About: local authorities

‘Kiss goodbye’ to reform if local leaders in EU neighbourhood ignored, stakeholders warn
Though their efforts are often overlooked, from cultural exchange to capacity building, local players are a key part of the European integration of Western Balkan and Eastern European countries and need more support.
Why EU must guarantee funding for local, regional governments in post-2020 development policy
Member states must strongly support the proposal of the European Parliament to add a budget line for local authorities to tackle global challenges, including through their decentralised cooperation, writes Marlène Siméon.
Regional and local representatives call on Europe to deliver on migration
Following a string of far-right political successes barely a year before the next European elections, regional and local representatives have called on the EU to urgently act on migration, an issue that has quickly come back to the top of the political agenda.
Rotterdam’s lesson: From harbour to hub
Cities have a major part to play in ensuring all their residents have the skills they need to be active and integrated members of society. This is a challenge mayors should embrace, writes Ahmed Aboutaleb.
UN must look beyond national solutions to the refugee crisis
The forthcoming UN Summit on Refugees and Migrants need not be another missed opportunity. UN member states must involve the private sector and local authorities to finally address the global refugee crisis, writes Solon Ardittis.
Philippe Orliange: ‘Cities must boost borrowing to finance climate action’
Local and regional authorities are stepping up their efforts to fight climate change, but limited access to finance often holds them back, Philippe Orliange told Cécile Barbière from EURACTIV France.
France needs austerity, Juncker tells mayors
Jean-Claude Juncker spoke to French mayors on Tuesday (31 May) to insist on the need for structural reforms and a rebalancing of the country’s public finances. EURACTIV France reports.
Subsidiarity: The only way forward
The principle of subsidiarity should be understood as a means to strengthen regional and local political power. Tomasz Poreba discusses the problem of the misinterpretation of this key EU provision.
Paris teams up with Johannesburg to draft climate strategy
SPECIAL REPORT / South Africa’s economic capital wants to develop an ambitious climate strategy, following in the footsteps of Paris, the first French city to adopt a similar strategy in 2007. EURACTIV France reports.
Europe’s regions take climate finance into their own hands
The EU’s cities and regions are compensating for the lack of climate finance available by issuing their own "green bonds" for sustainable development projects. EURACTIV France reports.
How to achieve the best and cheapest access to on-line services in the Digital Single Market
As part of the Digital Single Market Strategy, Europe must make high quality broadband connections available right across the continent, writes Hans-Joachim Reck.
Small towns join forces to boost their EU clout
Small and medium-sized towns have set up shop to increase their influence over EU policymaking and make their voices heard among the EU institutions.
European cities join global effort on climate
A number of large European cities are promising to reduce their carbon dioxide emissions as part of a major international initiative to tackle climate change. The initiative was launched at a conference in Mexico City on 21 November 2010.