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European associations and networks of local and regional authorities

The Council of European Municipalities and Regions (CEMR) brings together some 50 national associations of local and regional authorities in nearly 40 countries. It was founded in 1951, after the 2nd world War, and from the outset has promoted town twinning as a means of bringing people together and learning from each other, across national boundaries.

In recent years, it has worked more on international twinning and co-operation, and has an active network on north-south co-operation, has lobbied the EU institutions for more recognition of the local government role in international development, and has more recently created a co-ordinating Platform of local and regional authorities for development.

CEMR is the European regional section of the world organisation, United Cities and Local Governments.

The Assembly of European Regions (AER) brings together over 270 regions from 33 countries and 13 interregional organisations. Its main objectives include promoting the principle of subsidiarity and regional democracy, supporting the regions in the process of European enlargement and globalisation, and facilitating interregional cooperation across wider Europe and beyond. It has an active subcommittee on international and inter-regional co-operation. The AER is a partner in the new Platform of local and regional authorities for development.

The Assembly of European Border Regions (AEBR) was founded in 1971, and currently has some 90 border and cross-border regions in membership. It aims to act for the benefit of all of Europe's border and cross-border regions, and to help them to deal with their specific problems and issues.

It is a partner in the new Platform of local and regional authorities for development.

The Conference of Peripheral Maritime Regions (CPMR) brings together 160 European regions from 28 countries. Since 1973, it has worked for a more balanced development across Europe as a whole. Confronting the challenges of globalisation and development, CPMR considers that the regional tier represents a new strategic tier for organising development activities, and aims, in partnership with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) to shape and promote a regional dimension for development strategies within states and continental groupings.

It is a partner in the new Platform of local and regional authorities for development.

Platform of European Local and Regional Authorities for Development. The European and international associations of local and regional authorities decided in 2007 to set up a new Platform which would enable them, with other active national associations and some individual cities, to co-ordinate their voice at European level on all development co-operation issues, and to exchange information and learning.

The Platform has received co-financing support from the European Commission for this work from 2009. CEMR is the co-ordinating partner for the work of the Platform. The Platform includes 19 partners, including national associations from France, Greece, Italy, the Netherlands, Portugal, Romania, Spain, Sweden, United Kingdom, four major cities, plus the European and international associations.