CEMR Study | National associations of local and regional governments in Europe by CCRE - CEMR

National associations

of local and regional governments in Europe

A study on the CEMR and its members

BY THE NUMBERS

National associations

#EUlocal www.cemr.eu twitter.com/ccrecemr

of local and regional governments in Europe

EUROPE counts

CEMR unites

100,000

local & regional governments.

Associations cover 95% of their country’s population.

associations in 41 countries. P7

e iat

tio cia

so As 45

r te In

ca Lo

Who do associations represent?

io eg

P15

How are associations legally protected?

How is your association legally protected?

16%

3/4

The constitution, a constitutional law or organic law

of associations General law adopted by a legislative body, represent national or regionalthe (parliament, senate, etc.) local level only. Regulation or decision adopted by an executive body

3 3

(government or presidential directives, decisions, decrees,

Activities covered by the associations

of associations have an office in

BRUSSELS.

10%

24%

Staff 11-30 - 2 23%

Staff 51-199 - 4 Staff > 200 - 5

38%

100% of associations act in the public interest. P19

100%

advocacy knowledge sharing publications training research salary negociation

95% 88% 86% 81%

not covered

55%

count Staff 2/3 ofupassociations to 50 employees. Staff < 10 - 1

60%

covered

P25

Staff 31-50 - 3

orders, administrative associations can be referred to as provision, etc.) Other “umbrella organisations”. P12

43%

constitution general law regulation other

19%

P25

Consultation

Smallest: 3 Biggest: 400

91% of associations are regularly consulted by their central government.

Associations are consulted in every country

<10 employees 11-30 employees 31-50 employees 51-199 employees >200 employees P22

Representation in Europe

84%

of associations collaborate with the Committee of the Regions.

P31

Governing in partnership

2018

95%

In , the European Parliament adopted a resolution that supports CEMR becoming a permanent consultant of the EU institutions.

of associations collaborate with the Congress

(Council of Europe).

Resolution on the role of cities in the institutional framework of the Union

P35

Europe needs to take a local shift. Join us in making it happen!

P36

InInIn aaIn NAT NATI NN

ALBA ALBAN A

Albanian A Albanian Ass Alban Al Municip ofof Municipal of Mun of SHBSH SHBSH SHBSH SH Members: Members: 61 Memb M Type of Me Type of Mem Type o Staff: Staff: 3Staff: 3 Ty3 St Web: Web: www.a wwww Web: W

The Council of European Municipalities and The Council of European Municipalities and The Council of European Municipalities and Ourmission mission The Council of European Municipalities and Our The Council of European Municipalities and The Council of European Municipalities and Regions is the united voice of Europe’s local AUSTRIA AUSTR Regions is the united voice of Europe’s local AU Regions is the united voice of Europe’s local Regions is the united voice of Europe’s local Regions is the united voice of Europe’s local Regions is the united voice of Europe’s local and regional governments federated through Austrian Austrian ass a promote the construction of a We and regional governments federated through Austri We promote the construction of of a a and regional governments federated through ofof Municipal Municip Au We promote the construction and regional governments federated through and regional governments federated through and regional governments federated through 60 national associations. of Mun We promote the construction We promote the construction We promote the construction ofofaofa a GEMEINDEB united, peaceful and democratic 60 national associations. GEMEINDE of united, peaceful and democratic 60 national associations. GEMEI united, peaceful and democratic 60 national associations. 60 national associations. 60 national associations. GE Members: Members: 10 united, peaceful and democratic united, peaceful and democratic united, peaceful and democratic Europe founded upon local selfMemb Europe founded upon local selfType Type ofof Mem Me Mo CEMR is the European section of United Cities Europe founded upon local selfType Staff: 1414 Ty government and respect for the CEMR isis the European section ofof United Cities Europe founded upon local self- Staff: Europe founded upon local selfEurope founded upon local selfStaff: government and respect for the CEMR the European section United Cities Web: www1 Web: www.g and Local Governments (UCLG), through which it government and respect for the CEMR is the European section of United Cities CEMR is the European section of United Cities CEMR is the European section of United Cities Web:Stw principle ofof subsidiarity. and Local Governments (UCLG), through which it government and respect for the government and respect for the government and respect for the W principle subsidiarity. and Local Governments (UCLG), through which itititit Austrian a Austrian ass represents European local and regional governments principle ofof subsidiarity. and Local Governments (UCLG), through which and Local Governments (UCLG), through which and Local Governments (UCLG), through which Austri Cities an ofof Cities and represents European local and regional governments principle of subsidiarity. principle of subsidiarity. principle subsidiarity. Au of Citi represents European local and regional governments STAEDTEB STAEDTEBUN at international level. local of represents European local and regional governments represents European local and regional governments represents European and regional governments STAED at international level. Members: Members: 25 ST at international level. Memb Type of Me Type of Mem

Our mission Our mission Our mission Our mission

atinternational international level. level. atatinternational level.

Shaping policy in Europe Shaping policy in Europe Shaping policy in Europe Shaping policy Europe Shaping policy Europe Shaping policy ininin Europe

We advocate on behalf of local and regional governments We advocate on behalf of local and regional to sure theiron voice is heardofin Europe, shifting the Wemake advocate behalf local and regional governments to on make sure their voice isand heard in Weto advocate onbehalf behalf local and regional We advocate on behalf local regional We advocate ofofoflocal and regional focus local democracy and autonomy. This advocacy governments to make sure their voice is heard in Europe, shifting the focus to local democracy and governments to make sure their voice heard governments to make sure their voice heard governments make sure their voice isisis heard ininin work stands on to our associations’ experience Europe, shifting themember focus to local on democracy and autonomy. This advocacy work stands our member Europe, shifting the focus to local democracy and Europe, shifting the focus local democracy and Europe, shifting the focus toto local democracy and and expertise. autonomy. This advocacy work stands on our member associations’ experience and expertise. autonomy. This advocacy work stands on our member autonomy. This advocacy work stands on our member autonomy. This advocacy work stands on our member associations’ experience and expertise.

associations’ experience and expertise. associations’ experience and expertise. associations’ experience and expertise.

Providing a forum for exchange Providing a forum for exchange Providing a forum for exchange Through our large network, we facilitate exchanges

Providing forum for exchange Providing forum for exchange Providing aaa forum for exchange

Through ourdebate large network, we facilitate exchanges and feed the between towns and regions, their Through our large network, wetowns facilitate exchanges and feed the debate between and regions, associations, partners and stakeholders. We allow them Through our large network, we facilitate exchanges Through our large network, we facilitate exchanges Through large network, we facilitate exchanges and feed our the debate between towns andWe regions, their associations, partners and stakeholders. allow to cooperate on issues that affect the day-to-day lives and feed the debate between towns and regions, and feed the debate between towns and regions, and feed the debate between towns and regions, their associations, partners and stakeholders. We allow them to cooperate on issues that affect the day-to-day of Europeans. their associations, partners and stakeholders. We allow their partners and stakeholders. We allow their associations, stakeholders. We allow them toassociations, cooperatepartners on issuesand that affect the day-to-day lives of Europeans. them tocooperate cooperate on issues that affect the day-to-day them tocooperate on issues that affect the day-to-day them on issues that affect the day-to-day lives oftoEuropeans.

lives ofEuropeans. Europeans. lives lives ofofEuropeans. Making a difference in 5 areas Making a difference in 5 areas difference in 5 areas •Making Governance,ademocracy and citizenship

Making a difference areas Making difference areas Making aademocracy difference ininin 555 areas Governance, citizenship Environment, climate andand energy

• •• •• •• •• •

Governance,engagement democracy citizenship Environment, climate andand energy International and cooperation •International Governance, democracy and citizenship • Economic, Governance, democracy and citizenship Governance, democracy and citizenship Environment, climate and and energy social and territorial cohesion engagement cooperation and regional public service management • Environment, Environment, climate and energy • Local climate and energy Environment, climate and energy Economic, social and territorial cohesion International engagement and cooperation and regional public service management Economic, social and territorial cohesion • International International engagement and cooperation • Local engagement and cooperation International engagement and cooperation and regional public servicecohesion management • Economic, Economic, social and territorial cohesion • Local social and territorial cohesion Economic, social and territorial • Local Local and regional public service management and regional public service management • • Local and regional public service management

Type Staff: 20 Mo Staff: 20 Ty2 Staff: Web: www Web: www.st Web:Stw W

Founded in Founded in Founded Founded Founded Founded in ininin Founded in

1951 1951 1951 1951 1951 1951 1951 60 60 member associations 60 60 60 60 member associations 60 member associations member associations member associations member associations member associations 41 41 countries 41 countries 41 41 41 41 countries countries countries countries countries 130,000 100,000 local and regional 100,000 local and regional governments 100,000 100,000 100,000 100,000 local and regional governments local and regional local and regional local and regional local and regional governments governments governments governments governments 16 16 committees & 1616 committees & expert groups 16 16 16 committees expert groups & committees committees committees &&& committees expert groups & expert groups expert groups expert groups expert groups

BELGI BELGIUM BE Associatio Association Associ and the M and the Mun As and th the Brus ofof the Brusse BRULOCAL BRULOCALIS an of the BRULO of Members: Members: 22 BR Type of Me Type of Mem Memb Staff: Staff: 30 30 Mo Type Web: Web: www.b www Staff: Ty3 Web:Stw W Association Associatio and and Municip Munic Associ VVSG VVSG and As M Members: Members: 30 VVSG an Type Type of of Mem Me Memb VV Staff: Staff: 130 130 o Type M Web: Web: www.v www Staff: Ty1 Web:Stw Union Union ofof citi Wc and and municip munic Union UVCW UVCW and Un m Members: Members: 26 UVCW an Type Type ofof Mem Me Memb Staff: Staff: 6060 UV Type o M Web: Web: www.u www Staff: 6 Ty Web: w St BOSNIA BOSN W HERZEG HERZE BO H Association Associatio and and Cities Cities of Associ ofof Bosnia Bosnia ana and Ci SOGFBiH SOGFBiH As of Bos Members: Members: 80 an SOGFB Type Type ofof Mem Me of Staff: Staff: 8Memb 8 SO Type o Web: Web: www.so www Staff:M8 Association Associatio Web:Tyw Republic Republic of StoS Associ ALVRS ALVRS W Repub Members: Members: 64 As ALVRS Type Type of of Mem Me Staff: 9 Re Staff: 9Memb AL Type o Web: www Web: www.a Staff:M9 Web:Tyw St W

aaIn nutshell nutshell In aIn anutshell a nutshell nutshell In anutshell ATIONAL ATIONAL ASSOCIATIONS ASSOCIATIONS LOCAL AND REGIONAL GOVERNMENTS GOVERNMENTS N TATIAO ANA L ALAALLA SA SAO CSOF IC OT N SO OREGIONAL L FOFL CO LC RND ED NANA ICCTAIIIA TAA ITTO N SN FO CO ACA LALNLADA NAN D RGI N ION O N OA IO ON N TITO IN SSSO O CLOCAL IIAND SSFOO LLA O SOF O

