CEMR Letter

The Council of European Municipalities and Regions (CEMR) has written to Swedish Prime Minister Fredrik Reinfeldt to express its views on the programme of the Swedish Presidency of the EU.

The letter by CEMR President Michael Haupl and First Vice-President Anders Knape calls for local and regional government to play a greater role in dealing with the economic crisis.

At the CEMR’s recent general assembly, the organisation put forward the concept of a “local and regional new deal”, which would make use of local and regional authorities’ experience and ability to respond rapidly to situations in a more coherent and integrated manner.

The letter also calls on the Swedish government to support the CEMR’s demands for a new post-Kyoto agreement on climate change.

“We are convinced that the major challenges confronting the EU, and which are addressed in the Swedish Presidency’s programme, cannot be successfully met without cooperation with and support from Europe’s local and regional governments,” the letter states.

The full letter can be read here.

Last Updated: 2009. 07. 30. 15:51:59 By Katherine Hitchcock