Council of European Municipalities and Regions (CEMR)

✳️ Smart City Expo World Congress 2025 — our main takeaway: The smartest towns, cities and regions aren’t those with the most tech, but those using digital tools to serve people’s wellbeing. That insight guided all our sessions at #SCEWC25, where we explored how technology, trust and cooperation shape the cities of today and tomorrow. 🟢 𝗘𝗺𝗽𝗼𝘄𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗰𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗲𝘀: 𝗻𝗲𝘄 𝗮𝗹𝗹-𝗶𝗻-𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝘁𝗼𝗼𝗹 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗽𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗻𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗽𝘀 From post-war twinning to today’s project-based cooperation, city partnerships drive Europe’s progress. With CEMR’s new Matchmaking Platform, algorithms now help connect municipalities facing shared challenges. Examples from Mazowiecki-Mazowiecki (Katarzyna Łaziuk), Diputació de Barcelona (Gerard Mayol), and SUN4Ukraine (Pedro Bizarro) demonstrated how collaboration can lead to real impact. Meritxell Parramon Vilà Stanislav T. 🔗 Discover our Matchmaking Platform: https://lnkd.in/dSTY3wuK. 🟣 𝗖𝗹𝗶𝗰𝗸, 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗻𝗲𝗰𝘁, 𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗲 (hosted by PLATFORMA) Digital transformation is about trust: creating safe spaces where everyone feels included, seen and heard. From #Cologne’s (Christian Achtelik) creative social media to #Kutaisi’s inclusive digital literacy, local democracy grows stronger when digital rights become everyday skills. Magda Kostava Giulia Lo Presti Annelies Coessens Nino Zurabishvili Rocío Ballesta Orta Francesco Pala 🔵 𝗘𝘂𝗿𝗼𝗽𝗲𝗮𝗻 𝗰𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗚𝗲𝗻𝗔𝗜 (with Living in EU) Cities like #Espoo (Anni Orttenvuori-Ganter), #Riga (Arnis Gulbis), #Gothenburg (Julia Olander) and #Munich (Markus Mohl) are testing generative AI to personalise services and improve data-driven planning. Gabriela Ruseva Across all discussions, one message stood out: 👉 Digital innovation must start and end with people. #SCEWC25 #DigitalTransformation #LocalDemocracy #CEMR #PLATFORMA #GenAI #CitiesForPeople

🔵 We are in Copenhagen for the AI in Science Summit—an event of the Danish Presidency of the European Council—where RAISE (Resource for AI Science in Europe) will be launched. From life sciences to climate and materials, AI is reshaping discovery. As Europe defines its path, local and regional governments must be part of the story. 👉 This is why we are opening a Call for Proposals: “Empowering Local Leaders through AI” (with EIT Digital). We’re seeking consultancy services to design and pilot a hands-on training programme for local/regional leaders. • Deadline: 10 Nov 2025 • Contract: Dec 2025 – Dec 2026 • Budget: up to €33,000 (excl. VAT) Details & apply: https://lnkd.in/eFwJMN8h #AIS25 #AI #Science #RAISE #DigitalTransformation #LocalGov #Municipalities #PublicSectorInnovation #Europe

💻 🌳 Join the next webinar of the EU Covenant of Mayors series’ on “𝘗𝘳𝘪𝘷𝘢𝘵𝘦 𝘤𝘢𝘱𝘪𝘵𝘢𝘭𝘴 𝘵𝘰 𝘴𝘶𝘱𝘱𝘰𝘳𝘵 𝘤𝘭𝘪𝘮𝘢𝘵𝘦 𝘢𝘤𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯”   📅 November 27, 2025 | 10:30–11:30 CEST 📍 Online 🔗 Register now: https://lnkd.in/efcD_Pdz   Private capitals can support climate action in diverse ways. Climate bonds are an innovative financing tool for local and regional governments to support their climate action plans.    The webinar will introduce participants to the topic of bonds, and showcase the experience and replicable examples from European Cities, from the drafting of a strategy to the implementation of the tool.   Elisa Decourcelle Pedro Bizarro Durmish Guri