ALBANIA BANIA ALBANIA ALBANIA ALBANIA ALBANIA

BULGARIA BULGARIA BULGARIA BULGARIA BULGARIA BULGARIA

FINLAND FINLAND FINLAND FINLAND FINLAND FINLAND

HUNGARY HUNGARY HUNGARY HUNGARY HUNGARY HUNGARY

LITHUANIA LITHUANIA LITHU

Associations Loc Associations ofof Loca Association Association ofof Finnish Finnish Local and and Hungarian National Association Hungarian National Association ofof National Association National Association ofof of Association ofLocal Finnish Local and Associatio National Association Hungarian National Association of Association of Finnish Local and As National Association of ofof National Association of Association ofof Finnish Local and National Association Association Finnish Local andHungarian Hungarian National Association Hungarian National Association ofof National Association Lithuania Lithuania Regional Authorities Authorities Local Authorities Local Authorities Municipalities the Municipalities in in the Republic ofof Regional Authorities Lithuania Municipalities inRepublic theinRepublic of Regional Local Authorities Regional Authorities Li Municipalities the Republic of Local Authorities Regional Authorities Municipalities in the Republic of Regional Authorities Local Authorities Local Authorities Municipalities in the Republic of LSA LSA AFLRA AFLRA TÖOSZ TÖOSZ Bulgaria Bulgaria AFLRAAFLRA LSA Bulgaria TÖOSZ TÖOSZ LS Bulgaria AFLRA Bulgaria AFLRA TÖOSZ TÖOSZ Bulgaria NAMRB NAMRB Members: Members: 6060 Members: Members: 311 311 311 Members: 1614 1614 Members: 1614 NAMRB Members: Members: Members: NAMRB Members: 311 311 M Members: 1614 1,614 NAMRB NAMRB Members: Members: 311 Members: 1,614 Members: 1614 Type of Members: Type of Members: Type Type of of Members: Members: Type of Members: Type of Members: Members: 265 Members: 265 Type of Members: Type of Me Members: 265 265 Type ofType Members: Type of Members: Ty Members: ofType Members: Staff: Staff: 220 220 Staff: Staff: 6 6 Staff: Staff: 18 18 Type of Members: Type ofType Members: members: Type of Members: Members: 265 Type of members: Type of members: of members: Members: 265 Members: Staff: 220 Staff: 6Staff: 6 Staff: 18 St of Members: ofType Members: Staff: 220 Web: Web: www.kuntaliitto.fi www.kuntaliitto.fi Web: Web: www.toosz.hu www.toosz.hu Web: Web: www.lsa.lt www.lsa.lt Staff: Staff: 55Staff: 55 Type of members: Staff: 220 Staff: 6 members: Staff: 220 Staff: 6 Type of Members: Web: www.kuntaliitto.fi Web: www.toosz.hu Web: www 55 55 Web: www.kuntaliitto.fi Web: www.toosz.hu W Staff: Web: Web: www.namrb.org www.namrb.org Staff: Web: www.kuntaliitto.fi Web: www.toosz.hu Staff: 5555 Web: www.kuntaliitto.fi Web: www.toosz.hu Web: www.namrb.org Web: www.aam.org.al Web: www.aam.org.al Web: www.namrb.org Web: www.namrb.org Web: www.namrb.org FRANCE FRANCE LUXEMBURG LUXEMBURG ICELAND ICELAND AUSTRIA STRIA FRANCE LUXEM ICELAND AUSTRIA FRANCE CROATIA CROATIA ICELAND AUSTRIA FRANCE FRANCE CROATIA ICELAND ICELAND AUSTRIA AUSTRIA French French Association Association ofof the the Council Council Association Association ofof Luxem Lux CROATIA Association Association of of Local Local Authorities Authorities in in nian associations associations French Association of the Council Associatio CROATIA CROATIA Association of Local Authorities in ustrian associations ofof European European Municipalities Municipalities and and of theIceland and Municipalities Municipalities Croatian County Association Croatian County Association French Association Council As Iceland Association of Local Authorities in and unicipalities icipalities Austrian associations Croatian County Association of European Municipalities and and Munic French Association of CEMR CEMR French Association of the Council Iceland Association of Local Authorities in Association of Local Authorities in f Municipalities Austrian Associations HRVZZ Associations Austrian associations Regions Regions SYVICOL SYVICOL HRVZZ Croatian County Association of European Municipalities and an SAMBAND SAMBAND Iceland NDEBUND EINDEBUND of Municipalities HRVZZ Regions SYVICOL Croatian County Association AFCCRE Croatian County Association AFCCRE of European Municipalities and SAMBAND Iceland Iceland EMEINDEBUND Municipalities ofof Municipalities AFCCRE AFCCRE Regions Members: Members: 102 102 SY Members: 21 Members: 21HRVZZ Members: Members: 7272 SAMBAND bers: rs: GEMEINDEBUND 1010 AFCCRE HRVZZ HRVZZ Regions 21 Members: SAMBAND Members: Members: 1,000 Type Members: 1,000 GEMEINDEBUND GEMEINDEBUND Members: 10 Members: Members: 1000 1000 Type Type ofof Members: Members: Type of Members: Type ofMembers: Members: AFCCRE Type ofof Members: Members:72 SAMBAND M Members: 21 of Members: Members: 72 Members: 10 of Members: Members: 1000 AFCCRE Type ofMembers: Members: Members: Type members: Members: 2121 members: Type ofof Members: of Members: Members: Members: 7272 Type Type ofof Members: Members: Staff: Staff: 4 Type 4 Type Staff: Staff: 5 5 Type of Me Staff: Staff: 28 28 Members: 10 Members: 10 Members: 1000 Ty of Members: 14 Type 4ype Type of Members: of Members: Type of Members: Staff: 4 Staff: 5 Staff: 28 Type of members: Type of members: Staff: 11 Staff: 11 Members: Members: 1000 taff: 14 Type Staff: Web: Web: www.hrvzz.hr www.hrvzz.hr Web: Web: www.syvicol.lu www.syvicol.l Staff: 1111 Type members: members: ofof Members: Web: Web: www.samband.is www.samband.is Type members: members: ofof Members: Type of Members: Staff: 4 St www.gemeindebund.at ww.gemeindebund.at Staff: 28Type Staff: 14 Staff: 11 Web: www.hrvzz.hr Web: www Web: www.samband.is Staff: Web: www.afccre.org Web: www.afccre.org Type of Members: 44 Web: www.gemeindebund.at Web: www.afccre.org Web: www.afccre.org Staff: Staff: 2828 Staff: Staff: 1414 Staff: 11 Web:Staff: www.hrvzz.hr W Web: www.samband.is Web: www.gemeindebund.at Web: www.afccre.org association nian association Web: www.hrvzz.hr Web: www.hrvzz.hr Staff: 11 Web: www.samband.is Web: www.samband.is Web: https://gemeindebund.at/ Web: www.gemeindebund.at Web: www.afccre.org ustrian association and Towns sies and Towns Web: www.afccre.org IRELAND CYPRUS CYPRUS MALTA MALTA IRELAND Austrian association f Cities and Towns CYPRUS MALTA DTEBUND TEBUND IRELAND Austrian Association Association Austrian association GEORGIA GEORGIA GEORGIA GEORGIA of Cities and Towns CYPRUS TAEDTEBUND IRELAND GEORGIA Union ofof Cyprus Cyprus Municipalities Municipalities Local Local Councils Councils Assoc Ass bers: 255 rs: STAEDTEBUND 255 Cities and Towns Union and Towns ofof Cities Local Local Government Government Management Management CYPRUS CYPRUS IRELAND IRELAND GEORGIA Local Coun Members: 255 Local Government Management National Association Association ofNational of Local LocalAssociation UCM UCM Union of Cyprus Municipalities National LCA LCA of Members: Members: Agency Agency STAEDTEBUND STAEDTEBUND Association of Local National of Local GEORGIA Union of Cyprus Municipalities Lo 255 Management Members: UCM LCA National Association of Local LGMA of Members: Authorities Authorities ofof Georgia Georgia 20 Members: 0ype LGMA AgencyLocal Government Members: Members: 3939 Union Members: 480 480 Cyprus Municipalities Authorities ofof Cyprus Municipalities Authorities ofof Georgia Members: 255 255 Local Government Management Government Management UCM 39Union LC National Association ofGeorgia Local Type of Members: AgencyLocal Authorities of Georgia taff: 20 Members: LGMA Members: Members: NALAG NALAG www.staedtebund.gv.at ww.staedtebund.gv.at Type Type of of Members: Members: Type Type of of Members: Members: Members: Members: 31 31 UCM NALAG UCM NALAG National Association of Local Type members: members: Type ofof Members: Agency Agency Authorities of Georgia 20 LGMA Members: 39 M NALAG Web:Staff: www.staedtebund.gv.at Type of Members: Type of Me Members: 31 Members: Members: 64 64 Staff: Staff: 12 12 Staff: Staff: 4 4 Type Type of of Members: Members: Authorities Staff: 2020 LGMA LGMA Members: 64Georgia 3939 64of NALAG Web:Staff: www.staedtebund.gv.at Type ofMembers: Members: Members: 31 Members: 64Members: Staff: 12 Members: Staff: 4 Ty Type Type ofof Members: Members: Web: Web: www.ucm.org.cy www.ucm.org.cy Web: Web: www.lca.org.mt www.lca.org.m Type of Members: Staff: 101 Staff: 101 NALAG Web: www.staedtebund.gv.atWeb:Staff: Web: www.staedtebund.gv.at members: Staff: Type members: Type ofof members: members: Type ofof Members: Members: Members: 3131 Members: 64 12Type St Type of Members: www.ucm.org.cy Web: www Type ofMembers: Members: ELGIUM LGIUM Staff: 1616 Web: Staff: 101 Web: Staff: Staff: Members: Staff: 1616 64 1212 Type of Members: Web:Staff: www.ucm.org.cy W Type members: members: Type ofof Members: BELGIUM Staff: 16 Web: Web: www.nala.ge www.nala.ge Web: Staff: 101 Web: www.ucm.org.cy Web: www.nala.ge Type of Members: Web: www.nala.ge Web: www.ucm.org.cy BELGIUM Staff: 16 Staff: 101 101 ciation the City tion ofof the City Web: www.nala.ge Web: Staff: MOLDOVA MOLDOVA CZECH CZECH REPUBLIC REPUBLIC BELGIUM BELGIUM Staff: 16 ssociation of the City Web: www.nala.ge Municipalities ehe Municipalities Web: www.lgma.ie www.lgma.ie Web: MOLD CZECH REPUBLIC ISRAËL ISRAËL Association of the City the Municipalities end Brussels-Capital Region Brussels-Capital Region Congress Congress ofof Local Local AuA Union Union ofof Towns Towns and and Municipalities Municipalities CZECH REPUBLIC GERMANY GERMANY Web: www.nala.ge ISRAEL Association of the City Association of the City OCALIS CALIS and the Municipalities f the Brussels-Capital Region ofof Moldova MoldovaCongress o the the Czech Czech Republic Union ofRepublic TownsCZECH and Municipalities CZECH REPUBLIC GERMANY Federation REPUBLIC GERMANY GERMANY Federation Local Authorities ofof Local Authorities in in ISRAEL RULOCALIS and the Municipalities and the Municipalities the Brussels-Capital Region CALM CALM MoldovaCo German German Association Association ofof CEMR CEMR SMOCR SMOCR of theUnion CzechofRepublic bers: rs: of 2222 Towns and Municipalities GERMANY Israel Federation of LocalISRAEL Israel Authorities ISRAEL in BRULOCALIS RGRE RGRE German Association the Brussels-Capital Region ofof the Brussels-Capital Region of Members: Members: of CEMR MASHAM CALM SMOCR of theUnion Czech Members: 22 Union of Towns and Municipalities German Association CEMR German Association ofof CEMR ofRepublic Towns and Municipalities MASHAM Members: 800 800 M Members: Members: 2734 2734 GERMANY Israel Federation of Local Authorities in Members: 0ype 30 Members: BRULOCALIS BRULOCALIS RGRE of Members: SMOCR CA German Association of CEMR Type Type Members: Members: Members: Members: 800 800 Type Type ofMembers: of Members: Members: of the Czech Republic RGRE RGRE of the Czech Republic 22 MASHAM Members: 2734 Members: 257Israel Federation Members: 257 Federation Local Authorities ofof Local Authorities inofinof ww.brulocalis.brussels www.brulocalis.brussels Type Type ofof Members: Members: Staff: Staff: 56Type 56 Members: Staff: Staff: 1010 Type of Me taff: 30 Members: RGRE800 Type of Members: SMO ČR SMO ČR SMOCR German Association of CEMR Members: of Members: Type Members: ofof Members: Members: 2222 MASHAM 2734 M Members: 257Israel Israel Members: 800 Type Members: 800 Staff: Staff: 3 3Type of Web: Web: www.smocr.cz www.smocr.cz Web: Web: www.calm.md www.calm.m Web:Staff: www.brulocalis.brussels Staff: Staff: 6060Type ofMembers: Members: Staff: 56 Members: Staff: 10 Ty 30 RGRE Type members: members: Type ofof Members: Type ofMembers: Members: Members: 800 Members: MASHAM MASHAM 2,734 Type members: members: 2,734 Type ofof Members: 2734 257 Web: www.rgre.de www.rgre.de Web: Web: www.masham.org.il www.masham.org.il Web:Staff: www.smocr.cz Web: www Staff: 3Type of Web: www.brulocalis.brussels Staff: 60Type ofMembers: Members: 56Type St Staff: Staff: 3030 members: Web: members: Staff: Staff: 3 3 800 Type ofof Members: Members: Members: ciation tion ofof Flemish Flemish Cities Cities Members: 257 257 Web: www.rgre.de Web: www.masham.org.il Staff: 3Web: Web:Staff: www.smocr.cz W Web: www.brulocalis.be www.brulocalis.be Web: Staff: 60Type Staff: Web: www.rgre.de www.rgre.de Type of Members: 5656 Municipalities nicipalities German German County County Association Association Type of members: members: of Members: ssociation ofwww.brulocalis.brussels Flemish Cities MONTENEGRO DENMARK DENMARK MONTENEGRO Web: www.rgre.de Web: www.masham.org.il Web: www.smocr.cz Web: www.smocr.cz Staff: 3 DLT DLT Staff: 60 Staff: 60 nd Association Municipalities German County Association of Flemish Cities ITALY ITALY German County Association German County Association MONT DENMARK Web: www.rgre.de bers: rs: and 308 308 VSG Web: www.masham.org.il Union Web: www.masham.org.il Members: Members: 1313German DLT Municipalities Union Municipa Danish Danish Regions Regions ofof Municipalit County Association Association Flemish Cities Association ofof Flemish Cities DLT DLT ITALY DENMARK of Members: Members: Type Type ofof Members: Members: Members: 308 VVSG Montenegro REGIONER REGIONER Montenegro Members: 13 DLT CEMR CEMR Italian Italian section section and Municipalities and Municipalities Union of M Danish Regions German County Members: Members: 1313 Association 30 130 of Members: Staff: Staff: 2525 ITALY DENMARK DENMARK ype UOM Monteneg UOM Type of Members: AICCRE AICCRECEMR Italian Members: Members: 5 Danish 5 Members: VVSG308 VVSG REGIONER Members: 13 DLT section Type members: Type ofof members: Members: Un Regions ww.vvsg.be www.vvsg.be Web: Web: www.landkreistag.de www.landkreistag.de taff: 130 Staff: 25 ITALY ITALY Members: Type Type ofMembers: of Members: Members: Members: 2323 TypeMembers: of Members: Members: Members: 2200 2200 UOM Type of Members: AICCRE 5 Danish Members: 308 308 M REGIONER Staff: Staff: 2525 13 Members: CEMR Italian section Regions Danish Regions Web:Staff: www.vvsg.be Web: www.landkreistag.de Type of Members: Type of Members: Staff: Staff: 170 170 130 Type Type of of Members: Members: Association Association of of German German Cities Cities Staff: 25 Members: Type Members: of Members: Type members: members: Type ofof Members: Members: 2200 UO Web: www.landkreistag.de Web: www.landkreistag.de Type of Members: AICCRE 5 REGIONER REGIONER Italian Association of CEMR Italian Association of CEMR CEMR Italian section Web: Web: www.regioner.dk www.regioner.dk Staff: Staff: 11 11 of n of cities cities Staff: Staff: 9 9 Web: www.vvsg.be DST DST Web: www.landkreistag.de Type of Me Staff:Type 170 of Members: Staff: 130 Staff: 130 Type ofMembers: Members:2200 Association of German Staff: 25 Cities M Web: Web: www.uom.me www.uom.me AICCRE AICCRE Members: 5 Members: 5 municipalities nicipalities of of Wallonia Wallonia Web: Web: www.aiccre.it www.aiccre.it Association German Cities ofof German Cities Members: Members: 3400 3400 Association Staff: 11 Ty Web: www.regioner.dk nion ofWeb: cities Staff: 9Type of Members: Web: www.vvsg.be www.vvsg.be DST Local Local Government Government Denmark Denmark Web: www.landkreistag.de Staff: 170 Association of German Cities Wnd municipalities of Wallonia Type of members: members: Type of Members: Members: 2,200 2,200 Members: 2200 Type Type of of Members: Members: DST DST Web: www Web: www.aiccre.it KLKL LocalWeb: Members: 3400 St www.regioner.dk Staff: 9Type Government Denmark Staff: 170 Staff: 170 bers: rs: Union 262 262 of cities Staff: Staff: 120 120 DST Members: Type members: members: ofof Members: Association of German Cities VCW Members: 3,400 3,400 Members: Members: 98 Type of Members: W and Union municipalities of Wallonia Web: www.aiccre.it KL 98Local NETHERLANDS NETHERLAND KOSOVO KOSOVO of Members: Members: Members: 3400 Web: www.regioner.dk Web: www.regioner.dk Web: Web: www.staedtetag.de www.staedtetag.de Union of Cities and Cities and of cities Staff: 9 Staff: 9 DST Government Denmark Type members: ofof members: Members: Members: 262 Type Type ofof Members: Members: Staff: 120 Type 060 UVCW Members: 98 Type of Members: Municipalities of Wallonia Municipalities of Wallonia and municipalities of Wallonia Web: www.aiccre.it Web: www.aiccre.it NETH ype of Members: 120 Staff: 120 Members: 3400 Staff: Staff: 400 400 KL Local Web: www.staedtetag.de German German Association Association ofStaff: of Towns Towns and and Local Government Denmark Government Denmark Association Association ofof Provin Prov Association of Kosovo Association ofKOSOVO Kosovo Members: 262 ww.uvcw.be www.uvcw.be Type of Members: Staff: 120 UVCW taff: 60 UVCW Web: Web: www.kl.dk www.kl.dk Members: 98 Web: www.staedtetag.de Web: www.staedtetag.de Type of Members: Municipalities Municipalities Municipalities Netherlands Netherlands Municipalities KOSOVO Type of Members: Staff: 400 KLKL Web: www.staedtetag.de German Association of Towns and Associatio Association of Kosovo Members: 262 Members: 262 Web: www.uvcw.be Type of Members: Staff: 120 DStGB DStGB IPO IPO AKK AKK Staff: 60 Web: www.kl.dk Members: Members: 9898 Municipalities German Association Towns and German Association ofof Towns and Netherlan KOSOVO KOSOVO Type members: members: Type ofof Members: Staff: 400 Web: www.staedtetag.de Association of Towns andMunicipalities Members: Members: 1717German As Members: Members: 1212 Association of Kosovo Members: 34 Members: 34 SNIA OSNIA AND AND Web: www.uvcw.be Type of members: members: Type of Members: DStGB IPO Municipalities Municipalities AKK ESTONIA ESTONIA Staff: Staff: 6060 Web: www.kl.dk Type Type of of Members: Members: Municipalities Type Type of of Members: Members: Ne Type of Members: Type of Members: Municipalities HERZEGOVINA RZEGOVINA Staff: 400 Staff: 400 DStGB Association of Towns German and 34 Association Members: 17DStGB Association Kosovo Staff: ofof Kosovo Members: BOSNIA AND Web: www.uvcw.be Web: www.uvcw.be Staff: Staff: 3030 DStGB Staff: 5050 Members: IP Staff: Staff: 13 13 AKK ESTONIA Web: www.kl.dk Web: www.kl.dk Type of Members: Municipalities Association Association ofof Estonian Estonian Cities Cities and and Type of Me Members: Members: 1717 Type of Members: Municipalities Municipalities Web: Web: www.dstgb.de www.dstgb.de Web: www.ipo.nl Web: www.ipo.nl Web: Web: www.komunat-ks.net www.komunat-ks.net ciation tionHERZEGOVINA ofof Municipalities Municipalities Members: 17 Members: 34 BOSNIA AND Staff: 30 Municipalities Municipalities ESTONIA DStGB Staff: 50 M Staff: 13 Type of members: Type of members: Members: AKK AKK Cities ies ofof the the Federation Federation Type of Members: Ty Type of Members: HERZEGOVINA Web: www.dstgb.de AECM AECMAssociation of Estonian Cities and Association Net Association ofof Nethe Web: www Web: www.komunat-ks.net ssociation of Municipalities Staff: Staff: 3030 17 Members: Members: Members: 3434 BOSNIA AND BOSNIA AND snia ia and and Herzegovina Herzegovina Staff: 30 Municipalities St Staff: 13 Municipalities Municipalities ESTONIA ESTONIA Members: Members: 74 74 nd Cities of HERZEGOVINA the Federation Web: www.dstgb.de Web: www.dstgb.de Type of Members: Association of Estonian Cities and GREECE GREECEWeb: www.dstgb.de Type members: members: Type ofof Members: H BiHAssociation LATVIA LATVIA Web: www.komunat-ks.net HERZEGOVINA Associatio W VNG VNG of MunicipalitiesType Type ofAECM of Members: Members: fbers: Bosnia and Herzegovina Staff: 30 Municipalities Staff: Staff: 1313 rs: and 8080Cities of the Federation Staff: Municipal 74Association Staff: 19Members: 19 AECMAssociation Members: 355 Members: 355 Estonian Cities and and ofof Estonian Cities GREECE OGFBiH Central Central Union Union of of Municipalities Municipalities of of LATVIA Web: www.dstgb.de As Latvian Latvian Association Association ofof Local Local and and Web: www.komunat-ks.netType Web: www.komunat-ks.net of Members: Members: VNG Association Municipalities Association ofof Municipalities Type of Members: of Bosnia and Herzegovina Web: Web: www.elvl.ee www.elvl.ee Type Members: ofof Members: Municipalities Municipalities Greece Greece Members: 80Cities M Regional Regional Governments Governments GREECE GREECE 74 8 SOGFBiH and Cities the Federation Staff:Members: ofof the Federation and 19 AECM Members: GREECE Staff: Staff: 220 220 ofLPS Latvian Association LATVIA of Local and KEDE KEDE Central Union of Municipalities LPS ype of Members: VN ww.sogfbih.ba www.sogfbih.ba ofAECM Members: Bosnia and Herzegovina Web:Type and Herzegovina ofof Bosnia www.elvl.ee Type of Me Web: Web: www.vng.nl www.vng.nl Greece Members: 80 Regional Governments Members: Members: 1313 7474 taff: 8 SOGFBiH Members: Members: 119 119 Central Union Municipalities of Central Union ofof Municipalities ofLatvian Staff:Members: 19Members: M GREECE SOGFBiH Staff: 220 Central Union of Municipalities of LATVIA LATVIA KEDE Association of Local and ciation tion of of Local Local Authorities Authorities of of of Members: LPS Type ofof Members: Members: Greece Web:Type www.sogfbih.ba Type members: Type members: ofof Members: Type Type ofof Members: Members: Greece Web:Type www.elvl.ee Ty Web: www Greece Members: 80 Members: 80 Regional Governments ic blic of of Srpska Srpska Members: 13 Staff: 8 Staff: Staff: 2323 Staff: Staff: 1919 Staff: Staff: 3535Members: St KEDE Union of Municipalities KEDE Central ofLPS119Latvian KEDE Latvian Association Local and Association ofof Local and ofof Local Authorities of Type of members: members: Members: Sssociation Type of Members: Web:Type www.sogfbih.ba Web: www.kedke.gr Web: www.kedke.gr Type of Members: Web: Web: www.lps.lv www.lps.lv Web: www.elvl.ee Web: www.elvl.ee W Greece Members: Members: 1313 Regional Governments Regional epublic ofStaff: Srpska Members: 13 88 Staff: 23 bers: rs: 6464Staff: Members: 119 Governments Staff: 35 KEDE Association of Local Authorities of Type members: Type ofof members: Members: LPS LPS LVRS Type of Members: Web: www.sogfbih.ba Web: www.sogfbih.ba Web: www.kedke.gr of Members: Members: Type of Members: Web: www.lps.lv Staff: Members: Staff: 2323 13 Staff: 23 Members: 64 of Srpska Members: 119 119 9 Republic Staff: 35Members: Association Local Authorities Association ofof Local Authorities ofof ALVRS Web: www.kedke.gr Type of Members: Web: www.kedke.gr Web: www.kedke.gr ype of Members: www.alvrs.com ww.alvrs.com Type members: members: Type ofof Members: Web: www.lps.lv Republic Srpska Srpska Staff: 23 64 ofof taff:Members: 9 Republic Staff: Staff: 3535 ALVRS ALVRS Web: www.kedke.gr of Members: Web:Type www.alvrs.com Web: www.lps.lv Web: www.lps.lv 6464 Staff:Members: 9Members: Type members: members: ofof Members: Web:Type www.alvrs.com

nian Association an Association lbanian Association Albanian Association Albanian Association Albanian Association unicipalities icipalities f Municipalities of Municipalities of Municipalities of Municipalities H HBSH SHBSHSHBSH bers: rs: 6161SHBSH Members: 61 61 Members: of Members: Members: Members: Members: 6161 ype of Members: Type of Members: 3 3 Type Type members: members: ofof Members: taff: Staff: 3 ww.aam.org.al www.aam.org.al Staff: Staff: 33 Web: www.aam.org.al Web: www.aam.org.al

Staff: Staff: 99 Web: www.alvrs.com Web: www.alvrs.com

EUROPE IG O LN EGO ERM SEEETNINN R OEER ERRR RSGIN EIN INGOIAIO NO AN VRO ETM N SNTTTSISESNU ENU O POOO EPPPEEE EG LLVO RR EEUROPE GG VVVREMEENRR NNNM I IN D NGLAAAOLG OEN M IN EPUUU

