Manifesto for the European elections

CEMR and its national associations of local authorities officially launched "The local and regional governments manifesto", during a meeting at the European Parliament on 10 February 2014.

At the invitation of the Vice-President of the European Parliament - in charge of relations with local government, and Executive president of CEMR, Oldrich Vlasák, this event has been the opportunity to present the nine local government key messages for the upcoming elections, in May 2014. The event counted with the presence of Danuta Hübner (Chair of EP Committee on Regional Development), Jo Leinen (MEP and President of the European Movement International), Anthea McIntyre and Jan Olbrycht (MEP and President of the Urban Intergroup of the European Parliament). On the other hand, CEMR representatives included: 

•    Annemarie Jorritsma, CEMR President, former Deputy Prime Minister in the Netherlands and Mayor of Almere ( Netherlands) ;
•    Mariana Gâju, Vice-President of CEMR and Mayor of Cumpănă (Romania);
•    Mairi Evans, Chair of the Committee of young local and regional elected representatives, Councillor of Angus (Scotland, UK) ;
•    Peršak Anton, President of NALAS and Mayor of Trzin (Slovenia).

During her speech, CEMR President urged members of the European Parliament to "not over-regulate but rather better regulate." In the context of a Europe facing many threats and challenges, she encouraged collaboration among all elected officials - local, national and European - in order to align European policies with the real citizens’ needs. This message was also relayed in a video presenting the manifesto at the meeting.

The manifesto

This manifesto has been unanimously adopted on 3 December 2013 in Prague, by the elected representatives of the 57 CEMR member sections and associations. It presents nine key messages to consolidate cooperation between the European institutions and local government for the next five years:

•    Continue prioritising youth employment; 
•    Monitor the implementation of the structural funds thoroughly to achieve better territorial cohesion; 
•    Opt for lighter and simpler regulation, and provide transparency when opting for the fast track procedure; 
•    Respect the principles of subsidiarity and proportionality;
•    Define ambitious objectives for the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions, and develop renewable energy and energy efficiency by 2030; 
•    Increase the Europe for Citizens Programme budget until the symbolic “1 euro per citizen per year”; 
•    Stand for deeper integration and democratic legitimacy for the European Union and initiate a Convention in order to draft a Fundamental Law of the European Union;
•    Support further enlargement of the European Union and mediate deeper implication of all levels of local and regional authorities in the negotiation process; 
•    Support integrated global approaches, particularly in cooperation with partners in the Global South; 

"The local and regional governments manifesto” is available in French and English. It will soon be published in German, Spanish, Polish and Italian in CEMR website.