Local and Regional Dialogues on Cohesion Policy

Have you heard about any EU co-financed projects to improve the area where you live? If you’re a European citizen, there’s only a 35% chance that you have. And yet, there’s a 100% chance that you benefit from them directly.

That’s why the Council of European Municipalities and Regions (CEMR) is proud to launch ‘Local dialogues’ on cohesion policy. On 23 November, CEMR and the European Commission’s DG REGIO jointly signed an agreement to launch a cycle of 60 dialogues with European citizens to make them aware of how the EU helps local governments improve the area they live in.

These 60 Local dialogues will take place over one year, across European territories in eight Member states: Austria, Belgium, Denmark, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands and Sweden. Our partners, including eight CEMR member associations*, will play a leading role.

During the launch of the Local dialogues, CEMR Secretary General Frédéric Vallier stated: “Cohesion policy is the most meaningful EU policy on the ground. It is therefore crucial that discussions take place in the territories with all those concerned rather than in the institutions’ halls. Engaged as we are at CEMR to support cohesion policy, we look forward to launching these Local dialogues!” 

On the Commission’s side, the Director for budget, communication and general affairs of DG REGIO, Dana Spinant, declared: "We launched the local dialogues with the CEMR because we think it is essential to engage with the citizens. The aim is to listen to the people and to discuss with them about what Europe delivers for them, in their regions through cohesion policy, which is one of the most tangible forms of EU action at local level. We want to engage with the people about the opportunities provided and results delivered by this policy, and about what the priorities should be in the future – where should this policy invest."

Speaking for the Association of the City and the Municipalities of the Brussels-Capital Region (BRULOCALIS), one of the eight local government associations that will be organising the local dialogues, their Adviser for EU projects, Davide Lanzillotti, said: "We want to showcase the good things which have been done in our region, and make our citizens aware of what is done with EU money. The Local dialogues are an opportunity to defend cohesion policy and discuss possible improvements."

Local dialogues are a great opportunity to exchange, but you can also do so online: use the #EUinmyregion hashtag to join the discussion.


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* ‘Local Dialogues’ is a project run by the Council of European Municipalities and Regions (CEMR) with the support of the European Commission. Eight of CEMR’s member associations are also implementing the project in each region: the Association of Flemish Cities and Municipalities (VVSG), the Association of Netherlands Municipalities (VNG), the Association of the City and the Municipalities of the Brussels-Capital Region (BRULOCALIS), CEMR's Italian Section (AICCRE), Danish Regions, CEMR’s French section (AFCCRE), the Swedish Association of Local Authorities and Regions (SALAR), and Union of Cities and Municipalities of Wallonia (UVCW). In Austria, the local dialogues will be organised by Bürgerforum Europa.