NORTH MACEDONIA SERBIA TURKEY TURKEY TURKEY NORTH MACEDONIA SERBIA TURKEY UANIA REPUBLICREPUBLIC OF NORTH LITHUANIA OF NORTH LITHUANIA NORTH MACEDONIA SERBIA TURKEY NORTH MACEDONIA LITHUANIA REPUBLIC OF NORTHSERBIA SERBIA SERBIA TURKEY MACEDONIA MACEDONIA MACEDONIA cal Authorities in Association of the Units of Local Standing Conference of Towns and Union of Municipalities of Turkey al Authorities in Association of the Units of Local Standing Conference of Towns and Union of Municipalities of Turkey ons of Local Authorities in Standing Conference of Towns and of Municipalities of Turkey of Turkey ssociations of Localof Authorities in Standing Conference of TownsUnion and Union Association Local Authorities in Association the Units of Local Standing Conference Towns andof Municipalities Union Municipalities Turkey Association Local Authorities inin Association ofof the Units Local Associations ofof Local Authorities Standing Conference ofof Towns and Union ofof Municipalities ofof Turkey Self-Government the Republic Municipalities Serbia TBB Self-Government ofof the Republic ofof Municipalities ofofof Serbia Municipalities of Serbia of TBB TBB Association of the Units of Local ithuania Municipalities Serbia ofof TBB Association of the Units of Local Lithuania Macedonia Self-Government of the Republic of Municipalities Serbia TBB Self-Government of the Republic of Lithuania Municipalities Serbia TBB Association of the Units of Local Macedonia SKGO SKGO Members: 1398 Members: 1398 SKGO Self-Government of the Republic of Members: 1398 SA SKGO Self-Government of the Republic Members: 1398 LSA North Macedonia SKGOType North Macedonia LSA SKGO ZELS ZELS Self-Government of170 the Republic Members: 1,398 1,398 Members: 1398 Members: 170of Type Members: Members: ofof Members: Macedonia : 60 Members: 170of Type of Members: North Macedonia Members: 60 Members: 170 Type of Members: ZELSMacedonia ZELS North Members: 60 Members: 170 Type members: members: Members: 60 Members: 170 ofof Members: Members: 81 Type of Members: Members: 81 Type of Members: Staff: Staff: 163 163 ZELS embers: Type of Members: Staff: 163 Staff: 163 Type ZELS ype of Members: Type of Members: Type Members: Type ofof Members: Web: www.tbb.gov.tr www.tbb.gov.tr Staff: Staff: ZELS Type members: Members: 816666 Staff: 66 Type of members: members: members: Members: 81 Staff: 163 Type ofof Members: Type ofWeb: Members: Staff: 163 Web: www.tbb.gov.tr Members:Members: 81 taff: 18 Staff: Staff: 66 Staff: Web: www.tbb.gov.tr 81 Web: Web: www.skgo.org www.skgo.org Staff: 1616 Type members: members: Type ofof Members: Staff: Staff: Web: www.tbb.gov.tr 1818 Staff: 6666 Web: www.tbb.gov.tr Members: 81 w.lsa.lt Web: www.skgo.org Type of Members: Web: www.lsa.lt Web: www.skgo.org Type of Members: Web: Web: www.zels.org.mk www.zels.org.mk Web: www.lsa.lt Staff: Web: www.skgo.org 1616 Web: www.lsa.lt Web: www.skgo.org Type of Members: Staff: 16 Staff: 16 Staff: UKRAINE UKRAINE UKRAINE Web: Web: www.zels.org.mk Staff: 16www.zels.org.mk Web: www.zels.org.mk Web: www.zels.org.mk UKRAINE UKRAINE SLOVAKIA SLOVAKIA UKRAINE Web: www.zels.org.mk SLOVAKIA MBOURG Association ofof Ukrainian Ukrainian Cities Cities LUXEMBOURG SLOVAKIA Association NORWAY NORWAY LUXEMBOURG SLOVAKIA Association of Ukrainian Cities LUXEMBOURG SLOVAKIA Association of Ukrainian Cities AUC AUC Association Towns and xembourg mbourg Cities Cities Association ofof Towns and Association Ukrainian Cities Association ofof Ukrainian Cities Association of Towns and on of Luxembourg Cities AUC NORWAY NORWAY NORWAY Communities Slovakia sssociation of Luxembourg Norwegian Norwegian Association Association ofNORWAY of Local Local and and Communities ofof Slovakia Cities AUC Association of Towns and 742 Members: Members: 742and Communities of Slovakia cipalities Association of Luxembourg Cities Association of Towns and AUC Association of Luxembourg Cities Association of Towns AUC Members: 742 NORWAY ZMOS Regional Authorities Authorities ZMOS nd Municipalities Regional Communities of Slovakia Type Type of of Members: Members: Members: 742 ZMOS and Municipalities Norwegian Association Local and Communities Communities Slovakia Norwegian ofof Local and and Municipalities ofof Slovakia Norwegian Association of LocalAssociation and Members: 742 Members: 742 KSKS YVICOL ZMOS Members: 2786 Members: 2786 Staff: Staff: 6262 Type of Members: Association of Local and Regional Norwegian Authorities SYVICOL Members: Regional Authorities ZMOSWeb: Regional Authorities ZMOS Members: 2786 : 102 SYVICOL Staff: 62 Type of Members: Norwegian Association of Local and Type members: members: Type ofof Members: Type of Members: Members: 439 439 Type of Members: Web: www.auc.org.ua www.auc.org.ua Regional Authorities Members: 102 Members: 2786 Staff: 62 KS embers: KSKS Regional Authorities Members: 102 Members: 2,786 Web: www.auc.org.ua 2,786 Staff: Members: 102 Members: 2786 Staff: 6262 Type Type ofof Members: Members: Staff: Staff: 2929 Type of Members: KS ype of Members: Web: www.auc.org.ua Staff: 29 Type of Members: 439 KS Type members: Members: 439 Type members: members: members: Members: 439 Web: www.auc.org.ua ofof Members: Type ofof Members: Web: www.auc.org.ua Staff: 250Members:Members: lu 5 Type Web: Web: www.zmos.sk www.zmos.sk Staff: 250 taff: Staff: 29 439 w.syvicol.lu Web: www.zmos.sk Staff: Type of Members: Members: Type members: members: Type ofof Members: Staff: Staff: Staff: 55 2929 UNITED Web: www.ks.no Web: www.ks.no 439 UNITED KINGDOM KINGDOM Web: www.syvicol.lu Web: www.zmos.sk Type of Members: Web: www.syvicol.lu Staff: 250Staff: 250Staff: Staff: 250 Web: www.zmos.sk UNITED KINGDOM 250 Web: www.syvicol.lu Web: www.zmos.sk Type of Members: UNITED KINGDOM Web: www.ks.no Staff: Local Local Government Government Association Association Web: www.ks.no Web: www.ks.no SLOVENIA SLOVENIA UNITED KINGDOM 250 UNITED KINGDOM Web: www.ks.no Local Government Association TA SLOVENIA LGA LGA POLAND POLAND Web: www.ks.no Local Government Association MALTA SLOVENIA LGA sociation ciation Association Association ofof Urban Urban Municipalities MunicipalitiesSLOVENIA Members: Members: 350 350 Local Government Association Local Government Association MALTA SLOVENIA MALTA LGA ncils Association Association Members: 350 POLAND Association Polish Counties POLAND ofof Polish Counties ofof Slovenia SloveniaAssociation of Urban Municipalities Type Type of of Members: Members: LGA LGA POLAND ocal Councils Association Municipalities Members: 350 POLAND of SloveniaAssociation of Urban Type of Members: ZPP ZPP ZMOS ZMOS Staff: 250 Staff: 250 Local Councils Association Association of Urban Municipalities Members: Local Councils Association of Urban Municipalities Members: 350 350 POLAND CA of SloveniaAssociation Association of Polish Counties : 480 Staff: 250 Type of Members: Members: 307 Members: 307 Members: Members: 11ZMOS 11Counties Web: www.local.gov.uk Web: www.local.gov.uk LCA Association Polish Slovenia Association ofof Polish Counties LCA ofof Slovenia Type members: members: ofof Members: ZMOS Association of Polish Counties Members: 480 Staff: 250 Type ZPP embers: Members: 11 Web: www.local.gov.uk Type Members: Type ofof Members: Type Type of of Members: Members: ZPP ZPP Association of Polish Type Counties Members: 480 Staff: 250 Members: 480 Staff: 250 Convention Scottish Localwww.local.gov.uk ofof Scottish Local ype Members:ZMOS 11ZMOSConvention Web: of Members: 307 tmt of Members: Staff: Staff: 2121 Members:ZPP Staff: Staff: 33 Convention of ScottishWeb: Local Type members: Members: 307 Members: members: Members: 307 Web: www.local.gov.uk ofof Members: Members: 1111 www.local.gov.uk Authorities Authorities taff: 4 Type Members:ZPP 307 w.lca.org.mt Staff: 3 Type of Members: Web: Web: www.zpp.pl www.zpp.pl Web: Web: www.zmos.si www.zmos.si Type of Members: COSLA Type members: Type of members:AuthoritiesConvention of Scottish Local members: members: Type ofof Members: Staff: ofCOSLA Members: Staff: 44 Members: 307 Web: www.lca.org.mt Staff: 3 Type Web: www.zmos.si Staff: 21 Type of Members: Convention Scottish Local ofof Scottish Local AuthoritiesConvention COSLA Association Association ofof Polish Polish Cities Cities Association Association ofof Municipalities Municipalities and and Web: www.lca.org.mt Staff: Staff: 3Members: Staff: 2121 Web: www.lca.org.mt Staff: 3 Members: 3232 Web: www.zmos.si of Members: Staff: 21 Type Web: www.zpp.pl Authorities Authorities COSLA Association of Municipalities and ZMP ZMP Towns Towns ofof Slovenia Slovenia Members: 32 Type of Members: Type of Members: Web: www.zpp.pl Web: www.zmos.si Web: www.zpp.pl Web: www.zmos.si Staff: 21 Web: www.zpp.pl DOVA COSLA COSLA Association of Municipalities Towns of Slovenia SOS SOS Association of Polish Cities Members: 32 Type of Members: Staff: Staff: 5050 and Members: Members: 201 201 Web: www.zpp.pl uthorities Authorities ofof MOLDOVA Association Polish Cities Towns of Slovenia Association of Municipalities andof Members: Association ofof Polish Cities Association of Municipalities and SOS Association of Polish Cities Members: Members: 3232 ZMP Type Web: Web: www.cosla.gov.uk www.cosla.gov.uk Type Type of of Members: Members: Members: Members: 175 175 Staff: 50 of Local Authorities of MOLDOVA MOLDOVA ZMP Type Towns SloveniaWeb: www.cosla.gov.uk ZMP Towns ofof Slovenia SOS Association of Polish Cities Staff: Staff: 3030ofMembers:ZMP Type ofof Members: Members: Type members: members: ofof Members: Members: 175 Staff: 50 Type 201 ongress of Local Authorities Northern Ireland Ireland Local Local Government Government SOS Northern Web: Web: www.zmp.poznan.pl www.zmp.poznan.pl Staff: Staff: ZMP Web: www.cosla.gov.uk Members:SOS 175 Staff: Members: 2017 7 Type of Members: Staff: 5050 Members: 201 Type ofof Members: Members: 201 MoldovaCongress Congress Local Authorities of ofof Local Authorities Association AssociationNorthern Ireland Local Government Web: Web: www.skupnostobcin.si www.skupnostobcin.si Staff: 7 Type of Members: Web: www.cosla.gov.uk Type of members: Members: 175 members: Web: www.cosla.gov.uk Type of Members: Members: 175 Staff: 30 Type of Members: Members: 201 ALM Moldova Moldova : 800 NILGA NILGA Association Northern Ireland Local Government Staff: 7 Type Web: www.zmp.poznan.pl Staff: Staff: 3030 Type members: members: ofof Members: Staff: 30 Type of Members: Web: www.skupnostobcin.si CALM CALM embers: Members: 800 NILGA Members: Members: 11 11 Association Northern Ireland Local Government Northern Ireland Local Government PORTUGAL PORTUGAL Web: www.zmp.poznan.pl Web: Staff: 7Type Web: www.zmp.poznan.pl Staff: 7 Type md Staff: 30www.zmp.poznan.pl Web: www.skupnostobcin.si ype of Members: Members: 800 Members: 800 ofof Members: Members: NILGA Members: 11 Association Association SPAIN SPAIN Web: www.skupnostobcin.si Web: www.skupnostobcin.si Web: www.zmp.poznan.pl w.calm.md taff: 10 Type Staff: 9 Staff: 9 Type members: members: ofof Members: Type of Members: National National Association Association ofof Portuguese Portuguese NILGA NILGA Members: 11 SPAIN PORTUGAL Web: www.calm.md Web: www.nilga.org Web: www.nilga.org Staff: Staff: 1010 Municipalities Staff: 9 Municipalities Spanish Federation Spanish Federation ofof SPAIN Type of Members: Members: Members: 1111 O PORTUGAL PORTUGAL PORTUGAL Web: www.calm.md Web: www.calm.md Web: www.nilga.org ANMP ANMP National Association of Portuguese Municipalities and Provinces of Municipalities and Provinces Staff: 9 Spanish Federation Type members: members: Type ofof Members: Welsh Local Government Welsh Local Government SPAIN SPAIN TENEGRO PORTUGAL FEMP FEMP Members: Members: 308 308 www.nilga.org Municipalities and Federation ProvincesAssociation Municipalities Association Staff: Staff: 99 alities ties ofof Spanish of National National Association of Portuguese Welsh LocalWeb: Government National Association of Portuguese Association of Portuguese MONTENEGRO Type Type ofof Members: Members: Members: 7366 Members: 7366 FEMP WLGA WLGA ANMP Municipalities Web: www.nilga.org Web: www.nilga.org Municipalities and Provinces Association Municipalities of Municipalities Spanish Federation of Municipalities Spanish Federation of National Association of Portuguese Welsh Local Government Type Members: Type ofof Members: Staff: Staff: 2424 Members: 308 MONTENEGRO MONTENEGRO Members:FEMP 7366 Members: Members: 2828 WLGA ANMP gro ANMP Municipalities and Provinces ANMP Municipalities and Provinces Municipalities Association nion of Municipalities of www.anmp.pt Web: Web: www.anmp.pt Staff: Staff: 119 119 Type of Members: Welsh Local Government Government Welsh Local Type Members: ofof Members: Type of Members: Members:FEMP 7366 Members: 28 308 FEMPType WLGA Montenegro Members: 308 Members: 308 Web: Web: www.femp.es www.femp.es Association Association Union Municipalities Union ofof Municipalities ofof 24 Members:ANMP Staff: 119 Staff: 56 Staff: 56 Staff: Type of Members: Type of Members: :OM 23 Type of Members: Type members: Members: 7,366 members: 7,366 Type ofof Members: Members: 7366 Members: 308 WLGA WLGA Montenegro Montenegro Web: www.wlga.gov.ukMembers: 28 Web: www.wlga.gov.uk Web: www.femp.es Web: www.anmp.pt Association Association ofof Basque Basque Staff: 119 Type embers: 23 Staff: 24 Staff: Type members:Staff: 56 Type of Members: members: Staff: ofof Members: 2424 ROMANIA ROMANIA Members: Type of Members: UOM UOM e Members: Members: 2828 Municipalities Municipalities Web: www.wlga.gov.uk Web: www.femp.es Web: www.anmp.pt Association of Basque Web: Staff: 119 Web: www.anmp.pt Staff: 119 Staff: 56 Type ype of Members: Staff: 24www.anmp.pt Type members: members: ofof Members: Members: 23National Members: 23National EUDEL EUDEL w.uom.me Union Union ofof County County Councils Councils Municipalities Web: www.wlga.gov.uk Web: www.femp.es Web: www.femp.es taff: 11 Type Web: www.anmp.pt Association of Basque Staff: Staff: 5656 Members: Members: 256 256 Type members: members: ofof Members: ofof Romania Romania ROMANIA EUDEL Web: Municipalities DS www.uom.me Type Type of of Members: Members: Web: www.wlga.gov.uk Web: www.wlga.gov.uk Staff: Staff: 1111 UNCJR Association of Basque Association of Basque UNCJR Members: 256 ROMANIA ROMANIA ROMANIA EUDEL Staff: Staff: 1919 National Union of County Councils Web: www.uom.me Web: www.uom.me Municipalities Municipalities HERLANDS Type of Members: Members: Members: 41 41 nces vinces ofof the the Members: 256 ROMANIA of Romania Web: Web: www.eudel.eus www.eudel.eus EUDEL EUDEL Staff:Councils 19Councils Union of County Councils Type ofof Members: Members: National National National Union of County Union of County NETHERLANDS Type Type of Members: UNCJR on of Provinces of the Members: 256 Members: 256 Staff: Staff: 1212 of Romania Web: Councils www.eudel.eus of Romania of Romania Staff: 19 National Union of County Members:UNCJR 41 nds NETHERLANDS NETHERLANDS Web: www.uncjr.ro Web: Type members: members: Type ofof Members: ssociation of Provinces ofwww.uncjr.ro the UNCJR UNCJR SWEDEN Type of Members: of Romania SWEDEN Web: www.eudel.eus Staff: Staff: 1919 Members:UNCJR 41 etherlands Romanian Municipalities Romanian Municipalities Staff: 12the Members: Members: 4141 Association of Provinces Association of Provinces ofof the : 12 SWEDEN Type of Members: Web: www.eudel.eus Web: www.eudel.eus PO Swedish Swedish Association Association of of Local Local Association Association Web: www.uncjr.ro Type of members: members: Type of Members: 41 embers: Netherlands Netherlands Staff: 12 Members:Authorities Authorities and and Regions Regions AMR AMR Members: 12 Staff: Staff: 1212 SWEDEN Type of Members: Swedish Association IPO IPO of Local Romanian Municipalities Web: www.uncjr.ro SKL SKL ype of Members: Members: Members: 109 109 Web: Web: www.uncjr.ro therlands erlands Staff: 12www.uncjr.ro w.ipo.nl Authorities and Regions SWEDEN Members: 12 Members: 12 Association SWEDEN Members: Members: 310 310 Type Members: Romanian Type ofof Members: taff: 50 Swedish Association of Local Municipalities Web: www.uncjr.ro SKL Type members: members: Type ofof Members: Romanian Municipalities Romanian Municipalities on ofwww.ipo.nl Netherlands Type Type ofof Members: Members: Staff: Staff: 1515 AMR Web: Authorities and Regions Association Members: 310 Staff: 50 Staff: 50 Members: 109 Swedish Association ofof Local Swedish Association Local Association Association Web: ww.amr.ro AMR Web: ww.amr.ro Staff: Staff: 380 380 lities Romanian Municipalities SKL ssociation ofwww.ipo.nl Netherlands Type of Members: Web: www.ipo.nl Web: Type of Members: Association Web: www.skl.se www.skl.se Authorities and Regions Authorities and Regions AMR Web: AMR Members: 310 Association of Communes of Association of Communes of Members: 109 Staff: 380 Municipalities Staff: 15 SKL SKL : 355 Association AMR Members: 109 Members: 109 Association of Netherlands of Netherlands Type of Members: Romania Romania Type of Members: Web: www.skl.se NG Web: ww.amr.ro embers: Members: 310 Members: 310 Type of members: members: Type of Members: Members: 109 Staff: 380 ACOR ACOR Municipalities Municipalities Staff: 15 Legend Legend Members: 355 Type ofof members: Type members: Members: Staff: Staff: 1515 Type of Members: Association of Communes of Web: www.skl.se VNG VNG Members: 1750 Members: 1750 Web: ww.amr.ro ype of Members: w.vng.nl local Key Web: Staff: 380 local Web: www.amr.ro Staff: 380 Romania Staff: 15www.amr.ro Type Members: Type ofof Members: Members: 355 355 taff: 220Members: local Association of Communes of Web: www.skl.se Web: www.skl.se ACOR Web: ww.amr.ro Staff: 8 Staff: 8 intermedary intermedary Type members: members: Type ofof Members: Web: www.vng.nl Association Communes Association ofof Communes ofof Romania Web: www.acor.ro Web: www.acor.ro Members: 1750 Staff: 220 Staff: 220 Romania of Communes of Romania regional intermediary regional Association ACOR Key Type of Members: Web: www.vng.nl Web: www.vng.nl regional ACOR ACOR 1750 federation federation Staff: 8 Members:Romania local federation of Key ACOR Members: 1,750 1,750 Members: 1750 Key Type of Members: Web: www.acor.ro intermediary Type of members: members: Type of Members: Staff: 8 Members: 1750 associations local local Staff: Staff: 8 8Members: Type of Web: www.acor.ro regional intermediate intermediate intermediary Web: Web: www.acor.ro Staff: 8 www.acor.ro federation of associations Web: www.acor.ro regional regional

C3 C3 C3 C3

federationofofassociations associations federation

Publisher: Council of European Municipalities and Regions (CEMR) Authors: Léa Babeu-Braun, Nathalie Noupadja Copy editing: EN: Carol Thomas, Jeremy Herry, Thomas Kaye, Magnus Gottl FR: Nathalie Noupadja, Martin Revault, Axelle Griffon Translation: Domenica Maria Pistoia Publication coordination: Nathalie Noupadja, Head of Research and Studies Supervision: Angelika Poth-Mögele, Executive Director for European Affairs Direction: Frédéric Vallier, Secretary General Communication and design: Pierre Vander Auwera, Adviser – Communication Design: DiaromaColor, Bucharest, March 2019 Information current as at: 11 January 2019

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Non Commercial-Share Alike 4.0 International License

Foreword Since its creation in 1951, the Council of European Municipalities and Regions (CEMR) has steadily gained legitimacy among European municipalities and regions and, as their representative association at European and international level, among all the European and international institutions. This legitimacy has been reaffirmed in recent months by the European Parliament, which recognises the specific role of CEMR as an actor within the European governance framework1 and by the European Commission2. The Lisbon Treaty had already clarified the place of local and regional governments as elements of the European governance and these recent developments mark important progress. With this study, we want to highlight the role of national associations of local governments as key players of the governance system. In some countries, laws and regulations recognise them as official partners while in others, the law frames the relationship between different levels of governance. Each European country has its own history and approach to the concepts of decentralisation and subsidiarity. However, what this study shows is the specificity of our organisations, which are not conventional associations, but constitutive elements of the institutional democratic landscape, at national, European and international level. We have also included a non-exhaustive list of European associations, with which we cooperate, to ensure the representation of all European territories towards the institutions. As the main organisation of political representation of our communities, our role is to unify all the actors concerned to contribute to the debate and to apply our efforts on the basis a “governance in partnership” approach and which meets objectives 11 and 17 of the United Nations 2030 Agenda. Furthermore, we hope that this work, initiated at the request of our members, will allow them to draw on their respective experiences and raise their profile at the national level. As regards European and international institutions, this unique study will provide them with a better understanding of how CEMR and its members contribute to the institutional and political framework. Thanks to its extensive and rich content, this study highlights the distinctive nature of CEMR in the history of European cooperation. We would like to thank all those who contributed to this study and publication, in particular CEMR’s member associations and CEMR’s studies and research unit as we believe this work will contribute to a better understanding of the role of our members and by so doing, confirm the recognition of CEMR as key partner of the European Institutions.

Stefano Bonaccini, President 1 2

Frédéric Vallier, Secretary General

In the European Parliament resolution of 3 July 2018 on the role of cities in the institutional framework of the Union - PA _TA_PROV 2018/0273 In the Commission’s communication in October 2018 on reinforcing subsidiarity and proportionality in EU policy-making – COM (2018) 703 final

Introduction

Europe is a patchwork of approximately 100,000 municipalities, provinces and regions, most of which if not all are part of a national association of local and/or regional governments. What do they do? How do they work? What level of recognition do they enjoy from their national authorities? This study will help you to understand better those who speak on behalf of Local and Regional Governments, at the national – and European – level, and how they do it. Since its creation in 1951, the Council of European Municipalities and Regions (CEMR) has promoted the construction of a united, peaceful and democratic Europe founded on local self-government, respect for the principle of subsidiarity and the participation of citizens. Our work is organised around two main pillars: 1. Influencing European policy and legislation in all areas that impact on municipalities and regions, 2. Providing a forum for debate between local and regional governments via their national representative associations. CEMR is the oldest and broadest European association of local and regional governments. We are the only organisation that brings together the national associations of local and regional governments3 from 41 European countries4 and represents, through them, all levels of government – local, intermediate and regional. This study is an introduction to the world of CEMR’s members, national associations of local and regional governments. CEMR unites 60 member associations from 41 of the 47 Council of Europe member countries, including all 28 member states of the European Union (EU). Organised in five chapters, this report analyses how CEMR associations are empowered to defend local and regional interests. It compares the representativeness of national Local and Regional Government Associations (LRGAs), their nature, whether their membership is compulsory or voluntary, their human resources, etc. This study also highlights the role of CEMR and its members as legitimate representatives of local and

3 4 5

regional governments at the European, and international level.

national,

This analysis is the result of a survey conducted by CEMR amongst its members, i.e. local and regional government associations (LRGAs), also referred to as “the association(s)”, “CEMR members”, or “national associations” here below. CEMR secretariat received responses from 58 associations5, covering all 41 countries. In the study, infographics and visuals will allow you to learn more about: 1. Who CEMR member associations represent, who are their members; 2. How associations of towns and regions are structured, their nature, their organisation, their staff, etc.; 3. What they do, how they organise their advocacy towards the central government, the exchange of knowledge between their members, or provide training for elected representatives or civil servants; 4. Their role in the legislative process; 5. And their voice at the European or even international level. In the second part of the study, you will be provided with an overview of all the local and regional government associations that are CEMR members, country by country, on the basis of identity cards. We hope that reading this publication will help you to realise how your area, city, town or region, is connected to others, both nationally and beyond frontiers. National associations are not as well-known as they should be, even by the citizens of their own country. And yet they play a crucial role in linking governments and facilitating governance in partnership. The importance of their role is such that in some cases, these associations are even recognised in the national Constitution. They contribute, directly or indirectly, to local and territorial development, and to our quality of life, as individuals. So, who are they?

All CEMR Members are mentioned per country, in the second part of the study: Local and Regional Government Associations at a Glance p. 43 CEMR membership covers the larger European scale, see the map of CEMR Members: http://www.ccre.org/en/pays/map See the list of the associations that took part in the survey, p. 88

Table of contents Foreword 3 Introduction 5 1 Who do CEMR member associations represent? 11 A) One single tier of government 13 B) Several tiers of government 13 C) Federation of local and regional government associations 14 D) Population covered by the associations 15 2 How are associations of towns and regions structured? 17 A) Nature of the associations 19 B) Legal basis 19 C) Subdivisions 21 D) Human resources 22 3 What are the associationsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; activities? A) Advocacy and knowledge-sharing B) Publications, research and studies C) Salary negotiation of local and regional governmentsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; workforce D) Training and capacity building 4

23 25 25 26 26

How are associations of towns and regions consulted? 27 A) National transparency registers 29 B) Mandatory consultation and process efficiency 30 C) Frequency of consultations 31 D) Other cases 31

5 Representation in Europe 33 A) Council of European Municipalities and Regions 36 B) Committee of the Regions 37 C) Council of Europe: Congress of Local and Regional Authorities 38 D) Other European networks and associations 38 Conclusion 41 Local and regional government associations at a glance 43 Albania 44 Austria 45 Belgium 46 Bosnia and Herzegovina 47 Bulgaria 48 Croatia 49 Cyprus 50 Czech Republic 51 Denmark 52 Estonia 53 Finland 54

France 55 Georgia 56 Germany 58 Greece 60 Hungary 61 Iceland 62 Ireland 63 Israel 64 Italy 65 Kosovo 66 Latvia 67 Lithuania 68 Luxembourg 69 Malta 70 Moldova 71 Montenegro 72 Netherlands 73 North Macedonia 74 Norway 75 Poland 76 Portugal 77 Romania 78 Serbia 79 Slovakia 80 Slovenia 81 Spain 82 Sweden 83 Turkey 84 Ukraine 85 United Kingdom 86 List of associations which took part in the study 88 Acknowledgements 89 Disclaimer 89 Authors 89 Getting in touch with us

Who do CEMR member associations represent?

