- With Barcelona's leadership, and thanks to the proposals that this group of experts will draw up, the aim is to ensure that European institutions recognise cities as essential actors in both the definition and the implementation of solutions to global challenges
The Local Europe Working Group: A window of opportunity for cities in a changing and unstable European context
The Local Europe Working Group, promoted by Barcelona City Council and coordinated by CIDOB and the Fundació Catalunya Europa, aims to strengthen the role of cities within the institutional architecture and decision-making processes of the European Union. At a time marked by strong global instability, cities are emerging as one of the main factors of resilience and stability, thanks to their proximity to citizens and their key role in the implementation of European policies.
The Director of the Fundació Catalunya Europa, Dolors Camats, stated that "Pasqual Maragall said that Europe begins in your street. He meant that cities are the first and best line of defence against the great challenges facing Europe today, such as authoritarianism, which threatens the welfare state and democratic values. It is in cities where public services are provided and where democracy is built, day by day". For this reason, he encouraged the experts "to be brave and creative, to have the courage to question the status quo, as Maragall did. Because to defend the central role of cities in Europe is to defend a freer, fairer and more democratic Europe".
By Pol Morillas, Director of CIDOB "In a world where the European and international spheres are dominated by geopolitics, CIDOB's objective within the Local Europe project is to connect the international and local dimensions. To act as intermediaries in this complex world with a plurality of actors that participate in the international sphere, among which cities stand out". "The Local Europe project wants to give cities a voice, not only because it is important to listen to them, but also because they are the first ones to address citizens' problems. Linking cities with European solutions is the main objective of the Working Group that starts its work today", he added.
The task on the table for the expert group is to develop a set of concrete and workable policy proposals to strengthen the institutional and political voice of cities at European level, both at the structural level and in three specific public policy areas: housing, climate action and innovation and competitiveness.
The main objectives of the working group are:
- To critically and constructively analyse the current role of cities in European governance.
- To formulate concrete and feasible proposals to strengthen their institutional and political influence.
- To contribute to a vision of a ‘Europe close to home’ that reinforces the local dimension of the European project.
It has two types of participant profiles. On the one hand, experts in cities and European governance, such as representatives of city networks, city councils, academics and people with experience in the field of cohesion policies. On the other hand, experts in the three thematic areas identified as challenges, in urban terms.
The Group's work will culminate in the publication of a report in March 2026, which will feed into the European strategy of Barcelona City Council and other cities and networks of cities involved in it that wish to join.
