SPEAKING to participants at Barcelona’s 1st Retreat for UCLG Secretariats, Committees and Key Partners during the first session on 9 February 2015, Conseil des Communes et Régions d’Europe (CCRE/CEMR)’s Secretary General Frédéric Vallier had the opportunity to share with all conference participants what the CCRE/CEMR plans to get done this year.
First things first, Mr. Vallier explained the profile of CCRE/CEMR to the audience. Under the title of “CEMR in a Nutshell?” Mr. Vallier told the audience about the highlights of the Council of European Municipalities and Regions (CEMR) profile.
Mr. Vallier said that CEMR has 60 member associations, 150 local governments from 41 countries and has marked its existence in Europe since 60 years ago. “A mission has been outlined i.e. to promote the construction of a united, peaceful and democratic Europe founded on local self-government, the respect for the principle of subsidiarity and the participation of citizens.”
Two pillars
CEMR’s work is based on two pillars:
- European policy and legislation in all areas that have an impact on municipalities and regions.
- Provision a platform of debate and exchange of experiences for European local and regional governments and partners.
CEMR has focused on five thematic areas:
- Governance, Democracy and Citizenship
- Environment, Climate and Energy
- Economic, Social and Cohesion
- Local and Regional Public Service Management
- International Engagement and Cooperation
Governance, democrazy and citizenship
Speaking at the 1st Retreat for UCLG Secretariats, Committees and Key Partners, Mr. Vallier also explained the areas for action when dealing with issues related to governance, democracy and citizenship.
During 2015, some of the actions and milestones expected to be undertaken include:
- Monitor the evolution of Europe’s local and regional finances.
- Monitor and assess the latest re-and decentralization, regionalization and metropolisation trends in Europe.
- Continue to promote town twinning and citizens’ exchange in Europe (www.twinning.org) and influence related EU legislation.
- Promote the role of youth and young elected representatives in EU policies.
- Foster exchanges on challenges and solutions to deal with radicalization and diversity at the local level in Europe.
- Promote and find ways to continue to promote the European Charter on Equality (www.charter-equality.eu).
Action on issues of the environment, climate and energy will include:
- Influence key EU legislation packages (on air quality, waste, circular economy)
- To promote in Europe and the world Covenant of Mayors (www.covenantofmayors.eu) and its adaptation branch: Mayors Adapt (www.mayors-adapt.eu) to help reduce energy consumption and to fight climate change at a local level.
- To ensure a strong European local & regional voice at the Paris Climate Summit (COP21)
On Economic, Social and Territorial Cohesion will include actions as follows:
- To assist CEMR member associations in implementing the EU Structural Funds.
- To monitor and influence the development of an EU Urban Agenda, and prepare European local and regional governments for Habitat III.
- To promote the Reference Framework for Sustainable Cities (www.rfsc.eu) as model of integrated sustainable urban development in Europe.
- To exchange on good practices related to mobility.
- To help European local and regional governments address demographic change and promote age-friendly environments (www.age-platform.eu).
Issues on local and regional public service management will include actions as follows:
- To influence key EU legislation (working time, data protection, etc.)
- To monitor the negotiations on international trade agreements (EU-Canada, EU-USA) and their impact on European local & regional governments
Issues on International Engagement & Cooperation will include the following:
- To sign and launch a strategic partnership with the European Commission (DG DEVCO).
- To use the European Year for Development to continue to strengthen the position of PLATFORMA as the European voice of local & regional governments for development on:
- Policy Forum on Development
- European Development Days
- Assesses of Decentralized Cooperation
- PLATFORMA partners events
- To strengthen the capacity of Eastern European Neighborhood local and regional governments and their associations.
In 2015
Transversal actions and milestones in 2015 will include:
- To promote CEMR as a strategic partner of the European institutions and raise its profile as the voice of local & regional governments in Europe.
- To monitor the development of CEMR member associations and provide them with quality services when requested (surveys, etc.).
- To ensure productive & dynamic statutory meetings at the following arranged:
- 21-22 April, Vienna: Secretaries General & Directors of member associations
- 25-26 June, Munich: Executive Bureau & Policy Committee
- 29-30 October, Nicosia: Secretaries General & Directors of member associations
- 4 December, Paris: Policy Committee
- To successfully renew CEMR leadership
(MH)