Belgium Bosnia and Herzegovina Bulgaria Croatia Cyprus Czech Republic Denmark Estonia Finland France Georgia Germany

Greece Hungary Iceland Ireland Israel Italy Kosovo Latvia Lithuania Luxembourg Malta Moldova Montenegro Netherlands North Macedonia Norway Poland Portugal Romania

Serbia Slovakia Slovenia Spain Sweden Turkey Ukraine United Kingdom

● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ●

Federation of associations

Regional

Local and regional governments’ associations Albanian Association of Municipalities Austrian Associations of Municipalities Austrian Association of Cities and Towns Association of the City and the Municipalities of the Brussels-Capital Region Association of Flemish Cities and Municipalities Union of Cities and Municipalities of Wallonia Association of Municipalities and Cities of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina Association of Local Authorities of Republic of Srpska National Association of Municipalities in the Republic of Bulgaria Croatian County Association Union of Cyprus Municipalities Union of Towns and Municipalities of the Czech Republic Danish Regions Local Government Denmark Association of Estonian Cities and Municipalities Association of Finnish Local and Regional Authorities French Association of the Council of European Municipalities and Regions National Association of Local Authorities of Georgia German Association of the Council of European Municipalities and Regions German County Association Association of German Cities German Association of Towns and Municipalities Central Union of Municipalities of Greece Hungarian National Association of Local Authorities Association of Local Authorities in Iceland Local Government Management Agency Federation of Local Authorities in Israel Italian Association of the Council of European Municipalities and Regions Association of Kosovo Municipalities Latvian Association of Local and Regional Governments Association of Local Authorities in Lithuania Association of Luxembourg Cities and Municipalities Local Councils Association Congress of Local Authorities of Moldova Union of Municipalities of Montenegro Association of Provinces of the Netherlands Association of Netherlands Municipalities Association of the Units of Local Self-Government of the Republic of North Macedonia Norwegian Association of Local and Regional Authorities Association of Polish Counties Association of Polish Cities National Association of Portuguese Municipalities National Union of County Councils of Romania Romanian Municipalities Association Association of Communes of Romania Standing Conference of Towns and Municipalities of Serbia Association of Towns and Communities of Slovakia Association of Urban Municipalities of Slovenia Association of Municipalities and Towns of Slovenia Spanish Federation of Municipalities and Provinces Association of Basque Municipalities Swedish Association of Local Authorities and Regions Union of Municipalities of Turkey Association of Ukrainian Cities Local Government Association Convention of Scottish Local Authorities Northern Ireland Local Government Association Welsh Local Government Association

Intermediate

Country Albania Austria

Local

Type of members

●

● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ●

●

● ●

●

● ● ● ● ●

● ●

● ● ● ●

● ●

● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ●

●

● ●

The Council of European Municipalities and Regions (CEMR) began as a community of mayors regrouped in national sections of CEMR in six original founding countries. Following the increase in its membership and the arrival of regions in the 1980s, nowadays, all tiers of sub-national governments are represented by our members (municipalities, provinces and regions). They are associations or federations of local and regional governments. One or several associations can exist in the same country.

A. One single tier of government 46 associations represent members from a single tier of government6.

Local level 41 associations represent municipalities only. Within this category, the number of members varies from 23 municipalities in the case of the Union of Municipalities of Montenegro (UOM) to 2,786 towns and city boroughs for the Association of Towns and Communities of Slovakia (ZMOS). In Slovenia, it is interesting to note that of the 212 municipalities, 11 are urban municipalities, all members of the Association of Urban Municipalities of Slovenia (ZMOS).

includes communes or city boroughs. The members of the Association of Finnish Local and Regional Authorities (AFLRA) are all 311 Finnish municipalities. Nevertheless, AFLRA also provides services to and cooperates with joint municipal authorities7, as well as Finnish hospital districts and regional councils. The Latvian Association of Local and Regional Governments (LPS) represents local and regional governments. However, its 119 members can be further sub-divided into two categories of local governments: all 110 Latvian municipalities, and nine republican cities8. The Maltese Local Councils Association (LCA) represents the 68 local councils in the Maltese archipelago, as well as the five regional committees9.

Another distinctive feature to be highlighted: the Welsh Association of Local Governments (WLGA) in the UK is composed of 28Â members. Along with the 22 Welsh local authorities, the other members are three fire & rescue authorities of Wales, and three national park authorities. In Belgium, the city of Brussels and the 19 Municipalities of the BrusselsCapital region are part of the same association (BRULOCALIS) as active members, alongside the Public Centres for Social Welfare and inter-municipal associations as supporting members.

B. Several tiers of government Six associations bring together members from several tiers of government. Three of them represent the local and regional level. The Federation of Local Authorities in Israel (MASHAM) includes all 257 local governments as well as the regional councils of the country. The Norwegian Association of Local and Regional Authorities (KS) gathers members from both the local (municipalities) and regional (counties) level. The Swedish Association of Local Authorities and Regions (SKL) represents 290 local governments and 20 regions. And three associations represent all three local, intermediate and regional tiers of government. Gathering 7,366 members, the Spanish Federation of Municipalities and Provinces (FEMP) includes members that are town councils, provincial councils, and island councils. The French section of CEMR (AFCCRE) and the Italian section (AICCRE) both represent all tiers of government. In the case of France this means, municipalities and their groupings, departments and regions whereas in Italy, it is municipalities, cities, metropolitan cities, provinces and regions.

Intermediate and regional level In addition to local governments, some associations also open their membership to inter-municipal cooperation bodies, joint associations of local governments, or members whose competences can sometimes be compared with another tier of government. The Association of Netherlands Municipalities (VNG) is composed of 355 Dutch municipalities, as well as legal inter-municipal cooperation bodies and five of the six islands of the Dutch Antilles (part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands). Their members are not only cities, towns and municipalities, but also

6 7 8 9

Five CEMR member associations represent solely and directly the intermediate and regional level: the Association of Polish Counties (ZPP) with 307 members out of 380 counties; the Association of Danish Regions (REGIONER) composed of the five regions of Denmark; the Association of Provinces of the Netherlands (IPO) made up of 12 members: all the Dutch provinces; the National Union of County Councils of Romania (UNCJR) representing the regional level of government with 41 members; and the Croatian County Association (HRVZZ) gathering all 20 Croatian counties, as well as the city of Zagreb, which is also a region.

You can find a detailed typology and the number of local, intermediate and regional tiers of government in Local and Regional Governments in Europe - Structures and Competences, a CEMR publication : www.ccre.org/img/uploads/piecesjointe/filename/CEMR_structures_and_competences_2016_EN.pdf Joint municipal boards were introduced in Finland as a form of inter-municipal cooperation between several municipalities. They are independent legal persons and governed by the legislation on local government (http://www.stat.fi/meta/kas/kuntayhtyma_en.html#tab1). Latvia is composed of two different levels of government: the local and the regional level. The local tier of government is divided into two entities: the municipalities (110) and the republican cities (nine). These nine larger cities have the same competences as municipalities and regions. The five Regional Committees represent a group of local councils.

C. Federations of local and regional government associations Six of CEMR’s associations could be referred to as “umbrella organisations”. Four German associations: the National Section of CEMR (RGRE), the Association of German Cities (DST), the German County Association (DLT), and the Association of Towns and Municipalities (DStGB), as well as the Austrian Association of Municipalities (GEMEINDEBUND), and the Central Union of Municipalities (KEDE) in Greece. Indeed, their direct members are not local and regional governments, but associations, or federations, representing local governments. KEDE is composed of 13 regional unions of municipalities in its membership. The GEMEINDEBUND is composed of 10 regional member associations and therefore indirectly represents a total of 2,089 Austrian municipalities. In countries where umbrella associations are present together with other associations, this may result in dual membership. This is the case for the Austrian associations as there are cities that are members of both the Austrian Association of Cities and Towns, STÄDTEBUND (of which cities are direct members, mostly in urban areas), and of GEMEINDEBUND (through the regional associations of cities, mostly representing rural and peri-urban communities). In Germany, the direct members of the DLT are 13 regional associations of counties as well as the intermediary higher communal corporations. The 294 German counties are, on the other hand, indirect members. The DStGB is composed of 17 members which in turn are associations of local governments in the respective Bundesländer, and that results in the indirect representation of 11,000 municipalities across Germany. The DST is in itself an illustration of diversity of membership: 195 cities are direct members, including all autonomous German cities such as the citystates of Berlin, Hamburg and Bremen, as well as the 16 state local government associations, with about 3,200 indirect member cities and towns. As in Austria, double membership can happen, as a city may be a direct member of the DST and through its city association, be an indirect member of the DStGB. The National Section of CEMR (RGRE) unites the three associations plus individual municipalities and counties as direct members.

CEMR Sections AFCCRE, AICCRE and RGRE are CEMR sections and were founded at the same time as CEMR, to bring together members in their respective countries. Today, each section represents all tiers of sub-national governments and they cooperate with their national counterpart to organise the representation of local and regional governments at the European and international level. From the six original national sections, CEMR has grown to 60 member associations, but the original setting is still present and remains very strong although most of the members (95%) are National Associations of Local and Regional Governments; three national sections of CEMR still represent the interest of French, German and Italian Municipalities and Regions (which in turn represents 40 % of the European population). In France, where there are many different associations representing local and regional government, AFCCRE plays the role of unifying all local and regional governments and authorities interested in European and international affairs. It is the only French association composed of representatives of all tiers of subnational governments. AFCCRE joins with other national associations in France to organise the representation of all tiers in CEMR, the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe (CLRAE or Congress) and the Committee of the Regions. For several years, the Association of French Mayors (AMF) has enjoyed the status of associated partner in CEMR, under a specific agreement between both AFCCRE and AMF. In Germany, although the three associations representing local and regional governments are full members of CEMR – Association of Towns and Municipalities (DStGB), Association of German Cities (DST), and the German County Association (DLT), the National Section of CEMR (RGRE) unites the three associations plus individual municipalities and counties as direct members.

In Italy, AICCRE, the national section of CEMR is the recognised association of all tiers of sub-national governments active in European and international activities. As in France, it is the only association representing all different tiers. In Belgium, the Union of Belgian Cities and Municipalities, a national section of CEMR, is the federation of CEMR member associations of municipalities, cities and provinces of the three regions: BRULOCALIS for Brussels’ capital region, the Union of Cities and Municipalities of Wallonia (UVCW) for Wallonia and the Association of Flemish Cities and Municipalities (VVSG) for Flanders. In the United Kingdom, owing to its unique constitutional structure with entirely separate local government jurisdictions, for Northern Ireland, Scotland, England and Wales each has its own association of Local Authorities that are individual members of CEMR, and which together form the UK section of CEMR. In all other countries, national associations of local and regional governments are members of CEMR and usually play the role of national sections of CEMR. In some countries where there are different associations representing different tiers or size of local and regional governments or local and regional governments from specific regions or parts of the country, the national section is the sum of all of them and one of the associations coordinates the representation in CEMR, like in Hungary. Indeed, there are seven association members of the CEMR in Hungary and the Hungarian National Association of Local Authorities (TÖOSZ) is the CEMR contact point for all.

D. Population covered by the associations

CEMR’s representation of the national population 100

An extremely high percentage of Europe’s population is covered by both CEMR and its member associations. The lowest rate of representativeness is around 71%. On average, the associations overall represent 95% of Europe’s population.

The representativeness of CEMR member associations has been defined in terms of population coverage. The largest sub-national tier of government represented by a member of the association was taken into account. For instance, a regional council represents all the residents in its territory.

Albania Austria Belgium Bosnia and Herzegovina Bulgaria Croatia Cyprus Czech Republic Denmark Estonia Finland

The variations can be explained by the fact that membership is not compulsory in the vast majority of local and regional government associations. For only three associations is membership mandatory: the Greek association KEDE, the Irish Local Government Management Agency (LGMA), and the Union of Municipalities of Turkey (TBB). KEDE and LGMA both cover 100 % of their residents. TBB represent all 1398 municipalities of Turkey, i.e. 93 % of the population as a number of villages are outside the remit of the municipalities. Nonetheless, many other associations also represent 100 % of the population of their country, while 95% (i.e. 55 associations) have voluntary membership. In 23 countries, the associations’ members cover the totality of the level of government represented (i.e. all cities or all regions, etc.), even though their membership is voluntary. For instance, in Bulgaria, all 265 municipalities are members of the national association of municipalities (NAMRB), and the Association of Units of Local Self-Government of the Republic of North Macedonia (ZELS) covers all 81 North Macedonian municipalities.

France Georgia Germany Greece Hungary Iceland Ireland Israel Italy Kosovo Latvia Lithuania Luxembourg Malta Moldova Montenegro Netherlands North Macedonia Norway Poland Portugal Romania

Membership of the Association of Finnish Local and Regional Authorities is voluntary, but given that one of its members is the “Municipal Employers Organisation”, which covers all local governments, all Finnish municipalities are also automatically AFLRA members. Sometimes, 100 % of the population is covered by the associations, together, like in Austria, or in Bosnia-Herzegovina.

Serbia Slovakia Slovenia Spain Sweden Turkey United Kingdom Ukraine

How are associations of towns and regions structured?

A. Nature of the associations Depending on their nature, associations undertake different tasks and have varying powers and capacity to influence governments. None of the associations have the status of a non-profit organisation of natural persons (e.g. mayors as individual persons). Most of them (56) are non-profit associations of legal persons (e.g. municipalities or regions). The two others are the English Local Government Association (LGA) which is a wholly publicly owned unlimited company and the German Association of Cities (DST), an unregistered association (like political parties, trade unions or religious communities). 47 are based on private law; and 11 are officially based on public law. It can be noted that the countries favouring such a system are mainly from the northern and eastern part of Europe e.g. Iceland, Ireland, Poland, Slovenia, Turkey and Montenegro. Mixed structures exist such as the Association of Finnish Local and Regional Authorities which has an official status based on private law but they partly act based on public law. Some associations, the Congress of Local Authorities of Moldova (CALM), and the Association of Local Authorities of Republic of Srpska (ALVRS) in Bosnia and Herzegovina, to quote a few examples, have the official status

of non-profit associations of public interest. To conclude, given the nature of their members, all the associations of local and regional governments act for the public interest and perform an institutional role.

B. Legal basis The general right of local governments to associate is crucial for local autonomy, as recognised in article 10 of the European Charter of Local Self-Government of the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe:

“The entitlement of local authorities to belong to an association for the protection and promotion of their common interests and to belong to an international association of local authorities shall be recognised in each State”.10

Article 10.2 leaves to individual member states the choice of means, legislative or otherwise, to put this principle into practice. However, the type of law on which the association is based, or the general right to associate, or the specificity of the documents upon which the association is established, can be contributing factors to the importance and role of the national associations of local and

regional governments, even though they are not crucial elements11. The capacity of national associations to bring together their members and to influence national policies also depends on their environment. This is true for European associations, but also for EU partner countries: the power of national associations depends on “the structure, the story, the local and regional cultural context, the country’s priorities and the governance reform programmes”12. That being said, the legislative level at which the association is anchored can provide more, or less, legal protection for the existence and the activities of the associations.

The constitution The associations anchored either in a written constitution or in an organic law see their status better protected than those which are not. Indeed, since a constitution is the highest level of legislation, it cannot be overruled or derogated by any inferior law (Gicquel, Hauriou, 1983). Moreover, the mention of the national association in a state’s constitution is an indicator that the central government recognises the importance of the association as an agent to promote and defend local interests. In these cases, local and regional government organisations are acknowledged as associations that are different from other types of associations, with a status

How is your association legally protected? 16%

The constitution, a constitutional law or organic law General law adopted by a legislative body, national or regional (parliament, senate, etc.) Regulation or decision adopted by an executive body (government or presidential directives, decisions, decrees, orders, administrative provision, etc.)

19%

60%

Other

10 11 12

European Charter of Local Self-Government of the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe As highlighted in the report of the Council of Europe, Congress of Local and Regional Authorities, CG/GOV07(2018)02, 9 March 2018, The consultation of Local Authorities by Higher Levels of Government, protractor: Anders KNAPE FOGAR, PLATFORMA, Study on national associations of regional authorities in the European Union partner’s countries : www.regionsunies-fogar.org/images/Documentos/ORUFOGARFinalReport.pdf.

and a mission worthy being enshrined in a constitution. In a few countries, such as France for example, an organic law can sit alongside the Constitution, detailing the organisation or the functioning of public authorities. 11 associations (in Albania, Austria, Georgia, Germany, Hungary, Latvia, Poland, Slovakia and within the UK, Northern Ireland) derive their legal status either from a constitution or an organic law.

General law 35 associations, representing more than half of CEMR’s membership, are anchored in a legal framework, and more precisely in a general law adopted by a legislative body, either public or private. This is the case, among others, for Estonia, Israel, Luxembourg, Poland, Spain, Slovenia, Turkey and Italy (based on the Italian civil code).

In Luxembourg, the Association of Luxembourg Cities and Municipalities (SYVICOL) is based on a public legal framework. It is a general law concerning the creation of the so-called “syndicats de communes”13. Within this legal framework, SYVICOL was in fact created by a decision of the municipal councils themselves, who also drew up its statutes and defined its mission. According to the aforementioned law, those statutes were then published as a “règlement grandducal”, which is a regulatory text14. The initiative to create a national association has clearly come from the municipalities themselves. In recent years, the association has been mentioned more and more in other laws and regulations, for example as a member of various commissions and other consultative bodies on the national level. Although SYVICOL is nowadays solidly anchored in national law, the association continues to strive for an institutionalisation of its role in the legislative process.

Regulatory provisions Adopted by an executive body, regulatory provisions (governmental or presidential directives, decisions, decrees, orders,

administrative provision, etc.) have to be compatible with both the legal and constitutional rules of the state. Therefore, a legal or constitutional change can modify regulatory provisions. The Irish association LGMA, the Association of Kosovo Municipalities (AKK), and the Romanian Municipalities Association (AMR), all three non-profit associations with legal personality, are the only three associations whose legal status is enshrined in a regulation or a decision adopted by an executive body.

The specificity of the legal basis

Other

Moreover, a general right of local and regional governments to associate, which is in line with the European Charter of Local Self-Government of the Council of Europe, accounts for 21 associations from all over Europe, representing about 36 % of our membership.

Finally, a total of nine associations do not match any of the three aforementioned categories, as is the case for the Local Government Denmark Association (KL). Defining the status of an association can represent a challenge, as an association might belong to several categories at the same time, as highlighted by the Finnish AFLRA as well as the Congress of Local Authorities of Moldova (CALM). Six associations are not anchored in any constitutional law, general law or regulation, but in a decision of mayors/ members. This is the case for the Association of Netherlands Municipalities (VNG), and the Association of Flemish Cities and Municipalities (VVSG, Belgium) which were also primarily set up directly by mayors themselves. As for the Association of Provinces of the Netherlands (IPO), its legitimacy is based on a decision taken by the members of the association based on private/civil law. In the same way, the Swedish Association of Local Authorities and Regions (SKL) is a private organisation whose creation came about as a result of the wish of its members. It does not state in any law that SKL needs to exist, nor was it founded by any legislative body. The Norwegian Association of Local and Regional Authorities (KS) does not have a legal basis per se, but functions as a voluntary association, with all local and regional governments as members, even if not established by any legal regulation. The Scottish association COSLA is a voluntary association of Local Authorities of Scotland. It is however not an NGO, nor a private law entity, but a public body that is legally inseparable from the municipalities it is made up of.

When the national legal framework specifically foresees the establishment of a national association of local or regional governments, it is assumed that it tends to assign competences and authority to the association. This seems to be the most common basis for the creation of CEMR’s members, as 25 associations representing 43 % of our membership fall within this category.

Furthermore, 12 associations fall within the category in which the legal basis foresees the general right of natural or legal persons to associate. It can happen that associations are based on a legal basis with two different provisions. For instance, the Association of Local Authorities of Republic of Srpska (ALVRS) is based on the one hand upon the Law on Self-government, which specifically foresees the establishment of a national association of local or regional governments, and on the other, ALVRS is also based upon the Law on Association and Foundation of Republika Srpska, which foresees the general right of natural or legal persons to associate. The survey revealed that there is no correlation between the specificity of the document establishing the association and the size of the association (if the number of employees can be considered an indicator of the number of competences and the breadth of the activity). No trend in terms of geographical localisation or structure of the state can be identified. Actually, some of the largest associations in terms of human resources belong to the few associations based on the least specific provision, i.e. the general right of a natural or legal person to associate, such as the Swedish SKL. Some smaller associations are based on an agreement specifically foreseeing the establishment of a national association of local/regional governments.

