Joined up financial support from EU, national and regional funds for cities and regions are a must for achieving Europe’s social, economic and environmental objectives

The European networks of local and regional governments, bringing their expertise in energy, mobility, waste, governance and citizen engagement, have written a joint letter calling for an urgent rethink of Europe’s funding of cities and regions.

While funds from EU, national and regional level need to be joined up, they also need to reflect locally developed integrated and holistic action and investment plans. The siloed departments at various government levels do not reflect the reality that all of these themes take place together at local level and need to be transformed together.

Additionally, the letter makes it clear meeting Europe’s economic, environmental and social goals requires much closer collaboration between local leaders and the commissioners for the EU’s economic and financial affairs, budget, single market and competitiveness as well as the Commissioner for cohesion and reforms. For that reason an Executive Vice-President should oversee the establishment and implementation of permanent and structured dialogues between the College of Commissioners and the local and regional level.

Read the full letter sent from the Local Alliance to Ursula von der Leyen.