Leaders' Summit

Programme

The programme agenda is now available as a draft: you can check it here

The CEMR Leaders’ Summit brings together over 150 international leaders from 41 member countries and partners to explore Europe’s most urgent challenges. This two-day gathering includes an internal CEMR Policy Committee meeting on Day 1 and strategic political discussions on Day 2, focused on the needs of CEMR members and the broader international context.

Day one will cover CEMR’s statutory and financial matters, alongside a strategic discussion on the challenges facing local and regional governments in defending democracy amid global instability. Topics will include misinformation, external influence, and political polarisation. Local leaders will explore how to protect democratic values through transparency, inclusivity, and citizen engagement.

Across Europe, local and regional governments are navigating an increasingly complex and fast-evolving environment. Demographic transitions, geopolitical tensions, and shifting investment priorities—at both EU and national levels—are converging to create new challenges and expectations for subnational governments.

These developments highlight the urgent need for place-based and territorially sensitive policymaking that reflects Europe’s rich diversity and ensures that no community is left behind. As the European Union prepares for a new strategic cycle, framed by the Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) 2028–2034, local and regional governments must not only adapt to new realities but actively shape the emerging European agenda.