13 www.legilux.public.lu/eli/etat/leg/loi/2001/02/23/n2/jo 14 www.syvicol.lu/download/1442/arrete-grand-ducal-du-10-juillet-2006-portant-approbation-des-nouveaux-statuts-du-syvicol.pdf

How specific is the provision of the document, upon which is your association established? 21% It foresees specifically the establishment of a national association

43%

It foresees generally the right of local/regional governments It foresees the general right of natural or legal persons to associate

C. Subdivisions 19 associations are composed of different legal entities. A distinction was made between several categories of legal entities: either separate/detached operational divisions (e.g. daughter / sister company, a trading arm, a consultancy, etc.), or other subdivisions (e.g. regional federations/ associations or territorial subdivisions). It can be noted that there seems to be no geographical trend regarding the existence of different legal entities. To give some examples, in Sweden, SKL is legally a non-profit association, owning limited liability companies. Through them, SKL has five subsidiaries, and three associated companies, including for example: Dagens Samhälle (it publishes a newspaper and runs a debate web), SKL International (engaged in international development projects), Inera (coordinates the county councils, regions and municipalities joint e-health work ), and even SOS Alarm (ensuring the SOS service in Sweden by receiving and transmitting emergency calls – 112). Besides this corporate structure, SKL also has a stake in different (non-profit) associations like the International Center of Local Democracy (ICLD). In Norway, KS’s sister company is KS Bedrift. It is an employers’ association and interest group for over 500 enterprises in the municipal sector. Their members represent several trades, including energy, fire and rescue as well as other public services. KS holding company (KS Holding AS) has five wholly owned subsidiaries, including for example: KS Agenda, a centre for seminars and skills

36%

development. Kommuneforlaget which started out as a publishing house, is today one of the most innovative companies in Norway, improving the quality of public services, and inhabitants’ everyday life thanks to digital solutions and educational technology. The newspaper Kommunal Rapport publishes news, debates, commentaries and news stories, as well as the Kommunebarometeret, an exhaustive analysis of Norwegian municipalities. In the Netherlands, VNG has five enterprises: VNG Realisation (consultancy), VNG Congress and Study Center (organization of congresses, seminars, traineeships and studies and trainings), VNG International (international development projects/trainings), VNG Risk Management (consultancy, insurances) and VNG Knowledge Center for Enforcement and Compliance in the Social Domain (consultancy). All enterprises are limited companies (LTDs)15, which are 100% wholly owned by the association. The VNG association and the enterprises are all one big family… The European Affairs team has many interactions with VNG International in particular, due to the fact that they both provide the secretariat to the VNG European & International Affairs policy commission.

and regions, in the fields of strategic planning, performance assessment, and project management. There are five other detached entities relating to SMO ČR from a fund providing support for projects related to the performance of public administration and local self-government to an institute facilitating municipal developments in environment, transport, energy and the links with private companies, for SMART solutions. In Latvia, the LPS owns 100 % of the shares of the company Local Government Consultancy Centre which provides consulting services to local governments. LPS is also a co-owner of the Latvian Local Governments Training Centre which offers training; primarily for local government employees, but in some cases also for the employees of state institutions and other organisations. Several other organisations operate within the LPS, however they have no legal status. These include the Association of Executive Directors of Latvian Local Governments, the Union of Seacoast Municipalities, the association of Heads of Social Services and the association of Custody Court Employees.

Interestingly, links can be created between national associations via daughter companies. The Union of Towns and Municipalities of the Czech Republic (SMO ČR) established in 2004 together with VNG International, a daughter company: MEPCO (International Advisory Centre of Municipalities). The centre provides consulting, management, training and research services to local governments

in Dutch: BVs.

D. Human resources Regarding the number of staff of national associations, there is a significant variation among CEMR members. Three main groups can be distinguished. The first group, gathering up to 50 employees, represents almost 70 % of CEMR membership with no geographical correlation. 14 associations have less than 10 employees (three associations employ only three full-time staff ), and 22 associations have between 11 and 31 employees (full-time equivalent). The second group, with a range between 50 and 200 members of staff, represents 23 % of the associations. In this group, the geographical sample is also balanced. 10 % of associations count over 200 fulltime employees, those are concentrated in Northern Europe. The six associations concerned are the Dutch VNG (220), the Finnish AFLRA (220), the Norwegian KS and the English LGA (250), the Swedish SKL (380) and the Danish KL (400). These associations cover services that are delivered by other means in other countries like civil servant training, consultancy, and social services.

How many staff does your organisation have?

10%

Staff < 10 - 1

24%

Staff 11-30 - 2 Staff 31-50 - 3

23%

Staff 51-199 - 4 Staff > 200 - 5

38%

What are the associationsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; activities?

Six activities as multiple-choice answers were offered in the survey, with the possibility to choose if the activity is a main or secondary one, or if it is not covered at all by the responding associations. Some associations also specified additional activities. In those countries with more than one association, there can be different positions regarding the main activities. In Romania for instance, for the Association of Communes of Romania (ACOR) as well as for AMR, the negotiation of the pay of local and regional governments’ workforce is considered a main activity. However, the Romanian UNCJR does not undertake this for the moment. In the UK, for the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities (COSLA), the exchange of good practice is a secondary activity, while for the English LGA, the Welsh WLGA and the Northern Ireland Local Government Association (NILGA) it is a main activity.

As well as lobbying national governments ‘at home’, many associations also conduct advocacy activities towards the EU institutions through engagement with the CEMR, the Committee of the Regions, the European Parliament and the European Commission in particular. Close networks within the associations present in Brussels also exist. 26 associations16 from 17 countries have an office in Brussels; 15 of them located in the House of Cities, Municipalities and Regions, the same building as the CEMR, close to the European Parliament. These networks allow coordination of advocacy activity on a pan-EU basis to provide an effective voice in Brussels and in national capitals for local and regional government.

43%

of associations have an office in

BRUSSELS.

A. Advocacy and knowledge-sharing 100 % of respondents marked the activity of ‘influencing governments through policy and campaigning’ and ‘defending the interests of local and regional governments’ as their number one key activity. Among the ‘additional activities’ mentioned by a number of associations, to represent, defend, improve, promote, sustain and champion local selfgovernance towards anybody, and not only the central government, is the most repeated one. This is clearly the raison d’être of the national associations.

The second most covered activity by all respondents in all countries is the exchange of good practices and knowledge-sharing. The nuance in this case is that for 60 % of respondents, it is a main activity while it is a secondary one for 35%. Three associations do not cover this activity: the Association of Provinces of the Netherlands (IPO), the Association of Kosovo Municipalities (AKK), and the German County Association (DLT). There is no geographical correlation or link to the size of the associations. For the Swedish, the Bulgarian, and both the Austrian associations, but also the Italian association, and the Association of Basque Municipalities (EUDEL) for instance, this activity is considered

a main activity. On the contrary, for both Danish associations, the ones from Portugal, Luxembourg, Latvia, Iceland, Spain, or Israel, this activity is secondary. Correspondingly, these two activities of influencing governments as well as exchanging good practices and knowledge are also the two pillars on which CEMR’s mission is based.

B. Publications, research and studies For all associations except seven, these being the Union of Cyprus Municipalities (UCM), the German DLT, the Irish LGMA, the Kosovan AKK, the Romanian ACOR, the Scottish COSLA and the Welsh WLGA, “Publications” are a main or secondary (for the majority) activity. Producing publications is an essential factor of publicity, esteem, and credibility for any group or organisation. A publication (whether electronic or otherwise) is a vehicle for information and the fact that all but seven associations mention it as an activity is relevant. 11 associations assessed it as being a main activity: the Albanian Association of Municipalities (SHBSH), all three Belgium associations, the German Association of Towns and Municipalities (DStGB), CEMR Italian section (AICCRE), the Association of Netherlands Municipalities (VNG), the Romanian Municipalities Association (AMR), the Standing Conference of Towns and Municipalities in Serbia (SKGO), the Association of Municipalities and Towns of

What are the activities covered by your association?

100% 95% covered

88%

not covered

86% 81% 55%

advocacy knowledge sharing publications training research salary negociation

Including the Belgian associations.

Slovenia (SOS), and the Union of Municipalities of Turkey (TBB).

(SAMBAND), the Association of Basque Municipalities EUDEL, and the Swedish SKL.

Almost two thirds of the respondents take on Research and Studies as a secondary activity. Moreover, 13 associations consider it to be a main activity, while 11 do not cover it at all. This activity is usually linked to the abovementioned publications, even if for some larger associations, there is a dedicated team for research per se as a service for members like in LGA in England, or KS in Norway. It can be noted that from the 11 associations that do not cover the mission of Research and Studies, one considers publication as a main activity (the Belgian BRULOCALIS), four do not produce any publications (COSLA and WLGA from the UK, AKK from Kosovo, and DLT from Germany), and six consider publications to be a secondary activity: the Danish KL, the Association of Estonian Cities and Municipalities (AECM), the German DST and RGRE, the Association of Local Authorities in Lithuania (LSA), and the Luxembourger SYVICOL.

26 associations do not cover this activity at all. This can be explained by the fact that not all associations have the competence to do so, as in general, such a function is established by law. An overview of the respondents shows that the countries considering this activity as a main mission are geographically located in the north and east of Europe. An example is the Norwegian Association of Local and Regional Authorities (KS). As a voluntary association, KS is not established by any legal provision, however one exception is that a provision in the Local Government Act gives KS the competence to bind its members to the results of collective bargaining agreements.

The English LGA for instance has a Research and Information team of around 20 staff in London. Notably they have developed an online tool named “Local Government Inform” (LG Inform). It is a comprehensive benchmarking data service bringing together a range of key performance data for local governments, alongside background and financial information. Users can view data on over 1000 individual items, make comparisons between their authority and other councils or groups of councils, or construct their own reports bringing several data items together.

C. Salary negotiation of local and regional governments’ workforce The negotiation of the pay of local/ regional government workforce is a heterogeneous activity, since almost two thirds (19 associations) of the associations exercising this activity (32 in total) address this issue as a main mission. Among them, we find for instance both Danish associations, the Bulgarian NAMRB, the Association of Towns and Communities of Slovakia ZMOS, the the Association of Local Authorities in Iceland

D. Training and capacity building Training and capacity building is also an important topic for the associations, although not covered by all of them (eight out of 58 associations do not implement at all this activity). 53% address it as a main activity and 33% as a secondary activity. There is no correlation with the size, the geographical location of the associations, or with considerations based on need for capacity building. For example, the Spanish FEMP, the Slovakian ZMOS, the Austrian STÄDTEBUND and the Croatian HRVZZ have indicated training and capacity building as being a main activity. For the association of Basque Municipalities (EUDEL), this is a key activity. EUDEL provides specific training for women elected officials (network of mayors and councillors named “Basqueskola”) as well as for all locally elected representatives (men and women) and for civil servants. Those that cite it as a secondary activity include: the Association of Polish Cities (ZMP), the Belgium BRULOCALIS, as well as the Maltese LCA, and the National Association of Portuguese Municipalities (ANMP). Regarding the associations not exercising this activity, this includes the three German associations DLT, DST, RGRE, as well as the Danish Regions (REGIONER), the Kosovar AKK, the Dutch IPO, and in the UK: COSLA and WLGA. It seems important to highlight the fact that, except for Kosovo, the countries from which these associations originate have at least one

other CEMR association that exercises training and capacity building as a main activity (in the UK NILGA and LGA) or a secondary activity (German DStGB, Danish KL, Dutch VNG). In France, AFCCRE has a specific agreement with the French National Centre for Local Public Service (CNFPT) which organises the training of local civil servants to provide specific training on European policies. AFCCRE is also recognised by the state as a training facility for local and regional elected representatives. Further activities have been identified by the associations, such as providing advice and counselling to members on all relevant topics related to local policy issues. Furthermore, the Flemish VVSG deals with about 35,000 requests for advice on an annual basis. There are additional service activities that associations perform for their members, such as training, as underlined by the Finnish AFLRA. Both associations from Bosnia and Herzegovina, the Association of Municipalities and Cities of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina (SOGFBiH) and the Association of Local Authorities of Republic of Srpska (ALVRS), pointed out that they have the aim of improving local government performance. Last example: the Master’s degrees Course on Euro-projecting, a national course organised internally by the Italian AICCRE. With two editions each year (one per semester), it is managed by AICCRE in collaboration with selected professors. It is open to LRGs and their employees. Alongside these activities, one of the main objectives and scope for the existence of the national associations is their representativeness and their capacity to speak for a number of local and regional governments. Is their voice heard at the national level?

How are associations of towns and regions consulted?

The right of local governments to be consulted by higher levels of government is a fundamental principle of European legal and democratic practice, enshrined in the European Charter of Local SelfGovernment (Articles 4.6, 5, 9.6 and 10). The Congress of Local and Regional Authorities has issued a report on The consultation of local authorities by higher levels of government17. It stresses the importance of the formalisation of institutionalised and result-oriented consultation and provides guidelines on the main elements an effective consultation should include. The important role of national associations of local and regional governments is stressed. The report also addresses the difference between consultation and lobbying. In the first part of this chapter, the question of the national transparency registers will be addressed, before detailing the consultation processes in the 41 CEMR countries.

A. National transparency registers The objective of having a transparency register is to strengthen the framework for a transparent and ethical interaction between interest representatives and the European institutions. Transparent lobbying helps to ensure democratic decision-making processes that are open to scrutiny, at all stages of decisionmaking and to foster the trust of citizens. CEMR has consistently stated its support for more transparent policymaking. However, it has also underlined that national associations of local and regional government should be treated differently from commercial lobbyists or single-issue interest groups. National associations are often recognised as being public institutions with legal personality, a component of the State structure, or encompassing different infranational tiers of government. The work of the associations is typically steered by democratically elected representatives.

17 18

A register of lobbyists has existed in the European Parliament since 1995, but it has never been compulsory to be registered. In 2008 the Commission launched its own register and the two registers that of the European Parliament and of the European Commission were merged in 2011.

Of 41 countries, a transparency register exists only in 10 countries18 and is not always directly comparable with the European one. In Germany for instance, there is a national transparency register for the German parliament (Bundestag) only. Of the 10 countries where a similar register exists, four countries have a mandatory register: Germany, Cyprus, Greece, and Israel. For the rest, it is a voluntary register. In Romania for example, the transparency register acts as a database open to all organisations and persons that have lobbying or advocacy activities: registration is on a voluntary basis. The register includes an index of associations, foundations, federations, unions and other entities (like the one of the European Institutions). In the United Kingdom, there is no transparency register similar to the one of the European Institutions at the national level. While there are no registers for Wales and Northern Ireland, in Scotland the Lobbying Act 2016 entered into force on the 12th March 2018, but makes clear that Local Government communication does not constitute lobbying. In England, there

are also voluntary transparency registers for commercial lobbyists or consultants, and for public relations specialists. In Poland, there has been a “Lobbying Act” in force since 2006. The Act aims to increase the transparency of lobbying in three ways: 1) an obligation for the government to publish its legislative agenda; 2) the creation of a lobby register; 3) requiring all public authorities participating in the law-making process to declare their lobby contacts.

In September 2016 the European Commission came forward with its proposal for a mandatory Transparency Register, which for the first time has seen efforts to introduce a compulsory register that would bind the working practices of all three EU Institutions. In the Commission’s draft proposals for which discussions are on-going, it clearly states that local and regional governments and their representative associations should be excluded from the scope of the register. This recognises CEMR’s position that since national associations perform an institutional role, often recognised by national constitutional or legal provisions, to articulate and represent the views of local government at national, European and International level, they should not be placed in the same category as commercial lobbyists.

Is your association regularly consulted by central government during the national legislative process? 7%

Yes No No answer 91%

CG35(2018)20 final, 8 November 2018, Rapporteur: Anders Knape Austria, Croatia, Cyprus, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Israel, Lithuania, Romania, Slovenia.

B. Mandatory consultation and process efficiency 98 % of the national associations responding to the survey are consulted by their central government during the national legislative process, on a regular basis for 91 % of them, even if the consultation is mandatory in only one country out of two (55%). Several consultation systems exist, depending on the nature of the document foreseeing the consultation of the associations.

Consultation based on the Constitution Both Austrian associations must be consulted according to a Constitutional provision. They are the constitutional representative bodies of the Austrian local level (cities, towns and municipalities). The Austrian consultation mechanism ensures local and regional governments’ right to a proper impact assessment of national legislation. Local government associations may even veto a national law that does not correctly assess the (financial) impact for the local level, leading to renegotiation. In case of non-respect of this obligation, local government associations, municipalities and/or regions can go to Court. In Albania, the Organic Law on Local Self-Government ensures consultation between central government and local selfgovernment units. A Consultative Council has been established. It is a structure made up of representatives of central and local governments, serving as a platform for dialogue.

instance, mentioned the right to draft and/or discuss amendments to national legislation. The Spanish Constitution recognises the uniqueness of the economic system of the Basque Country with respect to the Central Government. Therefore, the Association of Basque Municipalities (EUDEL) has a specific and differentiated status anchored in law, meaning that it must be consulted by the regional government regarding draft legislation with local impact. That direct consultation of local government (represented through EUDEL) is regulated by an “early warning” body, consisting of locally elected representatives, whose main mission is to alert to possible infringements of local self-government in the preliminary design of draft legislation (bills and regulations) so that they can be corrected prior to their legislative development.

BZK, 2005

Consultation based on other documents The Netherlands is a particular example where the consultation of the associations is based on a code of conduct. In 2004, the central government and the representatives of sub-national governments drew up an Inter-Governmental Relationships Code19. According to its provisions, whenever new legislation and policies that affect local government are being drawn up, the Dutch VNG and IPO have to be consulted and must be given time to consult their membership.

The Association of Estonian Cities and Municipalities (AECM) explained that in addition to the mandatory consultation on legislation, the AECM takes part in the budget negotiations. Indeed, while the draft budget is prepared, the Central Government and AECM make an agreement on the financial transfers from the next year’s state budget to the municipalities. This agreement is annexed to the draft budget when sent to the Parliament.

The North Macedonian association, ZELS, which is anchored at the level of General Law, explained that their consultation is guaranteed by a Memorandum of Cooperation (MoC) that has been signed together with the Government of the Republic of North Macedonia. The MoC specifies that ZELS cooperates with the Government on the preparation of laws that concern local government. ZELS representatives are part of legislation drafting and analysing teams, contributing to the elaboration of laws and by-laws relevant for local self-government.

The National Association of Local Authorities of Georgia (NALAG) insisted on the fact that NALAG representatives actually participate in

While local government is recognised in the Danish Constitution, there is no legal framework for consultation procedures.

Is your consultation mandatory?

Consultation based on law 10 associations specifically mention a Legislative Act as the basis for the compulsory nature of their consultation by the central government. For instance, several associations such as the Bulgarian, the Icelandic or the Lithuanian associations have their right to be consulted anchored in a Local Government Act. It should be noted that the consultation only has to take place for draft legislation that might have an impact on local government, in terms of local finances for example. The Bulgarian NAMRB and the Association of Ukrainian Cities (AUC) for

the committees of the Georgian Parliament with a consultative voice. The association also works with the Government of Georgia on issues that are linked to local governance and local development.

Yes No No answer

43% 55%

Parliamentary rules of procedure stipulate that all relevant partners are to be consulted prior to the presentation of a bill to parliament. There are established procedures on consultation with Local Government Denmark (KL) on all legislation with a bearing on local and regional governments. While purely consultative, this gives a degree of predictability that enables proper policy development by local government. Notwithstanding the examples cited, the mandatory nature of a consultation is neither the guarantee of an efficient process, nor of the concrete taking into account of the associations’ views . This is underlined by both the Moldavian CALM and the Association of Municipalities and Towns of Slovenia (SOS). CALM explained that the provided opinions are seldom considered, and that the consultations are formal and obsolete. SOS explained that in Slovenia, municipalities must be consulted, but that the government is not obliged to follow the recommendations or comments from municipalities.

C. Frequency of consultations Further comments made by the associations explain how regular the consultation process is, even though it is not legally mandatory. For instance, for the Flemish VVSG there is no formal consultative procedure that is binding by law, but several informal contacts between members of staff and all those

bodies that play an important role in the decision-making process. Also, the Croatian County Association (HRVZZ) mentioned a participation in working groups, the signing of common declarations as well as the existence of common conferences. The consultation also depends on the topics that are addressed. In Germany, consultation takes place whenever municipal rights are concerned, but not concerning all legislative proposals on the federal level20. The national associations (DST, DStGB, and DLT) are frequently consulted or can provide their opinions on national level to the federal ministries and to the federal parliament (Bundestag). Furthermore, the local government associations in the “Land” are consulted on “Land” level. The frequency then depends on the corresponding “Land” legislation. Several associations are regularly consulted through a committee (e.g. the Turkish TBB) or a joint secretariat (like NILGA in Northern Ireland), composed of representatives of local government associations and the government. The Hungarian association TÖOSZ explained that following a strategic partnership agreement with the Ministry of Interior Affairs, a Council has been set up to work closely together and in a pre-set manner on all issues. The Association of Polish Counties (ZPP) delegates its representatives to the Joint Commission of Government and Local Government and has the right allocated by the regulations of the Sejm (lower house

91% of associations are regularly consulted by their central government.

Associations are consulted in every country

of the Polish parliament) and the Senate to submit comments on the draft legislation. In Norway, the consultation of the association takes place on a regular basis, settled on a mutual agreement between the association and the government. Indeed, there is a system of consultation between KS and the Norwegian government which takes place three times a year, with predefined topics and with different ministers in the government. KS is also involved in examinations and hearings on topics concerning the municipal and regional sector, and participates in hearings in the Parliament on relevant matters. The Serbian SKGO signed a Memorandum of Understanding with a number of national institutions which are the basis for cooperation on different topics, starting with the National Assembly, Government, relevant ministries, etc.

D. Other cases Associations with no regular or mandatory consultation For two other associations, the Italian association AICCRE and the Greek association KEDE, consultation by central government is neither regular nor mandatory. Indeed, for the Greek association, consultation takes place at their own permanent request, while for AICCRE, the regularity of the consultation is managed through the State-Regions Conference and the State-Cities Conference. Therefore, the consultation is not mandatory for AICCRE, but only for associations with the official role of Syndicates of Local Governments.

Consultations regarding EU policies Last but not least, for the Scottish association COSLA and both Austrian associations, a consultation process of the associations also exists in matters of EU Policies. For the Austrian associations, according to the Austrian Constitution, the local (and regional) level has to be consulted and their positions considered on EU matters which impact the local level. As a result, both associations

The consultation is regulated by the rules of procedure of the Federal Government, Federal Council and German Bundestag.

have offices in the Austrian Permanent Representation in Brussels. When creating national EU policies that directly affect local governments, civil servants use COSLA as a first contact point with regards to the Scottish Government Guidance on Handling EU Obligations and Influencing EU policy. The UK Government EU Policy Statement on local government helps scope the impact of EU law upon UK municipalities; and the new joint UK-Local Government body that is being developed with the UK Government helps deal with Brexit and repatriation of EU powers. Within the Danish EU decision-making process, 33 “EU Special Committees” allow to formally shape government policy. In the four weeks allocated to preparing a Danish negotiating provision, the Committee will evaluate the judicial, administrative and economic impact of the proposal and whether it is at odds with Danish interests. The purpose of the EU-Special Committees is to prepare the Danish EU-mandate on the different issues. The EU Committee in the Parliament gives the final mandate to the ministers before going to a Council meeting. CEMR’s Danish associations KL and REGIONER are currently represented in ten committees. For additional information and guidelines on how to make consultation processes even more effective and beneficial for all stakeholders, the Congress report is detailing concrete proposals and practices, while recalling the principles and what is at stake: democracy; and the importance of national associations of local and regional governments. Their role is crucial at national level. What about the European level?

