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Publication - 21.01.2015

Take a minute to discover more about the CEMR and its action on the ground
A minute. This is the time you will need to look through the new CEMR presentation brochure and to get a better idea of who we are, who are our member associations and what is our action on the ground. The publication provides you with examples of activities in the five thematic areas, which affect all aspects of the lives of European citizens as well as the local and regional governments that represent them.

"CEMR - For a Europe of municipalities, cities and regions" is available in English, French and Italian.
Local finances - 16.01.2015

Participate in the conference "Making Financial Instruments Work for Cities"
Let´s rethink the ways of financing urban development. This is the motto behind CSI EUROPE final conference, to take place in Lille (France), on 5 February 2015.

The conference will present the findings of the network and will introduce its toolkit for establishing an urban development fund in cities. It will focus on future models for investment, demonstrate how cities across Europe have made these funds work and set out a clear route map with supporting guidance which other cities can follow to establish their own investment funds.

The conference is free of charge. More information is available on the CSI EUROPE’s website.
European Movement - 01.12.2014

Congratulations to our Secretary General for his election as Vice President of the European Movement International
With a majority of votes, Frédéric Vallier became one of the three vice presidents of the European Movement International (EMI)*. For the next trois years, he will share this position with a representative of the Union of European Federalists, Ugo Ferruta and Eva Paunova, member of the European Parliament. His election took place during EMI’s Federal Assembly on 28 and 29 November in Rome.

*CEMR is a member of the European Movement International, a nonpartisan organisation promoting European integration.
Council of Europe - 15.10.2014

Council of Europe Congress elects new leadership
The Congress has a renewed leadership voted in at its 27th session, on 15 October. Congress members elected Jean-Claude Frécon as President of the Congress. For its part, CEMR executive president, Anders Knape, was appointed President of the Chamber of Local Authorities. The term of office for leadership positions is 2 years.

For more information, we invite you to view the list of the Council of Europe Congress leadership.
Hungarian municipal elections - 13.10.2014

Prime Minister‘s party won the mayor‘s post of Hungary‘s largest cities
Prime Minister Viktor Orban‘s Fidesz party was the main winner in Sunday‘s nationwide municipal elections. The Fidesz–Hungarian Civic Alliance party won the mayor‘s post in Budapest and in 20 of Hungary‘s 23 largest cities.
Governance - 10.10.2014

9th edition of the distinction "Best Practice in Citizen Participation"

The International Observatory on Participatory Democracy (IOPD) invites local government to participate to its 9th Distinction Distinction of “Best Practice in Citizen Participation”. With this distinction, the IOPD recognises projects aiming, for instance, leading to better results in the domain of gender equality or at promoting transparency in the decision-making process.

Candidates are free to apply until 29 November. The ceremony to deliver the distinction will take place in March 2015.

Further information and the necessary application form are available on the IODP website.
Participatory democracy - 18.09.2014

European municipalities are invited to participate in the 2014 Week of Local Democracy
European Local Democracy Week” (ELDW) is an annual European event where local authorities from all the 47 member states of the Council of Europe organise public events to meet and engage with their citizens on issues of current interest. The aim is to promote and foster democratic participation at a local level.

The week around 15 October has been chosen for holding this event as a tribute to the European Charter of Local Self-Government, opened for signature on that date in 1985.

Read more on the ELDW's website.
Governance - 15.09.2014

A European future based on the local level: an interview with CEMR secretary general
What are the European key issues for the future of local government? How the local and regional level can contribute to the EU construction? How does CEMR participate in the EU legislation process? These are some of the issues addressed by our secretary general, Frédéric Vallier, in an interview (FR) published by our member association Union des Villes et Communes de Wallonie (Belgium).
Regional Policy - 10.09.2014

Romanian Corina Creţu to get Regional Policy
Ms. Creţu, originally from Romania, is a Member and Vice President of the European Parliament. To know more about her future functions and challenges, read the mission letter she received from the European Commission President, Jean Claude Juncker.

The European Parliament still has to approve the new team proposed by the President of the Commission. If confirmed, the new commissionaires will take office by 1 November 2014.