Impact Community Society

Our mission: build inclusive, democratic, and trustworthy societies free of inequalities and discrimination

CEMR believes that strong societies start with strong local democracy. When people can take part in the decisions that shape their daily lives, trust grows, communities become fairer, and no one is left behind.

Local and regional governments are the foundation of democracy in Europe. They work every day to make democracy visible. By listening, engaging, and ensuring everyone has a voice. Promoting gender equality, fighting discrimination, and encouraging equal participation in public life are essential to making local democracy inclusive and representative.

Yet, local democracy faces growing challenges. Increasing hostility and violence against local representatives threaten both individual safety and public trust in institutions. Supporting and protecting local leaders is therefore crucial to safeguarding democratic values and participation.

CEMR works to strengthen local democracy and inclusion through advocacy, dialogue, training, and cooperation. Together with our member associations and European institutions, we promote equality, transparency, and citizen engagement. By empowering local and regional governments and ensuring gender equality and respect for all, we can build inclusive, democratic, and trustworthy societies where every person feels safe, represented, and able to shape their community’s future.

Discover our publications on society

Thematics included under the Impact Community Society

Democracy

Equality

EU budget

EU enlargement and Eastern Partnership

Global citizenship education

Governance

Housing

International cooperation

Local finance

Migration and inclusion

Twinning

Ukraine reconstruction

CEMR expert groups working on these themes

We convene expert groups on equality, migration, governance, and public services, and we coordinate the European Charter for Equality Observatory to support implementation and monitoring across Europe.

Learn more about our members

1. Expert group on gender equality

Provides the political framework for advancing gender equality at the local and regional levels. It guides members in implementing the European Charter for Equality and supports its monitoring and strategic development.

2. Standing Committee for equality of women and men in local life

Provides political framework for members on gender equality; supports implementation and monitoring of the European Charter for Equality.

3. Expert group on governance & local democracy

Focuses on strengthening local democracy and improving the governance of territories. The group works on territorial reforms, citizen participation, open government, better regulation of EU policies, subsidiarity, proportionality, and the EU’s institutional architecture.

4. Task force on housing

Brings together housing specialists from CEMR member countries to exchange on national and local solutions to the housing crisis. The task force contributes to debates on affordable housing and supports CEMR’s input to the upcoming EU Affordable Housing Plan.

5. Expert group on local finances

Monitors the impact of European regulations on local and regional finances. The group works on European Accounting Standards, VAT regime changes, local taxation, and the broader financial environment for municipalities and regions. It also contributes to developing comparative knowledge on local finances across Europe.

6. Expert group on migration and inclusion

Brings together experts on migration, integration, and asylum. The group monitors EU policies affecting migrant and refugee inclusion, and contributes to CEMR’s activities, advocacy work, and knowledge-sharing initiatives from a local and regional perspective.

7. Expert group on public services

Covers key areas affecting local and regional service delivery, including public services regulation, public procurement, state aid, and international trade negotiations.

8. Expert group on twinning

Supports members in the Citizens, Equality, Rights and Values (CERV) programme, manages guidance for town twinning and partnerships, and contributes to the development of decentralised cooperation, including through the platform.