Representation in Europe

CEMR

Albania Austria

Albanian Association of Municipalities Austrian Associations of Municipalities Austrian Association of Cities and Towns Association of the City and the Municipalities of the Brussels-Capital Region Association of Flemish Cities and Municipalities Union of Cities and Municipalities of Wallonia Association of Municipalities and Cities of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina Association of Local Authorities of Republic of Srpska National Association of Municipalities in the Republic of Bulgaria Croatian County Association Union of Cyprus Municipalities Union of Towns and Municipalities of the Czech Republic Danish Regions Local Government Denmark Association of Estonian Cities and Municipalities Association of Finnish Local and Regional Authorities French Association of the Council of European Municipalities and Regions National Association of Local Authorities of Georgia German Association of the Council of European Municipalities and Regions German County Association Association of German Cities German Association of Towns and Municipalities Central Union of Municipalities of Greece Hungarian National Association of Local Authorities Association of Local Authorities in Iceland Local Government Management Agency Federation of Local Authorities in Israel Italian Association of the Council of European Municipalities and Regions Association of Kosovo Municipalities Latvian Association of Local and Regional Governments Association of Local Authorities in Lithuania Association of Luxembourg Cities and Municipalities Local Councils Association Congress of Local Authorities of Moldova Union of Municipalities of Montenegro Association of Provinces of the Netherlands Association of Netherlands Municipalities Association of the Units of Local Self-Government of the Republic of North Macedonia Norwegian Association of Local and Regional Authorities Association of Polish Counties Association of Polish Cities National Association of Portuguese Municipalities National Union of County Councils of Romania Romanian Municipalities Association Association of Communes of Romania Standing Conference of Towns and Municipalities of Serbia Association of Towns and Communities of Slovakia Association of Urban Municipalities of Slovenia Association of Municipalities and Towns of Slovenia Spanish Federation of Municipalities and Provinces Association of Basque Municipalities Swedish Association of Local Authorities and Regions Union of Municipalities of Turkey Association of Ukrainian Cities Local Government Association Convention of Scottish Local Authorities Northern Ireland Local Government Association Welsh Local Government Association

● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ●

Belgium

Bosnia and Herzegovina Bulgaria Croatia Cyprus Czech Republic Denmark Estonia Finland France Georgia Germany

Greece Hungary Iceland Ireland Israel Italy Kosovo Latvia Lithuania Luxembourg Malta Moldova Montenegro Netherlands North Macedonia Norway Poland Portugal Romania

Serbia Slovakia Slovenia Spain Sweden Turkey Ukraine United Kingdom

● ● ●

● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ●

CLRAE | Congress

Associations participating in the work of:

CoR

Country

● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ●

● ●

● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ●

● ● ● ●

● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ●

The creation of the CEMR back in 1951 meant that for the first time, local governments could speak at the European level with a common voice. The desire of local governments to reinforce their advocacy efforts at the supranational level led to the creation of the Committee of the Regions of the European Union and the Congress of Local and Regional authorities of the Council of Europe. Both these Consultative chambers were established in 1993. The Committee of the Regions has an advisory role and is consulted on all matters of the European Union that have an impact on Local and Regional governance while the Congress monitors the application of the European Charter of Local Self-Government, the successor to the European Charter on local liberties, adopted by CEMR in 1953 as its first important political document. Nowadays, there exist a number of other associations and networks that voice local and regional concerns at the European level, usually focusing on a particular theme or representing a single tier of government.

A. Council of European Municipalities and Regions Creation: 1951 Members: 60 Countries represented: 41 More info: www.cemr.eu The Council of European Municipalities and Regions (CEMR) was founded in 1951, as a community of mayors to support the creation of a united Europe based on empowered local self-governments. After the creation of the European Council of Municipalities (ECM), and in order to mobilise the greatest number of interested municipalities, they soon regrouped themselves into national sections in the original founding countries. Regions joined in the 1980s to create the Council of European Municipalities and Regions (CEMR). With the growing interest of local and regional governments in European affairs, the successive enlargements of the EU, the fall of the Iron curtain, the opening up to central Europe and the growing influence of European regulations on local and regional policies, other National Associations of Local and Regional Governments requested 21 22 23

to participate in CEMR in the early 90’s. This led to the merger of CEMR and the European section of IULA (the International Union of Local Authorities), creating the largest and sole organisation regrouping all national associations of local and regional governments in Europe. Nowadays, all tiers of sub-national governments are represented by our members (municipalities, provinces and regions), from 41 European countries. They are associations or federations of local and regional governments. It is worth noting that CEMR does not represent federal or quasi-federal entities so as not to create conflicts of interest when speaking on behalf of their members. The membership comprises local, inter-municipal, provincial and regional governments’ associations, but does not extend to the German Länder, the Belgian Regions or communities, or to Spanish Regions. The European institutions have recognised the uniqueness of CEMR, and the value of its contributions to developing EU policies that impact local and regional governments. CEMR has worked extensively with the committees of the European Parliament over the years, when issues of importance to local and regional governments have been under the spotlight and when it has been necessary to provide the specific local and regional government perspective. CEMR’s added value contribution to shaping EU policies has been formally recognised by the European Parliament following the adoption of its resolution in July 2018 that supports CEMR becoming a permanent consultant of the EU institutions when it is necessary for the sub-national level to be taken into account21. At intergovernmental level, the Urban Agenda for the EU22 also recognises the role of the associations representing urban authorities and in particular, CEMR and Eurocities. The Member States agreed to involve these two associations directly in further developments of the EU Urban Agenda. In that capacity, CEMR can both participate in, and propose the nomination of cities willing to engage in one of the thematic partnerships.

The CEMR structure allows for different representatives of the associations to play a particular role within the organisation.

The governing bodies23 The CEMR is a representative and democratic political organisation. It has two governing bodies: the Policy Committee and the Executive Bureau. The Policy Committee is the main decisionmaking body, composed of locally and regionally elected representatives nominated by the CEMR member/national associations. Around 170 members, elected for a renewable three-year mandate, usually gather twice a year to approve the budget, the annual work programme and decide upon the main policy lines of the organisation. Each national delegation is assigned a given number of seats based on the size of the country's population. CEMR applies a gender equality policy that imposes to all of its members to nominate at least 40 % of each gender in their delegation. At present, CEMR’s Policy Committee is composed of 47 % of women and 53 % of men which makes it the only European organisation of local and regional governments with such a gender equality standard. The Executive Bureau members, i.e. CEMR’s President, two Co-Presidents, the Executive Presidents, the Vice-Presidents, the Chair of the Financial Management Committee and the Secretary General, are appointed by the Policy Committee members. The Bureau carries out the Committee’s decisions and is responsible for CEMR’s work and policy between Committee meetings.

Expert groups and other working structures Following the priorities set by the governing bodies, the associations assign experts, and/ or a general representative to contribute to the work of CEMR, which is managed by the Secretariat. Its work is structured within five thematic areas, which cover all relevant aspects of the lives of European citizens as well as the local and regional governments that represent them:

In the European Parliament resolution of 3 July 2018 on the role of cities in the institutional framework of the Union - PA _TA_PROV 2018/0273 In the Pact of Amsterdam For more information, please consult CEMR website: http://www.ccre.org/en/article/political_structure

 Governance, democracy and citizenship  Environment, climate and energy  Economic, social and territorial cohesion  Local and regional public services management  International engagement and cooperation There are 15 expert groups and two committees involving elected representatives following specific topics. The expert groups in 2019:  Expert group on governance, local democracy and citizenship  Expert group on town twinning  Task Force on Migration and Refugees  Standing Committee for Equality of women and men in local life  Expert Group on the European Charter for Equality of women and men in local life  Committee of young local and regional elected representatives  Expert group on waste  Expert group on the climate and energy transition  Expert group on mobility  Expert group on territorial cohesion  Expert group on local finances  Expert group on local and regional government as employers  Expert group on public services and e-government  Expert group on digitalisation  Task Force on SDGs  Expert group on research and studies

European Union, and the interest in exchange of knowledge and experience.

The international scene CEMR is also the European section of the world organisation United Cities and Local Governments (UCLG), through which European local and regional governments are represented on the international stage. There is an increasing recognition of the local level by international organisations, such as the United Nations (UN) and the Organisation for European Cooperation and Development (OECD). The UN recognises local governments as key actors to reach the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and to tackle climate change. CEMR leads PLATFORMA, the European coalition of local and regional governments and their associations involved in development cooperation. CEMR member associations are partners of PLATFORMA24.

B. Committee of the Regions Creation: 1994 Members: 350 Countries represented: 28 More info: www.cor.europa.eu

Specific strategies have been developed within each expert group to address the challenges under consideration and to best represent the local and regional government case, drawing on the evidence from research and studies, by lobbying, and undertaking joint projects.

The European Committee of the Regions (CoR) has 350 members representing local and regional governments from all 28 EU Member States. They gather in plenary sessions in Brussels five to six times a year to discuss political priorities and adopt opinions on EU legislation and policy. The working committees play an important role and this is where the detailed drafting of the reports takes place. In addition to CEMR’s collaboration with the CoR, the involvement of the associations of local and regional governments in coordinating, assisting, advising or exchanging with CoR members supports and strengthens the CoR’s work

The regularity and the work of the expert groups depend on the involvement, dedication and expertise of the associations, as well as on the legislative programme of the

In 26 out of the 28 Members States, local and regional government associations are in touch with their national delegation or individual members. The Hungarian National

CEMR’s structure allows for the nomination of politicians as spokespersons on specific topics. They are involved in the preparation and presentation of policy papers and express CEMR’s concerns and views to the European institutions and within the wider global arena.

24 25 26

Association of Local Authorities (TÖOSZ) and the Irish Local Government Management Association (LGMA) are not coordinating nor assisting their delegation. In Italy, AICCRE does not officially coordinate a delegation or assist individual members of the Committee of the Regions, but it works with the members of the Italian delegation. In Belgium, none of CEMR’s associations play an official role of this kind, but they have contact with their members, notably in Wallonia (the association is the Union of cities and municipalities of Wallonia, UVCW). Five associations from non-EU countries are involved in the CoR’s consultative committees: Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Kosovo, the Republic of North Macedonia, and Serbia. The Serbian association, SKGO, does not formally coordinate a delegation, but contributes to all activities of the Secretariat, which is based in the Ministry of Public Administration and Local Self-Government. SKGO also assists the five individual members of the Joint Consultative Committee, CoRSerbia, who are appointed by the SKGO Presidency. A similar Joint Consultative Committee is currently being negotiated for Turkey and the United Kingdom, taking into account the probable withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the EU. The Moldavian association CALM, and the Georgian association NALAG, provide assistance to their members in the Conference of Regional and Local Authorities for the Eastern Partnership (CORLEAP), the political forum of local and regional governments from the European Union and the Eastern Partnership countries set up in 201125. Ukraine is also part of CORLEAP. The European Economic Area (EEA) European Free Trade Association (EFTA) Forum was set up by a decision of the Standing Committee of the EFTA States26 as an informal body to involve elected representatives from local and regional governments in EEA matters. The Forum works closely with other EEA EFTA bodies and has established links with the Committee of the Regions of the European Union. Although the Icelandic (SAMBAND) and Norwegian (KS) associations are not mentioned specifically in the Standing Committee decision, they are de facto

For additional information on PLATFORMA, please consult the website: http://platforma-dev.eu/ Countries involved in the CORLEAP: Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Republic of Moldova and Ukraine. The EFTA Member States are Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland.

significantly involved in the work of the Forum. Their boards nominate members of the Forum and they have the main responsibility of organising its meetings.

Level of involvement of the associations in the work of the Committee of the Regions Not all associations have the same level of involvement in coordinating a delegation or individual members in the CoR. Although members of the Committee of the Regions are formally nominated by their national governments, some associations are involved in the nomination process of their national CoR delegation. In France, several associations share the coordination of the French delegation. In Austria, both associations have the right to propose three members to the Austrian delegation. In Denmark, three members and three alternate members are proposed by the regional level (REGIONER). In Slovenia, the Association of Municipalities and Towns (SOS) proposes four members, five alternate members, and the national coordinator. In the UK, the English LGA proposes 16 full members, and 16 alternates; the Scottish COSLA proposes two full members and two alternates; and the Welsh and Northern Irish associations each propose one full and one alternate member. In Romania, all three associations are heavily involved in CoR activities. The Romanian delegation has 15 members and 15 alternates. The Association of Romanian Municipalities (AMR) puts forward three members and three alternates. There is also an AMR representation office in Brussels that provides assistance to its members at the Committee of the Regions and attends the meetings in Brussels. The Association of Communes of Romania (ACOR) has three full members and three alternates in the European Committee of the Regions. The National Union of County Councils of Romania (UNCJR) has six full members and six alternates. Some associations play the role of coordinators: in Finland (the Association of Finnish Local and Regional Authorities), in the Netherlands, in Lithuania, in Cyprus, in the UK (the LGA), in Romania both AMR and UNCJR, etc. Many are not the official coordinators but provide support to individual members

of the CoR upon their request, like the Union of Towns and Municipalities of the Czech Republic (SMO ČR), the Polish ZMP, the Slovakian association of Towns and Communities (ZMOS), etc. In the UK, NILGA and WLGA assist their individual members respectively from Northern Ireland and Wales. The National Association of Portuguese Municipalities (ANMP) explained that it is part of a shared network, working together with the government and the permanent representation of Portugal in Brussels. In total, directly or indirectly, 48 associations from 36 CEMR countries are coordinating or assisting a delegation or individual(s) at the Committee of the Regions.

C. Council of Europe: Congress of Local and Regional Authorities Creation: 1994 Members/Countries: 47 More info: www.coe.int In all the 41 countries covered by the CEMR, at least one association is involved in the coordination or assistance of individual members of the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe (CLRAE or Congress); except for Ireland and Ukraine. Some members of the board of the Association of Ukrainian Cities (AUC) are members of the Congress. The achievements, decisions, issues raised at the sessions and meetings of the Congress are disseminated among the AUC members. Regarding the number of members and substitutes coordinated by the national associations in the CLRAE, both the Association of Local Authorities of Republic of Srpska (ALVRS) and the Flemish VVSG are represented by one member as well as one substitute. COSLA or AMR coordinate two members. The Maltese LCA coordinates three members as well as three substitutes, and the Serbian Standing Conference of Towns and Municipalities (SKGO) delegates six members and six substitutes. Six associations provide assistance to the members and/or substitutes in CLRAE: the Belgian VVSG and UVCW, the Association of Municipalities and Cities of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina (SOGFBiH), the two

national Danish associations, and the AMR of Romania. 14 associations provide the a secretariat for the members of their national delegations within the CLRAE. For instance, both Austrian associations act as the secretariat of the national delegation, together with the region of Tyrol. The secretary of the Romanian delegation is an employee of the National Union of County Councils of Romania (UNCJR). The Georgian association, NALAG, serves as a national secretariat for the Georgian delegation to the Congress, and the secretary of the Georgian delegation is also a full-time staff member of NALAG. The Latvian Association communicates with the Secretariat of the Congress on administrative issues concerning members’ involvement in Congress activities. The Serbian association, SKGO, provide the secretariat of the Serbian Delegation within the CLRAE, formally designated by the government of Serbia. The Union of Municipalities of Montenegro (UOM) prepares statements for individual members and prepares inputs for CLRAE reports on local democracy. 10 associations play a role in the designation of CLRAE representatives. This is the case for instance for the Belgian association UVCW, which designates one member and two substitutes, the German association DStGB, and the Icelandic association, SAMBAND, which nominates the whole Icelandic delegation to the Congress. In total, directly or indirectly, 55 associations (out of 58) from 40 CEMR countries are coordinating or assisting a delegation or individual(s) at the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities.

D. Other European networks or associations The members of the national associations of local and regional governments can also be part of other European networks, usually more focused in terms of representativeness (big cities, only maritime regions, etc.) or topics covered (energy, climate, etc.). There is a tradition of collaboration between networks, when combined forces can have a greater impact. CEMR cooperates with all of them where there are common interests or where joint lobbying action is required. To name but

a few examples, the Association of European Border Regions, the Association of European Regions, Climate Alliance, the Conference of Peripheral Maritime Regions, Energy Cities, Eurocities, the European Association of Development Agencies, and the network of Local Governments for Sustainability are partners CEMR often cooperates with.

Association of European Border Regions Creation: 1971 Members: 10 Countries represented: 39 More info: www.aebr.eu The Association of European Border Regions was created in 1971 to bring together ten border regions from around Europe. Its aim is to support cross-border cooperation and represent the interests of border and crossborder areas at European, national and regional levels.

Assembly of European Regions Creation: 1985 Members: 47 Countries represented: 8 More info: www.aer.eu The Assembly of European Regions (AER) was formed in 1985 prompted by politicians in favour of regionalism who gathered representatives from 47 regions in France, Spain, Portugal, Germany, Italy, Switzerland, Belgium and the United Kingdom. The AER has since been advocating for regional rights. Today, the AER is composed of three committees focusing on territorial innovation and regional development, social policy and public health and culture, education and youth.

Climate Alliance Creation: 1990 Members: 1,700 Countries represented: 26 More info: www.climatealliance.org Climate Alliance is a network of 1,700 European cities and municipalities committed to reducing greenhouse gases and to act in solidarity with indigenous communities in the Amazon basin. Founded in 1990, its Brussels secretariat supports its members in reaching three main goals: reducing CO2 emissions by 10% every 5 years, ensuring

per capita emissions do not exceed 2.5 tonnes CO2 through renewable and efficient energy usage, to support climate justice in partnership with indigenous peoples through supporting their initiatives and refraining from consumption of unsustainably managed tropical timber.

Conference of Peripheral Maritime Regions Creation: 1973 Members: 160 Countries represented: 25 More info: www.cpmr.org The Conference of Peripheral Maritime Regions (CPMR) is a network of 160 Regions from 25 European countries. It acts as both a think tank and a lobby, focusing on blue growth and maritime policy as well as social, economic and territorial cohesion. Created in 1973, its principal activities centre around six Geographical Commissions covering Europe’s maritime basin: the North Sea, the Atlantic Arc, the Balkans and the Black Sea, the Baltic Sea, the Mediterranean and European Islands.

Energy Cities Creation: 1990 Members: 1,000 Countries represented: 30 More info: www.energy-cities.eu Energy Cities is the European association of local governments in energy transition. Founded in 1990, it represents 1,000 towns and cities across 30 countries. It aims to accelerate the shift towards sustainable power supply and to find innovative ways of reducing cities’ energy consumption. Their three-tiered approach focuses on developing democratically managed energy sources, divesting financial investments from the fossil fuel industry and giving local governments more say in decision concerning the infrastructure, production and provision of energy.

Eurocities Creation: 1986 Members: 140 Countries represented: 39 More info: www.eurocities.eu

250,000, play a central role across its region and encompass an international dimension. Founded in 1986, it intends to provide such cities with a networking platform where they can share best practices and participate in working groups related to European urban issues. A Brussels office monitors and seeks to influence EU policy in favour of city governments and works for their voice to be heard during decision making processes.

European Association of Development Agencies Creation: 1992 Members: 78 Countries represented: 23 More info: www.eurada.org The European Association of Development Agencies (EURADA), founded in 1992, brings together experts working on economic development from 23 European countries through a network of 78 members. Its areas of activity contribute to the European Commission’s (EC) policies for innovation in SMEs and Smart specialisation strategies. EURADA is also involved in EC funded projects such as the European Migrant Entrepreneurship Network, Erasmus+ and three Interreg projects.

Local Governments for Sustainability Creation: 1990 Members: 160 Countries represented: 35 More info: www.iclei.org

Local Governments for Sustainability (ICLEI) was founded in 1990 as the International Council for Local Environmental Initiatives. It brings together cities, towns and regions to support them in project preparation and advocates for urban sustainability policies. This covers a holistic set of fields ranging from climate change mitigation and adaptation, smart cities, and the circular economy to urban governance. It has over 160 members from more than 35 European countries.

Eurocities is a network regrouping 140 major cities in Europe. To become a full member, a city must have a minimum population of

Conclusion For local democracy, national governance or European governance: associations of local and regional governments are fundamental. They represent towns and regions, they are the governance level, which is the closest to citizens, where public services, legislation and policies have a direct impact on individuals, on the community, and on society. Whether directly or not, whether alone or in cooperation with other associations, CEMRâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s member associations are key in uniting the voice, the needs, the interests and the knowledge of local and regional governments. Their structure, their nature, their organisation and their staff highlight the recognition of their importance and the need to improve the formalisation and the de facto effectiveness of their institutional role. Their daily activities and missions demonstrate the need they are addressing. Their role in the legislative procedure and the consultation mechanisms is vital for the development and implementation of more pertinent and adequate policies and public action. Common understanding and efficient governance in partnership is needed now more than ever. And their voice at the European and international levels needs to be heard, when so many decisions and objectives are interconnected in a horizontal as well as vertical way: as exemplified by the Sustainable Development Goals. The aim of this study is to shed light on the national associations of local and regional governments (which are members of the CEMR) but also to call on strengthening their position, their structure and their capacities. They are major players in constituting and implementing the way we live together in a city, in a region, in a country, in Europe, and in the world.

