About the Council of European Municipalities and Regions (CEMR)
The Council of European Municipalities and Regions (CEMR) is the oldest and broadest European association of local and regional governments. They are the only organisation that brings together the national associations of local and regional governments from 41 European countries and represents, through these associations, all territorial levels – local, intermediate and regional.
Since its creation in 1951, CEMR promotes the construction of a united, peaceful and democratic Europe founded on local self-government, respect for the principle of subsidiarity and the participation of citizens. Their work is organised around two main pillars:
1. Influencing European policy and legislation in all areas having an impact on communes and regions;
2. Providing a forum for debate between local and regional governments via their national representative associations.
CEMR is also the European section of the world organisation United Cities and Local Governments (UCLG), through which they represent European local and regional governments at international level.