How can local governments collaborate more effectively to deliver on shared goals, from climate action to digital inclusion? 🌍 Join us at the Smart City Expo World Congress (Barcelona, 4–6 Nov 2025) for our session on how municipalities are scaling partnerships across Europe through the CEMR Matchmaking Platform, a unique digital tool that connects cities to collaborate, co-create projects, and access funding opportunities. 🗓️ Tuesday, 4 November 2025   ⏰ 12:05–12:50  🎤 People-First Stage   📍 Fira Gran Via Barcelona 💡 Expect practical insights, inspiring case studies, and live examples from municipalities already turning dialogue into partnership.  Don’t miss this chance to discover how digital cooperation can empower local governments to build more resilient, democratic, and inclusive communities.  https://lnkd.in/eSZ7P7Xq #SCEWC25 #SmartCityExpo #LocalDemocracy #CityPartnerships #Twinning #UrbanInnovation #EURegions #Collaboration #SmartGovernance 

🌍 Ready to move from words to impact? Learn how to turn your gender equality commitments into concrete results. Join us for our upcoming training on gender equality action planning:  🗓️ 18 November 2025   🕤 09:00 – 12:00 (CET) As we approach the 20th anniversary of the European Charter for Equality of Women and Men in Local Life, this training presents a perfect opportunity for signatories, national coordinators, and local or regional representatives to strengthen their skills and translate commitments into concrete actions. The Charter provides a political and practical framework to help local and regional governments promote equality between women and men in all areas of life. It builds on the European Union’s long-standing commitment to gender equality, a founding value since 1957, and aligns with the EU Gender Equality Strategy 2020–2025, which envisions a Europe where everyone can thrive free from discrimination and stereotypes. Together, we will explore how to:   🌍 Conduct gender needs assessments   📝 Develop effective gender action plans   🤝 Share experiences and good practices Let’s continue building inclusive communities where equality is at the heart of local life.  👉 Register now to take part: https://lnkd.in/e_YvTQcn  #GenderEquality #LocalDemocracy #EuropeanCharterForEquality #WomenInLeadership #Equality 

𝖧𝖺𝗏𝖾 𝗒𝗈𝗎 𝗌𝖾𝖾𝗇 𝗂𝗍 𝗒𝖾𝗍? 🇩🇪 𝗘𝗗𝗜𝗧𝗜𝗢𝗡 𝟮: 𝗚𝗘𝗥𝗠𝗔𝗡𝗬 📌 𝘊𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘵𝘳𝘺 𝘗𝘳𝘰𝘧𝘪𝘭𝘦 – 𝘋𝘦𝘤𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘳𝘢𝘭𝘪𝘴𝘦𝘥 𝘋𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘭𝘰𝘱𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘊𝘰𝘰𝘱𝘦𝘳𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 (𝘋𝘋𝘊) 𝘢𝘵 𝘢 𝘎𝘭𝘢𝘯𝘤𝘦   🔍 𝗞𝗘𝗬 𝗣𝗢𝗜𝗡𝗧𝗦: 1️⃣ German federal states and municipalities maintain lasting partnerships with their counterparts abroad, generating sustainable impact. Recent German-Ukrainian solidarity partnerships underline DDC’s role in development policy and open paths for trilateral and multilateral cooperation.   2️⃣ Service Agency Community in One World – SKEW of Engagement Global is the main advisory and grant-providing platform for German LRGs in DDC, supporting project planning, implementation, and international exchange.   3️⃣ The variety of funding programmes (mainly financed by the Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development – BMZ, managed via SKEW and Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit – GIZ), designed for specific purposes, enable project-based, thematic cooperation and long-term partnerships.   📘 This is part of a series of 𝟕 𝗖𝗼𝘂𝗻𝘁𝗿𝘆 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗳𝗶𝗹𝗲𝘀 exploring decentralised cooperation in Europe. 🔎 Next up: 🇪🇸 𝗦𝗣𝗔𝗜𝗡   𝘈𝘷𝘢𝘪𝘭𝘢𝘣𝘭𝘦 𝘪𝘯 𝘍𝘳𝘦𝘯𝘤𝘩, 𝗚𝗲𝗿𝗺𝗮𝗻 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗦𝗽𝗮𝗻𝗶𝘀𝗵 𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲: https://lnkd.in/dU7kJiuG   Produced under the 𝗠𝗜𝗡𝗗𝗖𝗥𝗔𝗙𝗧 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗷𝗲𝗰𝘁, in collaboration with PLATFORMA, funded by Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) and supported by Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit GmbH. #DecentralisedCooperation #LocalGovernance #MINDCRAFT #EasternPartnership #Germany #PLATFORMA #GIZ Durmish Guri Selina Graichen Felix Reischl Léa Hetz Annelies Coessens Hervé Devavry Boris Tonhauser  Sabrina Storm