Local and regional government associations at a glance

Albania The Republic of Albania is a unitary state composed of municipalities (bashkia) - the basic level of local self-government, and the regions (qarku) - the second tier of local self-government. CEMR in Albania: Albanian Association of Municipalities

Albanian Association of Municipalities (SHBSH) Membership and coverage

• 6 1 members (municipalities) • 1 00 % of the Albanian population

Nature of association

• A ssociation of legal persons • E nshrined in organic law

Staff Activities Influence governments through policy and campaigning / defend members’ interests

3 employees (full-time) main

secondary

✓

Negotiate the pay of local and regional governments’ workforce

Exchange of good practices/ knowledge sharing

✓

Training/ capacity building

✓

Research and studies

✓

Publications

✓

More info

www.aam.org.al

Austria Austria is a federal state composed of municipalities (Gemeinden) and regions (Länder). CEMR in Austria: Association of Cities and Towns Association of Austrian Municipalities

Membership and coverage

Nature of association Staff Activities Influence governments through policy and campaigning / defend members’ interests

Association of Cities and Towns (STAEDTEBUND)

Association of Austrian Municipalities (GEMEINDEBUND)

• 2 55 members (cities and towns) • 7 0 % of the Austrian population

• 1 0 members (regional associations)

• A ssociation of legal persons

• E nshrined in the constitution

20 employees (full-time)

14 employees (full-time)

main

secondary

✓

main

secondary

✓ ✓

Negotiate the pay of local and regional governments’ workforce

• 7 0 % of the Austrian population

✓

Exchange of good practices/ knowledge sharing

✓

Training/ capacity building

✓

Research and studies

✓

Publications

More info

✓

www.staedtebund.gv.at

www.gemeindebund.at

Belgium Belgium is a federal state composed of municipalities (gemeenten in Dutch and communes in French), provinces (provincies/provinces), regions (gewesten/regions) and communities (gemeenschappen/ communautés). CEMR in Belgium: Union of Belgian Cities and Municipalities26 Association of the City and the Municipalities of the Brussels Capital Region Association of Flemish Cities and Municipalities Union of Cities and Municipalities of Wallonia

Association of the City and the Municipalities of the Brussels Capital Region (BRULOCALIS)

Association of Flemish Cities and Municipalities (VVSG)

Union of Cities and Municipalities of Wallonia (UVCW)

Membership and coverage

• 2 2 members (communes, intercommunal associations)

• 3 08 members (local authorities)

• 2 62 members (cities and towns)

• 1 00 % of the Flemish population

• 1 00 % of the Walloon population

Nature of association

• Association of legal persons

• A ssociation of legal persons

• Enshrined in general law

• C reated by a decision taken by the members

• E nshrined in general law

Staff

30 employees (full-time)

130 employees (full-time)

60 employees (full-time)

Activities Influence governments through policy and campaigning / defend members’ interests

• 100 % of the Brussels population

main

✓

Negotiate the pay of local and regional governments’ workforce Exchange of good practices/ knowledge sharing

secondary

✓ ✓

✓

Training/ capacity building

main

✓

✓ ✓

More info 26

✓ www.brulocalis.be

secondary

✓

Research and studies

Publications

main

✓

✓ ✓

www.vvsg.be

www.uvcw.be

The Union of Belgian Cities and Municipalities, a national section of CEMR, is the federation of CEMR member associations of municipalities, cities and provinces of the three regions: BRULOCALIS for Brussels Capital Region, UVCW for Wallonia and VVSG for Flanders.

Bosnia and Herzegovina Bosnia and Herzegovina is a federal state divided into two entities: the Republic of Srpska (RS) and the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina (FBiH), and Brcko District, which has a special district status that falls outside of the jurisdiction of the Republic of Srpska. The Republic of Srpska is composed of municipalities (opština) and the FBiH is composed of municipalities (općina) and counties (kantoni). CEMR in Bosnia and Herzegovina: Association of Municipalities and Cities of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina Association of Local Authorities of Republic of Srpska

Membership and coverage

Association of Municipalities and Cities of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina (SOGFBiH)

Association of Local Authorities of Republic of Srpska (ALVRS)

• 8 0 members (local authorities)

• 6 4 members (towns and municipalities)

• 1 00 % of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina’s population

Nature of association Staff Activities Influence governments through policy and campaigning / defend members’ interests

• 1 00 % of the Republic of Srpska’s population

• A ssociation of legal persons

• E nshrined in general law

8 employees (full-time)

9 employees (full-time)

main

secondary

main

✓

Exchange of good practices/ knowledge sharing

✓

Training/ capacity building

✓

secondary

Negotiate the pay of local and regional governments’ workforce

Research and studies

✓

Publications

✓

More info

www.sogfbih.ba

www.alvrs.com

Bulgaria Bulgaria is a unitary state with one level of local self-governance: the municipality (obshtina). CEMR in Bulgaria: National Association of Municipalities in the Republic of Bulgaria

National Association of Municipalities in the Republic of Bulgaria (NAMRB) Membership and coverage

• 265 members (municipalities) • 100 % of the Bulgarian population

Nature of association

• Association of legal persons • Enshrined in general law

Staff

55 employees (full-time)

Activities

main

Influence governments through policy and campaigning / defend members’ interests

✓

Negotiate the pay of local and regional governments’ workforce

✓

Exchange of good practices/ knowledge sharing

✓

secondary

✓

Training/ capacity building

Research and studies

✓

Publications

✓

More info

www.namrb.org

Croatia Croatia is a unitary state composed of municipalities, towns and cities (grad), and counties (županija). CEMR in Croatia: Croatian County Association

Croatian County Association (HRVZZ) Membership and coverage

• 21 members (counties and the city of Zagreb) • 100 % of the national population

Nature of association

• A ssociation of legal persons • E nshrined in general law

Staff Activities Influence governments through policy and campaigning / defend members’ interests

4 employees (full-time) main

secondary

✓

Negotiate the pay of local and regional governments’ workforce

✓

Exchange of good practices/ knowledge sharing

✓

Training/ capacity building

✓

Research and studies

✓ ✓

Publications

More info

www.hrvzz.hr

Cyprus Cyprus is a unitary state composed of communities (koinotites) and municipalities (dimoi). CEMR in Cyprus: The Union of Cyprus Municipalities

The Union of Cyprus Municipalities (UCM) Membership and coverage

• 39 members (municipalities) • 7 1 % of the national population

Nature of association

• A ssociation of legal persons • E nshrined in general law

Staff Activities Influence governments through policy and campaigning / defend members’ interests

12 employees (full-time) main

secondary

✓ ✓

Negotiate the pay of local and regional governments’ workforce

Exchange of good practices/ knowledge sharing

✓

Training/ capacity building

✓

Research and studies

✓

Publications

More info

www.ucm.org.cy

Czech Republic The Czech Republic is a unitary state composed of municipalities (obec) and regions (kraje). CEMR in the Czech Republic: Union of Towns and Municipalities of the Czech Republic

Union of Towns and Municipalities of the Czech Republic (SMO ČR) Membership and coverage

• 2 ,734 members (municipalities) • 7 8.98 % of the Czech population

Nature of association

• A ssociation of legal persons • E nshrined in general law

Staff Activities Influence governments through policy and campaigning / defend members’ interests

56 employees (full-time) main

secondary

✓

Negotiate the pay of local and regional governments’ workforce

✓

Exchange of good practices/ knowledge sharing

Training/ capacity building

✓

Research and studies

✓

Publications

✓

More info

www.smocr.cz

Denmark Denmark is a unitary state composed of municipalities (kommuner) and regions (regioner). CEMR in Denmark: Danske Regioner Local Government Denmark

Membership and coverage Nature of association

Staff Activities

Danske Regioner (REGIONER)

Local Government Denmark (KL)

• 5 members (regions)

• 9 8 members (municipalities)

• 1 00 % of the Danish population

• A ssociation of legal persons

• E nshrined in general law

• E nshrined in none of the defined legal categories

170 employees (full-time)

400 employees (full-time)

main

secondary

main

Influence governments through policy and campaigning / defend members’ interests

✓

Negotiate the pay of local and regional governments’ workforce

✓

secondary

✓

Exchange of good practices/ knowledge sharing

✓ ✓

Training/ capacity building

Research and studies

✓

Publications

✓

More info

www.regioner.dk

✓ www.kl.dk

Estonia Estonia is a unitary state composed of rural municipalities (vald) and cities (linn). CEMR in Estonia: Association of Estonian Cities and Municipalities

Association of Estonian Cities and Municipalities (AECM) Membership and coverage

• 74 members (municipalities) • 9 9 % of the Estonian population

Nature of association

• A ssociation of legal persons • E nshrined in general law

Staff Activities Influence governments through policy and campaigning / defend members’ interests

19 employees (full-time) main

secondary

✓

Negotiate the pay of local and regional governments’ workforce

Exchange of good practices/ knowledge sharing

✓

Training/ capacity building

✓

Research and studies

✓

Publications

More info

www.elvl.ee

Finland Finland is a unitary state composed of municipalities (kunta) and regions (maakunnan liitto). CEMR in Finland: Association of Finnish Local and Regional Authorities

Association of Finnish Local and Regional Authorities (AFLRA) Membership and coverage

• 311 members (municipalities) • 1 00 % of the Finnish population

Nature of association

• A ssociation of legal persons • E nshrined in multiple legal categories

Staff Activities

220 employees (full-time) main

Influence governments through policy and campaigning / defend members’ interests

✓

Negotiate the pay of local and regional governments’ workforce

✓

secondary

Exchange of good practices/ knowledge sharing

✓

Training/ capacity building

✓

Research and studies

✓ ✓

Publications

More info

www.kuntaliitto.fi

France France is a unitary state composed of municipalities (communes), intercommunalities (intercommunalités), departments (départements) and regions (régions). CEMR in France: French Association of the Council of European Municipalities and Regions French Association of Mayors27

French Association of the Council of European Municipalities and Regions (AFCCRE) Membership and coverage

• 1 ,000 members (municipalities, intercommunalities, departments, regions) • 76 % of the French population

Nature of association

• A ssociation of legal persons • E nshrined in general law

Staff

11 employees (full-time)

Activities Influence governments through policy and campaigning / defend members’ interests

main

secondary

✓

Negotiate the pay of local and regional governments’ workforce

Exchange of good practices/ knowledge sharing

✓

Training/ capacity building

✓

Research and studies

✓

Publications

✓

More info

www.afccre.org

Associate member under an agreement with AFCCRE.

Georgia Georgia is a unitary state composed of municipalities (minucipaliteti) and self-governing cities (tvitmmartveli qalaqebi). CEMR in Georgia: National Association of Local Authorities of Georgia

National Association of Local Authorities of Georgia (NALAG) Membership and coverage

• 6 4 members (municipalities) • 1 00 % of the Georgian population

Nature of association

• A ssociation of legal persons • E nshrined in the constitution

Staff Activities Influence governments through policy and campaigning / defend members’ interests

16 employees (full-time) main

secondary

✓ ✓

Negotiate the pay of local and regional governments’ workforce

Exchange of good practices/ knowledge sharing

✓

Training/ capacity building

✓

Research and studies

✓

Publications

✓

More info

www.nala.ge

Germany Germany is a federal state composed of the federal and the regional level. Municipalities (Gemeinden), cities (Städte) and counties (Landkreise) are a constitutional part of the regions (Länder). CEMR in Germany: German Association of CEMR German County Association Association of German Cities German Association of Towns and Municipalities

Membership and coverage

German Association of CEMR (RGRE)

German County Association (DLT)

• 8 00 members

• 1 3 members (regional associations)

• U mbrella association

Nature of association

Staff Activities Influence governments through policy and campaigning / defend members’ interests

• 6 8 % of German population

• A ssociation of legal persons • E nshrined in the constitution

• R egistered association (eingetragener Verein)

3 employees (full-time)

25 employees (full-time)

main

secondary

✓

main

secondary

✓ ✓

Negotiate the pay of local and regional governments’ workforce

Exchange of good practices/ knowledge sharing

• E nshrined in general law

✓

Training/ capacity building

✓

Research and studies

✓

Publications

More info

www.rgre.de

www.landkreistag.de

Membership and coverage

Association of German Cities (DST)

German Association of Towns and Municipalities (DStGB)

• 3 ,400 members (local authorities)

• 1 7 members (11,000 municipalities)

• 6 2 % of the German population

Nature of association

• U nregistered association (like political parties, trade unions or religious communities)

• 6 0 % of the German population • A ssociation of legal persons • E nshrined in general law

• E nshrined in the constitution

Staff Activities Influence governments through policy and campaigning / defend members’ interests

120 employees (full-time) main

30 employees (full-time)

secondary

✓

main

secondary

✓

Negotiate the pay of local and regional governments’ workforce Exchange of good practices/ knowledge sharing

✓

Training/ capacity building

✓

Research and studies

✓

Publications

More info

✓ www.staedtetag.de

✓ www.dstgb.de

Greece Greece is a unitary state composed of municipalities (dimos) and self-governing regions (peripheria). CEMR in Greece: Central Union of Municipalities of Greece

Central Union of Municipalities of Greece (KEDE) Membership and coverage

• 1 3 members (regional associations of municipalities) • 1 00 % of the Greek population

Nature of association

• A ssociation of legal persons • E nshrined in general law

Staff Activities Influence governments through policy and campaigning / defend members’ interests

23 employees (full-time) main

secondary

✓

Negotiate the pay of local and regional governments’ workforce

Exchange of good practices/ knowledge sharing

✓

Training/ capacity building

✓

Research and studies

✓

Publications

✓

More info

www.kedke.gr

Hungary Hungary is a unitary state composed of municipalities (települések), towns (városok), towns with county rank (megyei jogú városok), capital town districts (fővárosi kerületek), the city of Budapest and counties (megyék). CEMR in Hungary: Hungarian National Association of Local Authorities28

Hungarian National Association of Local Authorities (TÖOSZ) Membership and coverage

• 1 ,614 members (municipalities) • 3 0 % of the Hungarian population

Nature of association

• A ssociation of legal persons • E nshrined in the constitution

Staff

6 employees (full-time)

Activities Influence governments through policy and campaigning / defend members’ interests

main

secondary

✓ ✓

Negotiate the pay of local and regional governments’ workforce

Exchange of good practices/ knowledge sharing

✓

Training/ capacity building

✓

Research and studies

✓

Publications

✓

More info

www.toosz.hu

There are seven member associations of the CEMR in Hungary, and the Hungarian National Association of Local Authorities is the CEMR contact point for all. The six other associations are: the Hungarian Association of Local Governments (MÖSZ), Hungarian Village Association (MFSZ), Association of Small Cities (KÖOÉSZ), National Association of Communes and Small Municipalities (KÖSZ), Association of Towns with County Rank (MJVSZ), National Association of County Local Governments (MÖOSZ).

Iceland Iceland is a unitary state composed of municipalities (sveitarfélög). CEMR in Iceland: Association of Local Authorities in Iceland

Association of Local Authorities in Iceland (SAMBAND) Membership and coverage

• 72 members (municipalities) • 1 00 % of the Icelandic population

Nature of association

• A ssociation of legal persons • E nshrined in general law

Staff Activities

28 employees (full-time) main

Influence governments through policy and campaigning / defend members’ interests

✓

Negotiate the pay of local and regional governments’ workforce

✓

secondary

Exchange of good practices/ knowledge sharing

✓

Training/ capacity building

✓

Research and studies

✓

Publications

✓

More info

www.samband.is

Ireland Ireland is a unitary state composed of two levels of local government: the first tier is composed of municipal districts, cities, and counties and the second tier is composed of regions. CEMR in Ireland: Local Government Management Agency

Local Government Management Agency (LGMA) Membership and coverage

• 3 1 members (local authorities) • 1 00 % of the Irish population

Nature of association

• A ssociation of legal persons • E nshrined in a regulation or decision adopted by an executive body

Staff Activities

101 employees (full-time) main

Influence governments through policy and campaigning / defend members’ interests

✓

Negotiate the pay of local and regional governments’ workforce

✓

Exchange of good practices/ knowledge sharing

✓

Training/ capacity building

✓

Research and studies

✓

secondary

✓

Publications

More info

www.lgma.ie

Israel Israel is a unitary state composed of regional councils (moatsa ezorit), local councils (moatsa mekomit) and municipalities (iria). CEMR in Israel: Federation of Local Authorities in Israel

Federation of Local Authorities in Israel (MASHAM) Membership and coverage

• 2 57 members (local authorities and regional councils) • 1 00 % of the Israeli population

Nature of association

• A ssociation of legal persons • E nshrined in general law

Staff Activities Influence governments through policy and campaigning / defend members’ interests

60 employees (full-time) main

secondary

✓

Negotiate the pay of local and regional governments’ workforce

✓

Exchange of good practices/ knowledge sharing

✓

Training/ capacity building

✓

Research and studies

✓

Publications

✓

More info

www.masham.org.il

Italy Italy is a unitary state composed of municipalities (Comuni), provinces (province), metropolitan cities (Città metropolitane) and regions (Regioni). CEMR in Italy: Italian Association of Municipalities, Provinces and Regions

Italian Association of local authorities (AICCRE) Membership and coverage

• 2 ,200 members (municipalities, cities, metropolitan cities, provinces and regions) • 9 5 % of the Italian population

Nature of association

• A ssociation of legal persons • E nshrined in the Italian Civil code

Staff Activities Influence governments through policy and campaigning / defend members’ interests

9 employees (part-time) main

secondary

✓

Negotiate the pay of local and regional governments’ workforce

Exchange of good practices/ knowledge sharing

✓

Training/ capacity building

✓

Research and studies

✓

Publications

✓

More info

www.aiccre.it

Kosovo The Republic of Kosovo is a decentralised unitary government. Kosovo is divided into two territorial levels: municipality (Komunë in Albanian and Opstina in Serbian) and settlement (fshat /selo). CEMR in Kosovo: Association of Kosovo Municipalities

Association of Kosovo Municipalities (AKK) Membership and coverage

• 34 members (municipalities) • 9 8 % of the population in Kosovo

Nature of association

• A ssociation of legal persons • E nshrined in regulations or decisions adopted by an executive body

Staff Activities Influence governments through policy and campaigning / defend members’ interests

13 employees (full-time) main

secondary

✓ ✓

Negotiate the pay of local and regional governments’ workforce

Exchange of good practices/ knowledge sharing

✓

Training/ capacity building

✓ ✓

Research and studies

Publications

More info

✓ www.komunat-ks.net

Latvia Latvia is a unitary state composed of municipalities (novads) and cities (pilsēta). The creation of new regional governments has been postponed and the elements of regional governments are fulfilled by five planning regions. CEMR in Latvia: Latvian Association of Local and Regional Governments

Latvian Association of Local and Regional Governments (LPS) Membership and coverage

• 119 members (municipalities) • 1 00 % of the Latvian population

Nature of association

• A ssociation of legal persons • E nshrined in the constitution

Staff Activities Influence governments through policy and campaigning / defend members’ interests

35 employees (full-time) main

secondary

✓

Negotiate the pay of local and regional governments’ workforce

✓

Exchange of good practices/ knowledge sharing

✓

Training/ capacity building

✓

Research and studies

✓

Publications

✓

More info

www.lps.lv

Lithuania Lithuania is a unitary state composed of municipalities (savivaldybė). CEMR in Lithuania: Association of Local Authorities in Lithuania

Association of Local Authorities in Lithuania (LSA) Membership and coverage

• 6 0 members (municipalities) • 1 00 % of the Lithuanian population

Nature of association

• A ssociation of legal persons • E nshrined in general law

Staff Activities Influence governments through policy and campaigning / defend members’ interests

18 employees (full-time) main

secondary

✓

Negotiate the pay of local and regional governments’ workforce

Exchange of good practices/ knowledge sharing

✓

Training/ capacity building

✓

Research and studies

✓

Publications

More info

www.lsa.lt

Luxembourg Luxembourg is a unitary state composed of municipalities (municipalités). CEMR in Luxembourg: Association of Luxembourg Cities and Municipalities

Association of Luxembourg Cities and Municipalities (SYVICOL) Membership and coverage

• 102 members (municipalities) • 1 00 % of the Luxembourgish population

Nature of association

• A ssociation of legal persons • E nshrined in general law

Staff Activities Influence governments through policy and campaigning / defend members’ interests

5 employees (full-time) main

secondary

✓

Negotiate the pay of local and regional governments’ workforce

Exchange of good practices/ knowledge sharing

✓

Training/ capacity building

✓

Research and studies

✓

Publications

More info

www.syvicol.lu

Malta Malta is a unitary state composed of local councils (kunsill lokali). CEMR in Malta: Local Councils’ Association

Local Councils’ Association (LCA) Membership and coverage

• 4 80 members (local councils and regional committees) • 8 9 % of the Maltese population

Nature of association

• A ssociation of legal persons • E nshrined in general law

Staff Activities Influence governments through policy and campaigning / defend members’ interests

4 employees (full-time) main

secondary

✓ ✓

Negotiate the pay of local and regional governments’ workforce

Exchange of good practices/ knowledge sharing

✓

Training/ capacity building

✓

Research and studies

✓

Publications

✓

More info

www.lca.org.mt

Moldova The Republic of Moldova is a unitary state composed of two levels of local government. The first tier is composed by: villages (sate), communes (comune), cities (orașe) and municipalities (municipii). The second tier is formed of districts (raioane), the Gagauzia Autonomous Territorial Administrative Unit and the municipalities of Chisinau and Balti. CEMR in Moldova: Congress of Local Authorities of Moldova

Congress of Local Authorities of Moldova (CALM) Membership and coverage

• 800 members (municipalities) • 9 0 % of the Moldovan population

Nature of association

• A ssociation of legal persons • E nshrined in multiple legal categories

Staff Activities Influence governments through policy and campaigning / defend members’ interests

10 employees (full-time) main

secondary

✓

Negotiate the pay of local and regional governments’ workforce

Exchange of good practices/ knowledge sharing

Training/ capacity building

✓

Research and studies

✓

Publications

✓

More info

www.calm.md

Montenegro Montenegro is a unitary state composed of municipalities (opština). CEMR in Montenegro: The Union of Municipalities of Montenegro

