Description
The EU Local Councillors' Network is the first European initiative bringing together more than 3,000 local and regional elected representatives from all Member States with the aim of bringing Europe closer to its citizens and communicating Europe locally.
It results from the merger of two parallel networks:
- The European Commission's'Building Europe with Local Councillors' ( BELC)network, launched in 2022 following the Conference on the Future of Europe, put into practice the 36th proposal contained in the conclusions, i.e. to create a network of local and regional councillors to bring Europe closer to citizens and improve European democracy. Consequently, in 2022 the BELC initiative was proposed by the European Parliament as a pilot project for an initial duration of two years. The pilot project was implemented by the Commission in close consultation with the European Committee of the Regions (CoR).
- The CoR's Network of Local and Regional Councillors, managed by the CoR and established in 2021, brings together local and regional elected representatives from all EU countries with the aim of bringing Europe closer to local communities, establishing a direct dialogue with CoR members, exchanging information and networking with other local and regional councillors across Europe and relaying their feedback to Brussels.
The basic rationale of both networks is that communicating about the EU is a shared responsibility of EU institutions and bodies and member state authorities, starting at the local level. As part of the EU's commitment to strengthening relations with local communities and communicating at the local level, the EU Local Councils Network is jointly governed and managed by the European Commission and the CoR through an administrative agreement signed by the two institutions in December 2024.
The way forward
The European Commission and the CoR are fully committed to joining forces to bring Europe closer to its citizens by investing in the effective mobilisation of local and regional elected representatives across Europe and growing this network.
The objectives are jointly defined through joint governance and management, including a common brand, a common website and database, a single application procedure, joint services and communication products, awareness-raising measures and events for network members.
Some key points:
- The political guidelines of the President of the European Commission for the period 2024-2029 include a direct reference to the EU Local Councils Network as a flagship initiative and to the CoR as a partner for its strengthening in the coming years.
- In his letters of mandate to the new Commissioners, the European Commission President encourages them to be more present on the ground and to "rely on our network of EU local councillors", paving the way for a broad participation of local representatives across Europe.
- The network's activities are based on active cooperation with the Commission's representations and EUROPE DIRECT centres in the Member States, as well as with CoR members. The project can count on the support of the European Parliament.
More information: https://eu-local-councillors.europa.eu/about-us-1_en