Local and regional leaders from over 100 cities, towns, regions, and networks across Europe are calling for a new era in EU governance in a joint letter sent to EU decision-makers today — one that recognises local and regional governments as essential partners in shaping Europe’s future. Initiated by the cities of Malmö and Freiburg, in their roles as Presidents of ICLEI – Local Governments for Sustainability (Global and European, respectively), the letter sends a joint message by signatories representing over 47 million citizens and over 1,8 million employees.
Local governments implement nearly 70% of European Green Deal legislation and manage 60% of climate-related public spending. They are pivotal in driving change on the ground and must be empowered to co-create European policy — not left on the sidelines and to after-the-fact consultation. For this reason, the letter calls for institutional mechanisms that integrate feedback from the ground to create more effective, responsive legislation. It urges the European Commission, Council, and Parliament to establish structured, permanent dialogue with local and regional governments — starting from agenda-setting and policy co-design, all the way through to implementation.
In the words of Martin W.W. Horn, Mayor of Freiburg, Germany, and President of ICLEI Europe :
“Opinion polls show that local governments are the most trusted level of governance. Trust is earned every day by engaging citizens on the issues that matter most to them. If Europe is to deliver the transformative changes our communities urgently need, local and regional governments need to be equipped with the mandate, recognition, and resources to shape and deliver them. Effective EU policymaking is not about centralising responsibility, but about sharing it with those best placed to understand the needs on the ground. This is how we can create a prosperous and resilient Europe, rooted in its territories and responsive to citizens.”
The signatories—including amongst others, Barcelona, Budapest, Lisbon, Copenhagen, Vienna, Munich, Tallinn, Turku, Mannheim, Rotterdam, Wroclaw, Utrecht, and Strasbourg Metropol, Grenoble Metropolitan Area, Katerini, Matosinhos, and the Province of Noord-Holland —call for a shift from consultation to true collaboration. As the EU prepares its next seven-year budget (Multiannual Financial Framework), the moment is critical to ensure funding supports regional development, social cohesion, and innovation through multilevel governance.
Katrin Stjernfeldt Jammeh, Mayor of Malmö, Sweden, and President of ICLEI says:
“As Commission President von der Leyen has said, the status quo is no longer an option. We can’t afford business-as-usual nor to leave local and regional potential untapped. Local and regional governments are not only local service providers, we are major investors in Europe's economy and green transition. We are testbeds and engines of progress, we invest billions in infrastructure, social and public services that allow businesses to settle, operate and thrive. Our cities, towns and regions are the engines of Europe’s job creation, resilience and competitiveness, and it’s time that EU governance and financing mechanisms reflect that.”
From clean energy to public health, from digital innovation to sustainable housing, cities and regions are on the frontlines of Europe’s transformation. This joint initiative by cities, towns and regions from all across Europe underlines the urgency for the next EU budget to reflect this by adopting multilevel governance as a core principle, ensuring funding reaches where it is most needed and can have the most impact.
Check the full list of signatories and read the full letter here.