The Union of Municipalities of Montenegro (UOM) Membership and coverage

• 23 members (municipalities) • 1 00 % of the Montenegrin population

Nature of association

• A ssociation of legal persons • E nshrined in general law

Staff Activities Influence governments through policy and campaigning / defend members’ interests

11 employees (full-time) main

secondary

✓ ✓

Negotiate the pay of local and regional governments’ workforce

Exchange of good practices/ knowledge sharing

✓ ✓

Training/ capacity building

Research and studies

✓ ✓

Publications

More info

www.uom.me

Netherlands The Kingdom of the Netherlands is a constitutional monarchy. The state of the Netherlands is a decentralised unitary state composed of municipalities (gemeenten) and provinces (provincies) and water boards (waterschappen). CEMR in Netherlands: Association of Provinces of the Netherlands Association of Netherlands Municipalities

Membership and coverage Nature of association

Staff Activities

Association of Provinces of the Netherlands (IPO)

Association of Netherlands Municipalities (VNG)

• 1 2 members (provinces)

• 3 55 members (cities and towns)

• 1 00 % of the Dutch population

• A ssociation of legal persons

• C reated by a decision taken by the members

50 employees (full-time)

220 employees (full-time)

main

secondary

main

Influence governments through policy and campaigning / defend members’ interests

✓

Negotiate the pay of local and regional governments’ workforce

✓

secondary

✓

Exchange of good practices/ knowledge sharing

✓

Training/ capacity building

Research and studies

✓

Publications

✓

More info

www.ipo.nl

✓ ✓ www.vng.nl

North Macedonia The Republic of North Macedonia is a unitary state composed of municipalities (opstina). CEMR in North Macedonia: Association of the Units of Local Self-Government of the Republic of North Macedonia

Association of the Units of Local Self-Government of the Republic of North Macedonia (ZELS) Membership and coverage

• 8 1 members (municipalities) • 1 00 % of the Macedonian population

Nature of association

• A ssociation of legal persons • E nshrined in general law

Staff Activities

16 employees (full-time) main

Influence governments through policy and campaigning / defend members’ interests

✓

Negotiate the pay of local and regional governments’ workforce

✓

secondary

Exchange of good practices/ knowledge sharing

Training/ capacity building

✓

Research and studies

✓

Publications

✓

More info

www.zels.org.mk

Norway Norway is a unitary state composed of municipalities (kommune) and counties (fylkeskommune). CEMR in Norway: Norwegian Association of Local and Regional Authorities

Norwegian Association of Local and Regional Authorities (KS) Membership and coverage

• 439 members (municipalities and counties) • 1 00 % of the Norwegian population

Nature of association

• A ssociation of legal persons • C reated by a decision taken by the members

Staff Activities

250 employees (full-time) main

Influence governments through policy and campaigning / defend members’ interests

✓

Negotiate the pay of local and regional governments’ workforce

✓

secondary

✓

Exchange of good practices/ knowledge sharing

Training/ capacity building

✓

Research and studies

✓

Publications

✓

More info

www.ks.no

Poland Poland is a unitary state composed of municipalities (gminy), counties (powiaty) and regions (voivodshipwojewództwo). CEMR in Poland: Association of Polish Counties Association of Polish Cities

Membership and coverage

Nature of association Staff Activities Influence governments through policy and campaigning / defend members’ interests

Association of Polish Counties (ZPP)

Association of Polish Cities (ZMP)

• 3 07 members (counties)

• 2 01 members (cities and towns)

• 7 1 % of the Polish population

• 7 2 % of Poland’s urban population

• A ssociation of legal persons

• E nshrined in general law

• E nshrined in the constitution

21 employees (full-time)

30 employees (full-time)

main

secondary

main

✓

Exchange of good practices/ knowledge sharing

✓

Training/ capacity building

✓

secondary

Negotiate the pay of local and regional governments’ workforce

✓

Research and studies

✓

Publications

✓

More info

www.zpp.pl

www.zmp.poznan.pl

Portugal Portugal is a unitary state composed of parishes (freguesias), municipalities (municípios) and autonomous regions (Açores and Madeira). CEMR in Portugal: National Association of Portuguese Municipalities

National Association of Portuguese Municipalities (ANMP) Membership and coverage

• 308 members (municipalities) • 1 00 % of the Portuguese population

Nature of association

• A ssociation of legal persons • E nshrined in general law

Staff Activities Influence governments through policy and campaigning / defend members’ interests

24 employees (full-time) main

secondary

✓

Negotiate the pay of local and regional governments’ workforce

Exchange of good practices/ knowledge sharing

✓

Training/ capacity building

✓

Research and studies

✓ ✓

Publications

More info

www.anmp.pt

Romania Romania is a unitary state composed of municipalities (comune), towns (orase), cities (municipii) and counties (judete). CEMR in Romania: N ational Union of County Councils of Romania Romanian Municipalities Association Association of Communes of Romania

National Union of County Councils of Romania (UNCJR)

Romanian Municipalities Association (AMR)

Association of Communes of Romania (ACOR)

Membership and coverage

• 41 members (counties)

• 1 09 members (municipalities and Bucharest sectors)

• 1 ,750 members (communes)

• 91 % of the Romanian population

Nature of association

• Association of legal persons

• A ssociation of legal persons

• Enshrined in general law

• E nshrined in a regulation or decision adopted by an executive body

• E nshrined in general law

Staff

12 employees (full-time)

15 employees (full-time)

8 employees (full-time)

Activities Influence governments through policy and campaigning / defend members’ interests

main

secondary

✓

Negotiate the pay of local and regional governments’ workforce Exchange of good practices/ knowledge sharing

✓

Training/ capacity building Research and studies

✓

main

secondary

• 8 7 % of population

main

✓

secondary

✓ ✓

Publications

More info

• 5 0 % of the Romanian population

www.uncjr.ro

✓

✓ ww.amr.ro

www.acor.ro

Serbia Serbia is a unitary state composed of municipalities (opstina), cities (grad) and autonomous provinces (autonomne pokrajine). CEMR in Serbia: Standing Conference of Towns and Municipalities of Serbia

Standing Conference of Towns and Municipalities of Serbia (SKGO) Membership and coverage

• 1 70 members (cities, municipalities and city municipalities) • 1 00 % of the Serbian population

Nature of association

• A ssociation of legal persons • E nshrined in general law

Staff Activities Influence governments through policy and campaigning / defend members’ interests

66 employees (full-time) main

secondary

✓

Negotiate the pay of local and regional governments’ workforce

✓

Exchange of good practices/ knowledge sharing

Training/ capacity building

✓ ✓

Research and studies

Publications

More info

✓ www.skgo.org

Slovakia Slovakia is a unitary state composed of municipalities (obec) and self-governing regions (samosprávny kraj). CEMR in Slovakia: Association of Towns and Communities of Slovakia

Association of Towns and Communities of Slovakia (ZMOS) Membership and coverage

• 2 ,786 members (towns and city boroughs) • 8 9 % of the Slovak population

Nature of association

• A ssociation of legal persons • E nshrined in the constitution

Staff Activities

29 employees (full-time) main

Influence governments through policy and campaigning / defend members’ interests

✓

Negotiate the pay of local and regional governments’ workforce

✓

secondary

✓

Exchange of good practices/ knowledge sharing

Training/ capacity building

✓

Research and studies

✓

Publications

✓

More info

www.zmos.sk

Slovenia Slovenia is a unitary state composed of municipalities (občin). CEMR in Slovenia: Slovenian Association of Urban Municipalities Association of Municipalities and Towns of Slovenia

Membership and coverage

Nature of association Staff Activities

Slovenian Association of Urban Municipalities (ZMOS)

Association of Municipalities and Towns of Slovenia (SOS)

• 1 1 members (urban municipalities)

• 1 75 members (municipalities and towns)

• 3 5 % of the Slovene population

• 8 0 % of the Slovene population

• A ssociation of legal persons

• E nshrined in general law

3 employees (full-time)

7 employees (full-time)

main

secondary

main

Influence governments through policy and campaigning / defend members’ interests

✓

Negotiate the pay of local and regional governments’ workforce

✓

Exchange of good practices/ knowledge sharing

✓

Training/ capacity building

✓

Research and studies

✓

Publications

✓

More info

secondary

www.zmos.si

✓ ✓ www.skupnostobcin.si

Spain Spain is a unitary state composed of municipalities (municipios), county councils (diputaciones), Canary Island county councils (cabildos), Balearic Island county councils (consejos insulares), autonomous cities (ciudades autónomas) and autonomous communities (comunidades autónomas). CEMR in Spain: Spanish Federation of Municipalities and Provinces Association of Basque Municipalities

Membership and coverage

Nature of association Staff Activities Influence governments through policy and campaigning / defend members’ interests

Spanish Federation of Municipalities and Provinces (FEMP)

Association of Basque Municipalities (EUDEL)

• 7 ,366 members (town councils, provincial councils and island councils)

• 2 56 members (local governments and inter-municipal cooperation bodies)

• 9 8 % of Spanish population

• 9 9 % of the Basque population

• A ssociation of legal persons

• E nshrined in general law

119 employees (full-time)

19 employees (full-time)

main

secondary

✓

secondary

✓ ✓

Negotiate the pay of local and regional governments’ workforce

✓

Exchange of good practices/ knowledge sharing

Training/ capacity building

main

✓

✓ ✓

Research and studies

✓

Publications

✓

More info

www.femp.es

www.eudel.eus

Sweden Sweden is a unitary state composed of municipalities (kommuner), county councils (landsting) and regions (regioner). CEMR in Sweden: Swedish Association of Local Authorities and Regions

Swedish Association of Local Authorities and Regions (SKL) Membership and coverage

• 3 10 members (local authorities and regions) • 1 00 % of the Swedish population

Nature of association

• A ssociation of legal persons • C reated by a decision taken by the members

Staff Activities

380 employees (full-time) main

Influence governments through policy and campaigning / defend members’ interests

✓

Negotiate the pay of local and regional governments’ workforce

✓

Exchange of good practices/ knowledge sharing

✓

Training/ capacity building

✓

secondary

Research and studies

✓

Publications

✓

More info

www.skl.se

Turkey Turkey is a unitary state composed of villages (köy), municipalities (belediye) and special provincial administrations (il özel idaresi). CEMR in Turkey: Union of Municipalities of Turkey

Union of Municipalities of Turkey (TBB) Membership and coverage

• 1 ,398 members (municipalities) • 9 3 % of the Turkish population

Nature of association

• A ssociation of legal persons • E nshrined in general law

Staff Activities Influence governments through policy and campaigning / defend members’ interests

163 employees (full-time) main

secondary

✓

Negotiate the pay of local and regional governments’ workforce

Exchange of good practices/ knowledge sharing

✓

Training/ capacity building

✓

Research and studies

✓

Publications

✓

More info

www.tbb.gov.tr

Ukraine Ukraine is a unitary state composed of villages (sela), towns (selyshcha), cities (mista), districts (rayony) and regions (oblasti). CEMR in Ukraine: Ukrainian Association of District and Regional Councils29 Association of Ukrainian Cities

Association of Ukrainian Cities (AUC) Membership and coverage

• 742 members (cities) • 80 % of the Ukrainian population

Nature of association

• A ssociation of legal persons • E nshrined in general law

Staff

62 employees (full-time)

Activities Influence governments through policy and campaigning / defend members’ interests

main

secondary

✓ ✓

Negotiate the pay of local and regional governments’ workforce

Exchange of good practices/ knowledge sharing

✓

Training/ capacity building

✓

Research and studies

✓

Publications

✓

More info

www.auc.org.ua

The association did not respond to the survey.

United Kingdom The United Kingdom is a unitary state with certain characteristics of a federal state, with three separate local government jurisdictions following the implementation of the 1997 devolution agenda in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. CEMR in the United Kingdom: Local Government Association Convention of Scottish Local Authorities Northern Ireland Local Government Association Welsh Local Government Association

Membership and coverage

Nature of association

Staff Activities

Local Government Association (LGA)

Convention of Scottish Local Authorities (COSLA)

• 3 50 members (municipalities)

• 3 2 members (municipalities)

• 9 9 % of the English population

• 7 6.4 % of the Scottish population

• U nlimited company

• A ssociation of legal persons

• E nshrined in general law

• C reated by a decision taken by the members

250 employees (full-time)

50 employees (full-time)

main

secondary

main

Influence governments through policy and campaigning / defend members’ interests

✓

Negotiate the pay of local and regional governments’ workforce

✓

Exchange of good practices/ knowledge sharing

✓

Training/ capacity building

✓

Research and studies

✓

Publications

✓

More info

secondary

www.local.gov.uk

www.cosla.gov.uk

Membership and coverage

Nature of association Staff Activities Influence governments through policy and campaigning / defend members’ interests

Northern Ireland Local Government Association (NILGA)

Welsh Local Government Association (WLGA)

• 1 1 members (councils) • 1 00 % of the Northern Irish population

• 2 8 members (local authorities, fire and rescue authorities, national park authorities)

• A ssociation of legal persons

• E nshrined in the constitution

• E nshrined in general law

9 employees (full-time)

56 employees (full-time)

main

secondary

✓

main

secondary

✓ ✓

Negotiate the pay of local and regional governments’ workforce

Exchange of good practices/ knowledge sharing

✓

Training/ capacity building

✓

Research and studies

✓

Publications

✓

More info

• 1 00 % of the Welsh population

www.nilga.org

www.wlga.gov.uk

List of associations which took part in the study • Albania Albanian Association of Municipalities (SHBSH)

• Kosovo Association of Kosovo Municipalities (AKK)

• Austria Association of Cities and Towns (STAEDTEBUND) Association of Austrian Municipalities (GEMEINDEBUND)

• Latvia Latvian Association of Local and Regional Governments (LPS)

• Belgium Association of the City and the Municipalities of the BrusselsCapital Region (BRULOCALIS) Association of Flemish Cities and Municipalities (VVSG) Union of Cities and Municipalities of Wallonia (UVCW) •

Bosnia and Herzegovina Association of Municipalities and Cities of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina (SOGFBiH) Association of Local Authorities of Republic of Srpska (ALVRS)

• Bulgaria National Association of Municipalities in the Republic of Bulgaria (NAMRB) • Croatia Croatian County Association (HRVZZ)

• Lithuania Association of Local Authorities in Lithuania (LSA) • Luxembourg Association of Luxembourg Cities and Municipalities (SYVICOL) • Malta Local Councils Association (LCA) • Moldova Congress of Local Authorities of Moldova (CALM) • Montenegro Union of Municipalities of Montenegro (UOM) • Netherlands Association of Provinces of the Netherlands (IPO) Association of Netherlands Municipalities (VNG) •

• Cyprus Union of Cyprus Municipalities (UCM) •

Czech Republic Union of Towns and Municipalities of the Czech Republic (SMO ČR)

North Macedonia Association of Units of Local Self-Government of the Republic of North Macedonia (ZELS)

• Norway Norwegian Association of Local and Regional Authorities (KS)

• Denmark Danish Regions (REGIONER) Local Government Denmark (KL)

• Poland Association of Polish Counties (ZPP) Association of Polish Cities (ZMP)

• Estonia Association of Estonian Cities and Municipalities (AECM)

• Portugal National Association of Portuguese Municipalities (ANMP)

• Finland Association of Finnish Local and Regional Authorities (AFLRA)

• Romania National Union of County Councils of Romania (UNCJR) Romanian Municipalities Association (AMR) Association of Communes of Romania (ACOR)

• France French Association of the Council of European Municipalities and Regions (AFCCRE) • Georgia National Association of Local Authorities of Georgia (NALAG) • Germany German Association of the Council of European Municipalities and Regions (RGRE) German County Association (DLT) Association of German Cities (DST) Association of Towns and Municipalities (DStGB) • Greece Central Union of Municipalities of Greece (KEDE) • Hungary Hungarian National Association of Local Authorities (TÖOSZ) • Iceland Association of Local Authorities in Iceland (SAMBAND) • Ireland Local Government Management Association (LGMA) • Israel Union of Local Authorities in Israel (MASHAM) • Italy Italian Association of the Council of European Municipalities and Regions (AICCRE)

• Serbia Standing Conference of Towns and Municipalities of Serbia (SKGO) • Slovakia Association of Towns and Communities of Slovakia (ZMOS) • Slovenia Association of Urban Municipalities of Slovenia (ZMOS) Association of Municipalities and Towns of Slovenia (SOS) • Spain Spanish Federation of Municipalities and Provinces (FEMP) Association of Basque Municipalities (EUDEL) • Sweden Swedish Association of Local Authorities and Regions (SKL) • Turkey Union of Municipalities of Turkey (TBB) • Ukraine Association of Ukrainian Cities (AUC) •

United Kingdom Local Government Association (LGA) Convention of Scottish Local Authorities (COSLA) Northern Ireland Local Government Association (NILGA) Welsh Local Government Association (WLGA)

Acknowledgements

Authors

We would like to thank all those in our associations who contributed to this study. We also thank the collaborators of the Council of European Municipalities and Regions who analysed the answers to the various questionnaires sent to our members, and who contributed to drafting the analysis.

This study was carried out by Léa Babeu-Braun, Research and Studies Intern, coordinated by Nathalie Noupadja – Head of Research and Studies, under the supervision of Dr. Angelika Poth-Mögele – Executive Director European Affairs, and the direction of Frédéric Vallier – Secretary General.

In particular, Léa Babeu-Braun accomplished tremendous work, coordinated by Nathalie Noupadja, Head of Research and Studies, under the supervision of Dr. Angelika PothMögele, Executive Director for European Affairs, and directed by Mr Frédéric Vallier, Secretary General. We would also like to warmly thank Thomas Kaye, Marine Gaudron, Carol Thomas, Martin Revault, and Axelle Griffon for their involvement, as well as Pierre Vander Auwera, Jeremy Herry and Magnus Gottl from the CEMR communication department. Many thanks to Domenica Maria Pistoia for the proofreading and translation, and David Goddevrind for the creation of infographics and the layout.

Getting in touch with us About the study Nathalie Noupadja Head of Research and Studies Email: nathalie.noupadja@ccre-cemr.org Tel.: +32 2 213 86 92 www.cemr.eu About CEMR and its members Marta Gattini Statutory Affairs Officer Email: marta.gattini@ccre-cemr.org Tel. +32 213 86 91 www.cemr.eu/pays/map

Disclaimer The analysis, results, and recommendations are those of CEMR. They do not necessarily reflect the official position of any local or regional government, their associations or multilateral institutions or organisations whose names appear in this study. While we strive with utmost care and concern to provide accurate and timely information, we cannot exclude the possibility of inadvertent factual or contextual inaccuracies, incompleteness or technical errors for which we apologise. Similarly, inaccuracies may result from developments occurring after the editorial deadline. All rights reserved. This material is copyrighted but may be reproduced by any method without fee for educational purposes, provided that the source is acknowledged. Formal permission is required for all such uses. For copying in other circumstances or for reproduction in other publications, prior written permission must be granted from the copyright owner.

NOTES .............................................................................................................................................................................................................. .............................................................................................................................................................................................................. .............................................................................................................................................................................................................. .............................................................................................................................................................................................................. .............................................................................................................................................................................................................. .............................................................................................................................................................................................................. .............................................................................................................................................................................................................. .............................................................................................................................................................................................................. .............................................................................................................................................................................................................. .............................................................................................................................................................................................................. .............................................................................................................................................................................................................. .............................................................................................................................................................................................................. .............................................................................................................................................................................................................. .............................................................................................................................................................................................................. .............................................................................................................................................................................................................. .............................................................................................................................................................................................................. .............................................................................................................................................................................................................. .............................................................................................................................................................................................................. .............................................................................................................................................................................................................. .............................................................................................................................................................................................................. .............................................................................................................................................................................................................. .............................................................................................................................................................................................................. .............................................................................................................................................................................................................. .............................................................................................................................................................................................................. .............................................................................................................................................................................................................. .............................................................................................................................................................................................................. .............................................................................................................................................................................................................. .............................................................................................................................................................................................................. ..............................................................................................................................................................................................................

CEMR The Council of European Municipalities and Regions is the united voice of Europe’s local and regional governments federated through 60 national associations. CEMR is the European section of United Cities and Local Governments (UCLG), through which it represents European local and regional governments at international level.

Our mission We promote the construction of a united, peaceful and democratic Europe founded upon local self-government and respect for the principle of subsidiarity.

Founded in

1951

associations

countries

100,000

local and regional governments

CEMR member associations Albania SHBSH

Cyprus UCM

Austria GEMEINDEBUND STAEDTEBUND

Czech Republic SMO ČR

Belgium BRULOCALIS UVCW VVSG Bosnia and Herzegovina SOGFBiH ALVRS

Denmark KL REGIONER Estonia AECM Finland AFLRA

Bulgaria NAMRB

France AFCCRE AMF*

Croatia HRVZZ

Georgia NALAG

Germany RGRE DStGB DLT DST

Kosovo AKK*

North Macedonia ZELS

Latvia LPS

Norway KS

Greece KEDE

Lithuania LSA

Hungary TÖOSZ

Luxembourg SYVICOL

Poland ZMP ZPP

Iceland SAMBAND

Malta LCA

Ireland LGMA*

Moldova CALM

Romania ACOR AMR UNCJR

Israel MASHAM

Montenegro UOM

Serbia SKGO

Italy AICCRE

Netherlands VNG IPO

Slovakia ZMOS

Portugal ANMP

Slovenia SOS ZMOS Spain FEMP EUDEL Sweden SKL Turkey TBB Ukraine AUC UAROR United Kingdom LGA COSLA NILGA WLGA * Associate, observer and invited members

Contact CEMR Square de Meeûs 1 1000 Brussels Tel. +32 2 511 74 77 info@ccre-cemr.org

Find us on www.cemr.eu twitter.com/ccrecemr

Co-funded by the Europe for Citizens Programme of the European Union