No green transition without cities and regions

The next EU budget will not succeed unless local and regional governments are placed at its core. Cities and regions are central to the success of Europe’s green and digital transitions — they are responsible for implementing 70% of Green Deal legislation, account for 69% of climate-related public investment, and contributed to around two-thirds of the total increase in public investments across the EU in 2023. 

Mayors representing major European local and regional government networks, members of the Local Alliance including ACR+, are calling for a fundamental realignment of EU spending priorities. Our message is clear: decisions made in Brussels must reflect the realities on the ground. Local authorities are not just implementers but co-creators of Europe’s future. In three position papers, the Local Alliance presents actionable recommendations: adopting multilevel governance as the guiding principle for EU funding, recognising that competitiveness is place-based, and introducing structural reforms to fully involve local and regional governments in shaping and delivering EU policies. 
 
Read the article: www.sustainableviews.com