🔵 How do we make European integration a reality for citizens — not just a political process on paper? 🏛️ Local and regional associations from across Europe gathered in Belgrade to explore how multilevel governance can accelerate democracy, cohesion and EU enlargement on the ground. 🗣️ Speaking on behalf of CEMR and PLATFORMA, our Secretary General Fabrizio Rossi highlighted: 🔹 why cooperation between EU Member States and candidate countries must start locally 🔹how associations act as a bridge between citizens and institutions 🔹 and why decentralisation and territorial partnerships are key for resilience and democratic trust 🌍 When local voices are part of European policymaking, integration becomes more inclusive, more legitimate — and more durable. 🙏 Thank you to Central European Initiative - CEI for creating a space where municipalities, regions and their associations can shape Europe’s future together. #LocalDemocracy #MultilevelGovernance #EUEnlargement #WesternBalkans #TerritorialCooperation #CEI #CEMR

🇺🇦 𝗨𝗸𝗿𝗮𝗶𝗻𝗲 𝗮𝘁 #𝗠𝗔𝗥𝗨𝗙𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟱: Local governments and resilience in wartime. 🗓️ 𝟭-𝟯 𝗢𝗰𝘁𝗼𝗯𝗲𝗿 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟱 | 𝗜𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗻𝗯𝘂𝗹, 𝗧𝘂̈𝗿𝗸𝗶𝘆𝗲   Local leaders, experts, and partners gathered for the session “Resilient Local Governance in Wartime – Reform, Decentralisation, and Reconstruction in Ukraine.” They discussed how Ukrainian municipalities continue to lead in times of war by driving reforms, maintaining essential services, and laying the foundations for recovery.   Despite the ongoing Russian invasion, local authorities in Ukraine remain on the front line of governance, protecting communities, upholding democratic values, and preparing for reconstruction.   Mayor Yaroslav Tsvirkun of Pereshchepyne Municipality shared firsthand insights on wartime governance. Speakers Nataliya Lazarenko (AUC), Durmish Guri (CEMR), and Kelmend Zajazi (NALAS) highlighted how associations of local governments bridge local realities with national and international policies.   The session emphasised that decentralisation is a pillar of resilience. Empowered municipalities can act swiftly in crises and lead recovery efforts with transparency and public trust.   Through platforms like PLATFORMA, NALAS: Network of Associations of Local Authorities of South-East Europe, and Council of European Municipalities and Regions (CEMR), Ukrainian municipalities gain access to peer learning, policy dialogue, and practical tools to manage reforms and EU-related processes more effectively.   This discussion took place at the NALAS–PLATFORMA Eastern Partnership Seminar during #MARUF2025.   #Ukraine #LocalGovernments #Resilience #Decentralisation #MARUF2025 #PLATFORMA #NALAS #CEMR #EasternPartnership

CEMR is launching an exciting new initiative, Empowering local leaders through AI, in partnership with EIT Digital Alumni. 🌍 As local and regional governments across Europe embrace digital transformation, we aim to ensure their leaders are equipped with the right skills to harness the potential of Artificial Intelligence for smarter, more sustainable governance. We are seeking experienced consultants to develop and test a training programme tailored to the needs of local and regional governments. This initiative will assess digital readiness, design a structured AI curriculum, and pilot an engaging learning experience for Europe’s local leaders. 📅 Deadline for submissions: 10 November 2025  📩 Apply by email to [email protected] Let’s empower our local and regional leaders to drive ethical, inclusive, and future-ready innovation across Europe. 💡  https://lnkd.in/eFwJMN8h #AI #DigitalTransformation #LocalGovernments