. As the European elections approach, the EU must ensure it remains a global beacon for climate leadership.  

Given the more complicated arena for climate legislation that lies ahead, local leaders are adamant that the EU’s commitment to achieve climate neutrality by 2050 should remain a top priority, delivering a just transition that works for people and planet. 

Cities and regions are where at least 70% of the European Green Deal legislation must be implemented. European local and regional governments have already embarked on the journey to climate neutrality and started to transform European cities and regions, as well as ways of living, heating and cooling, housing, mobility, producing and consuming for millions of citizens. Today, the EU’s subnational governments mobilise around 58% of climate-significant public expenditures, surpassing their central governments. 

“Through this Local Alliance, we call on the EU institutions to listen to cities and regions that are already localising the Green Deal objectives by implementing 70% of the EU legislation. Putting the experience of local governments at the centre means prioritizing effective transition policies that will ensure fairness and acceptance of the Green Deal for all European citizens” – Fabrizio Rossi, Secretary General, CEMR.

In the letter sent to EU leaders, the Local Alliance highlights that Europe’s pace of success in achieving the Green Deal objectives will depend on the following help for cities and regions:  

  • More joined up support for investments from the EU, national and regional funds across different funding programmes and actors, which are more responsive to locally developed integrated and holistic action and investment plans. This would also be a prerequisite for creating local jobs and markets for the European green industry.   

Local leaders highlight that partnership between all levels of government is key as “Financing the local transition to climate neutrality will require mobilising the EU and national budgets.” 

  • Cities and regions need adequate in-house skills and a workforce to successfully do their part of the climate neutrality transition and by doing so, to create demand for European businesses and industries.   

“These opportunities are the best way to create local investment potential for European industry, and to share the transition benefits for all EU citizens,” say the Local Alliance leaders.

  • Establishing structured dialogues with the local and regional levels at the EU and national level will be critical to achieving the necessary transformation and societal resilience at scale in Europe.  

It is only with cities, regional and local governments on board – the closest level of government to people and the one responsible for implementing most of the European Green Deal legislation – that we can fully meet the objective of a climate neutral Europe by 2050. 

The Local Alliance further repeats its commitment to work with national governments, the European Council, the Commission, and the Parliament to turn the European Green Deal into reality for every citizen across Europe. 

For more information, contact:

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