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e-Democracy - 08.09.2016

Call for papers: Democratic and electronic changes in local public action
Do you have something to say about democratic and electronic changes in local government? Now is your time to shine:

CEMR and the OLA network (Observatory on Local Autonomy) are calling for papers on the joint conference they are organising in Lille and Brussels in September 2017: "Democratic and Electronic Changes in Local Public Action in Europe: REvolution or E-volution?"

If you think you are up to the challenge, send your paper to Ms Line Salmon-Legagneur (line.salmon-legagneur@univ-lille2.fr) by 19 September 2016. You can find the full version of the call with more details here. For further information, please contact CEMR Research and Studies Officer, Nathalie Noupadja: nathalie.noupadja@ccre-cemr.org.
Equality - 07.09.2016

SALAR celebrates 10 years of the Charter
Our Swedish association, SALAR, was one of the first member associations to sign CEMR’s Charter for Equality of Women and Men in Local Life. They held a celebration yesterday for the 10th anniversary of the Charter.

The Charter has now has been signed by over 1,600 towns and regions in Europe – and over one hundred of those are in Sweden.
PLATFORMA - 07.09.2016

Climate change, Urban Agenda, Mediterranean regions: PLATFORMA's newsletter is online
Read all about these issues and more in PLATFORMA’s newsletter covering activities in September - available in English and French.
Access City Award 2017 - 05.09.2016

Is your city accessible to everyone? Apply for the award
EU cities of over 50,000 inhabitants are invited to take part in the seventh edition of the Access City Award.
This European award is for cities that strive to guarantee equal access to fundamental rights and quality of city life to everyone – regardless of age, mobility or ability.

The first, second and third prize plus two special mentions (access to work and accessible smart cities) will be announced at the European Day of People with Disabilities Conference in Brussels on 29 November 2016

The deadline for applications is 8 September 2016.

See here for more information.
RFSC - 01.09.2016

Sharing sustainable concepts at URBACT Summer University 2016
Our Project Officer for the Reference Framework for Sustainable Cities (RFSC), Pedro Bizarro, was in Rotterdam from 24 to 26 September to take part in URBACT Summer University 2016.

The URBACT Summer University was an opportunity to connect with people working on urban matters all over Europe, and to see how RFSC can help URBACT projects, for example, in terms of integrated and sustainable urban development.

For more information, visit the URBACT Summer University website here.
Covenant of Mayors - 30.08.2016

Urban adaptation to climate change: register now for the info event
The Covenant of Mayors is organising an information event for city representatives on urban adaptation to climate change. “Supporting local climate solutions – Covenant of Mayors for Climate and Energy in practice: adaptation in the spotlight” will take place on 12 October from 9 am to 1.30 pm, at the European Commission in Brussels.

What is urban adaptation exactly? How can local governments integrate adaptation and mitigation? What challenges lie ahead in terms of climate adaptation? All these questions and more will be addressed during the event.

Register for the event here.
Better regulation - 25.08.2016

Improving EU legislation: the local and regional perspective
The Committee of the Regions has come out in general support of the European Commission’s approach to improving EU legislation, from a local and regional perspective. Namely, the Committee finds the Commission "recognises the specific role played by local and regional authorities in a range of areas affected substantially by EU regulation".

Specifically, CIVEX, the Committee of the Regions’ Commission for Citizenship, Governance, Institutional and External Affairs, has published a draft opinion on REFIT – the European Commission’s Regulatory Fitness and Performance programme, that aims to keep EU law simple and efficient.

Amendments can be submitted until 2 September.
World Mayor 2016 - 17.08.2016

Nominate your candidate for the World Mayor Prize
Nominate the mayor of your choice for the 2016 World Mayor Prize.

This year, the theme for the World Mayor Prize is migrants and refugees. The winner will be a mayor “whose city has done the most to welcome immigrants and has used their skills to enrich and diversify society culturally, economically and socially.”

Everyone is free to nominate a mayor, whether they are from a big city or a small town, as long as they can explain why they deserve the World Mayor Prize.

If you would like to nominate a mayor for this prize, please fill in the following form.
C40 - 09.08.2016

Anne Hidalgo elected as new President of the largest network of the world’s megacities
The Mayor of Paris, Anne Hidalgo, was elected new president of the C40 Cities Climate Leadership Groupon on Monday 8 August. The C40 gathers 83 of the world’s biggest cities committed to addressing climate change. She will hold this position for three years.

Anne Hidalgo, who is also president of UCLG Standing committee on gender equality, will be the first woman chair of this organisation.